Firm overtures are being made by Adelaide and local football authorities to have Portland and the Hamilton Kangaroos end their decade-long exile and return to the Western Border in 2024 to create an eight-club competition.

Last month the SANFL Working Party recommended the Western Border competition be broken up with two clubs joining the Mid South Eastern with the remaining four going to the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara.

However, the SANFL and the Western Border Football League are now examining another option with a high-level delegation attending an open meeting of 100 supporters of the Portland Football Netball Club at Hanlon Park on Wednesday night.

The delegation comprised SANFL representatives Shawn Ford and Heath Sims, Western Border president Michael Summers and the club presidents of the six remaining Western Border clubs.

Portland used social media to invite all interested members, supporters, sponsors and players.

“The SANFL have approached the Portland Tigers to see what our interest is in potentially joining one of the merged competitions in South Australia for 2024,” stated the club.

“We will be holding an open meeting at the function room where all members and interested parties can come along and hear what the SANFL has to say and voice any thoughts or concerns they might have.”

Portland Football Netball Club president Troy Bannam chaired the hour-long meeting and told The SE Voice the possibility of his club joining a merged competition was ruled out.

“We are not interested in making a three-hour drive from Portland to Keith,” Mr Bannam said.

“Our longest journey in the Hampden league is 180km to Camperdown.”

He would not be drawn on whether the mood of the Portland members was to accept or reject the overtures from the SANFL and the Western Border to rejoin the existing six-club competition.

“We are waiting on more information and we will work through that,” Mr Bannam said.

“The SANFL is talking to other clubs.

“We are aware that an approach has also been made to the Hamilton Kangaroos and I cannot speak for them.

“They have a lot going on with the redevelopment of Melville Oval.”

The Portland Tigers had been one of the 12 foundation clubs in the Western Border Football League in 1964 but departed a decade ago to try their hand at the Warrnambool-centred Hampden League.

The highest ranking to date achieved by Portland footballers has been fourth in a 10-club competition in 2022. The club’s revenue streams include poker machines and a TAB and it has stable administration.

Mr Bannam is into his sixth year as president while A Grade coach Jarrod Holt has been in the mentor’s role for eight non-consecutive seasons.

It currently sits at the foot of the premiership table with one win from nine games.

Interstate media reports suggest the other Hampden clubs want Portland to remain.

The Hamilton Kangaroos have also been starved off success since departing the Western Border at the end of 2012 and joining Hampden.

Currently ninth with one win, the club was formed a decade ago by the merger of the Hamilton Magpies and Hamilton Imperials.

Its home base at Melville Oval is about to undergo a major redevelopment with the club forced to play the last two games of the home-and-away season at Dunkeld.

Hamilton Kangaroos Football Netball Club chairman Lachy Patterson has issued a public statement stating his club had received an initial phone call from SANFL staff members.

“They asked if we would have any interest in discussing a possible return to a cross-border competition,” Mr Patterson said.

“This has not been discussed at depth at an executive level, the conversation has not been progressed with the SANFL and, at this point in time, it is not a priority to pursue.

“Our focus at this point in time is to ensure we transition through the remainder of this season and into season 2024.”

Elsewhere in the interstate media, it has been reported the SANFL wants Penola to also rejoin the Western Border next season and make up the eighth club.

Penola was another Western Border foundation club, never won an A Grade flag and departed for the Kowree-Naracoorte Tatiara Football League over 25 years ago.

The press reports state the SANFL has outlined a 16-round season in the new Western Border competition, with each club to host eight home matches.

It has been stated in the press reports the finals could be hosted on a rotational basis, with Portland and Penola to host the 2024 and 2025 grand final respectively.

The SE Voice requested an interview with the SANFL but was instead provided with a statement from its media and communications manager Paula Brinkworth.

She confirmed the SANFL had met with players/members at Portland.

“However, the SANFL will not be providing any further comment while the Working Group continues to work through all the detail and engage with clubs and leagues,” Ms Brinkworth said.

“Once we are in a position to provide a further update to media, we will.”