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vcflThe final recommendations for the Southern Border Review have been released today by the WorkSafe VCFL and SACFL.
The 2012 Southern Border Review Panel have released their final recommendations to all stakeholders across the review area of South East South Australia and South West Victoria.

These final recommendations have recently been fully adopted by both the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) and the South Australian Community Football League (SACFL) Boards.

The 2012 Southern Border Review was commissioned in late 2011 by both the VCFL and SACFL to establish qualitative and quantitative data to allow recommendations for the optimal structure of football competitions in South West Victoria and South East South Australia for season 2013 and beyond.

The Panel comprised both South Australia Community Football League (SACFL) and WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) senior managers.

Such a review had been requested by the Western Border Football League and supported by the Hampden Football Netball League. A large number of requested club movements in recent years had also been a factor in the decision to embark on this review.

Extensive consultation underpinned the project, with the panel sitting in 7 locations and meeting directly with over 83 organisations.

The final recommendations have taken in to account all preliminary recommendations feedback. Each stakeholder response to every preliminary recommendation had been factored in to an overall club, league and region wide summary tool that gave the panel clear guidance in relation to the acceptance of each preliminary recommendation.

CEO of the WorkSafe VCFL, Steven Reaper, said that the process of the Southern Border Review was extensive and collaborative.

"The final recommendations includes further release of demographic detail and data relevant to the decision making process of the VCFL and SACFL. We have also included the terms of reference for the SACFL working party as it relates to the structures of football on the South Australian side and the guidelines to the makeup of the South West Regional Commission and Regional Administration Centre."

"This review has made recommendations as to the optimum junior age groups and competition structures in the whole region, umpiring groups, facility development required to support competitions, administration structures, and a future vision for senior football. No stone has been left unturned as we look to sustain the sport and the pathways in the region for the medium to long term."

"The panel has recommended that change is necessary for football to continue to grow and stay relevant and attractive to our communities in Victoria and South Australia"

Key recommendations in the document include the desire for there to be a single club in Hamilton competing in the Hampden FNL, and for the Portland Football Netball Club to also affiliate with the Hampden FNL immediately.

"We are pleased to see that these clubs have already started work on this process. We saw it as important in this region that the football structure follows the community relationships and the broader aspects of community life. Most people in the Western districts shop, go to school, conduct business and recreate in the South West and it makes sense for them to play their sport in the same region.", said Reaper.

A working party for the South West Regional Commission has been established and will begin work from next week on the establishment of a Regional Commission in the South West of the state,

"We see this document as being a key roadmap for the South West Regional Commission in their early days," said Reaper.

Normal club transfers will apply as per VCFL or SACFL rules and timelines regardless of whether they are mentioned within final recommendations or not. Transfer applications will be looked upon favourably by both the VCFL and SACFL if consistent with the review recommendations.

The VCFL and SACFL are confident that the following recommendations will provide long-term, sustainable football structures for the benefit of AFL in the region.

Article first appeared www.vcfl.com.au Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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