NFL 2019: No plans for Northern FL to follow other metro leagues out of AFL Victoria Community Championships

THE Northern Football League has reaffirmed its commitment to the AFL Victoria Community Championships after the withdrawal of a second metropolitan league.

The Mornington and Northern leagues clash in last year’s AFL Victoria Community Championships.

THE Northern Football League has reaffirmed its commitment to the AFL Victoria Community Championships after the withdrawal of a second metropolitan league.

The Essendon District and top-ranked Eastern league have withdrawn from the statewide carnival in the past two seasons.

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The EDFL cited financial reasons for its withdrawal last year, while AFL Victoria has confirmed the EFL will not be part of the 2019 tournament despite being the No. 1 ranked league in the state.

The NFL, which defeated the Mornington Peninsula league by 40 points last season, will take on the Geelong league for the No. 1 mantle after Eastern’s withdrawal.

“We are supportive of providing the opportunity. A lot of the guys may not ever get a chance to play at another level (higher) than that,” NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said.

“I think it is good as a league to provide that opportunity to the players and get them involved.”

McDougall said the league had “no intention” of not continuing in the championships in future years.

“Like anything, we monitor it on an annual basis,” he said.

“But our guys that have been involved in all our rep programs have been fantastic. The players have loved it, the coaches have got involved, there’s been a really good sense of camaraderie amongst them all.

“They set a target a couple of years ago to get back to the No. 1 game after just losing to the (VAFA). They have done that.

“Now they have got back to that game, I don’t suppose it really matters who we play.”

Macleod premiership mentor and current Montmorency coach Garry Ramsay will lead the NFL representative side again this year.

“He’ll probably pull a squad together consisting of the guys who have played over the last couple of years who have put their hand up and committed to the program,” McDougall said.

“They’ll get first crack at playing next year. It rewards their loyalty and commitment to playing in the side.

“Hopefully that builds a culture where more players will want to play in the rep side after some of the other big names have played.”

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