MARONG’S bid to abandon Loddon Valley football and netball is over.
Heathcote league this week rejected the Panthers’ request for a review of the decision that had denied the reigning Loddon Valley premiers, Maiden Gully and Cohuna joining the competition.
The league applied to the AFL to increase club salary caps by $12,000 if the clubs were admitted and two more home and away games became part of the Heathcote fixture.
However, AFL only approved an increase of $4000 on the current $106,000 cap.
League president Peter Cole said: “That would have been an  $8000 cut for our clubs and they would not approve that. We kept Marong in the loop. They were aware of what was happening and that the salary cap would be the be all and end all,” Cole said.
Heathcote’s cap increase bid was supported by AFL Central Victoria but not approved by AFL Victoria.
AFL Central Victoria general manager Craig Armstead said: “The commission did support an increase in the Heathcote salary cap for 2024 on the condition that the number of games clubs play increase from 16 to 18. Player payments and player points for all leagues across the state require approval from an AFL Vic panel.”
“Player payments and player points for Loddon Valley and Heathcote have not been finalised for 2024. We expect this process to be completed in the coming weeks,” Armstead said.
Heathcote’s decision came hours after Loddon Valley goalkicking record holder Brayden Grenfell put up his hand for a transfer to Central Murray league club Nyah Nyah West United after earlier committing to a third season at Malone Park. 
However that was conditional on Marong moving to Heathcote. “I had a couple of years at Marong successfully and staying in the Loddon Valley didn’t interest me much,” Grenfell, embroiled in a betting agency advertisement furore before the finals, has since said. Marong was contacted for comment.
- CHRIS EARL