All stakeholders to get a say as Victorian Amateur Football Association considers radical change
THE Victorian Amateur Football Association will consult all stakeholders before deciding whether to give a radical change to its structure the green light.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Victorian Amateur Football Association will consult all stakeholders before deciding whether to give a radical change to its structure the green light.
As revealed by the Leader late last year, the league is considering implementing divisions based on geography.
If the move was adopted, the current Division 1 to Division 4 system would be scrapped in favour of four regionalised divisions — Division 1 South-Central, Division 1 North-Central, Division 2 South-Central and Division 2 North-Central.
The VAFA posted a four question survey about the proposal on its website last week seeking feedback from clubs and individuals.
The new structure would be implemented for the 2016 season should it be given the go-ahead.
VAFA chief executive Michael Sholly said the survey results alone would not determine the outcome, adding his league had no preference at this stage.
A conference with club coaches, administrators, marketing managers will be held on February 14, with a decision expected in March.
Sholly said the league had given all stakeholders the opportunity to have their say because the move would affect everyone.
“We just wanted to get a feeling from all of our stakeholders,” he said.
“It was presented to our members last year and we are considering it for the 2016 season.
“We’d like it to be finalised, if we were going to do it, before the season commences so that people know exactly what they’re playing for this year.
“It’s been a long process, really. It was first put on the table probably three or four years ago, so it’s been out there and with the changing of metropolitan Melbourne, with the diversity of it, we’ve just got to make sure the accessibility for games is as easy as possible for our players and supporters.”
Minimising travel, assisting recruiting efforts and increasing local rivalries are among the positives a regionalised structure could deliver.
The VAFA has been in operation since 1892 and has seven senior sections, ranging from Premier to Division 4.
“We’ve always operated on a vertical system and as the competition has grown it has just grown vertically,” Sholly said.
“We’re the only competition that’s over metropolitan Melbourne, so we range from a club in South Mornington to a club in Werribee. It’s a fair geographical spread.
“As Melbourne expands, we need to give clubs and maybe future clubs that opportunity if they wish to play in an amateur competition.”
The 2015 VAFA season will kick off on April 11.
‘Tight timeline’ for two footy leagues facing change
A single competition, divisions, mergers all on table for football-netball clubs in two leagues in northern Victoria. See the latest.
From the G to Bacchus Marsh: Another Lalor brother chases glory
Hot on the heels of his brother Sam lighting up the MCG for Richmond, another member of the Lalor family is chasing some glory of his own this weekend. Here’s how he can do it.