FOOTBALL/NETBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
By TOM HAYES and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE North Gippsland Football-Netball League and its member clubs have ultimately decided that no new clubs will join the league for the 2025 season.
The decision comes after the league held a vote on Wednesday, August 7.
The NGFNL and its member clubs voted on whether they would accept three, two, one or no clubs into the league.
Each item required a 75 per cent majority (nine votes) to be passed, for which the only vote that passed was for no clubs to join NGFNL.
Clubs were not voting on specific clubs to join in season 2025, rather how many, then the NGFNL and its member clubs would have returned at a later date to discuss exactly which clubs would enter. This evidently wasn’t needed.
It is unknown which clubs voted for what outcome, but the Express understands that four votes (including the NGFNL board) were in favour for two clubs to join the league, and six votes (including the NGFNL board) were in favour for one club to join.
In terms of the three clubs moving into NGFNL, it is believed there was a clear consensus that was not an option at all for the 2025 season, and that a 75 per cent majority was reached (at least nine votes) for no clubs to join.
While clubs struggling within the senior football ranks were mostly fixed on no change, there is belief that headlining clubs were in favour of strengthening the competition.
NGFNL President, Martha Truin told the Express they “encourage” clubs to lodge attempts next year for the 2026 season after voting for two new clubs to join.
“The league, we were for the two clubs to come in… we were more than happy as a board to have that,” she said.
“We’ve encouraged the clubs to not give up (and) try again in 2025 (for the 2026 season).
“As a board, we think it’s a great thing to get more strength in numbers… potentially we might get something across the line next year for them to come in.”
NGFNL sit in a good position as a desired league dating back to Yallourn Yallourn North FNC’s decision to join in 2021.
“We use our #BeNorthGippy wanting, not only players to come and play in (NGFNL), but that potential for more clubs to come across too,” Truin said.
“We want people to say ‘North Gippy’s the place to be’.
“We’ve loved that they’re picking us and that they want to come our way, and we see that as a strength in our board and in our administration inviting for those sorts of clubs to want to come to us and our member clubs.”
The vote arose after Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League club Morwell East showed interest to join the NGFNL in 2022.
Ultimately, their club vote did not receive a majority that year, but the club tried again in 2023, passing the club vote, but was unanimously denied by a vote of the NGFNL clubs and board.
After two failed attempts, Morwell East FNC President, Colin King, at the time mentioned they would try again in 2024.
When 2024 arrived, they weren’t the only MGFNL club trying to join the NGFNL. Newborough FNC and Yinnar FNC also showed interest in a move.
Newborough also showed interest in the Ellinbank and District Football-Netball League.
Before the vote which would ultimately decide if any clubs would be accepted into the NGFNL, Morwell East, Newborough and Yinnar FNCs all lodged their formal applications to join the league.
Morwell East FNC, who have now tried for three years to enter the NGFNL, sent a statement on the vote’s outcome.
“Morwell East Football-Netball Club (MEFNC) are really disappointed we were unable to get a positive result with our application to the NGFNL,” a Morwell East FNC statement read.
“We thank the leadership, hard work and positive feedback from Martha, Brendan and the rest of the NGFNL executive. They pushed our case and believe we would enhance the league.
“We would also like to thank all the clubs for listening to our application and giving it deep thought at committee level.
“I do understand some one the reasons clubs voted no, but believe they missed a chance to bulletproof the NGFNL with the inclusion of competitive clubs.
“I believe it’s a lot better being a weaker on field/court team in a strong league than strong team in a league with major problems.
“With Morwell Eagles being accepted into Traralgon juniors, the synergy between ourselves and the NGFNL will only increase.
“Our concerns about the long term strength of MEFNC in the MGFNL haven’t disappeared and we will continue to explore the best options for MEFNC into the future.”
As for Newborough FNC, they thanked their members for their efforts, despite not getting the result they wanted.
“I’d like to thank all our members who have showed a keen interest and provided input in relation to this ‘League Review’, including the members of the working group and in particular Anthony Magnuson who has taken the time to reach out to each and every club (both Ellinbank and North Gippsland) during this review to discuss the rationale behind our wish to transfer,” the Newborough FNC statement read.
“Although this outcome was not favourable, as (a) committee it is our intention to start building strategies around how we can move forward in a positive manner within the MGFNL and impart our thoughts once again to our league in relation to important changes that must be made for the greater good of the league and it’s club participants.”
As it stands, Morwell East, Newborough and Yinnar will spend the 2025 season in the MGFNL. It will be interesting to see who, if any club, decides to try again in 2025 for the 2026 season.
