From the Weekly Times
THE Ellinbank and District league could be set for huge structural change as soon as next year.That's according to its long-serving president. Roger Gwynne, who has led the league since the early '90s, said his executive would this season turn up the heat on plans to split the league into two divisions and investigate adding three more junior grades.
Proposals for two divisions have been on the table since Garfield Football Club rejoined the league in 2010, making Ellinbank a 15-team competition.
But Gwynne was adamant more clubs were required to split the league in two.
"I'm not a fan of two divisions with seven teams in one division and eight in the other," he said.
"I'd be all for it if we have two nine-team or two 10-team comps. But I'd like a clause put in that if we fell below a certain number of teams, we'd go back to one division."
Gwynne said the league would begin canvassing possible new clubs this season, after informing AFL Victoria of its intentions.
"We're not in the habit of plundering any leagues because we know what it's like, how hard it is," he said.
"But we've gotten to the stage that clubs have said if we can get another team, or even another three teams, they'd be willing to do it next year."
He said the league was looking to overhaul its junior structure, following club requests.
Ellinbank has under-13.5, under-15.5 and under-18 junior grades, with matches played on Saturdays before the senior games. Under-13.5 matches kick off at 8.30am.
"It looks like we could go to under-10s, 12s, 14s and 16s on Sundays and the rest on Saturdays," Gwynne said.
"We're looking at it now and I think it will eventuate. Most of the clubs are in favour of it."
