Competition proves a challenge

By Glen Atwell
SOUTHERN Football League (SFL) chief executive Phil Stevens has urged all Division Three clubs to take advantage of the new Challenge series scheduled to offset the removal of Parkmore from the Division Two reserves competition.
But a number of club officials have raised concerns over the issues that led to the impromptu competition being introduced.
The SFL Challenge fixtures the Division Three senior team with the bye against the second division reserves side with a bye now that Parkmore has withdrawn.
The competition is sponsored by league financier Cascade Home Loans, and the winner of each weekly game receives a cheque for $200.
Doveton Eagles coach Jason Salerno said his club didn’t participate in the Challenge series on Saturday because he disagreed with the way in which the competition was conceived.
Salerno refused to comment any further.
Sandown Cobras president Lew Short said the competition had merit, but he was not convinced that clubs should have to help out the floundering Pirates.
“I’m not certain that Parkmore is headed in the right direction. It’s worrying,” he said.
“But the SFL Challenge gives clubs a chance to field two teams, which is an opportunity to make money.
“There are some issues with clubs feeling as though they shouldn’t have to help out. Some believe the Pirates should have stayed down in Division Three.
“The bye does give teams a chance to get over some niggling injuries too,” Short said.
Stevens said he was aware some Division Three teams were looking forward to the bye.
“We were mindful of this and that’s why we are putting up a small cash prize to each winner,” he said.
“$200 a week and $500 at the end of the season to the overall winner – it’s not huge amounts of money, but it gives clubs a purpose when participating.”
Stevens noted that the SFL Challenge was not a compulsory fixture, but was an opportunity to play football on a weekend that players otherwise wouldn’t.
“It’s not a scratch match, it’s a financial opportunity,” he said.
“We’re not forcing clubs to be involved, but we think it’s a good idea.”
This weekend Cerberus has the chance to play against the Springvale reserves side, but the club said the game would not be played.
“Being a military club most of our players are from interstate, so having the bye on the Queen’s Birthday weekend gives players a chance to go home for a few days,” a spokesman said.