The Penola Football and Netball Club is set to decide its immediate future at a closed gathering in the coming weeks.
Subject to confirmation, the Eagles will gather at their McCorquindale Park licensed clubrooms on August 22 and vote on where they will play their football and netball in 2024.
The blue-and-golds defected from the Western Border competition around 25 years ago to join the Kowree Naracoorte League (which became the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara League in 1993).
Penola has received overtures from the SANFL and the six Western Border clubs to re-join this competition next season.
Similar approaches to the Portland and Hamilton Kangaroos clubs in recent months have been rejected.
Penola Football Netball Club president Matt Tilby said 130 of his members were present at a closed information forum at McCorquindale Park on Tuesday night.
Mr Tilby said there was a good representation of netballers but representatives of the SANFL, Western Border and media were not allowed to be present.
He said the meeting lasted around 90 minutes and was a members-only event so discussions could be held without any outside noise.
“We discussed the future of the Penola club and where we want to be,” Mr Tilby said.
“There will be a yes/no vote as to whether Penola joins a new-look league in 2024.
“The Western Border is winding up at the end of this year and a new constitution will be put in place.”
Mr Tilby said the upcoming forum would again be members only and the August 22 meeting date was not yet confirmed.
He said arrangements would be put in place for proxy votes to be recorded.
Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League president Peter McLellan said it was the policy of his league that Penola stays in the fold.
“Penola has obviously done their due diligence and had their discussions with the SANFL,” he said.
“I have not been a part of those discussions.
“We want to keep Penola but if they decide to go with the new-look competition, they will go with our blessing.
“If they then decide to want to return
to the KNT, we would welcome them back.”
The future of the region’s three football/netball competitions has been in limbo for the past 12 months.
It is the oft-stated policy decision of the South Australian Football Commission that it will force a merger of the Western Border and Mid South East leagues in 2024 unless an alternative structure for this region is formulated.
The SANFL has been approached for comment.
