Blake Metcalf-Holt and Liam Durkin
Morwell East Football-Netball Club has again failed at an attempt to join the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.
A special general meeting was held by the NGFNL board and its member clubs last Wednesday night to determine if Morwell East would finally see out its wish for change after applying to leave the Mid Gippsland league for North Gippsland the past two years.
However, the Hawks’ hopes came crashing down, with current NGFNL clubs voting six-five against the move taking place, which would have begun for the 2026 season.
While the ultimate result was split six-six, with the NGNFL board entitled to one vote, a 75 per cent approval needed to occur to see Morwell East across the line.
The board, alongside Traralgon-Tyers United, Churchill, Yallourn-Yallourn North, Rosedale and Glengarry football-netball clubs voted in favour of accepting the Hawks into the competition. Six clubs, Woodside, Yarram, Gormandale, Cowwarr, Sale City, and Heyfield voted against.
Morwell East FNC president Colin King said the club was disappointed at the outcome.
“We believe all NGFNL clubs and MEFNC would benefit from our inclusion,” King told the Gippsland Times.
“The club does see our long term future in the NGFNL, but for the short term, will continue to strive for success in the MGFNL.
“We thank the efforts of the NGFNL board for their strong endorsement and hope to be able to answer all concerns of the clubs that voted no.”
The concerns raised from the clubs opposing the move included Morwell East not currently being able to field an under 18s side, which was a major requirement and was also applied when former Mid Gippsland club YYN was accepted into North Gippsland.
The Hawks have not been able to get up a thirds team since 2017, but King was adamant when they first submitted their application to join North Gippsland next year that they stand a better chance of doing so in the new league, due to geographical reasons.
Another concern regarded the ability for the Sale Umpires Association to provide umpires to all football games in a NGFNL expanded to 12 clubs.
Members of the NGNFL board, which supported Morwell East’s application, expressed their disappointment.
“The board of directors were disappointed in how the vote fell, but are bound by the NGFNL constitution, with the member clubs voting and required nine clubs to approve the application,” league president Martha Truin told the Gippsland Times.
Similar sentiments followed the fall-out of last year’s vote, the NGFNL board will likely encourage Morwell East and other clubs to try again, proud to be a league which is sought after.
The two other Mid Gippsland clubs who tried to join the NGFNL last year alongside the Hawks, Newborough and Yinnar, did not apply this time around.
There were a number of clubs who have had a change of heart since Morwell East first reached the NGFNL club vote in 2023, with Heyfeld, Yarram, Sale City, and Cowwarr all for the move back then. Rosedale and Glengarry voted against the move last year, but shifted their opinion this time around.
THE saga could yet have further fallout, with documents seen by the Gippsland Times indicating a number of board positions will become vacant for season 2026.
It has been a horror few weeks for NGFNL officials, where off-field issues (namely the brawl between Yarram and Rosedale) have largely distracted from the finals series to commence this weekend.
