Tara Murray
There’s a sense of relief for Melton South after Riddell District Football Netball League clubs voted in favour of the club joining the competition.
As previously reported, Panthers members unanimously voted in favour of leaving the Ballarat Football Netball League to join the RDFNL.
The club has had a tough time on the footy field for a number of years, with its senior side not winning a game the past two seasons.
The RDFNL board felt that the Melton South is a natural fit from a geographical and competitive standpoint as well as satisfying the netball component.
It meant the next step was RDFNL clubs, both junior and senior, voting on whether they wanted the Panthers to join the league.
There was a special general meeting on Wednesday night with clubs then voting on the Panthers future the next couple of days.
More than 50 per cent of clubs had to accept the Panthers for them to be accepted.
“The RDFNL is pleased to announce that all votes are in and there was a majority 79 per cent vote for the acceptance of Melton South Football Netball Club joining the RDFNL for the 2025 season,” the league said in a statement.
The league said 60 per cent of senior clubs, which will now face the Panthers, voted in favour.
The Panthers junior sides already play in the league with the senior club having been part of the competition before it joined the BFNL in 1997.
Panthers president Matthew Collins said it was nice to have a bit of more certainty about the situation.
“There’s still a bit of water to go under the bridge, but all indications are it should be OK,” he said.
“We’re very happy but it’s been a couple of nervous days.”
Collins said there had been a few more clubs vote against it than they would have thought but they were relieved it had all passed.
He said speaking with the committee and executive committee that everyone was very happy.
“It’s a great chance to be competitive again,” he said. “We are under no illusions that we are just going to go in and win a premiership,
“We’re happy to play in a league where we should be competitive.”
Collins said they wanted to thank the clubs and league for accepting them, while thanking the Ballarat league for the great years they had been part of it.
The RDFNL has written to AFL Victoria and the Ballarat Football Netball League to inform them both of the RDFNL’s position.
A transfer of leagues procedure will now be followed as per AFL Victoria rules.
If AFL Victoria approves the move, the Panthers will be one of two new senior clubs next season.
Gisborne Giants, who have had under-19 football and D-grade netball this season, is set to have a full complement of teams next season.
