Association membership 1988 VFA season

1 association membership

1.1 caulfield
1.2 northcote
1.3 berwick
1.4 waverley
1.5 mordialloc
1.6 administrative structure

association membership

the association contracted substantially in 1988. between end of 1987 , end of 1988, total of 5 teams left association:

northcote , caulfield, suspended association in november 1987
berwick, withdrew association in november 1987
waverley, folded in march 1988
mordialloc, withdrew association in may 1988

additionally, moorabbin, had been suspended in may 1987 remainder of season, did not seek re-admission 1988.

the controversial fort review december 1986 considered instrumental in shaping clubs departures. fort review had recommended reducing association 12 clubs in 1 division, second division operating suburban-level competition no promotion or relegation between levels; and, explicitly named eleven clubs proposed exclude rationalised competition. though association never received mandate enforce fort recommendations, 5 of clubs departed saw fort review partly responsible demise.

caulfield

caulfield, had been relegated division 1 @ end of 1981, had struggled remain competitive in division 2. financial viability had been borderline throughout time in division 2, , club struggled field minor grade teams. club not helped clubroom fire in 1985. situation deteriorated rapidly in 1987, when club endured exodus of 28 players, blamed on uncertainty generated exclusion fort blueprint, , negative publicity generated when association president brook andersen had compared club struggling geelong west – ran @ loss of $60,000 during year , considered lucky have survived.

the club fell behind on association levies in july , august 1987, resulting in suspension final match of 1987 season. november, club still owed association $11,000 in levies , fines, , on 4 november, association executive suspended caulfield 1988 season. club did not dispute behind on levies, believed association suspended it, rather showing lenience, because of desire achieve fort s vision of rationalised competition. club never returned association, ending 80-year affiliation had begun in brighton in 1908 before moving caulfield in 1962. club merged ashburton football club , played in south east suburban football league in 1988.

northcote

by november 1987, northcote found no longer meet of association s 3 minimum requirements club: not financially viable, lacked sponsors, had fewer 100 members, , had no prospects of reversing problem due small local population, , increased competition soccer ethnic demographic in northcote increased; no longer guarantee home ground northcote council had been considering ending tenancy of westgarth street oval; , not guarantee muster enough players field teams in 3 grades. officially, club suspended 1988 season on 4 november 1987, association president brook andersen commented club had resigned revealing of these problems association executive; although, there factional infighting within club, , incoming club president ian galbraith, wanted club stay in association, claimed factional enemies had exaggerated magnitude of club s problems in deliberate attempt bait association expelling it. club never returned, ending 80-year affiliation association, , disbanded.

berwick

at annual general meeting on 12 november 1987, berwick discussed whether or not withdraw association , return south west gippsland football league. club had not enjoyed significant improvement in local support , financial position had suffered since joining association swgfl in 1983; and, there concerns after fort review division 2 had uncertain future. motion leave association passed narrow majority @ meeting, , berwick returned swgfl in 1988, ending five-year affiliation association.

the club noted faced paying $5,000 instalment of affiliation levy in november, caulfield s suspension sending clear message club faced suspension if failed pay. @ club believed cynical ploy association drive weaker clubs out of competition, further raising concerns whether survive long-term in competition.

as of 2017, club remains active in south east football league, successor swgfl.

waverley

in march 1988, waverley announced in financial trouble. had not paid players 1987, nor had paid recent $5,000 instalment of affiliation levy, $58,000 in debt , needed raise $20,000 within 2 weeks remain in operation. club s supporters , members rallied, , developed plan use small cash reserves pay affiliation levy, pledged commitment raise $20,000 needed, $80,000 need operate rest of season; but, within 2 days, 1 of club s creditors objected club using cash reserves in manner, , threatened legal action. club expected suspended if failed pay levies, had no other way of raising necessary cash, ceased operations , folded on 11 march, ending 28-year affiliation association.

mordialloc

after round 4, mordialloc met decide whether stay in association or not. club performing poorly on field, having lost 3 games combined 428 points – struggled recruit quality players, blamed on proximity more successful sandringham , frankston , uncertainty generated fort review. additionally, immediate future of division 2 looking weaker ever, brook andersen had predicted media in late march expected association have reduced 14 teams in 1 division 1989. club not in immediate financial trouble, concerned full year of continued uncompetitive performances in uncertain division 2 environment cause financial trouble force club fold. such, on 5 may, club opted withdraw association, ending affiliation had lasted on thirty years. following week, club began playing in south east suburban football league, believed had greater long-term viability; , of 2017, indeed still competing in league s successor, southern football league.

administrative structure

in march, 1 of fort review s key recommendations formally endorsed when structure of association s board of management changed; now, instead of being composed of delegates representing each of clubs, six-man independent board elected @ beginning of year. under new structure, existed until 1993, independent board of management had power make decisions on behalf of association; and, separate board of directors, comprising 1 member each club, established , had power veto board of management decision if obtained three-quarters majority in favour of doing so. change brought end club-based administrative model under association had operated 111 years since establishment in 1877.