Yarram granted move

YARRAM Football and Netball Club can finally get down to business after their appeal for a move out of the Alberton Football Netball League and to the North Gippsland Football Netball League was upheld by Worksafe AFL Vic country.

Exciting time: Yarram Football Club president Gerald Finn is buoyed by the AFL Vic Country Boards approval of his clubs move to the North Gippsland League and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

The club was told of the decision last Wednesday afternoon by Worksafe AFL Vic Country Operations manager Gerald Ryan.
The news was a big relief to Yarram club president Gerald Finn.
“The club and its members are very pleased with the news. It is exciting times for the whole of Yarram with the move to North Gippy and the new development here at the reserve,” Mr Finn said.
“As far as football netball goes it all starts tonight (Monday), at our general meeting, when we will set the date for the annual general meeting and then it will be full steam ahead getting everything in order for the move,” he said.
“This move does not solve all the issues surrounding football and netball in the area but it does solve the travel and access to more players for our club and its members.
“I spoke with Alberton Football Netball League President John Schelling following the AFL Vic Country announcement and he congratulated us on the move and wished the club all the best going forward.”
Mr Finn is hoping that the senior playing list will remain vitually the same as 2013.
“Some players were unsure of the move but now that the decision has been made are all happy and looking forward to 2014,” he said.
Alberton Football Netball League President John Schelling told The Star that despite losing a club there are still positives.
“I think it will be good for the Allies especially because the players they have living in Melbourne would much rather travel to our league then all the way out in the other league,” he said.
“I think this will help the Allies secure more juniors as well because they will be able to stand alone in that respect because Yarram will now start their competition at Under 18.”
Mr Schelling said the league is disappointed that it has lost a club.
“It is disappointing especially as they were an inaugural member but at the end of the day we understand the issue and that they are a standalone club,” he said.
The AFNL will return to a bye-less draw system and will aim to make a more even competition which will involve less travel.
North Gippsland League General Manager Gordon Bailey has been very vocal in his support for Yarrams move to his league right from the start.
“The NGFNL Board welcomes the Yarram Club into our competition and looks forward to helping them integrate into the NGFNL family. We think they have a lot to offer our brand, and their entry will add more interest to our competition,” Mr Bailey said after the appeal decision was handed down.
Mr Bailey defended the process that saw the NGFNL clubs vote overturned by the league.
“The League (NGFNL) constitution is designed that a minimum of 75 per cent of members need to approve any club movements in or out of our League. Given the significance of such a decision we believe the Constitution is reasonable in that regard. People need to understand that 50 per cent of our clubs did support their (Yarram) entry so the decision to not accept them was not shared by all of our clubs. Given we affiliate with AFL Vic Country who are our ultimate controlling body, our Constitution and By-Laws can be overridden by them at any time if in their belief it is in the best interests of Football,” he said.
Mr Bailey explained that Yarram now need to formalise their application after which they will be required to pay an entrance fee based on an equal share of the League assets declared at the League AGM early December.
“Yarram will be expected to sign an affiliation agreement and pay an affiliation fee like all of our clubs prior to round 1 of 2014,” Mr Bailey said.
Like all NGFNL clubs Yarram will be encouraged to join the Good Sports Program.
“We are advised that requirement to join the Goods Sports program and reach level three is in place in regard to future catering at NGFNL finals. We expect them to join the program in the New Year as a priority, particularly if they wish to carry out finals catering from 2016. As far as catering is concerned, Yarram join the end of that queue and will not be offered the opportunity to cater until 2016.”

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Posted by Jacob De Kunder on Oct 29 2013. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry