The Winnaleah Football Club has launched an optimistic bid to stay alive.
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The Magpies will plead their case to the Northern Tasmanian Football Association council on Tuesday night following their request to join the association’s 12-team division 2 roster next year.
Winnaleah president Gavin Steele said the club was left with no other choice but to ask for admission, after its only remaining North East Football Union opponent decided to head into recess.
“We knew last year’s NEFU competition was not going to be long lasting with only two clubs involved… [and] with the Scottsdale Crows deciding not to continue on – we haven’t got anyone to play. If we’re not accepted, the club would have to go into recess.”
Steele said the 110-year-old club was still strong on and off the field and that the loss of football would have harsh social impacts on a community.
“We’ve submitted a strong list of players with about 15 Crows players indicating that they would play for us, which gets us to a playing list of around 70 players,” he said.
“Going above keeping our club alive… the loss of many industries in the North East has impacted many clubs that are no longer with us over the years.
“We feel that we still need a game of local footy out here as it is one of the main social outlets for people.”
NTFA president Paul Reynolds said the submission has been circulated to the council – consisting of the NTFA board, division 1 and division 2 clubs – for consideration.
It was reported in August that the NEFU was compiling a feasibility study into either Winnaleah and Scottsdale Crows or a combined NEFU team participating in the NTFA in 2018.
The NTFA has previously said it would be unlikely to accept any more clubs into division 2, after admitting Bridport and East Coast last year with several existing division 2 clubs already finding it difficult to attract and maintain players.
“The application makes reference to commitments from players [to play with Winnaleah], which we can only take on face value,” Reynolds said.
“They have certainly put together a package that outlines their financial position, how they intend to remain viable and detail on their facilities.
“It’s not inconsistent with what the NTFA’s feasibility looked into last year.”
Reynolds said he did not wish to preempt any vote and that the NTFA was due to meet on Wednesday night to consider all aspects before next week’s discussion.