Picola District: Unaffiliated league will remain one competition in 2025

The Picola District has applied the brakes on a proposal to bring back two divisions in 2025 that would have included clubs presently playing in other leagues.

The Picola District league has ditched plans to resurrect two divisions next season based on a north-south split of its current clubs and others that had expressed interest in the move in recent weeks.

The league’s board met on Monday night after its 15 existing clubs were split on the merits of returning to two divisions that were in place between 2009 and 2017.

It had 13 clubs when it reverted back to one competition in 2018.

The exact makeup of teams in each proposed division created the most uncertainty among clubs.

But league operations manager Shane Railton said it would keep open the option of welcoming new teams for 2025.

He said 10 clubs from five surrounding leagues expressed interest in playing in the only league not affiliated with the AFL.

“Clubs can still apply to join our league, but it would be on the assumption it would be one competition,” Railton said.

“There was uncertainty on what it could all look like.

“But you can’t rule out the potential that clubs will still apply to join and what that could lead to in the future.”

Picola District league operations manager Shane Railton. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The majority of outside interest came from clubs presently playing in the Kyabram District league that all had a full complement of seniors, reserves and junior teams that mirrored the Picola District league.

In response, AFL Goulburn-Murray is in the early stages of creating a structure that catered for clubs with seniors, reserves and juniors and those that don’t.

“We felt we had to make that commitment to split to get clubs to come,” Railton said.

“The overwhelming feedback we got from clubs was an interest to be involved in a non-affiliated competition.

“There is also a real healthy satisfaction with where the current league is at, although results may indicate otherwise.

“There are reasons that sit behind that and there is a feeling clubs can rebuild in the current structure.”

Railton said Mathoura was “a glowing example of that”.

“Two years ago Mathoura didn’t have reserves, but being given varied points they’ve been able to rebuild,” he said.

“They are now chockers in every grade including netball.”

The Murray league unsuccessfully attempted to start up a new league in the Goulburn-Murray region last year with clubs that have subsequently shown an interest in joining the Picola District league.