The Western Region Football League could be set for massive changes for the 2024 season in a report released by the league.
In a report sent out to clubs on Friday night, the league has proposed divisional changes, to shift its 22 clubs into two divisions.
The report named Western Region Football Netball Review Draft recommendations, which has been seen by Star Weekly, has proposed division 3 be removed.
Currently there are eight teams in division 1 and seven teams in each division 2 and 3. There had been 10 teams in division 1 and eight in division 2 previously, but Deer Park and St Albans left the competition, while Glen Orden couldn’t get a side up this year.
Clubs have been told they have up until September 24 to ask questions to the league about the report before it will go to its next stage.
If this was to occur it would mean, division 1 would be a 10 team competition with both of division 2’s grand finalists, premiers Parkside and runners up Albion, move up to the top flight. While division 2 would be a 12 team fixture.
Several club presidents have confirmed the report and the proposed changes.
“The WRFL will work closely and provide club development staffing resources to those clubs that may need extra assistance as they move from division 3 into division 2 football,” the report said.
“It is evident that youth football must be a key area of focus of the league for the future sustainability of clubs of the WRFL.
“There are some clubs with no pathways from juniors to youth football at all, some that require strengthening of relationships between juniors and seniors and others that require assistance in recruiting and retaining players.
“There was an overwhelming amount of feedback that the grading for junior grades of football is currently not working as well as it could be.”
The salary cap and points of each division will be determined in the coming weeks the report said.
The proposed division 1 clubs are Werribee Districts, Point Cook, Altona, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Caroline Springs, Spotswood, Point Cook Centrals, Hoppers Crossing, Parkside and Albion.
Division 2 would consist of Newport, Sunshine, Wyndhamvale, North Footscray, Braybrook, Suns, Albanvale, Sunshine Heights, West Footscray, Tarneit, Laverton Magpies and North Sunshine.
The report also recommended the league change names to the Western Football Netball League. The league has had massive growth in netball in recent years, with six divisions this year.
Harper Sercombe
