Broadford have application to Kyabram District league turned down

The Kangaroos revealed earlier this week the club was unsuccessful in their attempt to move from the Outer East league to the Kyabram District league (KDFNL) after their annual general meeting on Wednesday night.

The club expressed their desire to move in July but a vote conducted by the KDFNL ended their chances of moving for the time being.

Now the club is pursuing the next step to try to get into the Kyabram District league.

“That’s what we’re looking into,” Broadford secretary Lauren Duffy said.

“We’ve contacted the AFL (Victoria) at this stage.

“We don’t know the exact process but we’re hoping to go down that path first.”

Broadford president Bonnie Welch said their future was better placed in the Kyabram District league.

“We believe we have a strong argument to be in a league in the AFL Goulburn Murray region, which aligns with our junior club who plays in the Seymour District Junior Football Netball League,” she said.

“It just makes sense that is where our future is.”

Broadford over the past 40 years have played in three competitions, the Heathcote District league, the Riddell District league and the Outer East league.

The club has been part of Outer East for the past four seasons since 2020.

If unsuccessful in their last pursuit of getting into the Kyabram District league the team is likely to stay in the Outer East league.

“That will definitely be looked at, staying where we are,” Duffy said.

“We’d be looking at the end of this month (to finalise the decision).”

But it would be a temporary solution with the club keen to continue their football in the country rather than playing their football in Melbourne.

“Next year the division we will be playing in means we will have to play in Hallam and places down there (in east Melbourne),” Duffy said.

“It’s unsustainable for our volunteers and our players to do that every year.”

Outer East chief executive Brett Connell said his league was happy to have Broadford stay and compete in their new-look Division 1 next season.

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“The last time I spoke to Bonnie their president they’d appointed a coach and the coach was really bullish about wherever they play,’’ Connell said.

“If they were successful in (joining) Ky (Kyabram) they were going there and if they weren’t then Outer East is their home.

“And they’re a terrific club, they do some great stuff.’’

Originally published as Broadford have application to Kyabram District league turned down