MARONG is embroiled in a gambling endorsement furore on the eve of its Loddon Valley football title defence.
Online gambling giant Ladbrokes last week posted branded promotional videos of forward Brandyn Grenfell kicking his 100th goal of the season.
Two videos, since viewed by more than 11,000 people, feature interviews with the goal gun and skipper Corey Gregg, footage in the Panthers’ rooms and match drone footage.
Grenfell’s 100th goal came in the opening quarter against Bridgewater on August 5 after his first six shots wobbled through for behinds.
Bridgewater, one of two Loddon Valley league clubs part of Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Love The Game Not the Odds initiative, did not give permission for its players to appear in the Ladbrokes promotion.
Club vice-president Gary Walters said: “I was president when we signed up for Love the Game ... we don’t want to be putting our colours to the advertisements.”
The foundation started Love the Game Not the Odds in 2014 after “community concern about the convergence of sport and gambling”.
AFL Victoria this year is also part of the responsible gaming campaign.
A partnership announcement with the foundation says: “Our dedicated Love the Game Rounds aim to help increase community awareness about the issue of gambling in sport and protect children from sports betting promotions.
It is believed AFL Victoria reviewed the videos but found Marong’s co-operation and participation in the videos did not breach its regulations.
AFL Central Victoria general manager Craig Armstead said: “We have spoken with the club and understand how it (the videos) occurred.”
The online promotion has also been cleared under City of Greater Bendigo’s reducing harm from gambling policy.
Bendigo council manages the Panthers’ home ground Malone Park with the policy saying it will “not permit advertising and/or the promotion of gambling of any form at council owned or managed facilities”. 
However, council manager active and healthy communities Amy Johnston: “People attending local footy matches do not require permission from the City of Greater Bendigo to take video and photographs of football matches. The video in question is promoting the achievements of a player in the Loddon Valley Football League.
“The city is also supportive of clubs and leagues promoting key messages of the AFL’s Love the Game initiative.”
Ms Johnston said council’s gambling policy related to signage promotion at city-owned assets.
“The city cannot directly stop clubs from accepting support from sponsors that may be providing funds that are the proceeds of gambling, however staff have recently started to speak with sporting clubs about diversifying sponsorship offerings,” she said.
“This has included sharing resources and information where sponsorship can come from less traditional sources that reflect the club’s values and priorities, while promoting positive health and wellbeing.”
Marong president Danny Tyler on Tuesday confirmed Labrokes had approached the Panthers and that no fee had been received by the club.
“I’ve got no other comment ... some people are upset by the sounds of what’s going about,” Tyler said, refusing to say whether Bridgewater was told the match would be filmed.
Ladbrokes was asked for comment but did not respond.
In the video, league goalkicking record holder Grenfell says: “I do find it easy to kick goals ...I don’t know what losing is like anymore because it’s been such a good run (for the club).”
The video has Grenfell saying it was good for the club to have Ladbrokes’ cameras at the match before vision switches to his shots for goal and being swamped by young fans after kicking the 100th major of the season.