Opinion – Gazette Sports Editor David Nagel
THE relationship between PCN Sports Alliance and the Casey Cardinia league clubs… just where has it all gone wrong?
There is no doubt it has soured quickly, with both parties praising each other – just 12 months ago – for their combined efforts in changing the structure of underage football, from under 18 in 2013, to an under-17 and under-19 format in 2014.
There seemed to be a really good rapport there, a close and harmonious union that would take football in one of Australia’s biggest growth corridors leaping into future.
But cracks started to appear earlier this year when the CCFNL presidents met regularly to discuss their issues.
Meeting once every six weeks, sure they tossed around ideas, but it was the airing of individual club grievances that quickly became a collective and the clubs became a powerful force.
From fixture requests being denied, to a lack of detailed reporting (PCNSA administrate three leagues, Casey Cardinia, Nepean and Peninsula), to a lack of trust, all the way through to what the CCFNL clubs regard as poor strategy heading into the future… the relationship has just floundered.
These meetings, and what the clubs have deemed an unsatisfactory response to issues from PCNSA, provided the impetus for the unprecedented actions of the last two weeks.
But there are other factors at play here.
In October 2011, AFL Victoria Chairman Peter Jackson released the ‘Review of Football in Country Victoria’, which recommended the decentralisation of resources, effectively taking VCFL staff away from head office in Melbourne and out into the field to provide more direct support to its stake holders.
As a direct consequence 13 AFL Regional Commissions were set up to oversee the planning and development of football in each region. PCNSA (and as a consequence, Casey Cardinia, Nepean and Peninsula) is currently the only governing body in the state not signed up to a commission.
It leaves PCNSA out a limb when it comes to working with other parties in regards to the strategic planning of football moving forward. The AFL South East Commission is where PCNSA should be, and Region General Manager, Jeremy Bourke, admits the situation is not ideal and that AFL South East was keeping a close eye on developments.
“AFL South East will observe these developments closely and continue to consult with all stakeholders,” Mr Bourke said.
“This is fundamentality an issue between the PCNSA and the clubs however the move of the clubs to seek a collective withdrawal of membership from their league is an unprecedented event. Clubs are the sport’s most important asset and AFL South East will work to ensure that whatever the outcome, the structure will be conducive to club sustainability, development and growth.”
Unfortunately for PCNSA, that development and growth, born through communication and co-ordination through Casey and Cardinia is likely to take place without them.
