Councillor calls for premierships for Carrum Patterson Lakes, Bonbeach

A local councillor says the Southern league and MPNFL should award premiership flags to the teams that finished on top of the ladder.

Carrum Patterson Lakes players sing the song.

Give them flags!

A City of Kingston councillor has called for Carrum Patterson Lakes and Bonbeach to be awarded premierships for the 2021 season.

Cameron Howe said the clubs deserved to be crowned premiers for their ladder-leading efforts this year.

Both competitions were unable to play their finals because of the Covid lockdown.

CPL was in Division 4 of the Southern league and won all 12 of its matches, finishing with a percentage of 329.10.

It was three games clear of second and a hot premiership favourite under the coaching of former Dromana star Rohan Bleeker.

The Lions’ reserves were also undefeated.

The Southern league will make a decision tonight on how it will recognise the teams that finished on top of the ladder.

Bonbeach topped the Division 1 ladder of the Mornington Peninsula competition with a record of 10-2, two points ahead of Frankston YCW.

Cameron Howe of Kingston Council.

Banksia ward councillor Howe sent local media an email this morning with the alert “robbing local football clubs of the 2021 premiership’’.

Contacted, he told Leader that the clubs committed to an uncertain home-and-away season and “ladder-topping clubs rightly deserve recognition, particularly after the 2020 season was cancelled’’.

“It would only be prudent to award the premiership for this historical moment,’’ Howe said.

“Everyone knew what they were coming in to this year. Carrum Patterson Lakes remained undefeated in the SFNL and Bonbeach in the MPNFL topped the ladder.

“To rob these clubs of recognition would be totally shameful.

“These competitions need to reward and celebrate success … we’re in an environment where people are struggling with their mental wellbeing and local football was an outlet for them and they deserve to be recognised when they’ve performed well on the field.’’

Joe Fisscher takes a kick for Bonbeach.

Asked if a minor premiership would be enough, the councillor said: “I want to see a flag.’’

“After the 2020 season was cancelled it would only be appropriate the premiership cup was awarded.’’

He said enough home-and-away football was played to constitute a season and “we have clear winners who have topped the ladder’’.

With or without a premiership flag, Carrum Patterson Lakes will almost certainly be promoted to Division 3 of Southern next year.

The same will apply to Springvale Districts, which was undefeated in Division 2.

Districts coach Kris Thompson believes his team should be awarded the flag given the SFNL will be promoting and relegating teams.

While the SFNL and the MPNFL have yet to make a call on flags, the Essendon District league has decided it will hand out premierships.

The Northern league, on the other hand, will only recognise minor premiers.