WRFL 2019: Manor Lakes withdraws from Division 2

A Western Region Football League club has opted to withdraw from the competition’s senior ranks for the remainder of 2019, with financial issues and injuries taking their toll.

Manor Lakes senior coach Dion Lawson in action earlier this year. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Manor Lakes has withdrawn its senior sides for the remainder of the Western Region Football League campaign.

Injuries and financial issues have taken their toll, with the club opting to pull the plug on the season after forfeiting Saturday’s fixture against Wyndhamvale.

The Storm claimed just one win this season and sat on the bottom of the Division 2 ladder before signalling its intention to withdraw in a meeting with the WRFL board and administration on Tuesday night.

Manor Lakes joined the competition’s senior ranks in 2013 and qualified for finals in its inaugural season and also made the top four in 2017.

The Storm has decided to focus on its junior and women’s programs for the remainder of this year.

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“With on-field results not necessarily going our way, a significant injury count and some mounting challenges in terms of our income versus outgoings, the club has made this difficult decision,” Manor Lakes president Shane White said.

“As a club, we need to examine how we manage things moving forward, but for the remainder of the season we will focus our energy on the junior and women’s programs, with the hope to again field a senior men’s program in the future.”

Seven teams will compete in Division 2 for the remainder of the season.

There will be no changes made to the seniors and reserves fixtures, with the Storm’s withdrawal creating a bye.

The awarding of match points and percentage will be discussed in coming days in consultation with Division 2 clubs.

“It is very disappointing to see any team start out a season and not get to the end,” WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck said.

“Anyone involved in local footy can tell you it can be an unforgiving environment, and managing all facets of a club is not easy.

“We’ve sought to help the club in a number of ways, including providing an ongoing mentoring resource, and remain as resolute as ever in working together to restore the club to full health.”

Duck said Division 2 would remain competitive for the remainder of the season, with Wyndhamvale, Yarraville-Seddon, Parkside and Point Cook Centrals holding the top-four positions.

“The average winning margins across WRFL Division 2 show it to be one of the most competitive senior competitions across the state, and we expect that to continue through the back-end of the season and into the finals series,” Duck said.

Albion is also languishing at the bottom of the Division 1 ladder with a paltry percentage of 15.01 and issued a call out for more senior players earlier this year, while North Sunshine is last in Division 3 with a percentage of 17.66.

On the positive side, Glen Orden is on top of the Division 3 ladder after spending 2017 in recess.

A player shortage and financial issues brought Essendon District League club Jacana to its knees last month, forcing it to withdraw from the remainder of the season.

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