Wonthaggi not welcome in league

By Brad Kingsbury
CASEY Cardinia Football League presidents have voted against the inclusion of Alberton Football League (AFL) reject Wonthaggi Power into the competition next season.
The unanimous decision was made at their meeting last week.
It reduces Wonthaggi’s options for 2010, given that the Victorian Country Football League has given Power officials until 25 August to decide where its footballing future lies after the other AFL clubs voted to ditch the powerhouse club.
After initial support for Wonthaggi to join the league was expressed just before the season, the Casey Cardinia League (CCL) leaders are believed to have lost patience with the Power’s luke-warm attitude to a transfer.
The MPNFL will now work on alternative options to address the bye in the competition.
In other news from the Wednesday night president’s meeting, the league will introduce a strict policy banning alcohol being brought into grounds.
Clubs have agreed that a blanket ban is the best way to address the problem of underage drinking at CCL venues.
Clubs will employ security personnel to search car boots upon entry to the ground with a zero-tolerance approach. Alcohol will be available from clubs’ drink booths with the system expected to be on trial before the end of the 2009 season.
The system has been enforced with moderate success during recent finals series.
The other decision made at the meeting was a plan to introduce new under-19 and under-17 grades to replace the current under-18 level.
The move would do away with the Colts grade in the CCL and be aimed at encouraging more under-16 players into senior clubs.
There is a large drop off between under-16s and under-18s at present and the new grades would help address that issue.