WELCOME to the inaugural season of the Bendigo Bank Limestone Coast Football Netball League.
It only seems like yesterday the SANFL announced on October 25, 2023, the immediate creation of a new Limestone Coast Football Netball League to replace Western Border Football League.
It all sounded great and simple and I think only those people who have been involved with the creation of the LCFNL understand the amount of work which has gone into getting us to this point.
Thank you to all clubs and board members for your valuable input in getting the new league up and running, I have no doubt it has been a strain on your time and resources.
We are in the unique position of starting a new league which means we can look to the future and try new things without being hamstrung by the past and we look forward to embracing the challenges involved with change.
The members of the board this year are David Chant who takes on the role as Director – Finance, Michael Summers (Director – Football), Adam Salmon (Director – Junior Football), Di Gould (Director – Netball Operations), Nick Zema, David Shipway, Tanya Coxon and Adrian Flowers.
We look forward to their valuable support and direction for the season.
Michael Mourbey continues in his role as the SANFL Football Operation Coordinator – South East and will continue to provide vital administration support to the league and clubs along with Heath Sims as the SANFL Game Development Coordinator – South East, who looks after the development of junior football in the region.
Scott Duncan continues in this role as the SANFL Country Zone Committee Member – South East and his assistant to the league and clubs is appreciated.
To all our league sponsors especially to Emma Horrigan, Branch Manager of the Community Bank Mount Gambier and Districts – Bendigo Bank, the league’s naming rights sponsor, we say thank you for having the faith to commit to the vision the league has for the next three years.
We also have Ben Nelson from Nelson Teamwear come onboard as the league’s apparel sponsor for the next three years.
Those two sponsors along with our other committed sponsors are invaluable to the league and what we are wanting to do.
To all our club people from both football and netball, including presidents, committee members, coaches, players, and support staff along with the SEFUL who will be providing our umpires for 2024, I say thank you and hope you all enjoy the season.
The name of the league being a Football and Netball League was an important step as we come together not only in name but all we do as clubs and as a league.
Our netball programs are an important part of the league as we look to build on our future together.
On the football side our biggest change has been the restructured junior football age groups with a close alignment to the other leagues with Under 17.5, Under 14.5 and Under 12 competitions.
I would like to congratulate all those people who have had input into making this happen under the leadership of our board member Adam Salmon who looks after the junior football portfolio.
The netball competition will boast 10 grades with increased junior numbers at entry level a huge boost for the sustainability of our league going forward.
All six foundation clubs are fielding teams in all 10 grades and it is exciting to see many new faces in charge of our clubs and our netball teams.
Thank you to all the media outlets for covering our league and we look forward to an exciting season ahead.
On behalf of the board, we wish all clubs well for the season and look forward to seeing some great football and netball played with fairness and spirit and we look forward to welcoming the Penola Football and Netball Club to the league next season.
Kurt Slaven
Chairperson
Limestone Coast Football Netball League
