By RUSSELL BENNETT
“We know our future, and it’s in West Gippsland.” – Kooweerup’s Gary King
THE countdown is on until the return of West Gippsland footy and netball in 2017, and for the five current Ellinbank clubs set to make the switch, the clock can’t tick fast enough.
The final Senior Leagues Review recommendations were handed down by AFL Gippsland last week, with the highly-anticipated West Gippsland Football Netball Competition at the top of the agenda. It will feature nine clubs in its first season as expected, but with Korumburra-Bena making way for Inverloch-Kongwak.
The five current EDFL clubs that will make the move to West Gippsland are arguably the Ellinbank competition’s five biggest powerhouses – Bunyip, Cora Lynn, Garfield, Kooweerup and Nar Nar Goon. They’ll join four Alberton clubs from next year – Dalyston, Inverloch-Kongwak, Phillip Island, and Kilcunda-Bass. It’s looming as the best teams from each league combining in what’s sure to be one hell of a showdown.
Nyora, meanwhile, is staying in the Ellinbank league. In one of the only sticking points out of the original recommendations, traditional rivals Nyora and Poowong seemed destined to be split apart.
The Saints’ president Peter Levey told the Gazette back in February that he feared he’d be the last person to ever hold that title if the club was forced into joining the Alberton league. And AFL Gippsland listened, and acted.
The Korumburra-Bena and Nyora changes are the only two from the initial recommendation report presented to the commission in January.
AFL Gippsland region general manager Travis Switzer said the response to the new structure had been extremely positive.
“The vast majority of anecdotal evidence we have had so far has been about the potential for competitive balance across the region, and there is a real buzz about the new league,” he said.
“Korumburra-Bena have made no secret of their desire to play in the West Gippsland competition but the commission felt at this point in time the club was more suited to the Alberton Football Netball League.
“We have said from day one that we preferred league structures to be more fluid in terms of their member clubs, so the door remains open for Korumburra-Bena to move West in the future.”
Korumburra-Bena is adamant it will be part of the West Gippsland competition, and is set to pursue legal action if need be.
The five EDFL clubs set to make the switch – the strongest of rivals during the season – are all standing as one in what a return to West Gippsland footy and netball means.
“We can’t wait,” said Kooweerup stalwart Gary King.
“It’s been obvious over the past two to three years that the eastern clubs didn’t want us (in the EDFL).
“They were united in their push to get rid of the big five, and we accepted that. We wanted to play in a stronger competition.
“This will be a very well-balanced competition, and I’m personally excited about the return of West Gippsland. To have it resurrected is great, and I think it’ll work well.
“I just want to see this year over and done with – we know our future, and it’s in West Gippsland.”
Garfield icon John Barnes knows the traditions and rivalries of West Gippsland footy better than most, and he left no doubt as to what its return means.
“We get our history back,” he said.
“When it comes to the traditional Ellinbank sides, I don’t believe we had any place playing them.”
This year’s EDFL season is already wearing thin on plenty – each round contains multiple, predictable thrashings.
“But who knows what the new league will look like, or who’ll be strong?” Barnes said.
“We can all make predictions but there’ll be some swapping and changing over the next few years.
“The level of the competition will be much more even, and it gives the EDFL clubs a chance to survive too.”
Cora Lynn heavyweight Terry Dillon said how sad he was when West Gippsland first fell by the wayside.
“At the end of the day, this is a win-win for everyone,” he said of its return.
“A competitive competition is all we’re after, and this gives us that.
“I hope they bring back some of the old West Gippsland history – I really hope they do.
“It’s great to have the old league back and I think this will increase the level of interest in footy in the area.”
Finally, Nar Nar Goon president Patrick Noonan articulated what so many in the western part of the EDFL are thinking.
“We’re just looking forward to a strong competition every week, a good junior structure, and good governance,” he said.
“We play footy to enjoy it as one big family and no one enjoys flogging sides.
“It all comes back to the evenness of the competition, and having a strong competition in netball and football.”
