Broadford has again begun talks with the KDL in a bid to join its ranks next season.
The Kangaroos issued a statement to their Facebook page on Monday evening outlining their decision to move on from the Outer East league and hopefully find their “forever home”.
“Broadford Football Netball Club has informed Outer East Football Netball League that it intends to explore its options in terms of which league is the best fit for our club’s long-term sustainability,” the statement read.
“Outer East is conducting its own review of its competition structure. There is a strong possibility that the league will change to two divisions ― which would require our club to travel further to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
“It is now the right time for our club to find our ‘forever home’.
“We have begun talks with Kyabram District League to explore the possibility of joining the KDL in 2024.
“While there isn’t a league that is the perfect fit for us geographically, our committee feels the KDFNL aligns best with our club values and is our best option in terms of competition structure.”
The news of Broadford seeking a shift to the KDL comes less than a week after Murray Football Netball League confirmed its intention to form a second competition.
The News understands clubs from the KDL are involved in discussions with the Murray league.
Broadford attempted to join the KDL in 2019 when the league had plans to split into two competitions.
The Kangaroos were knocked back and subsequently shifted from the Riddell District league to its current home in Outer East.
Broadford currently sits second last on the division two seniors ladder and last year fellow Outer East outfit Yea merged with the Kangaroos in the senior football ranks.
But the Kangaroos have reignited talks with the KDL and approached the league less than a fortnight ago.
KDL president Fraser Kerrins revealed Broadford made contact with the league “around 10 days ago” and said the league was open to the Kangaroos joining it in 2024.
“We have spoken to Broadford as an executive when they approached us. They are trying to find their forever home,” Kerrins said.
“They are a proud community-focused club and they share the same values as the KDL ... I think any time you have a club want to join your league is a good thing. It’s not as if they are unknown to our clubs either, their junior teams play against some of our juniors in the Goulburn Murray Junior League.
“Ultimately though it will come down to whether the member clubs agree and there will be a vote from the delegates and league executive.”
The next step in the process is whether Broadford lodges a formal application, with the club’s statement highlighting it has scheduled a special general meeting for Thursday, August 10.
Kerrins said there was still plenty to play out in the coming weeks.
“The next step is that Broadford lodges a formal proposal and the club will then meet with each of our clubs and we’d call a special general meeting,” Kerrins said.
“If Broadford is successful we then submit the proposal to AFL Goulburn Murray ... but we wouldn’t expect an outcome until mid-late September.”
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