The Western Region Football League has confirmed its divisional changes for the 2024 season.
Following the WRFL review into the structure of its senior football program, and the successful application from the Western Rams to join the WRFL, the league’s board has ratified changes for the upcoming season.
As reported by Star Weekly, 2023’s division 2 premiers Parkside is moving to division 1 to make that a nine-team competition. This will be stage one of a two-year process to form a division 1 ten-team competition.
Next year’s division 2 premiers will be promoted into division 1 with no relegation out of division 1 to happen next season.
All division 3 clubs and the Western Rams will be moved into division 2.
WRFL clubs voted at its annual general meeting on December 5 to decide the fate of the former Riddell District Football Netball League club.
Member clubs of the WRFL officially voted in the Rams which will enter both their football and netball operations into the league.
WRFL chief executive David Jennings welcomed the Western Rams and thanked the RDFNL and AFL Victoria for their collaboration and support in the application.
“We have worked closely with the RDFNL and diligently with the Western Rams over the past two months on their application to join the WRFL and we are now delighted to welcome the Club to League,” he said in a statement.
Glen Orden is also set to make its return to the WRFL with the league revealing them as one of 15 teams in its division 2 for 2024.
The Hawks will return to the competition after failing to put out a senior or reserves side for the 2023 season.
Next season’s division 1 teams will be Werribee Districts, Point Cook, Altona, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Caroline Springs, Spotswood, Point Cook Centrals, Hoppers Crossing and Parkside.
While division 2 will consist of Albion, Newport, Sunshine, Wyndhamvale, North Footscray, Braybrook, Suns, Albanvale, Sunshine Heights, West Footscray, Tarneit, Laverton Magpies, Glen Orden, North Sunshine and Western Rams.
