THE quality and size of football leagues in the South East region has been a major talking point for several years now, although the quality has never really been in doubt.
The South Australian National Football League state body has looked to address any issues faced by the three leagues in the region – Western Border, Mid South East and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara – with the appointment of football operations coordinator to assist with the running of the sport.
Michael Mourbey has come on board to replace the initial short-lived appointment of Tony McNamara in recent weeks to take on the role through the SA Community Football Commission.
Mourbey has had a long involvement with South East football, having played in all three South East leagues, as well as holding the position of president of the Penola Football Club.
Most recently, he held the position of president of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League where he steered the league successfully through several challenges.
Mourbey has since given up the KNTFL presidency to concentrate on the new appointment in an unbiased manner.
The position appears to be mainly a supportive role for leagues and clubs, which Mourbey said he was looking forward to, along with the challenges the sport faces into the future.
“I’m a very passionate person about football,” he said.
“I have been involved in football all my life, in administration and playing and I really do care about football in the South East.
“We have a really vibrant and good three leagues in the South East – there is no debating that at all.”
Mourbey said his role would be to assist the leagues and clubs in the region, to provide a direct resource through the SANFL.
“The role I am in is really trying to help the leagues as far as volunteers go, taking the pressure off and being a resource for the clubs,” he said.
“I think the one thing that is missed in the appointment is I am not just there for the leagues.
“Yes I am going to be helping reduce the pressure on them, but I am also there for every single club in the South East, so if a club needs a hand with working on volunteers, training, grants, I am a resource from the SANFL for them.”
Mourbey said he would make contact with every club in the region over the coming weeks.
So far he said while it is early days in the position, the feedback he had received from leagues was positive, but suggested it would probably take a full season before any real assessment could be made.
“I think people understand from the league perspective what we are trying to do,” he said.
“I’m very hopeful the role can be beneficial to all the leagues and clubs as far as a resource, developing sponsorship, marketing, helping the volunteers.
“If we can do that to a reasonable degree, I think it will be a success.”
Regarding the future of the three leagues in their current states, Mourbey said that sat largely with the leagues and clubs themselves, with his role simply to assist where possible to keep everything running smooth.
“The make up of the leagues is not my personal responsibility,” he said.
“It comes back to the clubs themselves as to where they see they fit.
“We do not really know what the future will hold, but there could well be changes that occur over the next 10 years.
“Short term, I think the three leagues are running very well, I do not see any need to change that.”
Overall Mourbey said he was happy with the state of the sport in the region.
“There are 26 teams throughout the South East and the quality of football is very good,” he said.
“There is a lot of good local talent and a lot of good juniors in all three leagues who will come through over the next year or two.
“I think footy in the South East is in a very good, healthy state.”
