Yay Politicians (for a change!!)

[timelord]

No I'm not talking about SA this time, I'm talking about Victoria.

Steve Bracks and Justin Madden were out at Kilmore today - talking up country footy and how it's dying out through it's inability to cope with the exodus of players to the city for work and the rising costs of running a club including insurance.

Bracks called a football club as important to a country town as a bank, a hospital or a railway station. And did he get that right - and how!!

It was claimed that the VCFL reckoned that footy was in healthy shape. Oh really? Try telling the clubs who have folded or merged in the last decade that!!

I take my hat off to the Victorian pollies - on the heels of the effort by their SA counterparts to do the right thing by North Adelaide. The trouble is to really make inroads into that problem, the Bracks government need co-operation from Canberra.

I'm not holding my breath on that one! (Besides, it wouldn't be good for me! *LOL*)

[Navy Master]

About time... the sport has given the southern states so much for over 100 years... and that doesnt count the millions of taxes on players salaries, tickets, food etc

[Phil Doyle]

I've worked for these pricks Phil, and beleive me, where is the money where their mouth is?

[timelord]

They've talked the talk, Phil.D. Now they have to walk the walk - otherwise they will look like hypocrites!

[Wayde Petersen]

At least it's a good start, and as far as i'm concerned, it gives me some heart to try to strike a better deal for clubs such as Murchison, Undera, Urana, Wunghnu, Mathoura, Dunolly and the like.

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by timelord
They've talked the talk, Phil.D. Now they have to walk the walk - otherwise they will look like hypocrites!

I'll see what I can do, from my location.

Here in the Ballarat and Central Highlands districts, we too rely on country footy for any of the reasons mentioned-- pride and morale, not to forget the important commerce that it brings to little country towns like Dunnstown, Springbank, Bungaree, Newlyn, Gordon, and so on and so forth.

Some of you may be sceptical, but my wife Jennifer and I actually did run into Steve Bracks (yes, the real thing, and not one of ScouseCat's aliases ;) ) at the end of the Geelong v Adelaide game at Kardinia Park yesterday, and I introduced myself as a country footy reporter for the Ballarat Courier and that I wanted to talk to him about this issue as it pertains to the Central Highlands Football League, the Ballarat F.L., and the Lexton Plains F.L., as those are the areas within the nucleus of our readership.

The Premier has promised me an interview. That will be taking place at some point within the next couple of weeks, we all hope.

But seeing how much Bracks' eyes lit up upon me telling him who I was and who I work for, I think he genuinely has something to say on the matter in terms of a concrete plan, whether it be political or not.

Can't wait to hear what's on his mind... I'll keep you all updated.

[timelord]

Yes well the LPFL is a very good example of what the whole problem is! Just ask our resident old Marnoo boy! ;)

[Mobbenfuhrer]

:eek: