Old Paradians has voted to leave the Victorian Amateur Football Association after 94 years

Old Paradians has voted to leave the VAFA, citing player recruitment and retention as a major factor in wanting to join the Northern league.

Old Paradians are moving to the Northern league.

A fear of irrelevancy is driving Old Paradians move to the Northern Football Netball League.

The current amateur club has voted to leave the VAFA after 94 years and join the NFNL for 2024.

It will present its case for admission to the Northern board on Tuesday night.

Player recruiting and retention were key factors in the decision to find a new home.

Old Paradians is situated in Bundoora, a short distance from Northern power Bundoora and close to Watsonia, Macleod, Thomastown, South Morang, Greensborough and St Mary’s.

President Simon Vincent said it was growing increasingly difficult to find players and keep the club viable.

“Our sub-committee came back with a comprehensive case for change,” he said.

“Their brief was to look at why it had been really difficult for us to attract and retain players for a long time.

“Situated right next to the school there’s an appearance there’s a pathway of talent but that hasn’t been the case for a long time.

“That extends to supporters and volunteers, we’ve got a lot of loyal old Paradians who look at the scores, but we don’t get great crowds and it’s difficult on game day – there’s not enough arms and legs.

“We felt like over a long period of time, slowly, slowly, we’re becoming irrelevant in our geography.

“Oscillating between Division 1 and 2 isn’t helping either, it’s not as an attractive proposition for kids at the school and in general kids in the area to come and play.”

Old Paradians is the second club in the area in as many months to go public with its desire to leave the VAFA, following Ivanhoe.

Old Paradians want to move to the Northern league.

The Hoers are also looking to join the NFNL next season.

Having seen the success of former amateur clubs Banyule and Old Eltham Collegians, the Raiders believe they to can become a more stable club.

“Financially we’re reasonably strong but there’s no doubt we’d have to strengthen the income streams if we move into a semi-professional league,” Vincent said.

“That’s a huge focus for us, we’ll be looking to try and find more local sponsors, we can do events differently, and we’ll pay what we can afford – we won’t put ourselves under pressure in year one.

“The examples of Old Eltham and Banyule, they’ve done it really methodically and crept up those payments.

“There’s a lot of old Paradian kids are playing Div 1 seniors and reserves or Div 2 seniors and reserves.

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“That doesn’t mean that’s all comeback but the early signs are encouraging, we’ve sparked a bit of interest.

“We’ve got to be mindful of what we can afford to pay and points but there seems to be a real groundswell of interest.”

Old Paradians are also on the hunt for a new coach after Justin Whitcher announced he would be standing down.

Vincent said the club was attracting interest from potential coaches before it had even started advertising, which had never happened before.

OLD PARADIANS MAKES CALL ON LEAGUE FUTURE

Old Paradians has decided to part ways with the Victorian Amateurs after 94 years.

The VAFA confirmed the club had voted to move to the Northern Football Netball League in 2024.

It follows fellow VAFA club Ivanhoe’s decision to join the NFNL with both clubs set to present their cases this month.

Old Paradians joined the amateurs when it was formed in 1929 and has won 11 premierships, the latest in 2015 when it beat the Hoers.

The VAFA released a statement on Monday night, confirming its bid to keep the Raiders had been rejected.

Old Paradians want to move to the Northern league.

“The VAFA has been informed by Simon Vincent, president of Old Paradians, that his committee met last week and resolved to move their club into the Northern Football Netball League,” it read.

“As a club with a strong and successful 94-year history in the amateurs, and with the opportunity to capitalise on their existing player pathways through Parade Secondary College and their junior club, Parade St Damians, the VAFA is extremely disappointed to see the Old Paradians choose to depart our competition.

WRAP: 10 PREMIERSHIPS WON IN METRO, COUNTRY FOOTY

LEADER: GET YOUR AMATEUR FOOTY NEWS HERE

TALENT: EVERY VAFA PREMIER DIVISION PLAYER RANKED

“VAFA representatives, lead by president George Voyage … with the backing of several VAFA clubs, made a strong submission to members of the committee, outlining numerous levels of support to help Old Paradians through its current challenges, but that offer was ultimately rejected.

“The VAFA Board has yet to convene a meeting to assess this latest decision.”

Old Paradians has been contacted for comment.