A VIEW to join each football league in the south-west under an overarching administration body will be put before league delegates as AFL Western District looks to provide more support to clubs.
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Under the proposal, a single body – such as the one used by AFL Gippsland – would oversee the administration, marketing, and development of football in the south-west.
Currently, the Hampden, Warrnambool and District, Mininera and South West District football and netball leagues are managed separately.
AFL Western District Region general manager Lachy Patterson said while the idea wasn’t set in stone, he would seek feedback and discuss it with league representatives in the near future.
“We’re seeing more evidence around the state to show that this is an important discussion to have,” Patterson said.
“The western district is one of the only areas in the state that doesn’t have a regional admin centre and we’re certainly keen to look at it. It’s been really successful elsewhere.
“We’re looking at ways to have full-time staff at all of the leagues. In this model, it provides professional staff who can be accessed and available at all times.”
Patterson said the model also allowed leagues to share ideas and work for the betterment of the game.
"It would allow leagues to work collaboratively. It also allows for greater commercial opportunities,” he said.
“It’s a better commercial prospect if leagues can approach a potential sponsor as three or four together as opposed to just one.
“(The idea) is about providing an increased level of support to clubs and the leagues. Volunteers are incredibly overworked.
“We need to find ways to reduce that workload and to provide leagues with a team approach to administration.”
Under other regional administration centre models in Victoria, league operations coordinators work under an overarching senior operations manager, who then reports to a regional general manager.
Patterson said a united approach to administration had to be considered as it would also provide a pathway for sports management careers.
“It’s important to realise we have to be working together, we can’t be working against each other,” he said.
“We’re involved in football for the same reason – because we love it.
“I think something like this would be beneficial for all football people in the region as a whole.”
