The AFL South East Commission has adopted a final resolution for the Senior Competition Review at its meeting on Monday 21st August.
The resolution of the Commission has been communicated to the 31 senior clubs in the AFL South East region at a meeting at Frankston Park tonight (Tuesday 22nd August).
The resolution of the Commission is as follows:
• The AFL South East senior competitions be restructured via a transition process as per “Option 1” in the “Draft Recommendations” document issued on 2nd June 2017. However, that will be implemented in a staged way as per below:
• 2018 – A divisional structure between MPNFL Clubs. Division 1 and Division 2 comprising a mix of Nepean and Peninsula clubs. Existing SEFNL competition to remain in its current form for 2018.
• 2019 – A full divisional structure incorporating the 2 Divisions of MPNFL and the SEFNL clubs, into a minimum of 3 Divisions
• 2020 – Pending total AFLSE senior club numbers, the creation of a 4th Division to assist with the introduction of newly established or transferred clubs.
In its presentation to the Clubs, the AFL Commission highlighted several of the main reasons for the resolution. These included:
• The Commission and the Clubs general understanding of the benefits of divisional football to the sustainability of clubs across the entire region
• Strategically we must create a model that creates opportunities for new or existing Clubs to enter at the right competitive level
• To have a competition structure based on the playing standards of Clubs, not geography, which is expected to create closer, more competitive matches throughout a season and provide all Clubs with the opportunity to find their appropriate standard through promotion and relegation.
• A promotion and relegation structure will ensure more relevance to later season matches. Similarly, the opportunity is greater for Clubs to play finals in a lower division
Across the region Clubs in the SEFNL unanimously favoured a full divisional model, while a clear majority of MPNFL Clubs favoured a divisional model which only included MPNFL Clubs.
The Commission has resolved that with the 2018 season looming it will take a staged approach to a full divisional model, with the MPNFL divisional model being implemented for 2018. This will involve Divisions 1 and 2 comprising a mix of current Nepean and Peninsula League Clubs. The exact composition of the 2 divisions is yet to be determined.
The resolution also allows time for further refinement regarding various operational elements before a full divisional model across the region, with particular reference to Netball, where there is a significant difference in structure.
In arriving at the resolution above, the Commission was mindful of several of the key drivers of the Review, such as:
• Sustainability of all Clubs across the AFL South East region
• To provide competition structures that promote participation growth across the region, including a point of entry for new clubs
• To provide competition structures that provide a competitive balance in each of the leagues/divisions
• To provide competition structures that continue to foster the valued relationship between Netball and Football
The Final Report will be publicly available within 7 days of tonight’s Club meeting.
