by Dutchy » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:12 pm
Dear valued MLFC Members,
RE; MT Lofty Relegation to Country Division for season 2014.
Last Monday night the special meeting of the Hills Football League (HFL) voted against the motion put by the HFL Board and supported by Mt Lofty to remove By Law 18.1.5 which reads; Central Division to consist of no more than 10 clubs.
Accordingly this By Law remains in place & the 2014 Central Division competition will be limited to 10 teams which means there will not be room for both Mt Lofty and Echunga.
The onus is now on the HFL Board to determine whether the application by the Echunga Football Club satisfies all the requirements to participate in the HFL Central Division. In essence the HFL Board needs to be convinced that the Echunga Football Club has the player numbers, club structure & resources to compete week in, week out in the Central Division. Particular focus is on the Under 13’s, Junior Colts and Senior Colts teams which they struggled to fill this season & in previous seasons.
The final decision on the Echunga application does not need to be made until the HFL Annual General Meeting being held the 1st week of December. Mt Lofty is pushing hard to have this decision brought forward to bring some certainty to proceedings & to enable us to plan for the 2014 season.
The club has put in place actions that will provide our club with a number of options for the 2014 season should the decision fall in favour of the Echunga Football Club.
These options are being finalised as a matter of urgency so that a special club meeting can be held shortly where we can present these options to all players & members. We will then all have a clear understanding as to the way forward for our club & the roles we must all play in determining our future.
It is important that the Club remains strong & united & continues to build on the strong community that is the Mt Lofty District Football Club.
Whatever the outcome we are confident the Senior Club (A & B Grade, Senior Colts, Junior Colts and U13’S) will come out of this experience a stronger, more cohesive playing group.
A reminder that whatever the outcome for the Senior Club there will be no change to the functioning of the Junior Club. The HFL Junior League does not run along the same Central Division, Country Division structure as the Seniors.
The competition make up & oval locations for AusKick through to Under 11’s will be the same as they were last season.