Poweron its way

By Brad Kingsbury
VICTORIAN Country Football League (VCFL) chief executive Glenn Scott gave a strong hint that Wonthaggi Power would become the 12th team in the MPNFL Casey Cardinia League next season during Saturday’s interleague game.
Speaking during Saturday’s interleague game, Scott said that the VCFL would provide whatever assistance required to the Power in its search for a new home.
This was after other Alberton Football League (AFL) clubs voted to oust the reigning back-to-back premiers from their competition at the end of this season.
Scott was responding to questions during an interview for this week’s Local Footy Show on Channel 31 and said that the final review of football in South Gippsland would be tabled in the next week or two, but the decision to relocate Wonthaggi would not change.
The first draft of the review, released in April, recommended that Wonthaggi move to the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (WGLFL) and a second AFL club, Phillip Island, transfer to the Casey Cardinia League.
However, after strong representation from both clubs, together with other stakeholders in the South Gippsland area, there has been a rethink about those moves.
Scott said that Phillip Island had put a good case to stay in the AFL, while Wonthaggi had indicated that a move to the WGLFL was undesirable.
“We have to speak with a couple more clubs and that will happen this week, but Phillip Island put a well-considered and valid case to stay in the Alberton competition and we’re not going to ignore those points,” he said.
“Wonthaggi must find a new league next year, that is definite, but there is no decision on where that will be and it is up to them to consider their position. The VCFL is available to help as required.”
A meeting of players, members and sponsors of Wonthaggi Power recently voted overwhelmingly to veto any move to the WGLFL and club sources say that, while no vote was taken to join the Casey Cardinia League, that is the preferred option.
MPNFL football operations manager Ian Benson said no application or official approach had been made by the Power as yet, however if that happened it would be put to a meeting of Casey Cardinia League clubs as soon as possible.