Laurimar looms as next Northern Football League senior team but won’t be ready for 2015

A Northern Football League club has put its hand up to fill the void in Division 3, but not in 2015. Find out who here.

Northern Football League Division 3 Grand Final: Panton Hill v Watsonia at Epping Reserve Jubilation for Panton Hill and desolation for Watsonia Pics by Richard Serong

THE Northern Football League’s bottom tier ­appears certain to remain a seven-team competition next year as existing clubs are prioritised over expansion plans.

NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said the league wanted an even number of teams in Division 3, but the addition of another club needed to be closely managed.

“As much as we’d like to increase our number of teams in that lower division, at the same time it’s important we don’t lose sight of the health of our existing clubs,” McDougall said.

He said the league would consider all options to fill the eighth spot in Division 3, including a junior club ­expanding to incorporate seniors.

Laurimar, which has 12 junior teams and two Superules sides, looms as one ­option for the vacant spot.

Power president Alasdair Walker said the club would not be ready to compete at senior level next year.

But he confirmed Laurimar had been in discussions with the NFL about fielding senior and reserve teams.

“Seniors are definitely on our radar,” Walker said.

“The issue for us has ­always been infrastructure because we don’t have changerooms (and) facilities to support senior football.

“Even our Superules struggle, as an example, we have to hire in showers when the Supers play at home so they can shower.”

Where should the Northern Football League look to expand? Tell us below.

Walker said the addition of new clubrooms at Laurimar Reserve, ­expected to be built by May next year, would take the club one step closer to senior football.

“The longer-term plan originally was to look at our juniors and really grow them which is happening,” he said.

“If we do it that way we’re probably four or five years off because the oldest team we have this year is under-14s.”

If Laurimar entered a senior team, it could follow a similar path to St Mary’s which joined the NFL in 2009 as an offshoot of the St Mary’s Greensborough Junior Football Club and competes in Division 3.

Other junior-only clubs in the NFL include Keon Park Stars, Yarrambat, Mill Park and Research.

Meanwhile, Parkside coach George Lattouf has dismissed rumours linking the club with a return to the VAFA.

Rumours circulated online that the ­Alphington-based Division 3 club could switch to the VAFA next season, but Parkside, the NFL and VAFA have denied any knowledge of the move.