Latobe Valley Express | As Brian Dixon screamed to the Melbourne masses in 1996 – “no merger!”

While combining Melbourne and Hawthorn nearly 30 years ago might have made economic sense, the passion of both member bases was enough to see any such proposal defeated.

That same passion runs all the way down to country football and netball, and North Gippsland Football-Netball League member clubs responded to the possibility of joining the Gippsland League in similar fashion to those against the ‘Melbourne Hawks’ all those years ago.

With the Gippsland League exploring the possibility of creating a second division competition, clubs in surrounding areas have been identified as possible suitors.

It should be absolutely stressed the Gippsland League has made no formal proposal for 2025.

Under the current Gippsland League strategic plan implemented in 2022, a key action area was to establish sub-committees to explore specific potential areas of growth for the Gippsland League, including expansion of the current competitions offered.

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