Gisborne is a step closer to joining the Ballarat Football Netball League after clubs voted in overwhelmingly in favour of the club making the move.
Ballarat clubs voted on Wednesday night as Gisborne considers a move from the Bendigo Football Netball League.
The final vote was 46-4 in favour of the move. Gisborne will vote next week on whether it will aim to make the move official.
Ballarat board chairman Robert Simmons said they had expected the existing clubs to support the move.
He said it was a credit to the existing clubs that a club like Gisborne wanted to join the competition.
“We were hoping to get a unanimous or close to unanimous vote,” he said. “It is important with such a big decision to get as many members on board.
“We are very pleased with the results.
“Gisborne will further strengthen our league, in both our football and netball competitions.
“It will also assist with the financial stability of our league. Our aim is to be the strongest country football netball league.
“The possible inclusion assists in this aim.”
Sullivan said Gisborne’s great club culture and the equality between their football and netball was one of the main things that stood out during the process so far.
“It wasn’t just the strength of on ground and court performance, it is about their club philosophies that stood out,” he said.
“I would say there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge before this is signed off by AFL Vic, but this is a step in the right direction.”
Bulldogs president Tony Brancatisano said it was pleasing to see the support from the Ballarat clubs.
“We had a feeling we might get across the line, but you never know with a vote,” he said. “The vote outcome is quite good and the majority of clubs want us.
“You don’t want to go to a competition where you have just got over the line.
“You want to feel that bit of love.”
The Bulldogs club members will now vote on August 21.
Brancatisano said the committee has a rough idea of how they expect the vote will go.
He said for the committee it was providing all the information possible for everyone to make an informed vote.
Brancatisano said while the league decision was going on in the background, they were making sure that they continued to perform on field and court.
