THE South West Victoria Football Association is set for expansion with the introduction of a division two competition from this season.

The league has been able to navigate the perils of COVID lockdowns during the past two seasons with the unexpected benefit being Portland’s transfer from the South Australian based Limestone Coast Football Association because of border restrictions.

And while the Victorian competition might not be of the same standard of the Limestone Coast competition just yet, the league is making steps for improvement – and much of that has come from discussions with Portland and their experiences over the past decades in the Limestone Coast league (once known as the Western Border Soccer Association).

“Introducing division two, effectively a reserves competition, is something we pushed hard for,” Portland president David Stafford said.

“The presidents from all the clubs felt there was a gap there, in particular for the youth coming through from the under-16s, but also the older players who are looking for an easier paced grade so that they can stay involved in the game.”

Last season the SWVFA ran one senior grade competition, alongside under-16, under-14 and under-12 grades.

When the season was cut short because of COVID (no premierships were awarded), Portland’s senior team was placed second with eight wins and a draw from their 11 games – behind only Warrnambool Wolves – in an eight-team competition that also featured Stawell Pioneers, Corangamite Lions, Port Fairy, Warrnambool Rangers, Hamilton and Deakin Dragons.

Hamilton and Deakin had just one win between them, and indications for the 2022 season are that Deakin will play in the division two competition only.

That will leave division one with seven teams and, at this stage, five teams in the new division two.

“We will definitely be entering a team into division two as well as having a division one team,” Stafford said.

“Now that we are coming out of COVID we have found our senior attendees at training is good, and we have to make sure they get enough soccer.

“At the junior level our numbers are down a bit, but we’re not too concerned with that just yet.

“We think it is something that will pick up as summer sports finish up.”

There are also some other changes afoot for the league, with planning advanced for a pre-season Cup format tournament before Easter that clubs can use as a final preparation for the start of the season proper after Easter, and moving the women’s competition to winter.

“The women’s will be seven-a-side as it has been in the past.

“It was run as a separate competition over the summer, and we participated in that two years ago.

“We are now trying to make it a winter competition and hope to play it on the same day as the other grades, so we will have women’s, men’s and juniors all happening on the one day.”

Portland senior men’s side will once again be coached by Jake Davies, with assistance from Stephen Von Tunk who is returning after a season away. The women’s team will train with the men’s team.

The under-16s will be led by Michael Meaola, the under-14s by Raz Atodiresei, and both will assist with the running of the under-12s.

The club has been training on Wednesday nights so far, but will switch to Tuesdays and Thursdays in March.

New players are welcome at all levels, and for younger players looking for an introduction to soccer Miniroos sessions (for ages five to nine) are held on Saturday mornings.

Further details are available on the club’s Facebook page Portland Panthers Soccer Club.