PLANS to amalgamate the Golden Rivers Football League and Golden Rivers Netball League will progress this month, with all clubs to take part in discussions regarding a “becoming one GRFNL” proposal.
First considered in 2011, representatives from the nine football and netball clubs that compete in both competitions will meet at cluBarham on Sunday, August 13 for a four-hour forum.
The Golden Rivers Football League board has given in-principle support to the proposal, with the workshop the next stage in the process before the matter is taken to each competition’s annual general meeting on November 15.
“There will be more to be gained from each organisation if we combine together than if we maintain the status quo,” GRFL board member, Angela Hird said.
“All clubs have been very supportive of the idea.”
Both leagues first discussed an amalgamation close to six years ago, with a forum held in July 2012 featuring a presentation from the Bendigo Football Netball League as to how its merger process went.
However, the plan never proceeded as attention turned to the implementation of recommendations outlined in the review into country football throughout Victoria.
The review – overseen by AFL Victoria chairman, Peter Jackson following a lengthy investigation – recommended the creation of regional commissions and for leagues to be managed through regional administration centres.
“The first step in the new process was to get netball representatives onto the football league board, and we were fortunate following the changes that occurred leading into the 2016 season that Kellie Crellin and I were able to join the board,” Hird said.
“In the past year we have also been able to get Zoe Ferrier on board, meaning there are three netball voices on the football board.
“The football league would have liked to have completed the process of looking at joining the two leagues earlier, but this was stalled at the start of the year by the implementation the recommendations to come out of AFL Central Murray’s review into football umpiring.”
With AFL Central Murray about to begin its own review on the health of both the Central Murray Football Netball League and the GRFL/GRNL, all parties that come under the Golden Rivers brand will use the forum to assess all options.
“The forum will look at the governance of both organisations, as well as the challenges both football and netball may face in the future,” Hird said.
“Discussions will also occur on opportunities that can help provide feedback into AFL Central Murray’s own review.”
