AFL South East - Senior Competition Review: Update
Following the release of the draft recommendations to all key Regional stakeholders in early June, there has been some commentary regarding specific areas of the recommendations, including divisional football.
The draft recommendations were published based on extensive one on one consultation with each club under the AFL South East Region jurisdiction. The next phase of the review provides a clear process and opportunity for all key stakeholders including both football and netball. It is critically important for all to have their say as part of the process to drive the strategic direction of the football and netball in the region, understanding that it is the AFL South East Commission’s charter to act in the best interest of football and netball in the entire South East region.
Nearly three weeks have passed since the release of the draft recommendations paper, and a lot of debate has been created across the network. The Commission encourages healthy debate and has been happy to engage with clubs, supporters, volunteers, coaches and players both in a formal and informal capacity.
In the body of the draft recommendations, there was a page summarising the findings of the one on one club consultation. Those findings ultimately formed the structure and the basis for the draft recommendations paper.
The confidentiality of each individual club’s feedback is to be maintained and respected, however, an expanded summary of the findings is included in some more detail below:
- 31 clubs across the region were asked their views, 22 from the MPNFL and 9 from the SEFNL
- 9 SEFNL clubs favoured a full divisional structure
- A unanimous view across the region that Netball follows and remains aligned with Football
- 7 Peninsula League clubs favoured a full divisional structure
- 3 Peninsula League clubs favoured divisional structure only with Nepean League clubs
- 2 Nepean League clubs favoured a full divisional structure
- 5 Nepean League clubs would support a divisional structure but only with Peninsula League clubs
- 5 Nepean League clubs favoured no change
- A majority of Nepean League clubs favoured a reduction of the Nepean League from 12 to 10 teams
- 18 of the 31 AFL South East clubs favoured a full divisional structure
- 26 of the 31 AFL South East clubs favoured or would support some form of divisional structure or change
- 17 of the 22 MPNFL clubs favoured some form of divisional structure or change, of these 9 favoured a full divisional structure
The draft recommendations, therefore, reflected a combination of the above feedback and led to the two options available for clubs to provide individual and independent feedback via an on-line portal.
Option 1) The majority view across the region – Full divisional structure with Premier Division
Option 2) The majority view of Nepean to be geographical – Geographic divisional structure with Premier Division
The Commission is not wedded to either option, but is comfortable that both reflect individual club feedback provided during the consultation process. The Commission does recognise that current competition structure is not meeting the needs of many clubs, is not providing the opportunity for a level playing field and is inhibiting the games ability to grow in the region, all of which may affect club sustainability in the long term.
In addition to the feedback on the competition structures clubs also have the opportunity by uploading additional information around netball equalisation, junior football pathways or umpiring.
A dedicated page addressing concerns of Netball in the region and welcoming feedback to a range of equalisation and structural concerns about Netball is also included in the draft recommendations paper.
It is of vital importance to note that all clubs have the chance to respond to the online survey. This formal response process will be the only consideration in the Commission’s decision-making process and we thank the number of clubs who have already completed this.
While the Commission seeks clubs feedback on their preference between the 2 options, the online portal does provide the opportunity for clubs to provide further feedback and commentary in the designated boxes which the Commission will then consider.
We certainly encourage the draft recommendations report to be read in its entirety and circulated to all club stakeholders which will ultimately assist clubs to formalise a response that is informed, well-structured and addresses the concerns of your individual club.
Please do not miss the opportunity to provide your individual feedback; this will form the basis for future decisions. Closing date for completion of the on-line survey is July 3.
Regards,
John Anderson - On behalf of the review panel
Last Modified on 24/07/2017 11:12