Gippsland: Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland discuss possible changes
Gippsland is bracing itself for more footy upheaval after leagues met this week to discuss future directions.
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Gippsland is headed for another round of major upheaval only five years after the demise of the Alberton league.
North Gippsland and Mid Gippsland leagues met this week to discuss “potential scenarios for the future” with a merger unable to be ruled out.
The six clubs that competed in the Alberton league’s final season in 2019, Fish Creek, Foster, Meeniyan-Dumbalk United, Stony Creek, Tarwin and Toora, all moved to the Mid Gippsland league with two other former Alberton clubs, Yarram and Woodside, switching to the North Gippsland league.
But ongoing concerns about not all Mid Gippsland league clubs fielding junior teams is fuelling another round of potential club transfers.
Five of the 13 Mid Gippsland clubs have under-18 teams this season and one of those is a combination of Fish Creek and Tarwin players.
Newborough, which has juniors, has applied to join the Ellinbank District league.
In comparison, North Gippsland has a full complement of under-18 teams.
The possibility of the Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland leagues merging and the creation of a two-tiered competition could be a potential solution.
Mid Gippsland president Gary Matthews said: “We have to consult our clubs because we only administer what our clubs decide”.
North Gippsland president Martha Truin was contacted for comment.
Yallourn-Yallourn North won the 2019 Mid Gippsland flag before switching to the North Gippsland league in 2021.
Morwell East also unsuccessfully tried to make the same switch last year.
AFL Gippsland hosted the meeting between the two leagues this week.
“During the meeting, league executives had the opportunity to discuss the current club composition and playing numbers, as well as the potential repercussions of maintaining the status quo,” regional manager Tim Cotter said.
“Discussions also centred around potential future structures and composition options for the leagues, repercussions for football and netball and the process for admission and transfer of clubs and teams.
“One of the key topics of conversation at the meeting was the underage competitions within the leagues, with the goal of fostering the development of young talent and ensuring the long-term success of the leagues.”
Under AFL Victoria rules, clubs seeking to transfer leagues firstly need the approval of the destination leagues existing member clubs and their existing league must agree with the transfer request.
The club transfer window is between August 1 and October 31.
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Originally published as Gippsland: Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland discuss possible changes
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