The Board of Management extend all the best to all EDFL clubs, players, members, volunteers, supporters and let’s not forget the umpires for the 2018 season. Thought it was a good time to provide a high level update on the key happenings post 2017 and pre the 2018 season.
For those that have not caught up with the news; the EDFL have signed a ‘League Membership and Services Agreement for 2018’ with the Gippsland Australian Football Commission in November 2017. This means the administration will be handled by the AFL Gippsland Regional Administration Centre (RAC). Manager-Secretary Ken Moore will now assume the role of League Co-ordinator. The EDFL is confident this agreement will strengthen the professionalism and profile of the league.
The Gippsland Umpires Association (GUA) will again service the league. It hopes to field umpires across all four grades in 2018.
The EDFL 2018 fixture is now official. Our season will start on Saturday 7th April. There will be two weekend breaks during the home & away season – the first on 19 May (for senior Interleague) and the second on 9th June (Queens Birthday).The first week of the finals will commence on Saturday 25th August with the Grand Final on Saturday 15th September.
The EDFL will participate in the Worksafe Community Interleague Championships in 2018. We will play the Horsham & District Football League in Ballarat on Saturday 19th May. The EDFL intend to field teams at U/16, U18 & Senior level. The coaching appointments will be announce over the next week.
There is a revised H&A game time program. There will be an extra five minutes to the intervals between the 4ths & 3rds and 3rds & the reserves. The U/16s will still start at 9am, the U18s at 10.34am, Reserves at 12:20pm and Seniors at 2.10pm.
A Salary cap and Player Point System (PPS) will again be in operation in 2018. It is now set and based on last season’s post final ladder positions and it will see a 7 point differential with the scale between 40 (premiers) to 47 points (zero to 3 wins).
It is that time of the year when many trainers and coach accreditation courses are available. If you or persons at your club need re-accreditation please book yourself into one.
With regards to the Junior competition: The latest feedback is the U/16 & 18 competition is looking promising. It seems there will be at least eight if not nine clubs field teams in both grades. If required the league again intend to add ‘make up games’ to the junior fixture but at this stage it looks as though there will be nowhere near as many as last season.
At senior level most clubs report they are happy with their recruiting. Refer to the clearances approved on the EDFL website to see all the individual comings and goings.
The EDFL intend to hold a season launch & information night for all clubs (their office bearers or representatives to be invited) late March. Date to be confirmed.
That’s all folks and will keep you across the latest developments again next month.
Hears to a great year!
Last Modified on 23/02/2018 22:41
