Narre Warren says it’s willing to ‘earn our right’ if MPFNL clubs vote in favour

If Narre Warren’s bid to enter the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League is successful, the Magpies are “happy” to prove its merit in the competition. See how.

Narre Warren players celebrate their recent win. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Eager to enter the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League, Narre Warren is comfortable earning its stripes if its bid to enter the competition is successful.

Narre Warren jumped at the MPFNL’s request for expressions of interest, lodging its application as early as possible.

The application is the latest in a string of attempts.

Club president Stuart Stephenson confirmed his club isn’t expecting to be a walk-up start in the top flight if voted in and is willing to start wherever it's placed.

“We’d be okay to go into Division Three as well,” he said.

“We would be happy to play wherever we’re put, we’d be happy in any of the divisions, Division Two or Division Three.

“Just to get in there, we’re thinking longer term, we need to earn our right to play Division One there.

“I think Division One is strong and there are also some really good clubs in Division Two as well – it’s hard to know where we would sit until we start playing against them.

“We will play wherever we’re put but we think we have to earn the right to play in Division One.”

Narre Warren players celebrate their recent win. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Narre Warren has won two consecutive Outer East league premierships (2019 and 2022) and is currently a win clear atop of the Premier Division ladder this season.

Stephenson said the Magpies’ submission includes an offer to present to the existing MPFNL clubs, as they wish to put forward a picture of their credentials.

“What we’re trying to show the other clubs is that we’re a similar community club to them, we’re there to promote local young people playing football and netball,” he said.

“Some of them we have never played against, so we would like to chat to them so they can see who we are, our facilities and that we’d be a valued member of the league.

“If we were to get in, it would create great enthusiasm and uplift in the area (of Narre Warren).”

Narre Warren stands alongside former South Eastern Football Netball League clubs Cranbourne and Pakenham wishing to enter the MPFNL.

Of the seven old SEFNL clubs that joined the Outer East in 2018, only Narre Warren, Pakenham and Officer remain, with Berwick, Beaconsfield (EFNL), Cranbourne and Doveton (SFNL) all leaving in recent seasons.

The window for expressions of interest to the MPFNL close on July 21.