All 10 football and netball clubs in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara competition have voted to oppose the South East Working Party’s proposal to restructure the two sports in this region.
The nine-member body has recommended the Western Border competition be disbanded in 2024 and its six clubs be allocated to either the KNT or the Mid South East.
The sole KNT representative on the SE Working Party is Adam Merrett, of Penola.
An extraordinary meeting of the KNT was held last week at Naracoorte and football and netball representatives from every club voted unanimously to give the restructure proposal the “thumbs down”.
The KNT has scheduled a further extraordinary meeting for Naracoorte tomorrow night (Wednesday).
KNT operations manager Nigel Clarke said the club representatives will work through their response to the SE Working Party restructure proposal.
Mr Clarke told The SE Voice the main reason for opposing the restructure proposal was the requirement for extra travel.
“It is about distance,” Mr Clarke said.
“It is hard enough to get volunteers now and you will find they would not be prepared to travel such as the one-and three-quarter hours from Bordertown to Mount Gambier.
“The restructure proposal has come out of left field.
“They had been talking about a 15-team competition [a merger of all Western Border and Mid SE clubs].
“The KNTFL is fine at the moment but we see change down the track.”
Mr Clarke said he was aware the 18 football and netball club presidents in the Mid SE had unanimously called for the status quo to remain in 2024 and beyond.v
He anticipated a formal response to the SE Working Party restructure proposal would be formed tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Western Border Football League president Michael Summers has spoken in various public forums about the recommendations of the SE Working Party.
Mr Summers said he had contacted the presidents of the six WBFL clubs and all were supportive of the new proposal, especially Casterton Sandford and East Gambier.
He said the SANFL should put out a draft draw for 2024 as this would show the likely travel requirements would not be as heavy as many supporters were claiming.
Mr Summers said new names would be required next year for the competitions currently known as the KNTFL and the Mid SE.
According to Mr Summers, the WBFL had been looking for change and would now work with the SANFL and the two other SE leagues in readiness for 2024.
He regretted the splitting up of the WBFL but accepted that as a consequence of seeking change.
Mr Summers said the WBFL had tried over the years to bring Hamilton, Portland and Heywood back into the local competition but the larger AFL Victoria system offered more opportunities to them in terms of grants, sponsorships and facility upgrades.
