Libby Price on Cougars pursue league change

Kaniva-

Leeor United has applied to join Horsham District Football Netball League for the 2021 season.

The Cougars, affiliated with cross-border Kowree-naracoorte-tatiara league, voted at a meeting last week to pursue the change.

The joint football-netball club now has to present its case to Horsham District league board for assessment and a decision. A meeting is scheduled for today.

The Cougars’ move comes after an exploration last month into a potential merger between Kaniva-leeor United and neighbouring Wimmera league club Nhill. The Cougars were keen for the merger but Nhill voted against the proposal.

AFL Wimmera Mallee region manager Jason Muldoon, who attended the Cougars’ meeting, said Horsham District league’s board could accept or reject the application and there was an appeals process in place.

“While Kaniva-leeor United plays in a primarily South Australian competition the club comes under the AFL Wimmera Mallee umbrella,” he said.

“We’ve been in constant dialogue with the South Australian National Football League and like us, their main objective is to ensure the club has the best opportunity to play footy and netball in 2021. We will be providing full support for that to happen.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic placing community football into recess this year, speculation continues to generate about the plans of other clubs in the region.

Mr Muldoon said he had informally investigated word that Horsham District league club Jeparit-rainbow and Wimmera league’s Southern Mallee Giants were considering a partnership.

“After informal phone calls to both clubs, there is nothing official on the table at this stage,” he said.

Kaniva-leeor United president Jason Gordon said short-term and long-term uncertainty was the primary objective in the club trying to make a change to a Victorian competition.

He said COVID-19 uncertainty surrounding Victorian-south Australian border issues was an immediate concern, while playing clubs from like-sized communities was a longer-term desire.

“We just have to do the best thing we possibly can for the survival of our club,” he said.

“It’s been a hard, long process to get to where we are and we want to be in a position to move forward. Time is of the essence, we need to appoint coaches and recruit players. No one knows what’s coming out of COVID.

“At the end of it all, we’re desperate for Kaniva-leeor United to maintain a strong football and netball identity.”