FEDERAL president Craig Sheather believes the club's sustainable future lies as a merged identity in the Tallangatta and district league.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The radical proposal of all clubs merging and playing in the TDFL has split the tight-knit community still reeling from the recent drought, bushfires and presently the coronavirus pandemic.
A working party was formed this year to provide an alternative for the future with dwindling player numbers crippling the competition.
Sheather cited numerous reasons why he supported the proposed merger including the loss of juniors forced to join other competitions because of a lack of numbers.
"We are in favour of the merger," Sheather said.
"Mainly because a lot of our juniors are travelling to Tallangatta or Wodonga each week to get a game.
"We need to fix the junior competition.
"Last year there were no under-16s, while only a few clubs had under-14s and under-11s.
"Some weeks there were seven or eight a side which is no good for their development."
IN OTHER NEWS
Sheather said it was no secret that the league had been fighting a losing battle to survive for the past five years.
Border-Walwa went into recess over the summer.
The league also scrapped the reserves competition this season before it was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic.
"The last four or five years people within the league have been thinking of possible alternatives," he said.
"The working party proposal was moved by the league president and seconded by Cudgewa and everyone was in favour of doing it.
"So you have to let the process run its course now.
"If people aren't in favour of the proposal, so be it."
There is speculation that if the proposed amalgamation into the TDFL didn't eventuate that Federal may have to merge with Corryong leaving a four-side competition.
"This might be the kick in the guts that people in the Upper Murray league need," Sheather said.
"Either support the league or it will disappear.
"We have got plenty of netballers and enough juniors.
"Senior players is always a battle.
"One of my biggest gripes is you have to pay so much cash to attract recruits and then a helluva lot of money goes out of the district each year."
