General News
3 August, 2023
Sudden summit: What footy clubs think
A HASTILY-CALLED summit last weekend may see a new football structure mooted for the region. AFL Central Victoria summonsed representatives of clubs from the Loddon league for the day-long workshop with a week’s notice. They were joined by...
A HASTILY-CALLED summit last weekend may see a new football structure mooted for the region.
AFL Central Victoria summonsed representatives of clubs from the Loddon league for the day-long workshop with a week’s notice.
They were joined by counterparts from the Bendigo and Heathcote leagues. However, league officials were not invited.
And while clubs were told an overview on the future of leagues across central and northern Victoria was to be presented after breakout sessions, AFL Central Victoria general manager Craig Armstead later said that would now be come later.
One options floated was creation of a two-division competition, mirroring the old Victorian Country Football League report in 1980 that led to abolition of the Golden City League when it was rolled into a two-tier Bendigo competition.
The summit has been labelled a knee-jerk reaction in some quarters, the commission facing increased criticism for inaction on addressing tough issues on the future of leagues and clubs, heightened by “annual” bids of Marong and Maiden Gully to jump from Loddon Valley to Heathcote.
However, Newbridge president Andrew Friswell believes the latest talks could produce a future framework for local football.
He said the view was nine clubs was the optimum league size. “You get to play everyone twice and have the bye too,” said Friswell
Clubs were asked where they believed they would be in five years. One president said, however: “The horse has nearly bolted and the commission is trying to get a grip on the reins.”
Inglewood president Chris Cohalan said there were discussions on the future of under 18 competitions.
“Nothing has changed in the AFL Central Victoria league so realistically, it will come back to Loddon Valley.”
Pyramid Hill president Bruce Moon says lowering the age group and creating a 16-a-side local competition could strengthen a reborn Loddon Valley junior league.
Armstead said: “The clubs were very involved and provided valuable input and ideas on how to improve our football and netball competitions. There was no clear or obvious action to be taken immediately and we will hold another meeting later in the year.”