The Wimmera District Football Netball Association will establish a Working Group to investigate and recommend a consolidated governance and competition administration model for football and netball across the Wimmera Mallee region, under the shared project branding TOGETHER — football & netball, our communities, our leaders, our future.
The proposal builds on the shared administrative services already delivered through the WDFNA for the Wimmera Football Netball League and Horsham District Football Netball League. Since its establishment in 2022, the WDFNA has supported both leagues through employment of staff, building management and football and netball competition operations.
The next stage of reform will consider whether governance and competition strategy can be brought together under one structure, while retaining the identity, branding and delivery of each competition. One model to be examined includes a single Board, unified constitution, and one consistent set of football bylaws and netball bylaws.
AFL Wimmera Mallee Region Manager Ange Ballinger will facilitate the project and said the work was an important opportunity to strengthen long-term planning and support clubs across the region.
“Football and netball clubs are at the heart of many Wimmera Mallee communities, but they continue to face significant challenges including population change, long travel distances, volunteer capacity and the increasing complexity of running community sport,” Ms Ballinger said.
“This process is not about removing the character of either league or forcing changes on clubs. It is about exploring how we can reduce duplication, improve consistency, and provide stronger leadership so that local football and netball remain sustainable into the future.”
The Working Group will include representatives from the WFNL, HDFNL and WDFNA, along with an independent chair and people with governance, legal and competition management expertise. External advisors, including AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, will also be engaged where required.
The group will develop an issues and opportunities paper, a recommended governance model, draft constitution and bylaw document, a stakeholder consultation summary, an implementation roadmap, and a final report for endorsement.
Consultation with clubs, administrators, players, volunteers, umpires, officials, league staff and governing bodies will be a key part of the process. Engagement may include workshops, forums, surveys, written submissions and targeted meetings.
The Working Party is expected to be established by the end of July 2026, with final recommendations to be presented by 31 August 2027, however, should the Working Group complete their work earlier the final report will be presented ahead of this date. The work reflects the central message of the project: stronger outcomes are possible when football, netball, communities and leaders come together to plan for the region’s future.
Anyone who is interested in being a part of the Working Group please contact AFL Wimmera Mallee Region Manager - Ange Ballinger (0427825519 or ange.ballinger@afl.com.au).