CAN a “Super League” get up and running in the Limestone Coast?
That is the question many football fans would be wondering, while club and league delegates work hard behind the scenes to bring it to fruition.
After the announcement this week the Mid South East Football League 2020 season would not go ahead, all three leagues in the region now have no senior competitions to play in and the chance of a combined season has gained further traction.
MSEFL president Peter Mitchell said there was some interest from at least two of his clubs to play in such a competition, with Mount Burr and Kalangadoo ready to go.
Western Border president Michael Summers said he would have at least three clubs – North Gambier, East Gambier and South Gambier – who were also keen on the idea.
Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara is still up in the air with their earlier decision to cancel the season, but it is believed clubs such as Bordertown, Kybybolite and Mundulla might be up for the challenge.
If the competition can get up and running, it could take on a couple of different formats.
It has been suggested a straight senior competition in a round-robin style, with the opportunity to play multiple games at one venue on one day could be an option.
Mitchell said at a meeting of the MSEFL this week, with SANFL football operations coordinator South East Michael Mourbey in attendance, it was suggested to run a regular-style home-and-away format, with Reserves and Juniors on the same day.
Mitchell said the decision to cancel the MSEFL season showed mixed feelings from each club and even individual players, with the Super League scenario providing a real opportunity for those still wanting to play to be a part of the new format.
“I think having a potential format this year for those players who want to play would be good,” he said.
Summers said he was always keen to have something available for those players and clubs who still wanted to be a part of football in 2020.
“It (the Super League) has been in the pipeline – I wanted some form of football here for our other clubs who wanted to play,” he said.
While it may seem a big task to bring three leagues together at short notice, both presidents seem to think it is achievable.
Mitchell said he considered it worth the effort.
“Yes it is all scary (the coronavirus), but there are a lot of people out there who are missing their football and missing those sorts of things on the weekends,” he said.
“From a community point of view, from a football point of view, that community spirit, the social activity, the mental health side of things – to me there are more positive things than negative things.”
For now the final details need to be ironed out regarding the format and time line, but among all of the chaos the coronavirus has wreaked around the globe, football in the Limestone Coast is again a reality in 2020.
