17 March 2021
Future of Football on the Eyre Peninsula - Community Football Committee Advice
You would be aware that competition structures on Eyre Peninsula have undergone significant change in recent weeks with the following approved by the Community Football Committee (CFC) and endorsed by SANFL Commission today:
- Dissolution of the Mid West Football League
- Wudinna United Football & Netball Club and the Central Eyre Football Club to merge and be named the Central Eyre United Football & Netball Club and transfer to the Eastern Eyre Football League
- The Wirrulla Football Club and West Coast Hawks Football Club transfer to the Far West Football League
- The aligned Western Districts Football Club and Elliston Football Club transfer to the Great Flinders Football League
All proposed Club transfers have been approved to 31 October 2021, with opportunity to review structures over the coming football season as required.
SANFL Country Championships
The CFC, as part of this transition process, has agreed to provide Great Flinders Football League opportunity to schedule home and away competition on the SA Country Championships weekend.
This exemption is for 2021 only and has been provided due to the extenuating circumstances faced by Leagues and Clubs on the Eyre Peninsula.
In recent memory, community football has not faced such an extensive restructure, nor has such a restructure been done in a matter of weeks and at effectively on the eve of season start.
The determination was not made easily and is backed by the following rationale:
- The need to reboot football on the Eyre Peninsula, encourage participation and schedule additional games to accommodate the new aligned Club into League fixturing.
- Inability to reschedule existing football events including the Kinlough Cup, which could result in some Clubs facing a number of bye weekends where the exemption was not approved.
- Lateness of the current season start due to the competition restructure, preventing the GFFL from avoiding these bye options with a new aligned Club entering the competition.
- Ongoing support and commitment by the GFFL to the SANFL Country Championships.
- Commitment from the GFFL that all selected players will made available and support the SANFL Country Championships.
The CFC acknowledges that the Eyre Peninsula is working through a significant transition period with both football and netball and wishes to support the community wherever possible.
This has included and will continue to include discussions with Netball SA and options to continue to support Leagues and Clubs with competition structure reviews over the coming season.
The CFC thanks the Eyre Peninsula football and netball community for their willingness to identify solutions that ensures participation opportunities are provided to everyone in the Region for this season.
Regards,
Peter Lindner
Chair - Community Football Committee
SANFL
Last Modified on 17/03/2021 18:10