The votes are in for the six want-to-be MPFNL clubs

Mornington Peninsula league club presidents have voted on the admission of six new clubs. Here’s the latest.

Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League club presidents have voted against the admission of any additional clubs into the competition for season 2024 at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Pakenham, South Mornington, Carrum Patterson Lakes and Frankston Dolphins lodged expressions of interest to join the MPFNL for season 2024, but were knocked back.

MPFNL board chair Graham Sherry, an advocate of expansion and a third division, was disappointed but hopeful the league would grow in years to come.

“The consensus of the meeting last night was to not admit any of the six clubs,” he said.

“That sounds negative and disappointing but there is some light at the end of the tunnel here because the general consensus was that the matter should be reviewed for season 2025.”

None of the six MPFNL-keen clubs will be accepted for 2024. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Sherry said an expanded MPFNL would take time.

“It’s good that we’re having this discussion, it’s good that some of the arguments are highlighted,” he said.

“Ultimately clubs will get there, it’s just that self interest is an incredible thing, everybody’s governed by self interest and it’s only a few people who can actually see the bigger picture, the more strategic picture.

“Some people take longer to get there than others, it’s as simple as that.

“Disappointing, especially for those clubs that you would think would be shoe ins but as long as they don’t lose heart and keep at it, I’m sure we’ll get there.”

Sherry pointed to the expansion of the AFL in the 1980s as an example.

“Looking at the VFL, AFL experience it took the VFL 10 years to morph into the AFL and that’s because the VFL mentality in the eighties was steeped in self interest and it took all that time to recognise that the future of the competition was an expanded national competition. Like the future of our competition is in an expanded base for players, supporters and sponsors.

“Some clubs get that and others are taking longer to come to the same conclusion.”