Sport
11 July, 2026
THE MAGIC NUMBERTHE MAGIC NUMBER
LODDON Valley clubs may be heading for a split decision when voting on the league transfer requests of Marong and Maiden Gully.
LODDON Valley clubs may be heading for a split decision when voting on the league transfer requests of Marong and Maiden Gully.
Their applications to move to the Bendigo league, which will go to the vote on July 20, will be dealt with individually.
This means, potentially, that Loddon Valley clubs may vote to allow one of the two to move and block the transfer of another.
Observers have suggested that the clubs would be prepared to let Maiden Gully depart for Bendigo but would prefer Marong to stay.
That tallies with the view that Bendigo is likely to accept at most one club’s transfer, but with the stronger Marong favoured to win approval ahead of Maiden Gully in that scenario.
It sets the scene for a contentious decision in a process which LVFNL chair Richard Hicks last week described as “ugly”, effectively pitting one league against another.
The Bendigo league is set to meet tomorrow night to decide on the applications from the Panthers and the Eagles.
But Hicks is unsure whether the BFNL will make public its outcome before the Loddon Valley clubs meet.
“Whether we have knowledge of their decision by the time we have our meeting or not, I do not know. It would make it a hell of a lot easier if we do.”
If there is an eventual appeal by Loddon Valley against Bendigo’s decisions, both leagues will make submissions to an independent regional council for adjudication.
Each Loddon Valley club will provide two delegates to its meeting on July 20, for a total of 20 voters.
With Marong and Maiden Gully not allowed to vote on their own application, a club will need 12 votes out of 18 to meet the two-thirds approval criteria.
Assuming that both delegates for each club vote the same way, the Panthers and Eagles each need six clubs to support their transfer.
Also in the mix is the view that most Loddon Valley clubs would be happy with a nine-team competition, which would allow for extra byes for every team.
This year, with the addition of Macorna, the 10-team fixture allowed for only one week off during the season, meaning clubs face nine rounds in a row after the mid-year break early last month.
A team finishing fourth or fifth would have to play 12 games without a rest to make the grand final.
Read More: Loddon Shire