Rupertswood’s league shift blocked, set for AFL Victoria appeal
Reigning Riddell District league premier Rupertswood has had its proposed move to a rival competition rejected with AFL Victoria set to decide the club’s home for 2021.
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Reigning Riddell District Football Netball League premier Rupertswood’s move to the Essendon District league is before the AFL Victoria appeals tribunal.
The Sharks submitted the paperwork to AFL Victoria earlier this year but will have to go through mediation after the RDFNL blocked the shift.
Both club and league have made their submissions to AFL Victoria, which has until October to make a final decision.
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Rupertswood claimed its first senior football premiership last season, defeating Wallan by 85 points in the grand final.
The Sharks completed the double with an undefeated A Grade netball title after a thrilling one-goal victory over Macedon.
Rupertswood president Brad Pietromonaco said his club was “110 per cent” committed to moving.
“We’ve been looking into it for three years, we think it’s in the best interests of the club,” Pietromonaco said.
“We think the club’s outgrown the RDFL. The results speak highly of going to the EDFL, it’s a better standard of footy.
“We don’t want to leave on bad terms but we’ve been looking at this for three years and we’ll do everything in our power to go.
“It’s with the appeals board and we’re just waiting for a result.”
The Sunbury club has been a member of the RDFNL since 2013 after crossing from the VAFA.
It would be the third RDFNL club to switch leagues in as many years after Sunbury Kangaroos crossed to the EDFL in 2019 and Broadford joined AFL Outer East for 2020.
RDFNL president Brenton Knott said his competition wanted Rupertswood to remain.
“I would love Rupertswood to stay for 2021, I had a great conversation with Brad, their president, the other day,” Knott said.
“He’s indicated they’ve put all the paperwork in and we’ve done what we’ve had to do to keep them and now it goes to AFL Victoria.
“It’s out of our hands at the moment. We’ve told Brad why we’d like them to stay and he’s given us his communication.
“They’re a great club, a successful club, and we think they’re a great asset to our league. We don’t want to lose them.”
Sunbury Kangaroos were placed in the EDFL’s third tier and completed an undefeated season in 2019, but Rupertswood would likely join the second tier Division 1 competition.
If the Sharks did depart, the RDFNL would be reduced to nine senior teams.
Football operations manager Jordan Doyle confirmed in November last year that the league was exploring options for expansion.
“If you look at the geographical map of where we sit, there are a fair few clubs on the borders in every direction,” Doyle said.
“We’ve already spoken to a couple of clubs and we’ll have ongoing discussions through 2020 in the hope they’ll be in the RDFNL in 2021.”