The Illawarra Lions are set to join the South Coast AFL competition in 2015, with their future in Sydney AFL yet to be finalised.
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The Lions hold their Annual General Meeting next Wednesday with a major discussion item being whether to remain in Sydney AFL First Division and/or move back to join the South Coast AFL first grade comp.
Twelve months ago the Lions withdrew from the Sydney AFL’s elite Premier Division after finishing second from bottom in 2013, to join the second-tier First Division comp in 2014.
While the club expected a rebuilding period this year they hoped to make the top five finals, but finished eighth.
The Lions have struggled in the stronger Sydney-based competition since winning the Sydney AFL First Division flag in 2004 and earning promotion to Premier League the following year.
In nine Premier League seasons they didn’t make the finals and most years battled near the bottom of the table.
The Lions elected to take a step back in 2014 but it appears the club are battling to find enough quality players to be competitive in Sydney AFL.
A move back to the South Coast AFL would eliminate the time-consuming travel demands which have made it tough to recruit and keep players.
South Coast AFL seniors chairman Max Avery expects the Lions to put a team in the South Coast AFL comp in 2015.
‘‘It’s a 99.9 per cent chance of happening,’’ Avery said.
‘‘We have until February 1 to nominate our competition structures but we expect the Lions to have a team in the South Coast comp.’’
The Lions were formed as the Wollongong Swans in 1971 and played in the South Coast comp until joining the Sydney AFL in 1989.
The Lions have always seen their role as providing opportunities to players aspiring to play at a higher level than the local competition.
The club played a role in the development of Wollongong’s first local AFL player Aidan Riley who was signed by Adelaide Crows, before joining the Melbourne Demons.
The Lions could remain in the Sydney AFL First Division and also nominate essentially a reserve grade side to play South Coast AFL, or they could cut their senior ties with the Sydney competition.
The South Coast comp is getting stronger with Wollongong Bulldogs - first grade premiers the past three seasons - plus Northern Districts, Kiama and Bomaderry making for a competitive top four in 2014.
