Sandringham to jointly run VFLW team Southern Saints in 2019

19/10/2018

St Kilda FC, Sandringham FC and Frankston FC, along with AFL Victoria, met recently to discuss how best to provide opportunities for women across the region to participate in the Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s competition and the provision of licenses moving forward.

The Southern Saints (license held by St Kilda) will continue in the VFL Women’s competition in 2019 and forge a closer relationship with Sandringham FC. This closer relationship will see Sandringham jointly run the Southern Saints team in 2019 with the aim to take on the team’s management and license in 2020.

Frankston, who supported the Southern Saints in the clubs’ inaugural season in the competition by hosting games at Skybus Stadium, advised St Kilda and AFL Victoria of its desire to prioritise focus solely towards its VFL team in 2019, having returned to the competition this season.

The new partnership with Sandringham will see most games hosted at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, with some games to be played at Frankston and St Kilda’s home base of RSEA Moorabbin.

AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper said the future vision for women’s football in the region is in the best interests of all clubs involved.

“The outcome has been a collaborative decision by all stakeholders for the best interests of women’s football in the region,” Reaper said.

“Frankston has decided its immediate priority is their VFL side, but it is still the aim of the club to develop a VFL Women’s team under the Frankston name in the future, with St Kilda to support any future venture in its Next Generation Academy (NGA) area. 

“Sandringham recently submitted an excellent VFL Women’s application that provided AFL Victoria confidence they value the female football pathway and want to be part of it, with this new partnership an excellent first step in their progression into women’s football.

“St Kilda will aim to facilitate the integration of Southern Saints into Sandringham throughout 2019, to best assist St Kilda’s push towards AFL Women’s in 2020.

“The move will further strengthen the current alignment between St Kilda and Sandringham that is in place from a VFL perspective.”

Sandringham Football Club CEO David Cannizzo said the club are excited to commence the integration of Southern Saints.

“This direction makes a lot of sense for women’s football in the region and our commitment to the St Kilda Football Club,” Cannizzo said.

“Our club is the state league development arm to St Kilda for the men and it makes logical sense that we aim to do similar for the women.

“Through an empowering and enabling environment, Sandringham are fully focused on being a consciously inclusive and fully integrated Club.”

The 2019 Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s fixture will be released in mid-December.