Smythesdale has had its bid to join the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League denied, casting further doubt over its future.
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AFL Goldfields regional general manager Rod Ward said he was immensely disappointed by the outcome.
Ward felt Smythesdale would have had a great opportunity to spend two years in the MCDFNL league, providing it with short-term stability as the club and commission worked in the background to find it a more geographically-friendly, long-term option.
After the MCDFNL clubs initially rejected Smythesdale’s bid to join the league, the Bulldogs appealed the decision.
Some of the key concerns of MCDFNL clubs were based on travel, juniors and available player pool.
During the appeal process, the AFL Goldfields commission presented a “compromised proposal” in a bid to better suit, and in turn to change the minds of, MCDFNL clubs.
Part of the proposal included options that would have seen clubs like Navarre, Dunolly, Harcourt and Campbells Creek not required to play away games in Smythesdale.
And further reinforced that the move would be for only two years, buying the commission and club time to rebuild and then better place the club at the end of 2020.
Smythesdale now has two clear options, find another league – which will almost definitely have to be the Central Highlands Football League – or go into recess.
“I’m terribly disappointed for the Smythesdale Football Club,” Ward said.
“I think they’ve done an outstanding job and I think, if given the opportunity, they would’ve been able to rebuild the club across 2019 into a strong club with a sustainable future.
“It would’ve allowed us time to find an alternative league that may have been more geographically suited.
“We remain committed to supporting them.
“We tried to address some of the concerns that were raised.
“Unfortunately very few clubs changed their mind, there was still an overwhelming message from the MCDFNL clubs that they didn’t want Smythesdale affiliated.”
Smythesdale president John Cranny told The Courier the club was extremely disappointed with the decision and that it would discuss the club’s future further when it holds its annual general meeting on November 12.
“We’re disappointed by the news and we’ll be meeting with AFL Goldfields to discuss our options,” Cranny said.
“A lot of our footballers were banking on this decision going through.”
Smythesdale has struggled to be competitive since joining the Central Highlands Football League from the Lexton Plains Football League.
Over the last two seasons it has only been able to field a reserves team, the bid to move leagues was hoped to grant the club a clean slate and a new lease on life.