BPCA clubs back expansion

THREE wantaway GCA clubs have gained a strong nod of approval from BPCA clubs who have backed the expansion of the league.

Little River, Inverleigh and Winchelsea, who have all lodged applications to join the BPCA, received overwhelming support from clubs to be part of the competition next season.

The Geelong Advertiser con- ducted a straw poll of BPCA clubs, who indicated they would be in favour of a beefed up league in 2017-18.

While travel is a major concern for a handful of clubs, Queenscliff, Portarlington, Wallington, Jan Juc, Newcomb and St Leonards are firmly in favour of expansion.

Ocean Grove has agreed “in principle”, while Barwon Heads, Anglesea, Collendina and Barrabool are poised to vote in the affirmative, provided the three clubs tick more boxes at next week’s meeting.

Drysdale, could not be contacted.

“Anything that makes the competition stronger, we’re happy with,” Queenscliff president Michael Limb said.

“But there’s more information to be received before we give a definitive answer. Travel is an issue, and we have to work through the logistics, but it’s only going to be a couple of times a year and you can make a positive out of it.

After initial concerns over travel, Jan Juc said the doors should be thrown open to the new clubs.

“We were one of the clubs that came in about 12 years ago and it would be wrong of us to say no to these clubs,” president Denis Bilston said.

Barwon Heads led the charge for next Wednesday’s meeting with Little River, Inverleigh and Winchelsea, declaring several questions had been left unanswered.

“As a club we would appreciate more information be- fore we say yes or no,” Seagulls president Paul Summers said.

Anglesea president Brett Kerr was concerned about the make-up of the competition, with the possibility of four sides entering the A-grade ranks next season.

“Making the competition stronger with more clubs is definitely a plus,” Kerr said.

“But bringing numbers into the competition that could create a bye is definitely a negative.

“From what I gather, it looks like Wallington wants to go up to A-grade, which would cancel out the bye, and I personally wouldn’t want to see three clubs come in and make a bye. If you bring in two clubs, it would mean everyone would play a two-day game and that would be superb.”

Portarlington president Peter Evans and Collendina president Wayne Blyth have welcomed the inclusion of three clubs, but stressed the need to strengthen the current structure.