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Central Murray Junior and Senior Football Leagues
Merge
The
Central Murray Football League’s Juniors Structure for 2008 was put in place at the end of discussions between the CMFL and the
Junior Football League that had begun at the end of July 2007.
At the first meeting held on Monday July 30th, Tori
Ficarra, Peter Walsh, Paul Power and Howard Rosewarne from CMFL met with
Steve Matthews, Robina Benbow, Peter Behrens (LG) and Brendan Smith (Tyn)
from the CMJFL.
Three Options for a combined administration of CMFL and CMJFL were
considered. The first was Steve’s version of an administration hub based
on his previous discussions with Alan Davies. The second was a take over
of the CMJFL administration by the Central Murray FL and the third was
similar to the second but involved all clubs of the CMJFL becoming fully
affiliated with their CMFL counterparts. The CMJFL would then cease to
exist.
The Junior League initiated the discussions believing that it could
no longer effectively administer itself and did not have the funds to pay
someone adequately for the work involved. The delegate system was not
providing the stable leadership as too few were willing to put up their
hands for the executive positions on top of their club responsibilities.
They saw the CMFL as being best equipped to take on this task with
advantages in it for both parties.
In the discussion of the options the first was not seen as viable
at this point. Options two and three share some similarities but three is
clearly the tidiest and most effective solution. It is however also
likely to be the harder option to achieve initially.
Certain objectives were put forward to be explored further by a
joint working party:
The CMFL’s preference for complete affiliation was made clear and had
the support of two junior Club representatives.
The CMFL agreed to accept option two under the following
conditions:
1.
Junior clubs fully
affiliated with their senior bodies pay a lower league levy than those
who were not.
2.
The Delegates from
Junior Clubs would still meet monthly as a sub-committee of the CMFL
Board with Board members assigned to this area.
3.
St Mary’s, Tigers and
North Magpies are able to maintain current identity if that’s what they
choose.
After further meetings option 2 was accepted as the preferred model
and ratified by delegates at the monthly meeting prior to the AGM. Both
parties agreed to 2008 and 2009 being considered a trial period. The VCFL
through Gerard Ryan offered some financial support to assist with the
extra administrative costs n setting up the new structure.
At the Juniors AGM delegates agreed to wind up the League’s
incorporation. Funds would be distributed to the CMFL partly to help with
administrative costs and partly to be held in trust for two years before
they can be used for Juniors development. Of the Clubs previously in the
CMJFL Cohuna Kangas, Kerang, Koondrook-Barham, Leitchville-Gunbower and
United are already incorporated with senior clubs. Swans, North Magpies,
and Tigers have agreed on amalgamation. St Mary’s is currently in serious
discussions with Lalbert.
Frank Curran the CMFL Deputy Chairman will
take charge of Junior affairs for the Board with Ron Thompson assisting.
CMFL Manager Howard Rosewarne, Treasurer Anne-Marie Stewart, Clearance
Secretary Paul Power have been joined by Robina Benbow to provide the
required administrative support for the Junior grades.
Monthly meetings with delegates from the
Clubs, chaired by Frank Curran, will still be held to discuss junior
affairs and provide feedback to the CMFL Board.
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