General News
31 August, 2023
Burning questions: disgruntled clubs and limbo land
THE showcase month of local football is degenerating into an off-field shambles as disgruntled Loddon Valley clubs keep jockeying to switch leagues. Marong and Maiden Gully have not given up on heading north to Heathcote league despite rejection...
THE showcase month of local football is degenerating into an off-field shambles as disgruntled Loddon Valley clubs keep jockeying to switch leagues.
Marong and Maiden Gully have not given up on heading north to Heathcote league despite rejection last week.
The clubs are coy on their responses to being placed in limbo land by Heathcote clubs.
At least one has asked for a review of the decision. Another is looking at options that could see it with teams lining up in several competitions in 2024.
“It’s become a circus out there,” one local club president said yesterday.
Marong and Maiden Gully saw their league switch pitches effectively scuttled after the Heathcote league last week tried to handball any decision on the Loddon Valley pair to AFL Central Victoria.
The AFL commission quickly turned over play saying it did not have the power, or authority, to move clubs between leagues.
Heathcote’s decision came days after the commission dropped plans for a new “pathways’ league in 2024, followed days later by Bendigo league club Kyneton launching a bid to move into the Riddell league from next season.
Adding to off-field intrigue has been Maiden Gully calling for an under 18 coach in 2024. The Eagles have stood out of top junior football for two seasons - 2022 in Loddon Valley and then this year’s AFL Central Victoria under 18 leagues - but cited improved junior pathways as a reason for wanting to jump over to Heathcote league.
There was a recent meeting of junior club parents. The word out of Marist Oval is there will be an under 18 side next season but don’t bank on it being in a rejuvenated Loddon Valley competition if AFL Central Victoria walks away from the five-team competition it had big plans for last December, only to see the regional league concept quickly stumble.
While Marong had enjoyed almost two full seasons of utter Loddon Valley domination, the Loddon Herald has been told the Panthers rejected full exploration of heading to Bendigo league after identifying challenges around volunteer base and finances needed to sustain a major league club based in the next population growth area of greater Bendigo.
Heathcote league president Peter Cole said after quashing Maiden Gully and Marong’s hopes: “The outcome was the majority of clubs voting that the Heathcote league remain the same in season 2024.
“This will now put the final decision in the hands of the AFL Central Victoria commission and Heathcote league will accept any decision the AFL commission makes in relation to the three clubs who have made submissions to enter the league, as was the case in 2022.
“Several clubs cited their decision was based on club members wanting to stay together and continue building their clubs and junior pathways.
“We voted to accept Maiden Gully last year and that decision was overturned. Yes, the majority vote was for our League to stay the same in 2024, but ultimately the commission will make the final call.”
The voice of Heathcote clubs wanting to remain a nine-team competition is consistent with views expressed when AFL Central Victoria hastily called Bendigo, Heathcote and Loddon Valley league to a summit last month. They like nine-team competitions - play everyone once, have a couple of byes.
It was after that summit that the “pathways” league proposal was put on the table, only to be pulled a week later.
Kyneton has officially made its move to switch leagues, fellow Bendigo league struggling clubs Maryborough and Gisborne have committed to stay and fight.
Peter Cole yesterday morning confirmed Marong had asked for the Heathcote decision to be reviewed, a request he said would not be considered until after finals.
The burning question remains: What happens next for football across central Victoria?