Reservoir falls into recess for 2016 after failing to find enough players for two teams by NFL deadline

REIGNING Northern Football League Division 3 premier Reservoir has been condemned to a year in recess after failing to find enough players to field two sides.

NFL Football Division 3 grand final: Reservoir V Epping. Reservoir football team celebrating. Picture: Josie Hayden

REIGNING Northern Football League Division 3 premier Reservoir has been condemned to a year in recess after failing to find enough players to field two sides.

The Mustangs put a desperate call out for recruits last month having been crippled by an exodus of premiership players.

Reservoir has had an average of about 20 players attend pre-season training, leaving the club with little option but to withdraw from Division 2.

The Mustangs’ fate was sealed at a meeting with NFL officials today, the date which had been set as their deadline to find enough players.

President Peter Vining said the club started working on plans to ensure it could return in 2017 last week after realising its efforts to attract players had been futile.

“We’re just starting to plan ahead for next season and we’ll bounce a few things off the NFL,” he said.

“What we plan to do is run the club as a social club. We’ve still got darts there, member’s hour on a Friday night. We endeavour to have some kind of fundraising activities during the year.

“Anything like that where we can get some money behind us and start looking around for next year.”

He said Reservoir hoped the players who had committed to contracts for this year would return next season.

Vining said the club’s battle for survival had been “emotional” for its committee, supporters and new senior coach Daniel McFerran.

“It’s been a real hard drag on the committee members, it’s been emotional,” he said.

“I feel for a lot of the older blokes at the club that have been there 50-60 years.”

McFerran was appointed as Ross Terranova’s replacement in October following the flag-winning mentor’s move to Essendon District Football League side Glenroy.

Vining said Reservoir would fight to keep hold of its Crispe Park base.

“We’ll be chasing blokes to come back next year,” he said.

“We want to keep the ground as well. We don’t want the ground to go to another code.

“Hopefully the NFL can help us get back on the track next year.”

The Mustangs president said he expected a bye would be added to the Division 2 fixture.

The NFL is expected to make a decision on whether to promote a Division 3 club to replace Reservoir at its board meeting on Monday.

“It is with great regret that Reservoir won’t compete in the NFL in 2016, particularly after winning the Division 3 premiership last season,” NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said.

“The league will continue to work with the club in the hope of having it return to the field next year.”