General News
25 October, 2023
BREAKING: Bendigo league takes Maiden Gully for next season
LODDON Valley league side Maiden Gully has snubbed returning to the local under 18 competition and will instead field a junior side in the Bendigo Football League next season. The Eagles this afternoon announced Bendigo had accepted its bid to fill...
UPDATE
THERE IS confusion late this afternoon following Maiden Gully pulling its under 18 announcement from social media sites. The Eagles had announced acceptance by Bendigo league of their under 18 football side for next season.
The Loddon Herald is seeking comment from both Maiden Gully and the Bendigo.
However, it is understood the Maiden Gully announcement early this afternoon make have "jumped the gun", according to one source.
EARLIER
LODDON Valley league side Maiden Gully has snubbed returning to the local under 18 competition and will instead field a junior side in the Bendigo Football League next season.
The Eagles this afternoon announced Bendigo had accepted its bid to fill the vacancy left by Kyneton moving to the Riddell league for 2024.
In a statement just before 1pm, Eagles' president Chris Garlick said: "We are super excited to advise that our application to put an U-18 football side in the Bendigo League has been accepted by the Board of the Bendigo Football Netball Club (League).While there are still a couple of items to tick off from a Club and process point of view, it’s great to know where we are heading and be able to move forward in what is a history making time for our club."
The Bendigo decision means its league will not have a bye in the junior competition but there will be one in the seniors.
As reported exclusively in the Loddon Herald last week, Maiden Gully had met with Bendigo league officials with a scenario of entering under 18s in 2024 and the whole club moving to the major league within five years. However, the Loddon Herald understands Bendigo board members want any move to be for the 2025 season.
Bendigo league manager Cameron Tomlins has been contacted for comment.
Maiden Gully's Bendigo tilt comes as Pyramid Hill returned to under 18 ranks this year in the de facto Loddon Valley under 18 competition (run by AFL Central Victoria) and Newbridge is preparing for its return in 2024.
It is believed Loddon Valley league was not informed of the decision on Maiden Gully junior by either the Eagles or the Bendigo league.
Our exclusive report last week
MAIDEN Gully is in talks for a staged transition to Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Loddon Valley league club met Bendigo officials last week to discuss future strategic direction.
The Eagles, who won three senior Loddon Valley games this season, is understood to be touting an under 18 team in the Bendigo competition for 2024 with the club’s full move within five years.
Bendigo league manager Cameron Tomlins on Monday confirmed there had been talks but did not reveal detail.
“Along the journey we have had clubs with major league aspirations and this year is no different,” Tomlins said.
“The board has had a strategic plan in place for some years. We are still working through that process for 2024 ... it’s ongoing, but by the end of October expect to have a concrete direction.”
Long-time Bendigo league club Kyneton has been granted approval to transfer into the Riddell league next season, leaving the region’s major competition with nine clubs.
An AFL Central Victoria roundtable in August of Bendigo, Loddon Valley and Heathcote league clubs found strong support for nine-team competitions that see two byes during the home and away season. Bendigo was the only league without a bye this season.
Maiden Gully has not fielded an under 18 side for two seasons but has appointed a coach for 2024.
However, sources continue to say that team will not be in the Loddon Valley competition with the local league expected to resume management of junior football after AFL Central Victoria’s foray into creating a regional youth league this season only attracted the five local clubs - Bridgewater, Inglewood, East Loddon Rams, Pyramid Hill and Marong.
Newbridge has flagged its return to junior ranks next season.
Maiden Gully had been in a trio of clubs wanting to switch to Heathcote league.
The Eagles, Marong and Cohuna were knocked back as was Marong’s request for a review of the refusal after AFL Victoria refused a game pro rata salary cap incease for Heathcote clubs to cover extra matches in a season.
The Eagles were contacted by the Loddon Herald before going to press.