Mt Eliza Junior Football Club members vote at SGM

After months of turmoil, Australia’s biggest junior football club has elected a new committee at an emotion-charged special general meeting.

Mt Eliza junior football has undergone upheaval this season.

After a tumultuous two months, Mt Eliza Junior Football Club needed cuddles.

And at a special general meeting on Wednesday night, that’s what the Redlegs got — Mark “Cuddles” McCudden was elected the club’s new president.

Almost 200 attended the meeting, described as the most significant moment in the club’s history, on a cold June night at Mt Eliza Community Hall.

The SGM was required after most of the club’s previous committee resigned at the start of May amid disharmony and speculation of alleged mismanagement.

Subsequently, the Frankston and District Junior Football League deemed Mt Eliza not constitutional and banned the club from playing matches at its home base, Emil Madsen Reserve.

For the past seven weeks, the Redlegs have been playing their games at away venues.

Mark McCudden, new Mt Eliza Junior Football Club president.

People waiting outside Mt Eliza Community Hall on Wednesday night.

McCudden, 43, became involved with Mt Eliza Junior Football Club last year as a parent of two children playing under-8s at the Redlegs.

He said he was alarmed by the recent turmoil and, as an accountant, felt he could help the club.

“I thought, ‘oh, my gosh, what is happening at my kids’ footy club?’,’’ he said.

“And I realised what they need is right in my skill set, with what I do for a job, so I offered to help, put my nomination in about a week ago and my gosh it’s been a whirlwind.’’

McCudden, who defeated Jason Ross 118 votes to 80, said he “didn’t know anyone from either side’’.

“I’m completely unbiased, objective…and I think that’s what the club needed,’’ he said.

The SGM started over an hour late due to many members having to register via a QR code so they could vote.

There were moments of angst, with some members expressing dissatisfaction of the recent goings on.

Former long-serving Southern Umpires secretary Jim Klauer chaired the meeting.

A lawyer in the room argued that the previous committee (formed in May) was constitutional. There was another claim the FDJFL’s lawyer had a conflict.

Both parties went away to discuss, concerns were allayed, and the meeting continued.

Mt Eliza Junior Football Club.

MEJFC’s newly elected committee: McCudden (president), Andrew Killingsworth (vp football operations), David Hill (vp admin), Eivion Bowen (secretary), Alison Swendrowski (registrar), Casey Wells (treasurer). General committee: Max Griffin, Caroline Grima, Penny Swan, Kyle Burton, Christie De Marchi, Jeremy Rae, Sarah McMillan, Greg Woods.

McCudden said an audit into the club’s finances was underway.

He said there was a degree of “angst and emotion’’ in the room at the SGM but people were “respectful’’.

“Given the level of emotion…everyone behaved remarkably in my opinion,’’ he said.

He described the meeting as “one of the most significant things you’ll ever probably witness at a club’’.

McCudden is a former Melbourne cricketer who has coached Baxter Cricket Club for the past three seasons.

It’s likely Mt Eliza junior footballers will return to playing home games next week.