Author: John Didulica Courtesy: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/

GEELONG’S junior soccer clubs are likely to be permitted to field teams in the Football Federation Victoria competitions for the first time in seasons after a conditional recommendation from the Geelong Regional Football Association to the FFV.

In recent seasons, the FFV has refused applications from local clubs to field teams in the metropolitan competitions, resulting in Geelong, North Geelong and Bell Park fielding teams guised as Altona Magic, Melbourne Knights and Werribee in past years.

The GRFA’s recommendation is likely to be supported by the FFV later this month and will go some way towards finding a compromise to an issue that has driven a wedge between the local football community.
The GRFA’s recommendation to the FFV is that teams already playing in Melbourne should be allowed to continue doing so but with important conditions.

These conditions include no new teams being allowed to leave Geelong in 2008, the clubs entitled to play in Melbourne will use effectively the same players as last season which ensures players will not be poached from other clubs in Geelong and clubs fielding teams in Melbourne will also need to field a team in the Geelong competition.
GRFA president John Karounas considers the solution an appropriate compromise which fosters the elite development of Geelong’s players.

“The interests of the kids have to be paramount. At this stage it was important to resolve this issue and not unsettle the players too much coming into this season,” said Karounas.
“We have time now to put in place a criteria and a process that will be used to determine this issue for the long-term. Obviously, each club will be given an opportunity to shape the criteria.”
Karounas acknowledges that no solution would have entirely appeased every member of the GRFA but has implored members to accept the position.

“It was among the first priorities of the new executive to resolve this matter. We needed to reach a compromise to take the game forward and alleviate some of the heat,” he said.
A solution needs to ensure that there is support of the local competition but also one that encourages the elite development of as many players as possible.