SEFNL clubs Narre Warren, Berwick, Pakenham and Doveton vote in favour of joining AFL Yarra Ranges

SIX of the eight South East Football Netball League clubs have expressed their interest in joining AFL Yarra Ranges from next year.

Doveton footballer Matthew Stapleton. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

SIX of the eight South East Football Netball League clubs have expressed their interest in joining the AFL Yarra Ranges competition from next year.

Narre Warren, Berwick, Pakenham and Doveton have followed the lead of Beaconsfield and Officer in declaring they want to join the restructured competition in 2019.

Tooradin-Dalmore wants to join the West Gippsland league and Cranbourne has expressed its interest in joining the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League but could yet join AFL Yarra Ranges if MPNFL clubs vote against them joining.

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AFL Yarra Ranges general manager Aaron Bailey said league officials would meet with clubs on Monday “to begin implementation and to outline the steps as what happens from here”.

“All the clubs will be consulted in regards to salary cap, points, where they best fit under the structure (and) we’re going to work through what the three-division model looks like,” Bailey said.

“The outcome of most (SEFNL clubs) coming allows us to put together a really good structure for next year.”

Doveton coach Daniel Charles. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

Clubs cannot officially apply to join AFL Yarra Ranges until August 1 under AFL Victoria bylaws.

“The whole process has been about what is best for the clubs and what they felt was their destination,” Bailey said.

“I don’t think at any point we knew exactly who was coming, we certainly work to support clubs and outline how we felt the model could benefit them.” Narre Warren president Stuart Stephenson said it was unanimous that the club voted to join AFL Yarra Ranges.

Stephenson said the club wanted to join the competition so its football and netball could remain as the one club.

“We think that’s important to maintain that link and hopefully we’ll maintain our rivalries against some of the clubs, such as Berwick and Beaconsfield, that we have played against over the years,” Stephenson said.

“We were really impressed with the Yarra Ranges presentation and what they were saying about the standard of football and just being able to maintain that ‘country club’ feel.

“It was quite clear the Yarra Ranges was the best option for our club at this stage.”