Multiple clubs in the Mid South Eastern Football League have stated they will not become the eighth club in the new Limestone Coast Football Netball League in 2025.
The former Western Border Football League with six clubs was re-badged this year to form the new LCFNL with Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara club Penola announcing it would join in 2025.
This announcement in March had been preceded the previous day by the news of a $150,000 SANFL facilities grant to Penola.
Robe has been targeted by the SANFL to leave the MSEFL where it has played since 1966.
Roosters president Debra Mackey said a letter from the SANFL was tabled at its regular July monthly committee meeting.
Ms Mackey said the SANFL community football department had wanted to meet the seasiders and discuss the opportunities available if they wanted to change leagues.
However, Ms Mackey said the committee felt there was no need for a meeting with the SANFL as her club had no intention of leaving the league it had called home since 1966.
She said the main disadvantage of joining the LCFNL was the additional travel.
“That would be too much for our members and volunteers,” Ms Mackey said.
“We already travel 1000km more than any club now.
“There has also been talk of playing the LCFNL junior games on a Sunday and that would not suit us.”
The Robe president said her committee decided to inform the SANFL that a meeting was inappropriate given the strong opposition to any move.
“We want to be clear and really transparent,” Ms Mackey said.
“If Robe had met with the SANFL, it would have set the wrong tone.
“There would have been hubble and bubble in the community.”
Robe is one of the strongest clubs in the MSEFL and there are plans in train for a $10m redevelopment of the Robe Oval.
Among the past player cohort are current Crows skipper Jordan Dawson, 1980 Richmond premiership player and All-Australian Jim Jess and test cricketer Natthew Elliott.
Meanwhile, the Hatherleigh Football Netball Club has not had a written SANFL approach but its stance is the same as Robe’s.
The Eagles have the largest following in the MSEFL and draw its players and supporters from the local area as well as Millicent, Rendelsham, Furner, Southend and Beachport.
Its A Grade football team currently heads the premiership table and has played in four of the past 10 grand finals.
Football president Deon Chester said this week there was no SANFL letter but the football and netball committees had held a joint meeting to consider their options.
“There was no interest in leaving the MSEFL,” Mr Chester said,
The Hatherleigh stance had been an open secret in sporting circles and had been reported in The SE Voice.
Another MSEFL powerhouse club not to receive a SANFL letter was Glencoe which is currently sixth on the ladder.
It is the oldest MSEFL club in continuous existence dating back to 1910 and its tally of 14 A Grade premierships is second only to Mount Burr.
Murphies president Adam Price said he expects all nine MSEFL clubs to stay put in 2025.
“We had a club delegates’ meeting a few weeks ago and there was no appetite for change,” he said.
Reece Carlson is the president of reigning premiers Kalangadoo and he is unsurprised that no written approach has come from the SANFL.
“We have told them four times that we are not interested,” he said.
Mount Burr is the MSEFL’s most successful club with 19 A Grade flags.
Club president Clint Bowering said his club had received a written invitation a few weeks ago to meet with the SANFL but has taken no action.
Mr Bowering said it was strange there was no mention of netball in the SANFL correspondence and he was dissatisfied with other aspects.
The SE Voice approached the SANFL for comment.
Media and communications manager Paula Brinkworth said there was no update on the LCFNL 2025 season at this stage.
