General News
9 June, 2023
Panthers prowling new pastures ... again
BREAKING NEWS EXCLUSIVE Loddon Valley league powerhouse Marong is back on the hunt for a new home. A year after putting a halt to talks to join the Heathcote league, multiple sources have confirmed to the Loddon Herald in the past 24 hours that the...
BREAKING NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Loddon Valley league powerhouse Marong is back on the hunt for a new home.
A year after putting a halt to talks to join the Heathcote league, multiple sources have confirmed to the Loddon Herald in the past 24 hours that the reigning triple-grade premiers are now in discussions Heathcote leagues eyeing a move for next season.
Marong seniors have been undefeated in the last 22 games, the current longest winning streak in Victoria.
President Danny Tyler today said a formal application had been made to join Heathcote.
He said 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 under competition.
Tyler said the Panthers had more 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."
Marong this week lodged its latest application to join the Heathcote league this week. The Heathcote board is due to meet next week to discuss the bid after its clubs last year voted to accept Marong and Maiden Gully before Marong withdrew its bid at the last minute and Maiden Gully had its shift rejected by AFLCV commissioners.
Tyler said Heathcote offered a better model for its junior football pathways.
The Panthers would make the Heathcote league's 10th team and Tyler said his club did not want to lose its country feel.
While admitting it was on the outskirts of Bendigo and in a suburb predicted to have a population of 8000 within a few years, 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," he said.
Tyler would not comment on the future of the AFLCV competition that without Marong would be reduced to four teams. However, he said the under 18footballers had rarely played at the same venue as seniors this season.
And he said Heathcote would provide a better standard competition for the players while also keeping to club together on match days.
The Panthers' president said the new bid move to switch leagues had the support of players across all levels at Marong's Malone Park base.
However, he said there had been no talks between Marong and Maiden Gully on future membership of the Loddon Valley league.
Maiden Gully dropped its under 18 side last year.
Local football sources have also said that they were expecting Maiden Gully to make a fresh bid to move leagues. The Eagles have been contacted for comment.
This is how the 2022 push by Marong and Maiden Gully broke 50 weeks ago:
LODDON Valley Football and Netball League is on the verge losing two clubs with Marong and Maiden Gully making claims to join the Heathcote league next season.
Heathcote league board and clubs were scheduled to meet last night to further discuss applications from the Eagles and Panthers.
President Peter Cole said that meeting would see Marong dele-gates asked the same questions put to Maiden Gully a fortnight ago. He said clubs would then meet next Wednesday to decide the fate of the submissions.
If approved, Loddon Valley could be reduced to seven teams and just three clubs left in the junior football competition, Heathcote jumping to 11 clubs.
Maiden Gully this year withdrew from Loddon Valley juniors but it is understood the Eagles would field an under 18 side if allowed to swap leagues.
League powerhouse Marong, once subject to speculation that it would seek to step up and join the Bendigo league, has been dominating Loddon Valley senior and junior football this season.
Maiden Gully president Chris Garlick confirmed that the Eagles had met with the Heathcote league board and clubs in the last fortnight.
However, he said clubs are prevented by AFL Central Victoria from making a statement on their bid to shift leagues.
AFL Central Victoria general manager Craig Armstead said: “These two clubs have been granted permission to begin discussions with stakeholders involved in the possible transfer of leagues.
“No clubs can lodge a transfer application to move leagues until August 1. Any transfer application would be lodged with the league the clubs currently play in, which in the case of both these clubs is the Loddon Valley FNL. The process after that would depend on the league’s response.”
In 2017, Maiden Gully junior club merged with YCW, based at the new sporting precinct at Marist College.
YCW joined Loddon Valley in 1985 after the Bendigo and Golden City leagues were combined in 1981. YCW took out the Loddon Valley flags in 1987, 1997, 2001 and 2004.
Marong joined in 1983 but while a strong finals contender, has won just one flag - 1989.