Western Border review

[Dogwatcher]

Press release:

SOUTHERN SA/VIC BORDER LEAGUES UNDER REVIEW
The South Australian Community Football League (SACFL) wishes to advise the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) board met with the SACFL this week (Monday, October 3) and has committed to a joint review of community football league structures on and around the southern part of the shared South Australian and Victorian border.
“As a result of requested club movement in this region over recent years, along with a written request from the Western Border Football League (WBFL), followed by support from the Hampden Football League for such a review, the VCFL and the SACFL have agreed that this project is integral to the long-term health of clubs and the game in this part of Australia” said VCFL chief executive Steven Reaper.
The review will take place throughout the 2012 season and will take into account all potentially affected leagues and clubs from April 2012.
The review panel will develop a report on the optimal structure of football competitions in South-West Victoria and South-East South Australia for season 2013 and beyond.
This report will feature an assessment on what structure will best meet the AFL Game Development Participation objective regarding best possible pathways from Auskick to open age football that maximise participation and club sustainability.
Although the review will have a major focus on the Western Border Football League, the panel will seek input from all key stakeholders as well as adjoining Leagues in Victoria and South Australia, their clubs and umpiring groups in this region during the process.
SA Community Football Manager Glen Rosser said: “The SACFL and the VCFL are currently working on a detailed project plan for this review and this will be released in due course to all stakeholders in the region.
“The joint panel will, in addition to face-to-face consultations, give all stakeholders the chance to comment on a draft report to be released by the panel in July/August 2012 with a final report to be completed and released in September 2012.”

[Benchwarmer]

I get the feeling that the Hamilton clubs might finally get their wish to go to Hampden.
Portland would most likely stay in the WB.
Probably expect two from the KNTFL or MSEFL gravitate to the WBFL - willingly or unwillingly.
Failing that, a two division comp combining WB and MSE would be the other option.

[spot on]

I get the feeling that the Hamilton clubs might finally get their wish to go to Hampden.
Portland would most likely stay in the WB.
Probably expect two from the KNTFL or MSEFL gravitate to the WBFL - willingly or unwillingly.
Failing that, a two division comp combining WB and MSE would be the other option.

Casterton would also remain in the WB I would think.

[words of wisdom]

I get the feeling that the Hamilton clubs might finally get their wish to go to Hampden.
Portland would most likely stay in the WB.
Probably expect two from the KNTFL or MSEFL gravitate to the WBFL - willingly or unwillingly.
Failing that, a two division comp combining WB and MSE would be the other option.

2 teams would have to come from the KNTFL - MSEFL would struggle wouldn't they?

[Hazbeen]

I get the feeling that the Hamilton clubs might finally get their wish to go to Hampden.
Portland would most likely stay in the WB.
Probably expect two from the KNTFL or MSEFL gravitate to the WBFL - willingly or unwillingly.
Failing that, a two division comp combining WB and MSE would be the other option.

2 teams would have to come from the KNTFL - MSEFL would struggle wouldn't they?

Penola used to be in the WBFL, could they compete there again? doubtfull be then Casterton and Heywood have been ordinary for years.

Any club from the MSEFL that would move into the WBFL would draw players from Millicent and the Mt Gambier clubs but would still struggle although there is a fair bit of cash in that league so dependent on the club that may go ok.

[ORDoubleBlues]

IMHO a club like Port Mac could make a go of it in the WBFL as I think they could draw the players, they usually have good juniors and to top it off their facilities are very good. What the netball club would think of it would be a different matter.

[Roaring Lion!]

The WBFL used to be a strong competion who regularly drew Ex SANFL/VFL/AFL players to the League as players/coaches & the WBFL was extremly competitive in VCFL Divison 1 Country Inter League Championships through out the 70's / 80's & early 90's period but the standard has fallen away as they now struggle to be competitive in the VCFL Divison 2 Country Inter League Championships.

