As Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club members prepare to vote on a potential switch from Western Border to the Mid South Eastern competition, it’s a clear sign the conversation for potential change to the sporting soul of the community will not disappear.
Although proposed changes from both the SANFL and Limestone Coast Regional Football Council were knocked back recently, the rumour mill suggests clubs have still been assessing their options for the future.
One of them is East Gambier which is not afraid to say “this year is to be the last official year of the Western Border Football League” in a letter informing past players about its recent reunion weekend.
However, since the SANFL’s 16-team competition proposal was dismissed, no team has made a bigger statement than the Cats, who have taken matters into their own paws and believe the Mid South Eastern environment is “a better fit” than their current home.
However, Mid South Eastern Football League president Peter Mitchell said he was not aware of the impending vote of the Casterton/Sandford Football Netball Club on the possibility of the Cats leaving the Western Border and joining his league until it was announced.
“The vote has not been discussed by either the MSEFL Board or the club delegates,” Mitchell said.
“I expect the vote will be discussed at our delegates meeting.
“The word had been going around that Casterton/Sandford had been looking at the Mid SE as well as the South West District Football League.
“The Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League was considered to be too far away.
“I understand Casterton/Sandford would like to play with the similar junior netball and football structure of the Mid SE.
“I have had a couple of informal approaches from Casterton/Sandford but there has been nothing in writing.”
Meanwhile, Western Border Football League president Michael Summers said he was aware of the Cats’ intensions and hoped it was a sign for change to happen soon.
“No, it was not a surprise,” Summers said.
“We have been working closely with Casterton Sandford because they are a founding member and we do not want to lose them.
“We know their struggles because every club is struggling with senior and junior player retention, sponsorships, gate attendances and volunteers.
“If the SANFL does not step in and do something soon, there quite possibly could be no league in Mount Gambier which would be tragic.”
Although Casterton Sandford leaving the Western Border competitions puts Summers’ league in trouble with only five competing clubs, he has no issues with the development.
Summers encourages all clubs to evaluate their current health because he believes change must happen to benefit everyone.
“Casterton is more than entitled to look at all their options like any club,” he said.
“All Clubs need to look at their options because this is a South East football issue.
“Casterton is not the only one in trouble either because juniors numbers all around the South East are struggling.
“It is an ongoing issue to get kids playing sport full stop.
“The stats have shown the decline in numbers is clearly there and we cannot survive with three leagues within a 100km radius of each other.
“When the survey came out Mid South East clubs want change too, but the clubs are just unsure what it should or could be.
“People need to put aside the Mid South East and Western Border hatred because it needs to be a future-looking venture.
“We need to keep working with the SANFL and Mid South East to see what we can get out of it.
“Change is going to happen eventually – people do not like the sound of it, but the SANFL just needs to bite the bullet and so something here.”
