The Western Region Football League will expand to three divisions in 2014, a move prompted by the arrival of two new clubs – Werribee Districts, from the VAFA, and start-up club Tarneit.
The WRFL board’s decision to create a third tier was to bridge the gulf between sides at the top and bottom of the respective divisions.
Last season was a case in point. The second division finalists were decided a long way out from the end of the home-and-away rounds and rendered a lot of games meaningless, while the top sides in division 1 had their annual beat-up of the side that would eventually be relegated.
“As part of the 2010-13 strategic plan, one of the six key issues raised was the evenness of the competition,” WRFL football operations manager David Newton said. “By moving to three divisions, it is anticipated the imbalance of recent years will be reduced significantly.”
The 2014 season will begin with two divisions before splitting into three after each side has played each other once.
From round 14 onwards, the league will have 10 teams in division 1, eight in division 2 and six in division 3.
There will be no promotion-relegation between division 2 and 3 at the end of next season, but both leagues will have a final four and premiership spoils on offer.
The all-important draft fixture will come out mid-November.