There were originally 12 x WBFL Clubs but going into Season 2012 there will only be a 9 x Team Competition.
With the approval of non-competitive Heywood over a 30 yr period moving to the SWDFL for next season which also follows the previous defections of Coleraine's move to the SWDFL in the late 90's & Penola's move to the KNTFL in the mid 80's & the regular applications to the League from Hamilton x 2 & Hamilton Imperials x 5 for approval to move to HFL (which have been rejected).

The future for this current WBFL format unfortunatley looks bleak so hopefully with the review that takes place throughout Season 2012 we do not see the death of the WBFL.

The AFL with its multi-billion TV rights deals should be investing a little back into the grass roots competitions which has been a previous breeding ground for AFL talent & with some investment into the right structure the WBFL could once again be force.

What options are there for the WBFL?
Do they leave it the way it is & try attract another 1 or 2 Teams to join from the SWDFL / HFL / MSEFL / KNTFL??
Do the VCFL / SACFL deide to part ways & join their Victorian & South Australian Clubs to exisiting competions???
Would this mean the South Australian Clubs from the WBFL / MSEFL / KNTFL join forces to make a South Eastern FL with the 22 x Clubs split into 2 x Divisions of 10-12 Teams across in each Divison 1 & Divison 2 with a promotion / relagation system each season for the weakest 2 x Divison 1 teams going down & strongest 2 x Divison 2 Teams coming up???
With a similar senario for the Victorian Clubs joining current Leagues????

Where to next for the WBFL is the million dollar question.....

[LaughingKookaburra]

Interesting developments here now Portland will be commencing official talks with the SANFL this week in relation to potentially becoming a part of the larger Limestone Coast Football League.

[Hazbeen]

Interesting developments here now Portland will be commencing official talks with the SANFL this week in relation to potentially becoming a part of the larger Limestone Coast Football League.

Have heard Hamilton also may be interested in winding the clock back and re-joining as well

[Jim05]

Interesting developments here now Portland will be commencing official talks with the SANFL this week in relation to potentially becoming a part of the larger Limestone Coast Football League.

Portland have announced they are staying put

[woodublieve12]

The WBFL used to be a strong competion who regularly drew Ex SANFL/VFL/AFL players to the League as players/coaches & the WBFL was extremly competitive in VCFL Divison 1 Country Inter League Championships through out the 70's / 80's & early 90's period but the standard has fallen away as they now struggle to be competitive in the VCFL Divison 2 Country Inter League Championships.

There were originally 12 x WBFL Clubs but going into Season 2012 there will only be a 9 x Team Competition.
With the approval of non-competitive Heywood over a 30 yr period moving to the SWDFL for next season which also follows the previous defections of Coleraine's move to the SWDFL in the late 90's & Penola's move to the KNTFL in the mid 80's & the regular applications to the League from Hamilton x 2 & Hamilton Imperials x 5 for approval to move to HFL (which have been rejected).

The future for this current WBFL format unfortunatley looks bleak so hopefully with the review that takes place throughout Season 2012 we do not see the death of the WBFL.

The AFL with its multi-billion TV rights deals should be investing a little back into the grass roots competitions which has been a previous breeding ground for AFL talent & with some investment into the right structure the WBFL could once again be force.

What options are there for the WBFL?
Do they leave it the way it is & try attract another 1 or 2 Teams to join from the SWDFL / HFL / MSEFL / KNTFL??
Do the VCFL / SACFL deide to part ways & join their Victorian & South Australian Clubs to exisiting competions???
Would this mean the South Australian Clubs from the WBFL / MSEFL / KNTFL join forces to make a South Eastern FL with the 22 x Clubs split into 2 x Divisions of 10-12 Teams across in each Divison 1 & Divison 2 with a promotion / relagation system each season for the weakest 2 x Divison 1 teams going down & strongest 2 x Divison 2 Teams coming up???
With a similar senario for the Victorian Clubs joining current Leagues????

Where to next for the WBFL is the million dollar question.....

They can go anywhere. Leave MSEFL alone.

[Slowleftarm]

Penola on the move back to this league