Picola District: Existing clubs briefed on preferred two division structure for 2025

A major shake up in the Goulburn-Murray region is on the cards for 2025, with the Picola District league revealing expansion plans.

The Picola District league is in expansion mode with plans to resurrect two divisions with the addition of clubs from neighbouring competitions firmly in its sights.

The plan to have northern and southern divisions has already been presented to existing clubs with final structures for 2025 aiming to be bolted down by the end of July.

It is a move that will again put the unaffiliated Picola District league back on a collision course with the AFL.

And it follows a similar, but ultimately unsuccessful push from the Murray league to create a new league in the Goulburn-Murray region with clubs from the Picola District and Kyabram District leagues that was torpedoed by AFLGM.

Picola District operations manager Shane Railton. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“We’re just gauging interest,” Picola District operations manager Shane Railton said.

“It’s spoken about often enough, so let’s have an open chat and see where things sit.

“Ultimately it’s a board decision, but the board doesn’t have an opinion on it at the moment.”

Picola District league clubs have a month to provide feedback on the plan, but the real interest is whether clubs in other competitions will switch from AFL-affiliated leagues to an unaffiliated one.

Kyabram District ladder leader Murchison-Toolamba would be an obvious contender given it expressed interest in the Murray league option that fell over.

Dookie United and Shepparton East were formerly part of the Picola District league.

Waaia is the reigning Picola District league premiers. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Hume league club Billabong Crows and Golden Rivers league club Hay could also consider a switch.

“We’re not going to sit here and rule anyone out,” Railton said.

“We’re just going to sound clubs out and see where things sit.

“It’s a club’s decision.”

In 2009, the Picola District league split into southeast and northwest divisions before being merged into one 13-team competition in 2018.

It presently has 15 teams with Tocumwal returning from the Murray league this season, and requires only five new clubs to complete the dream scenario of two 10-team competitions.

The Kyabram District league is presently administered by the AFLGM hub based in Shepparton.

AFL Goulburn Murray regional manager Shaun Connell. Picture: Supplied

AFLGM regional manager Shaun Connell said it would continue to support the clubs presently playing in affiliated leagues.

“We will continue provide safe competitions for those in our jurisdiction,” he said.

“We’ve got rules, regulations that are supported from a national perspective and a national insurance policy.

“Clubs who consider joining the only unaffiliated competiton in the country need to consider what that means for them.”