Draw to be overhauled

Teo Pellizzeri

February 27 2008

Shepparton News

With club numbers at a bare minimum in North Eastern Soccer League, former president Chris Davkovski has called upon the league to schedule an extraordinary meeting.

The withdrawal of Hanwood and Yoogali in the past nine days is likely to force a dramatic overhaul of the men's senior fixture for the upcoming season.

Shepparton president Davkovski said yesterday playing just 10 home and away matches through an 18-round season was unacceptable and detrimental to players.

The league's former top administrator said clubs with senior men's teams needed to meet immediately in order to arrange a three-meeting, 15-game home and away season for the 6 remaining clubs.

``We've got no option but to play three rounds of competition now,'' Davkovski said.

``There's nothing worse than playing a game and following it with a number of byes.

``Players switch off and just go through the motions at training and that's when injuries happen.''

Davkovski said the sudden withdrawal of Hanwood and Yoogali meant the Victorian clubs had to take more responsibility for the North Eastern league's growth.

``We have to look at the bigger picture because we can't continue year after year with six teams,'' he said.

``It's disappointing that the Griffith teams are gone and that they pulled so late.''

North Eastern Soccer League president Frank Trimboli said the league would have to consider a three-meeting fixture and would put together two drafts.

``We'll put together one with two meetings and one with three,'' he said.

``We need to consult the clubs and check things like ground availability.''

A two-meeting season would consist of just 10 senior games through 14 weeks in Division One while a three-meeting fixture would have to engage mid-week games across all age groups.