This week the Eastern Football Netball League Board signed off on the structure that will deliver five even divisions (4 x 10, 1 x 8) across Senior Men’s football in the EFNL by the end of 2023. A range of options were discussed and feedback from clubs was presented to the Board.
The transition from the current divisional structure to the desired one will take place over the next two seasons, with a return to the traditional promotion/relegation system in 2024.
Over the past few seasons most divisions have been affected by team numbers, with divisions seeing eleven teams, eight teams, nine teams, twelve teams, ten teams and this year a seven-team competition.
The proposed changes will have implications for clubs at the top and bottom of the ladder however the long-term benefits of having ‘even fixtures’ in the top four divisions is a priority for the league.
With the addition of three new clubs, the EFNL now have forty-eight clubs, providing the scale to create a better divisional structure for all Senior Men’s competitions. COVID-19 has delayed the ability to deliver the preferred structure, but the EFNL’s commitment has never wavered.
The transition from 2022 to 2024 can be seen below.
| 2022 | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| Starting Teams | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Promoted/Relegated | -/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 1/- |
| 2023 | |||||
| Starting Teams | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Promoted/Relegated | -/2 | -/2 | -/2 | -/1 | 1/- |
| 2024 | |||||
| Starting Teams | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Promoted/Relegated | -/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/- |
