THE Cohuna Kangas will remain in the Central Murray Football Netball League next year, after Heathcote District league clubs voted against accepting any new clubs for next season.
The HDFNL issued a press release following a constitutional meeting of the nine current clubs on Wednesday night.“A vote was held in relation to the submission of three clubs, Marong, Maiden Gully-YCW and Cohuna, seeking acceptance into the HDFNL,” the press release said.
“The outcome was the majority of clubs voting that the HDFNL remain the same in season 2024.
“This (decision) will now put the final decision in the hands of the AFL Central Victoria commission and the HDFNL will accept any decision the AFL commission makes in relation to the three clubs who have made submissions to enter the league, as was the case in 2022.
“The majority vote was for our league to stay the same in 2024, but ultimately the commission will make the final call.
“If the commission decides to move these clubs into our league, we will make it work as best we can.”
The AFL Central Victoria commission on Thursday said that wasn’t not the case, with AFL Victoria regulations declaring that the commission “has no authority to unilaterally transfer a club from one league to another league.”
“The AFL Central Victoria commission does not have a role to play until the HDFNL confirms their intention to accept a club, or clubs,” the commission’s press release said.
“The details contained in the HDFNL media release today are not consistent with the process defined in the relevant AFL Victoria regulations.”
The Cohuna Kangas lodged a submission to the HDFNL earlier this month, after 80 per cent of their financial members endorsed a decision to seek a move from the Central Murray to the Heathcote District league at a special general meeting in July.
