The Trafalgar Football and Netball Club have moved past the final hurdle in their journey to move leagues, voted in by the EDFL clubs in an email ballot last night.
A special general meeting was meant to be held on Monday night, however due to the continuing restrictions related to COVID-19, a face to face meeting was not possible.
In a vote of 8-2, Trafalgar land in their new home as a club which EDFL Operations Manager Ken Moore described as strong.
“From a league perspective we are happy to have them, we are getting a strong successful club and they meet the criteria for our conditions of entry.
“They will also bring in two strong junior teams which we place a big emphasis on,” he said.
The league sent out information on what the EDFL may look like if Trafalgar was accepted, including a possible fixture.
While the fixture is yet to be confirmed, its understood that the EDFL are looking at a 20-round season which includes nine home games for each side and two byes with the season to begin on April 11.
Mr Moore said there are plenty of positives in having Trafalgar’s presence in the league next season.
“Geographically they are a good fit and have proven to be a strong competitor in both juniors and seniors in the Mid Gippsland competition and will add value to our league in many ways,” he said.
Trafalgar vice-president Brett Tonkin said it was great to finally hear the result of the process.
“We had gone through the appeal process, but until the league vote happened, we were always a bit wary, so we are really excited,” he said.
The club are keen to keep their list for next season, one they thought could once again bring them success in the MGFNL in 2020. Now they are looking forward to the new challenge the EDFL brings.
“It will be good to see where we fit in with the seniors and reserves football, as well as the netball where we had all four grades play in the grand final in 2019.
“We think we can be a good asset for the league, and we look forward to creating new rivalries, as well as renewing our Waterloo Cup rivalry with Yarragon,” he said.
Tonkin also thanked the Ellinbank league and the member clubs for the vote and respecting the wishes of the members vote to move into the league.
The salary cap will be $65,000 next season and AFL Gippsland have confirmed that new club Trafalgar will have a 45-point cap ceiling, one which Tonkin said his side will be under thanks to the amount of home grown talent they have.
Another change voted on during the ballot was in the junior ranks. In a vote of 7-3 in favour, the motion for the age groups to be changed from under 16s and under 18s, to under 16.5s and under 18.5s was passed.
With many players missing on their final year of junior football in 2020, the motion was passed to give those an opportunity to play and further time to ready themselves for senior football.
While the motion was passed by the clubs, AFL Gippsland needs to approve the age group change for next season.