Kilmore’s future remains in limbo after Riddell District Football Netball League clubs voted against the Blues proposed move to the Northern Football League.
RDFNL club representatives voted overwhelming against the Blues application to leave the league at a meeting on Wednesday night.
The RDFNL board last week recommended to its clubs to vote against the move.
Kilmore president Dave Milne said the club wouldn’t survive if they stayed in the RDFNL.
“We pretty much expected the decision,” Milne said. “I offered them [the RDFNL] the keys of the club since they think they know what is better for the club.
“I’d spoken to five to six presidents before the meeting and they said they supported our decision.”
“No one wants to sign contracts and no one wants to join the club. It sounds like about 12 players will go, as will the coaches and half the committee.”
Milne said it was good to have the support of all NFL clubs and board behind them.
“Speaking to Peter McDougall it is very heartening; no one wants to see the club no longer around.
“For us to really kick on and prosper in the future we need to be in the NFL.”
Rod Ward, general manager of AFL Goldfields which manages the RDFNL, said the decision wasn’t unanimous but the majority of teams opposed the application.
“Last night RDFNL clubs had identified that Kilmore is in a precarious position and they had concerns that the move to the Northern Football League would fracture the club,” Ward said.
“The netballers would play on Friday nights and the under-19s would likely play in a combined division 1-2 competition.
“That would see an increased number of volunteers needed and a reduction of gate and canteen takings and it could put them in a more precarious position.”
Ward said the survey sent out by the league to all open age netball and football players had showed there was support for the club to stay in the RDFNL.
“The response was about 50-50 in favour of the move with 38 per cent of players saying that they won’t play in the NFL.”
Ward said the league would give a great deal of support to Kilmore if they stayed in the league to ensure they didn’t fold.
“I would encourage players to get behind the club and sign on to play for the club whether whichever league they are in.”
The RDFNL and Kilmore will put submissions into AFL Victoria by October 17, with AFL Victoria to then expected to make a decision within seven to 10 days.
