AFL Barwon shares updated three division competition restructure plan to clubs

AFL Barwon has shared its updated competition restructure plan - featuring three divisions - with clubs. READ the official document in full here.

An AFL Barwon document reveals how the new restructure would look. Picture: Alan Barber

An updated plan for AFL Barwon’s competition shake-up was unveiled to clubs on Tuesday night at the third consultation meeting.

The ‘Future of Football and Netball Project’ aims to create a more even competition in senior football and netball, address growth opportunities in female football, promote participation in junior football and netball and capitalise on rising populations in the region.

READ THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENT BELOW

Another important piece of the plan is the addition of Surf Coast Suns and Armstrong Creek to the senior sporting ranks.

The proposed model would see the Geelong Football Netball League and Bellarine Football Netball League become one competition with three divisions — a lucrative Premier League (10 teams), Division 1 (10 teams) and Division 2 (eight teams).

However, with the entire GDFL competition opting out of the potential restructure, AFL Barwon may be unable to secure the 28 teams it requires to adopt the model, given the GFNL has 12 clubs and the BFNL has 10.

The plan put forward at October’s meeting detailed a $120,000 Premier League football salary cap by 2017 — up from the current $100,000 — but the document given to clubs on Tuesday night showed it increasing to $110,000 by 2025 and remaining at that level in 2026.

Likewise, the previous figure of $35,000 for Premier League netball sides has been reduced to $20,000 by 2025 and $25,000 by 2026 — increasing from the current $15,000 salary cap.

Another significant change is AFL Barwon’s promise to invest $100,000 over three years to “develop structures and junior programs” across all Division 2 clubs.

According to the document, clubs will engage in internal committee consultations to see where they sit in the proposal.

AFL Barwon then requests clubs to advise the governing body on where they view themselves.

See the official document in full below.

Originally published as AFL Barwon shares updated three division competition restructure plan to clubs