Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong are hoping for a positive response from clubs in the Wagga and District Juniors (WDJFNL) as they seek to move their junior teams into the league.
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The Lions currently play in the South West Juniors which stretches from Temora to Griffith, including Narrandera, Leeton-Whitton, Coleambally and the Northern Jets.
But GGGM say a move to Wagga is their best shot at remaining viable.
“With a lot of our (past and present) senior players living in Wagga now due to employment, their children will grow up in Wagga and we need to give them the opportunity to play at the club that they played at,” GGGM junior president Scott Hamblin said.
Unlike the senior leagues, the junior competitions are structured primarily according to geography and, apart from GGGM’s South West rivals except Temora are west of Ganmain.
The Lions presented a proposal to WDJFNL clubs on Wednesday night.
“The meeting we felt was very positive,” Hamblin said. “There were a lot of questions asked about our proposal… whether we have the numbers to compete. I’m confident with our numbers at the moment.”
AFL Riverina said the WDJFNL is likely to respond to the proposal by the beginning of December. GGGM have already had permission from South West to seek a move. If Wagga is welcoming, their exit from South West would appear a formality.
Meantime, AFL Riverina said any potential change to bring junior football to the Farrer League is a 2019 consideration, not next year.
The Rock-Yerong Creek have been requested to gather written statements from the other eight Farrer League clubs about bringing juniors and seniors together, before any formal meeting with AFL Riverina and the League.
