By Nick Creely
It’s only fitting that the final ever South East Football Netball League match will feature two of the region’s most powerful and successful clubs of recent times – Berwick and Narre Warren.
Come 5pm on Saturday at Edwin Flack Reserve, only one senior football and A Grade netball team will be crowned the last ever SEFNL premiers, in a competition that has represented the vast talent in the Casey and Cardinia region for 14 years.
And SEFNL chairman Ryan Ford is urging everyone to come along on Saturday to see off the league before the eight clubs go off to separate ventures in 2019.
“As most of the community know, six of our clubs are forming a joint venture for 2019 and beyond with AFL Yarra Ranges which will be known next year as AFL Outer East,” he said.
“While this is a very exciting expansion we would like to see as many people who enjoy a great day of local sport to come along and see the final ever SEFNL game and witness the finale to what has been a wonderful football and netball competition in the Casey and Cardinia region for 14 years.”
At Monday’s SEFNL presentation evening, Ford reflected on the competition he has been passionately involved in, and paid tribute to the clubs and players before the final weekend of the season.
“2018 has seen some wonderful achievements and we are very much looking forward to our season finale, an amazing Grand Final day ahead of us this weekend at Edwin Flack reserve and I’d like to wish all participating football and netball teams the best of luck for your Grand Finals,” he said.
“There is no doubt an element of sadness for many, but equally an exciting future lies ahead.
“Football, netball, business, and friendships all involve a common ingredient and that is people.
“There is very little in life an individual can achieve on their own. It’s a team sport, both on and off the field.
“That said we have witnessed some special on field contributors in the past 14 years, with champions like Marc Holt, kicking now over 1000 goals for one club, Michael Collins a Narre Warren club legend who has represented his league 10 times are two examples of remarkable loyalty to both club and competition.
“Our netball clubs, while not having the same opportunities and luxuries of playing as often at interleague level have produced many on court club legends and certainly some remarkable people off court that will be honored for generations to come for their contributions to our netball club growth and that have played their part in a netball competition that is now admired state wide.”
On what looms a big day down at Edwin Flack Reserve, each club will be having at least one team playing in a grand final.
SEFNL GRAND FINAL DAY FIXTURES
FOOTBALL
SENIORS – Berwick v Narre Warren (2.30pm)
RESERVES – Narre Warren v Cranbourne (11.30am)
UNDER 19s – Beaconsfield v Berwick (9.30am)
NETBALL
A GRADE – Tooradin-Dalmore v Cranbourne (2.30pm)
B GRADE – Narre Warren v Beaconsfield (1.15pm)
C GRADE – Beaconsfield v Tooradin-Dalmore (12.00pm)
D GRADE – Doveton v Tooradin-Dalmore (12.00pm)
17 UNDER RED – Cranbourne v Berwick (10.45am)
17 UNDER WHITE – Beaconsfield v Narre Warren (10.45am)
15 UNDER RED – ROC v Cranbourne (9.40am)
15 UNDER WHITE – Cranbourne v Berwick (9.40am)
13 UNDER RED – Berwick v Pakenham (8.35am)
13 UNDER WHITE – ROC v Beaconsfield (8.35am)
