Picola District: Tocumwal wants out of Murray league after one season

Tocumwal has spelt out the main reason for seeking a return to the Picola District league. See the other fallout.

Tocumwal has cited an inability to be competitive long-term in the Murray league for its decision to seek a return to the Picola District league.

The club’s plans to play with similar standard clubs in a new competition in the Goulburn-Murray region and affiliated with the AFL, bombed when only seven clubs were prepared to join.

Tocumwal played this season in the MFNL after an 11th hour switch from the PDNFL and won only one game.

Outgoing Tocumwal president Greg Watmore said to ensure the club’s survival the only option was returning to the PDFNL.

“We feel extremely let down by the AFL Goulburn-Murray Commission,” he said.

“It wasn’t a six-week exercise.

“It was nearly two years work as far as Tocumwal was concerned.

“A lot of time, a lot of effort was spent in doing what we did, but sadly it came to nothing in the end.”

As one of the driving forces behind creating the new competition, Watmore stepped down from Tocumwals’s top job last week.

Last Friday the club lodged its application to return to the PDFNL and needs a majority vote of the league’s board to be accepted.

Tocumwal’s decision to quit the PDFNL earlier this year was driven by a desire to play in an affiliated competition after the PDFNL elected not to renew its affiliation agreement with AFL Goulburn-Murray at the end of the 2022 season.

Waaia Bombers won the Picola District premiership this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Its only win this year was against wooden-spooner Rumbalara.

Tocumwal was the most vocal club when AFLGM refused a new competition, administered by the Murray league, to start up with only seven clubs.

Two other PDFNL clubs Tungamah and Katandra had also agreed to be part of the new competition, but will be staying put.

Picola District general manager Shane Railton. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

PDFNL operations manager Shane Railton confirmed the club’s application had been received and would be considered by the board.

Tocumwal presented its case to rejoin the PDFNL at its annual meeting on Monday night.