Sport
21 June, 2023
AFL pleaded with us to stay: Panthers
A YEAR after putting a halt to talks to join the Heathcote league, Marong last Friday confirmed it’s on the prowl again. Marong seniors have been undefeated in the last 22 games, the current longest winning streak in Victoria, and informed...
A YEAR after putting a halt to talks to join the Heathcote league, Marong last Friday confirmed it’s on the prowl again.
Marong seniors have been undefeated in the last 22 games, the current longest winning streak in Victoria, and informed supporters of the move on Friday night, nine hours after the story broke online in the Loddon Herald.
President Danny Tyler told the Loddon Herald the club aborted last year’s application to join Heathcote after talks with AFL Central Victoria. He said AFLCV pleaded with the Panthers to stay in Loddon Valley and be part of the new AFLCV under 18 competition.
“They pleaded with us to give them 12 months to get the under 18s up to a good level and if at the end of 12 months it was not better, they would let us move,” Tyler said.
“The product is no better than what we had with Loddon Valley running it,” Tyler said of this season’s AFLCV 18 under competition. Tyler said the Panthers had more than 300 junior footballers and netballers and under 18 footballers had been restless after huge wins against Bridgewater, Pyramid Hill, Inglewood and East Loddon Rams this season and there was the risk of those players continuing their football pathways at other clubs.
“That shocked us into gear,” Tyler said. “At this stage we have to be a little self-centred and worried about our own future.
“We are basically trying to provide the best product for our group of youngsters moving forward.”
Tyler said Heathcote offered a better model for its junior footballers.
Tyler said the club had not been in discussions with the major Bendigo league about a move. “We don’t want to lose the country club feel and community.”