The Courier | CARNGHAM-LINTON is again lobbying the Central Highlands Football League to change the format of its 18-team competition.
The CHFL's board of management will meet and discuss the Saints' submission, which it sent to the league last week.
It is understood Carngham-Linton's push is to have the competition split geographically to form two conferences.
Saints president Sam Richardson didn't wish to comment on the proposal, except to clarify the club's position within the CHFL.
"We are committed to the league and not looking in any shape or form to leave,” Richardson said.
While Richardson wished not to reveal the contents of the submission, The Courier obtained a copy of a proposal by the club, which was lodged in 2012. It is believed the current document is similar.
The 2012 version details the benefits of moving to two nine-club divisions, split into east and west conferences. Ballan, Buninyong, Bungaree, Daylesford, Dunnstown, Gordon, Hepburn, Newlyn and Springbank make up the east section, while Beaufort, Carngham-Linton, Clunes, Creswick, Smythesdale, Learmonth, Rokewood-Corindhap, Skipton and Waubra form the west grouping, under the proposal.
Some of the advantages, it states, are that there would be increased profit for the league due to extra finals being played and more crowd-drawing matches between neighboring clubs, less travel time, a greater potential to expand and perfectly equitable fixtures.
“Though the single 18-club competition retains all club rivalries in the CHFL, the chances of premiership success for all clubs are obviously much lower than under a two division model,” the proposal read.
“Consequently, the money and effort required in defeating such a large number of teams at senior level can put all clubs under more pressure than need be.”
The proposal said that in a large competition, many players gravitate towards top teams, where there would be a better chance of premiership success.
“Other large leagues have implemented two divisions to increase community interest, improve player morale and produce better financial results and sustainability for their league and clubs,” the proposal read.
“The best scenario for the CHFL is to create two geographic divisions, where the chances of premiership success for individuals and clubs in all grades are automatically doubled, and the costs involved in winning a senior premiership may be reduced.
“Though not all rivalries from the previous 14-club CHFL would be retained, almost all significant rivalries between neighboring towns will remain. By creating two strong community based competitions of similar standard, overall player morale and community interest is likely to be higher for all clubs.”
The original proposal stated it would be easy to head in a different direction if an east-west model didn’t work.
Carngham-Linton’s latest proposal arrives in the midst of an uncertain time for the league as Clunes ponders its future.
A Magpies sub-committee - set up to look at the club’s future - delivered a presentation on Sunday. This was to help inform members before they voted on whether Clunes should remain in the Central Highlands competition or pursue a move to the Maryborough Castlemaine District league.
Voting closes this Saturday, with the verdict expected to be made public on Sunday.