By Tara Murray
The Western Football League division 2 competition will be a 10 team competition this season, with two sides dropping to only having thirds sides.
When the league announced its structure last year for division 2, it was announced it would be a 12 team competition.
But the league announced on Monday that both North Sunshine and Glen Orden wouldn’t play in the division 2 competition and would play in the Friday night thirds competition,
“The Western Football Netball League wishes to advise that both the Glen Orden Sports Club and North Sunshine Football Club have withdrawn from fielding senior and reserve teams in this year’s division 2 men’s competition with both clubs moving to the thirds competition for 2025,” the league said on its website.
“This decision was reached following recent discussions the league had with Glen Orden and North Sunshine, and planning for the upcoming season can now go ahead with more certainty.
“The withdrawal of Glen Orden and North Sunshine will result in a 10-team division 2 men’s competition in 2025 with every club now playing each other twice (home and away).
The league said it would continue to support and work with Glen Orden and North Sunshine this year with both clubs hopefully of returning to the division 2 men’s competition in the future.
The Roadrunners have struggled in the division 2 competition in recent years with its most recent win coming in 2021.
Last season, they lost all but one match by more than 100 points and had several 200 point losses.
The club announced recently that two-time best and fairest winner Aaron Foster would captain the side and Taylor Sammut would be his deputy this year.
Glen Orden had been hoping to return to the division 2 competition this season.
The club’s senior football program went into recess for the 2023 season after not being able to field seniors and reserves sides.
Last season, they fielded a thirds side with an eye on returning to Saturday football and having two sides this year. The Hawks finished sixth in thirds competition last year.
The departures of the two sides will leave division 2 at 10 teams.
Last season there were 14 teams in division 2. Sunshine, Albion and Newport were all promoted into division 1 for this year, while Point Cook avoided relegated from division 1 after finishing last.
A new division 2 fixture was on released Monday as well.
In the opening round, the Suns will face Wyndhamvale, North Footscray will host Braybrook, West Footscray is at home to Laverton, Tarneit will play Albanvale and Sunshine Heights will take on the Western Rams.
Tara Murray
