Araft of incentives has been offered to Penola footballers and netballers to defect from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara competition and return to a re-badged Western Border in 2024.

The SANFL and the six remaining Western Border clubs have guaranteed the KNT Eagles can have the lucrative grand final hosting rights on two occasions before the end of 2027 as well as next year’s interleague carnival.

Furthermore, the SANFL has offered one of its personnel to act as the independent chair of the re-badged Western Border league along with other personnel to assist with administration.

Enhanced voting rights for the three non-Mount Gambier clubs have also been suggested as a way of countering any perception of potential administrative dominance by the four clubs in the Blue Lake city.

Details of the incentives and background information are outlined in a 34 page memo from the Penola Football Netball Club to its more than 200 adult members, players, life members and sponsors.

The change of leagues has the backing of the two executive committees and they are now looking to garner at least 66% support in a club vote on Thursday night.

It will be held at McCorquindale Park at 6pm.

Proxy votes are being accepted at the Penola office of the TDC stock and station agency.

The advocates for change say it will benefit the Penola underage footballers and netballers as, unlike the KNT, the Western Border clubs field teams in nearly every grade.

Without presenting any evidence, the Penola memo claims some other clubs in the KNT have a much higher football player payments outlay than it does.

A reduction in the amount of travel is seen as another benefit of quitting the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara.

The Penola clubs have expressed concern at the future of the KNT given other rumours about clubs folding.

However, some sweeteners are not yet guaranteed.

Penola will have a greater ability to recruit players but only if mooted changes to the player points system are endorsed.

The SANFL will place Penola’s base at McCorquindale Park at the top of the list for female-friendly facilities infrastructure upgrades but the next round of grants has yet to be announced.

Football’s statewide governing body and the six remaining Western Border clubs are keen for Penola to be a part of what it calls the “Region’s Premier League” as they believe it would attract quality players, supporters and additional clubs.

Another unnamed club is reported to be interested in joining a re-badged Western Border and the advocates are aiming for a nine-club competition.

The SANFL and the Western Border clubs have outlined possible marketing initiatives but there is no reference to using the eight newspapers in this region which already cover all grades of Aussie Rules.

According to the Penola Football Netball Club executive committees, any move to a re-badged Western Border would be subjected to a “sunset clause”.

“If we move to the new league, we acknowledge we will need to analyse our position after one or two years,” states the memo.

“If we find it is not a suitable fit for us, then we have every right to ask either the KNT or the Mid South East to enter their competition due to our great geographic proximity.”

The memo reveals the Penola footballers and netballers sought an unspecified amount of cash from the SANFL to switch leagues but the response was not stated in the emailed document.

There are several references to the proposed seven-club competition in 2024 being a “new league” and it being completed unrelated to the Western Border.

Football followers elsewhere in the region are concerned about the favoured treatment being directed to Penola such as potential facility upgrades and the possibility of additional player transfer points.

“Penola has already secured several league medallists over the years from the Mid South East Football League including Glencoe’s Michael Jones, Mount Burr’s Adam Wiese, Nangwarry’s Brett Lindner and Robe’s Zac Deane,” one footy follower said.

“The SANFL has granted AFL trial games, a SANFL game for premiership points and AFL training camps over the years to venues in the KNT and the Western Border but there have been no such allocations to the Mid SE.”

In its almost 160 years of existence, Penola has competed against around 25 clubs in seven different leagues.

Penola had 24 seasons in the Western Border without winning an A Grade football title but has six such premiership flags in the KNT since 1988.