Newlyn Football Netball Club president Simon Dwyer has declared his club will do everything it can to remain in the Central Highlands league, despite an AFL Goldfields draft recommendation that it form part of a new competition.
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Dwyer and his committee met to discuss the findings of the region’s senior review on Thursday night and voted unanimously to pursue all avenues needed for the club to stay in its current home.
The Cats were one of eight Central Highlands clubs recommended to form part of a new Goldfields District Football Netball League.
Creswick, Clunes, Carngham-Linton, Rokewood-Corindhap, Learmonth, Skipton and Smythesdale were also flagged to be part of the new competition, as was Maryborough Castlemaine District clubs Trentham and Lexton.
Dwyer said his club had already sought legal advice in relation to fighting any potential decision for it to move leagues.
“We are just not going to stand for it,” Dwyer told The Courier.
“We’ll do everything within our powers to ensure our club remains in the Central Highlands Football League.”
Dwyer said he was shocked to hear of the AFL Goldfields’ recommendation that it move to a new competition, which could be formed as early as 2018.
“There's been no criteria set to show why we are being forced to shift out of our own league,” Dwyer said.
Learmonth president Matt Hines was another extremely disappointed by the findings, including the timing of their release.
“Having been a founding member in the CHFL, we value the rivalry built within the CHFL over a long period of time and recognise that the strength of our club is about far more than senior football,” Hines said.
“To try and remove us from our league is shattering.
“The draft recommendations come in the week leading up to our finals campaign, with our club having seven teams represented, six of whom finished in the top four for the season.
“This is a major blow to morale for players, volunteers and supporters alike and could not come at a more inappropriate time.”
Members from the eight Central Highlands clubs touted for a possible move are set to meet on Friday night to discuss the revelations.
The introduction of the Goldfields District FNL was one of many draft recommendations handed down during three nights of presentations early this week.
Clubs, leagues and umpiring associations are now invited to provide feedback on the draft report.