<\/p>\n
SANFL has denied a second request from Casterton Sandford Football & Netball Club to join the Mid South Eastern Football League and will now move forward with establishing a working group to implement a change of structure for football in the South East beyond season 2023.<\/p>\n
The decision, endorsed last weekby the South Australian Football Commission, was again based on recommendations provided by an independent Investigation Committee which reviewed the second application from the club to transfer from Western Border Football League to the MSEFL.<\/p>\n
Work on the formation of new competition structures in the region will commence immediately with the SANFL calling for nominations for the Working Group. SANFL executive general manager football Matt Duldig said SANFL\u2019s decision to not approve a second application from Casterton-Sandford to join the MSEFL took into consideration the wide-ranging impact of football across the entire South East region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ramifications of such a move had not changed since the original application from Casterton Sandford was received and would trigger an immediate change to competition structures in the region,\u201d Mr Duldig said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, the transfer application could again not be considered in isolation, but as a bigger picture for the future of football in the South East.\u201d Mr Duldig said the commission again acknowledged that change was needed in the region and that any application for transfer under similar conditions submitted in 2023 would be accepted.<\/p>\n
He said at this stage, a revised 15-team competition was the preferred model for implementation in 2024 and this would be the focus for the Working Group once established.
\n\u2018We know many clubs are struggling and need assistance with junior and teenage player numbers, attracting and retaining volunteers as well as umpire retention,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cSignificant change for the region is coming, which is why a target for the 2024 season is more achievable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SANFL pushes any change to 2024 football season SANFL has denied a second request from Casterton Sandford Football & Netball Club to join the Mid South Eastern Football League and will now move forward with establishing a working group to implement a change of structure for football in the South East beyond season 2023. […]<\/p>\n