MANOR LAKES WITHDRAW FROM DIVISION 2

The Manor Lakes Football Club has confirmed its intention to withdraw from Division 2 Seniors and Reserves competitions for the remainder of the 2019 WRFL season following a forfeit against Wyndhamvale FC last weekend.

Manor Lakes FC officials met with members of the WRFL administration and Board on Tuesday to discuss the club’s situation. Whilst further discussions and work ensued, the club ultimately confirmed its intent to withdraw from senior men’s football for the current season.

Manor Lakes FC president Shane White said that the club will now focus on its junior and women’s programs respectively.

“With on-field results not necessarily going our way, a significant injury count and some mounting challenges in terms of our income versus outgoings, the club has made this difficult decision,” he said.

“As a club, we need to examine how we manage things moving forward, but for the remainder of the season we will focus our energy on the junior and women’s programs, with the hope to again field a senior men’s program in the future.”

The club’s Under 9s, Under 10s and Under 12s, as well as its senior women’s team, will continue in 2019.

Whilst the WRFL Division 2 Seniors and Reserves fixture will remain unchanged, the process for the awarding of match points and/or percentage will be duly considered and confirmed in the coming days in consultation with Division 2 clubs, as will any implications that the club’s withdrawal will have on end-of-year individual awards, including WRFL best-and-fairest and/or goal-kicking awards.

WRFL CEO Matthew Duck said it was a disappointing outcome for the club and the competition.

“It is very disappointing to see any team start out a season and not get to the end,” he said.

“Anyone involved in local footy can tell you it can be an unforgiving environment, and managing all facets of a club is not easy. We’ve sought to help the club in a number of ways, including providing an ongoing mentoring resource, and remain as resolute as ever in working together to restore the club to full health.”

Duck said Division 2 would remain a competitive battleground for the remainder of the season.

“The average winning margins across WRFL Division 2 show it to be one of the most competitive senior competitions across the state, and we expect that to continue through the back-end of the season and into the finals series.”