By JARROD POTTER
AMID the announcement the Keysborough Football Club will move to the Southern Football League (SFL), there has been one obvious omission from the conversation.
What does the netball club think of the move?
After the Keysborough’s 41-33 win over Beaconsfield in B Grade on Saturday, Keysborough Netball Club president Samantha Downie confirmed the netball club completely supports the football club’s desire to switch to the SFL.
While the netball club admitted it will be a step down in competition, the move was considered the best fit for the survival of both clubs heading into 2015 and beyond.
“I wouldn’t say we’re struggling with players but there are a lot of teams you have to fill in this section and we’re struggling with that,” Downie said.
“I guess the competition around the area as well, we just can’t compete with that.
“It’s definitely something they have to do as a club – I guess as netball we would like to stay in this league, purely because of competition, but it’s a club decision and something we need to do so we’re all happy with the move.”
Even though the netball club would play the majority of its SFL netball matches at Springvale District Netball Complex in Dingley, Downie said she wanted Keysborough to retain some home netball matches in order to keep the football and netball clubs together.
“We do hope to play some home games here – something we’ll have to speak with SFL about, but we’ll see what we can do there,” Downie said.
“Hopefully, we can get a few games here as it would be nice to stay with the football and keep it a football league competition rather than a senior club competition as it seems to be down there.”
Keysborough will play its last home round on 23 August against Hampton Park but the B Grade team can keep the Burra in Casey Cardinia a couple of weeks long as it will play finals this season – currently sitting second behind Narre Warren.
“We’ll be in finals and, hopefully, take it out this year and we’re quietly confident there and, hopefully, we can make it all the way and finish off the year in the Casey league,” Downie said.
Locally there are teams from Doveton Eagles, Dingley, Lyndale and Springvale Districts affiliated in the SFL netball competition.
