STAKEHOLDERS have until May 29 to directly comment on the proposed changes to local football in the Swan Hill region.
The North West Structural Review’s preliminary findings recommend mergers between Ouyen United and Walpeup Underbool, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Woomelang Lascelles, and Wakool and Koondrook Barham.
If they merge, it is suggested that Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Woomelang Lascelles compete in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
If the clubs pursue the option of remaining separate identities, however, the North Central and Golden Rivers competitions are suggested as viable alternatives.
Sunraysia Football League has been identified as the best fit for United and Walpeup Underbool, while the Southern Mallee Giants have been recommended to the Horsham District Football League.
A proposal that the Mallee Football League be reformed, or a new league created, with one senior and one junior football team and two netball teams has not been recommended.
The overriding factor behind the changes is player numbers at senior and junior level, according to AFL Victoria’s Bruce Petering.
“Having a football presence in their local community is very important to people, regardless of whether it’s as a standalone or amalgamated club,” he said.
Petering said tyranny of distance was also a factor behind the proposals.
“The further you go away from the major rural cities, the harder it is to put together a team,” he said.
“We can’t continue to do what we’ve done forever and a day. One president said to me ‘the only constant in football is change’ — we live in a changing environment.”
