Some of our junior families have expressed concern over possible implications relating to articles that have appeared in the local papers reporting a possible merger of the Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League (MSJFL) and the Southern Football League (SFL). These same articles also mentioned possible involvement by the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The Committee wishes to clarify the situation for our Members in order to avoid confusion.
1. The proposal has been rejected by MSJFL clubs at a recently convened meeting.
2. The MSJFL Executive has appointed a committee to look at future development of the MSJFL and its administration and this committee is underway.
3. The MSJFL is a strong viable body, it is financially sound and continues to grow.
4. The VAFA’s involvement was to assist the MSJFL to stay as an independent body.
5. The VAFA has offered to provide administration guidance and support but has no interest in taking over the running of the League. It wants the MSJFL to remain as an independent entity.
Prior to the vote, our Club communicated with all other MSJFL Clubs indicating that we would not support the proposed merger. An extract from that communication is provided below:
The St Bedes/Mentone Tigers AFC is of the view that the report/proposal does not give any consideration to the impacts that may occur at Club level and purely focuses on the League’s (MSJFL) administration. This is a major oversight. As a VAFA aligned club, we see direct negative impacts on our Club, our Association and, most importantly, the focus on junior football in our area that the MSJFL provides as an independent entity.
Our opinion is the recommendation is not in the best interests of the MSJFL as a competition, VAFA aligned clubs, nor stand alone junior MSJFL clubs.
The proposal’s primary aim is to strengthen the SFL as an organisation and to absorb the MSJFL competition. There are a number of short and long term risks for VAFA and stand alone junior clubs should this proposal succeed.
Any future improvement to the MSJFL day to day administration will come with associated costs which should and must be supported and funded by participating junior clubs. This improvement can be arrived at by the MSJFL as an independent league. To think that the SFL senior clubs will fund this is not a consideration.
Finally, and to reiterate…..Our Club’s position is that we want the MSJFL to stay as an independent competition focused on junior football.