by Nicholas Duck
Drouin Football and Netball Clubs are a step closer to potentially joining a new league following a members' vote last Monday night.
Hawks members endorsed the club's application for a move to the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition with the final vote tally of 29 for and 16 against.
Travel times in the Gippsland League, namely trips to East Gippsland for matches against Sale and Bairnsdale, have been cited as a major factor in the decision to seek a move.
West Gippsland's proposed two-tier structure also strongly appeals.
There's still some way to go before anything is concrete as officials from both Gippsland League and West Gippsland must now meet before the end of July to discuss what a transfer would look like.
The Hawks require approval from both leagues to move forward.
It is the second time Drouin has sought a move to the West Gippsland competition in its current form after a failed attempt in 2018.
The Hawks previously competed in a different incarnation of the West Gippsland competition until moving to the Gippsland League in 2005.