Two high-level meetings to possibly consider the compulsory merger of the Mid South East and Western Border football and netball competitions are about to be held.
The SANFL is insistent that 2023 will be the last season of the two current competitions and it has appointed a working party to oversee a new structure.
It will meet in Mount Gambier for the first time tomorrow night (Wednesday).
Representatives from the region’s three netball and football competitions have been invited to the closed forum at the new Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.
Meanwhile, the Hatherleigh Football Club president Deon Chester has called a meeting next month of the nine Mid SE football and netball clubs.
In a letter to his eight fellow football club presidents, Mr Chester used strong and emotional language and urged them to be pro-active.
Attached to his letter were suggestions with respect to juniors, volunteers, salary cap, player transfer points, netball and other like matters.
The Eagles leader urged all nine Mid SE clubs to send two football and two netball representatives to the proposed forum.
He said members of the MSEFL executive committee were aware of the meeting but they had not been invited.
Meanwhile, the SANFL announced yesterday (Monday) the members of the South East Football and Netball Working Group to consider the future structure of competitions in the region as well as three associated sub-committees.
Following an open nomination process, a list of nine club, league and community football representatives will form the working group.
SANFL Executive General Manager Football Matt Duldig confirmed the working group would be led by chairperson Tony Irvine OAM, a former local government CEO for more than 20 years and football administrator at Port Lincoln.
He will be joined by Ben Mules, Adam Merrett, Joel Redman, Peter Allen, Stephen Day, Shane Ploenges, Tony Elletson and Bob Jones.
Mr Duldig said the working group would be underpinned by three sub-committees with a key focus on Juniors, Leagues and Clubs.
The Juniors sub-committee will be chaired by Heath Sims, while outgoing SA Football Commissioner Tom Zorich will head both the League and Club sub-committees.
League executives from the Mid South Eastern Football Netball League, Western Border Football and Netball League and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League are among members of the Junior and League sub committees.
An action plan will be established and executed over the coming months.
Further report in Thursday’s edition of The SE Voice.
