AFL North West to become an AFL-managed league from 2022

After 24 years operating as an affiliated league, from next year it will be an AFL-managed league after the eight clubs voted unanimously in favour of the league being managed solely by the governing body at its recent annual general meeting.

Previously self-managed (run by volunteers) with guidance from the AFL, under the new system the AFL will be responsible for the sport's growth in the region and the day-to-day operations of the competition.

As part of that there will be a full-time position appointed.

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"It's a great feeling that each of our eight clubs believe becoming a managed league is in the best interests of the competition," outgoing president Sonia Lewis (formerly Martin) told AFL NSW/ACT media.

"I can't wait to see how footy grows in this region with the AFL's systems, structure and support."

"It's an exciting time for the region and the code."

Speaking with The Leader on Monday, Lewis said it was something that "needed to happen" with the increasing workload being placed on the league's volunteer base just to run the competition.

"When we started we were just a four team men's competition," she said.

"In the last four years it's just grown exponentially, we've had the youth boys come in, then the women's and then the under-14 mixed and for next year we're looking at introducing a youth girls competition."

"It's just got a bigger and bigger job."

"The volunteer hours were just enormous."

There will still be some volunteer roles but the bulk of the jobs will be absorbed into the new position.

"The clubs will have a go to person who's available 24-7," Lewis added. "They will have that availability to professional support."

Lewis said they have always known this route was an option but hadn't looked too deeply into it before.

"It was probably only earlier this year when we had trouble filling positions with skilled and willing volunteers that we started to explore our governance options," she said.

Understandably there were some concerns from the clubs.

One of their major concerns was being slugged with extra costs to cover the for the position. But Lewis said the clubs won't be disadvantaged, with the AFL (greater body) paying for that.

The other big concern was that they would get "swallowed up", and their money could be absorbed into other areas/competitions.

But Lewis said they will become their own 'cost centre'. Any money they receive can only be used for the North West competition and can't be touched by the broader AFL community.

"The other thing they have promised is regular meetings with the club presidents," she said.

The transition process with happen over the next few months.

As with any big change there are likely to be some teething problems, but Lewis believes that overall it is "going to be fantastic for the clubs and the game".

In 2021, 18 teams and 635 players took to the field.

Further information around the management and governance structure is being worked through and will be released in due course.

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