FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
MEMBERS of the Drouin football and netball clubs will vote later this month on whether to progress their bid to move from the Gippsland to the West Gippsland league.
A special general meeting will be held on Monday, June 23.
In 2018, Drouin Football Club members voted 58-4 in favour of moving to the West Gippsland Football-Netball Competition.
“On this occasion, and despite a compelling business case, our application was declined,” the Hawks stated in announcing details of the coming meeting on Facebook.
The previous application was to join a singular WGFNC division.
Earlier this year, the WGFNC formed an independent board devoted to growing the competition, with the aim of having a two-tiered divisional structure.
“Because we have the latest information in 2025 to consider, it creates an opportunity for our members to proactively review further details, vote accordingly based on the updated details, and if in favour, apply to return to the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition,” the Hawks stated.
The club asked members to reflect on its time in the Gippsland League from a football and netball perspective.
Information from both the Gippsland League, WGFNC and the Drouin football and netball clubs (which are separate entities) will be presented to the meeting
A potential change of leagues comes as the Hawks are enduring a tough season, with home games played away from Drouin due to major ground works. The senior football team is without a win from eight rounds, however the A Grade netball team is in the top four.
The Hawks have won 14 premierships since joining the single division Gippsland League in 2005, all in netball, with six coming in A Grade.
The best results for the Hawks’ senior football team were consecutive Grand Final appearances in 2010 and 2011.
Wonthaggi Power Football-Netball Club has also explored a possible move into a two-tier WGFNC competition.
In a statement last week, the Gippsland League confirmed it granted permission for Wonthaggi and Drouin to “review their current and future strategic directions” and said “The league remains committed to ongoing strategic planning with our member clubs.”
Footnote by Liam Durkin: The Gippsland League (then West Gippsland Latrobe FL) had a short-lived two divisional structure between 2002 and 2004. The divisions were purely geographical, with no promotion/relegation, and came about when the West Gippsland Football League administration merged with the Gippsland Latrobe FL. The ‘Premier’ division consisted of: Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Maffra, Sale, Leongatha and Wonthaggi Blues. The ‘Western’ Division was: Warragul, Drouin, Garfield, Cora Lynn, Kilcunda-Bass, Nar Nar Goon, Phillip Island, Rythdale-Officer (ROC) and Tooradin. Warragul, Drouin and Garfield joined the Gippsland League in 2005. Garfield left in 2009, but the league gained Wonthaggi Power (who formed when Wonthaggi Blues and Wonthaggi Rovers merged) from Alberton in 2010 and Bairnsdale from East Gippsland in 2011. The Gippsland League has remained a 10-team competition ever since. Western Division records are not included in official Gippsland League records.
