Media Statement | Outer East Football Netball wish to advise of the following decisions and flow on effects for our Senior Football and Netball competitions.
Reference is also made to Junior Competition structures for 2025 and 2026 and U18/U19 football for future years.
Club Transfers
Outer East Football Netball by-laws require clubs seeking to transfer from Outer East Football Netball to other football bodies to advise the Board of their intention on or before June 30 in the year prior to the transfer.
Community clubs seeking to transfer between community competitions must do so between August 1 and October 31 in the year prior to the transfer.
If a Source Affiliate (OEFN) wishes to deny a transfer request to a Destination Affiliate (Other Community Competition) of an existing club an appeal would take place during the above-mentioned time.
Outer East Football Netball received advice from the following clubs:
• Broadford FNC – advised they would like to pursue a transfer
• Pakenham FC & Pakenham NC – advised they were exploring options
• Narre Warren FNC – advised their intention to join Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) in 2025
• Berwick Springs – advised their intention to join Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) in 2025
The decisions from The Board on these requests were as follows:
• Broadford FNC – Despite the club’s football program being in recess, they required approval from the Outer East Football Netball Board to pursue a transfer. APPROVAL GRANTED.
• Pakenham FC & Pakenham NC – both clubs remain as Outer East Football Netball affiliated clubs unless we are advised otherwise by AFL Victoria between August 1 – October 31. NO ACTION
REQUIRED AT PRESENT.
• Narre Warren FNC – Application for transfer submitted. APPROVAL GRANTED.
• Berwick Springs FNC – Application for transfer submitted. APPROVAL GRANTED.
The Board will not appeal the transfers of Narre Warren FNC or Berwick Springs FNC via AFL Victoria, instead focusing on the remainder of the 2024 Home & Away Season and the exciting Junior, Women’s Football and Senior Football and Open Netball finals, as well as Medal Nights capping off a positive year.
The Board wish both Narre Warren FNC and Berwick Springs FNC every success in the future.
Relegation & Promotion
Premier Clubs were advised in mid-April that teams finishing in positions 10-12 on the ladder at the conclusion of the H&A season would be relegated to Division 1 in 2025, with the Premier of Division 1 being promoted to Premier Division in 2025.
Outer East Football Netball Premier Division will still revert to a (10) team competition in 2025 as was advised earlier in the year, despite Narre Warren FNC and Berwick Springs FNC’s transfer approvals.
Excluding Narre Warren FNC & Berwick Springs FNC, the Club whose Senior Football team finishes in last place at the end of the 2024 H&A season will be relegated to Division 1 in 2025. The Club whose Senior Football team wins the 2024 Division 1 premiership, will be promoted to Premier Division for season 2025.
Junior Football Structure – 2025
Information below confirms the Junior Age Groups for 2025 and 2026.
2025
Girls – Non-competitive Age Group (Title - TBC)
Girls - U11, U13, U15, U17 – part of Junior Club
Boys – U14, U16
Mixed – U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14
• the change to Girls Age groups in 2025 is a (2) year plan to have a pathway for Girls from U9- U18 in 2026
• there will be some girls who play (2) years of bottom age football
2026
Girls – Non-competitive Age Group (Title - TBC)
Girls – U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 - part of Senior Club
Boys – U14, U16
Mixed – U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14
• Girls Age groups revert to Even Age Groups
• there will be some girls who play (2) years of bottom age football
The Board have approved the above 2-year junior structure for 2025 and 2026, with the main goal to grow a sustainable pathway for girls into Outer East Football Netball Women’s football competition U18 & U19 Football – 2025 onwards
In 2025 the third-grade competition in Outer East Football Netball men’s competition will be Under 18’s only. There will be no U19 competition in 2025.
