Sport
3 July, 2026
Club transfers an ugly process, says Hicks
LODDON Valley league chair Richard Hicks has slammed the “ugly process” that will determine whether Marong and Maiden Gully depart for the Bendigo football and netball competition next year.
LODDON Valley league chair Richard Hicks has slammed the “ugly process” that will determine whether Marong and Maiden Gully depart for the Bendigo football and netball competition next year.
The 10 LVFNL clubs will meet in the next three weeks to vote on the proposal, which has been endorsed by Marong and Maiden Gully members.
If Bendigo chooses to authorise the moves, 75 per cent approval is required from Loddon Valley clubs.
“If the clubs say yes, we let them go through; if the clubs say no, we appeal the decision,” Hicks said.
Effectively, the existing rules set up a league versus league transfer process, without any initial input from AFL Central Victoria.
If an appeal is launched, AFL Central Victoria will then make the final decision. “It’s a pretty ugly process,” Hicks said. “AFL Central Victoria should have some teeth in the matter, but they don’t.”
He said the overarching body should be guiding the future of football in the region with some proper planning. “I would like that process to give a proper timeline for development – instead, it’s all circles and roundabouts.”
When a transfer request is knocked back, the club seeking a move is not given a reason for the denial.
There is nothing to stop a club repeating that request on an annual basis.
Cohuna Kangas, for example, have applied for a third successive year to move from the Central Murray to the Heathcote league.
Hicks said Loddon Valley was waiting for the transfer process to conclude before dealing with the ramifications.
The league could enter 2027 with 10, nine or eight clubs depending on the result of the transfer requests.
The board’s reading of the Loddon Valley constitution leaves the decision entirely in the hands of the clubs, including Marong and Maiden Gully.
“It’s a good thing in a way – it means the clubs have a say in the future of the league more so than us as a board dictating to the clubs what should happen,” Hicks said.
Read More: Loddon Shire