Southern league: Mt Waverley closes the doors for 2019 season

A suburban Melbourne football club has been forced to close its doors for the 2019 season, going into recess for a second time.

A Southern Football Netball League club has gone into recess for the second time, saying an exodus of players and its financial position left it “unsustainable’.

Attempts to save the Mt Waverley Football Netball Club have been aborted, with the Mountain Lions today releasing a statement saying they wouldn’t be on the field this year.

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“It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform all our supporters and stakeholders that a decision has been made for the club to go into recess for 2019, regroup and aim to operate in 2020,’’ it said.

“It has been well documented that this club has experienced hardship both with personnel and financially, which has put it in a position that is unsustainable.

“We thank all players, volunteers and supporters who have contributed to the good times and success this club achieved over the years.

“We hope this is not the end.’’

Happier times: Mt Waverley players Jonathan Jordan and Jackson Smith celebrate a goal in the 2016 grand final.

Mt Waverley had made a “call to arms’’ late last year, warning it would have to close the doors unless people volunteered to join the committee.

A new president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer were needed.

At the same time there was an exodus of players, with 11 since lodging transfers to Eastern league club Fairpark, including four-time SFNL best and fairest winner, premiership player and former coach Jarrod Wilkin.

The Southern league reacted to Mt Waverley’s plight by dropping it from Division 2 to Division 3.

Last month the club advertised for coaches for its senior, reserve grade and women’s teams, saying it was “going through a rebuilding phase and will have an emphasis on building a culture that provides a playing environment that is supportive, with an atmosphere that promotes a culture of community, camaraderie and sportsmanship, while maintaining a competitive spirit.’’.

However it became clear to league officials last week that the Mountain Lions would be unable to go on.

SFNL CEO Lee Hartman said this afternoon: “The Southern Football Netball League have recently been advised by the Mt Waverley committee that the club will be going into recess for 2019.

“After several months of trying to stay sustainable the executive has made this tough decision. There were several factors that has led to this decision. The league will continue to work with the club to try and come out of recess for season 2020.’’

Hartman said the make-up of Division 3 was being assessed “and we will discuss potential outcomes with both Division 3 and Division 4 clubs’’.

Mt Waverley last year finished eighth in the 10-team Division 2, recording five wins and 13 losses.

Its most recent premiership was in Division 3 in 2016.

The Mountain Lions started as Mt Waverley Catholic Football Club in 1974 in the YCWNFA competition, later transferring to Eastern Suburb Churches.

Mt Waverley became part of the Southern league in 1993 when the churches and South East Suburban competitions amalgamated.

It has come out of recess before, re-emerging in 2004 after 12 months out of football.