Trevor Jackson
FOOTBALL was in the headlines in 2022 and depending on which side of the fence you sat, it was good and bad.
The Western Border Football League has struggled along for several years with just six teams in the competition.
It was certainly a viable competition and the standard was certainly up to par.
However, within some of the clubs it was wearing thin, having to play each other three times throughout the season.
The SANFL had looked at options to transform football in the region, which included the Mid South Eastern and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara leagues.
As talks evolved it appeared there was little support from the other two leagues, with the WBFL left on shaky ground.
Casterton Sandford then made its move late in the year and pushed SANFL to finally make a decision.
The Cats put in for a transfer to the MSEFL and that triggered an investigation by SANFL.
However, it was not the ideal outcome for the Cats as their application was rejected for the 2023 season.
Had it been accepted, it would have left the WBFL with no choice but to disband, with an application put into SANFL to do so should they lose the Cats.
The Cats put in another application prior to the cut-off date which was also declined.
In effect all clubs in the MSEFL and WBFL would have been left to merge if the move had gone ahead, with the format to be resolved.
That would have meant all hands on deck leading into the 2023 season, with little time to iron out a viable format for all involved in both leagues.
As it panned out the status quo remained heading into 2023, but the format will be resolved for the 2024 season, with SANFL suggesting any team putting in a similar application for that year would be accepted.
The KNTFL remained resolute and was left out of the equation, with just the WBFL and MESFL involved.
What it means is a change for football in the region, whether one large league, two divisions, or whatever SANFL comes up with.
The rumours throughout the 2022 season certainly had tongues wagging and it will be the same in the upcoming year, until a final decision is set in stone.
Change has been inevitable since the WBFL was reduced to six teams and it appears it is now on the doorstep.
