On Monday 5th July the VCFL released the key recommendations from their review of the Lexton Plains FL&NA. These are listed below for the information of all Clubs, members & supporters -
The WorkSafe VCFL Review Panel advises that it has concluded the interview process with all District Leagues and Clubs within the Greater Ballarat area as part of the Lexton Plains FNL Review.
The consultation with the Clubs and Leagues was extensive with open and honest discussions forming the basis of the preliminary recommendations presented.
The WorkSafe VCFL entered into discussions without any preconceived ideas at the request of the Lexton Plains FNL and its member clubs.
The WorkSafe VCFL Review Panel has now established a number of preliminary recommendations that appear on pages 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this report.
All Clubs and Leagues are asked to carefully read the report and reply in writing by JULY 30th 2010 with your thoughts on the recommendations contained within this document.
All feedback to the Preliminary Recommendations should be directed to the VCFL Area Manager, Brett Anderson, must be on club letterhead and must be signed off by the President along with the Vice President and / or Secretary.
Submissions will not be taken from people not involved in the consultation process.
The WorkSafe VCFL Review Panel has conducted 37 interviews with the clubs and leagues involved and wishes to state that the proposed recommendations to football in the Greater Ballarat Area have been given significant consideration.
The proposed changes have taken into consideration the following factors:
- Need for a long term solution to provide stability for all Clubs in the area
- Need for clubs to play within local geographical boundaries to a fair and reasonable extent
- Need for competitive balance to a fair and reasonable extent
- Need for teams to play within a more equitable fixture structure
- Club financial viability
- Consideration of existing junior football and netball structures
- Current and future facilities and ground standards
________________________________________________________________________
PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS
The following Preliminary Recommendations imply that the Senior Football, Netball and Junior Football are one and the same.
________________________________________________________________________
1. Based on the indication of both clubs during the Review - that the Natte Bealiba Football Netball Club and the Navarre Football Netball Club will seek a transfer from the Lexton Plains Football Netball League to the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League for the 2011 season during the August – October transfer window as per VCFL Rules.
2. Based on the indication of the club during the Review - that the Ararat Eagles Football Netball Club will seek a transfer from the Lexton Plains Football Netball League to the Mininera District Football League for the 2011 season during the 2010 August – October transfer window as per VCFL Rules.
3. Based on Points 1 and 2 above it is the view of the Review Panel that the Lexton Plains FNL would be untenable and therefore the Lexton Football Netball Club, the Illabarook Football Netball Club, the Carngham Linton Football Netball Club, the Skipton Football Netball Club and the Rokewood Corindhap Football Netball Club will seek transfers from the Lexton Plains Football Netball League to the Central Highlands Football League for the 2011 season during the August – October transfer window as per VCFL Rules.
4. That the Lexton Plains Football Netball League be disbanded as per its constitution at the 2010 Annual General Meeting.
5. Based on indications of the club during the Review - that the Trentham FNC will seek a transfer from the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League to the Central Highlands Football League for the 2011 season during the August - October transfer window as per VCFL Rules.
6. That the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League will admit the Natte Bealiba Football Netball Club and the Navarre Football Netball Club into the League for the 2011 season.
7. That the Mininera District Football League will admit the Ararat Eagles Football Netball Club into the League for the 2011 season.
8. That the Central Highlands Football League will admit the Lexton Football Netball Club, the Illabarook Football Netball Club, the Carngham Linton Football Netball Club, the Skipton Football Netball Club and the Rokewood Corindhap Football Netball Club into the League for the 2011 season.
9.
a) That the current Central Highlands Football League continue with its current identity but form two divisions due to the acquisition of additional clubs.
It is recommended that the two divisions be competitively based and not geographic.
b) All new clubs entering the League in 2011 will enter as division two clubs.
c) All new clubs to field the current age groups applicable within the Central Highlands Football League and the Central Highlands Netball League.
I. Football – Seniors, Reserves, U.18, U.15, (U12 if numbers permit)
II. Netball – A, B, C, U.17, U.15, U.13A, (13B if numbers permit)
d) The determination of the current Central Highlands FL clubs that will become part of Division Two is to be based on the performance of the clubs senior football team over recent years and should also take into account any other factors deemed necessary.
The WorkSafe VCFL will be available to play a role in the final determination of the makeup of the two divisions if required.
e) Promotion and relegation is recommended between the two divisions and may operate as follows:
I. A division two club who wins the Senior Football Premiership will be given the option of moving into division one. If they choose not to be promoted the status quo will remain however any club in division two who wins the Senior Football Premiership in consecutive years will be required to enter division one.
II. Should a division two club be promoted into division one the bottom placed senior team in division one for that year will see the club relegated to division two for the following year.
f) It is recommended that both divisions conduct a final five with Grand Finals to be played one week apart orchestrated by division two commencing their season one week earlier than division one.
10. That the current administration continues to manage the Central Highlands Football League and Central Highlands Netball League for the foreseeable future.
Should there be any change in terms of the way the League is administered in the future the Ballarat Central Administration Hub may be considered as a possible alternative.
It should be emphasized however that any change to the way the League is administered is not part of these recommendations but as with all WorkSafe VCFL Leagues it remains an option for the future.
11. Any jumper clashes caused as a result of the above changes will be discussed with the WorkSafe VCFL Review Panel, the respective leagues and the individual clubs concerned.
Footnote: In all situations, WorkSafe VCFL Rules, Regulations and Procedures are to be strictly adhered to for any club transfer applications. Changes by clubs and leagues must also be ratified by the Worksafe VCFL Board.
Clubs are encouraged to consult with their supporters and members, and the VCFL has invited all Clubs and the League to provide feedback on these recommendations by 31st July 2010
Last Modified on 06/07/2010 17:14