James Murphy
THE Casterton Sandford Football and Netball Club will hold a member’s vote towards a motion which proposes a move to the Mid South Eastern Football and Netball League.
Currently competing in the Western Border Football League, the cross-border club has expressed the desire for change.
Casterton Sandford football president Dylan Ayton said the current format of the league does not suit the growth and goals the club has set itself.
He said the club had been pushing for a change for some time and in light of the recent decision for the proposed Limestone Coast Football league – which would merge the MSEFL and WBFL – to not go ahead in 2023, further options have been explored.
Ayton said there were a multitude of reasons behind the movement, with the future of the club a real focus.
“It is really hard for us to fill all of our junior teams with two-year age gaps and for our junior netball requiring a B team in every grade,” he said.
The monotony of playing the same clubs three to four times a season has also started to wear thin.
“Playing the same team every six weeks, it has just become really hard,” Ayton said.
“On top of that, it makes our recruiting difficult.
“A lot of players are not wanting to come – they don’t want to come into a six-team comp where we are playing those same teams week in, week out.”
There is no bad blood between Casterton Sandford and the Western Border Football and Netball League and Ayton is grateful of the support which has been received.
“Michael Summers and the Western Border have been trying really hard for change,” he said.
“They have been pushing super hard and we couldn’t be any more thankful for Western Border.
“They have been pushing for change as well, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened for whatever reasons.”
Western Border Football League president Michael Summers supports Casterton Sandford’s right to explore other avenues and hopes a suitable outcome can be reached for all parties.
“We are very happy that Casterton are having a look at all of their options – that is what a footy club should do,” he said.
“They have said the Western Border structure at the moment doesn’t fit them to fill an Under 18’s, 16’s, 14’s and 12’s.
“It doesn’t work for them and we understand that.”
If Casterton Sandford is successful in their bid, it would leave the Western Border as a five-team competition.
That is likely to resurrect discussions of what the future of South East football will look like.
“The future and the stats that SANFL has provided show that a restructure in a few year’s time is going to happen here in the South East,” Summers said.
“Hopefully the Mid South East, Western Border and SANFL can all work together to find a reasonable solution.
“We are all in favour for Casterton and we are all in favour of every club looking at their options moving forward.
“It has been no secret the Western Border has been looking for change.”
Ayton said Casterton Sandford was not turning its back on the league, but simply searching for the best environment for the club to thrive.
“We are never running away from those clubs or the standard of football or netball,” he said.
“What we do need are more clubs and potentially more country clubs to allow our senior netballers to compete and for junior structures to change within the Western Border.
“We hoped for the Limestone Coast League and the 16-team comp, we hoped two or three teams would come into the Western Border – that didn’t work out.”
“So now we see our most viable option is to go and play in the Mid South East, knowing that there are more teams, there is a better junior structure for our football and netball and it allows us to recruit a lot better than we have been able to in the past.”
Ayton said there was a lot of excitement around the club at the prospect of change.
“We are really excited to work with the Mid South East and are really looking forward to that change if it eventuates,” he said.
“We are looking to grow and find what is best for us to become a real force.
“We are not running away from where we are and we are not doing it out of desperation.
“We could keep building in the Western Border, but it is not the right fit for us with our juniors or as far as really supporting our sponsors and with recruiting.”
An information night will be held at the club on Monday, August 1 at 7pm, with all welcome to attend.
The final verdict will then be decided on Sunday, August 14 with a closed member’s vote.
