GRFL Discussion 2025

[Del233027]

Looking at the teams in the golden rivers and central murray, id think ultima and hay would finish between 4 and 7 and the other 4 clubs would be 5 goals weaker than swan hill. Im not sure how its goid for the comp adding these sides in.

I think it was a recommendation made by the league to allow ultima to enter the central murray and I think the board was of the belief the other clubs would either fold, merge or go to the Loddon Valley.

I dont think any of the central murray clubs want to travel to wandella, hay, murrabit or macorna, they are happy with ultima, as its 20 minutes from Swan hill.

I would have thought even the north central league would be a better fit for wandella, macorna and murrabit. They have juniors there, although theyd be a long way off the top 3, theyd be more competitive against Charlton, Donald, Boort and St Arnaud, than the bottom CM clubs.

Im not sure what afl vic are doing, the hdfl, lvfl have only under 18s, which is okay for the Bendigo clubs, but not small country clubs and none of the golden rivers clubs can go south because of this. How do they expect these clubs to continue with a points system and no junior comps in place for 1 point players?

It feels like they are trying to force the death of clubs like wandella, murrabit, Moulamein and macorna, im not sure youll get players wanting to get beaten by 20 goals keep playing footy and netball in the long term at these clubs

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

CM clubs don’t want GR clubs and the angst is growing as Ultima has apparently ramped up its efforts to build a list strong enough to compete in the CM by door knocking on current CM clubs players . Happened no doubt in the past but now they are offering playing in the CM . Increased travel also already causing issues for CM clubs trying to resign players .
Picola not offering all 5 a spot in their current comp . Seperate comp only guaranteed option for all 5 in picola. 5 looking for new home might actually be 6 . GR 6 team comp again in 2026 ? I doubt it’ll be with CM regional board / hub

 

[Del233027]

CM clubs don’t want GR clubs and the angst is growing as Ultima has apparently ramped up its efforts to build a list strong enough to compete in the CM by door knocking on current CM clubs players . Happened no doubt in the past but now they are offering playing in the CM . Increased travel also already causing issues for CM clubs trying to resign players .
Picola not offering all 5 a spot in their current comp . Seperate comp only guaranteed option for all 5 in picola. 5 looking for new home might actually be 6 . GR 6 team comp again in 2026 ? I doubt it’ll be with CM regional board / hub

I think ultima would crack the shits as they've already been let into the comp and cm clubs knew for 12 months they were coming. Id say those cmfl clubs should be backing in their club environment on retaining players.

I think the others should all go into picola, as it sounds like it will be picola west league, id think its far better outcome for all 5 of the clubs to play together, its not like the clubs are footy factories for the Bendigo pioneers, the off chance 1 every 5 years makes a pios list compared to breaking the club to try compete in a major league comp needs to be considered

 

[royboy2]

North Central is out because they require Hockey, which ultimately was the downfall of Nullawil

 

[Truck]

North Central is out because they require Hockey, which ultimately was the downfall of Nullawil

Birchip don't field any senior hockey teams.... hopefully it is their downfall.

 

[Del233027]

Birchip don't field any senior hockey teams.... hopefully it is their downfall.

Im surprised they have flown in some of the kookaburra players

 

[rkjc22]

North Central is out because they require Hockey, which ultimately was the downfall of Nullawil

Are they the only league in the state with more than football/netball?

 

[tigerbandit]

North Central is out because they require Hockey, which ultimately was the downfall of Nullawil

Look I'd hope the NCFL could come up with a workable solution to get teams without hockey into the league. In the current. environment, just throwing it in the too hard basket would be short sighted.

No doubt the GR clubs would be more competitive in the NCFL than CMFL.

 

[Truck]

Look I'd hope the NCFL could come up with a workable solution to get teams without hockey into the league. In the current. environment, just throwing it in the too hard basket would be short sighted.

No doubt the GR clubs would be more competitive in the NCFL than CMFL.

Nully didn't have a Hockey side when they came in. So I doubt it would be an issue.
You would like to think someone from the HUB or the NCFL have asked the question of Macorna, Wandella and Ultima.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Look I'd hope the NCFL could come up with a workable solution to get teams without hockey into the league. In the current. environment, just throwing it in the too hard basket would be short sighted.

No doubt the GR clubs would be more competitive in the NCFL than CMFL.

The top NC clubs would be stronger then CM atm.

 

[Del233027]

The top NC clubs would be stronger then CM atm.

Yep they would but the bottom sides are weaker and theres not as many grades of footy, in the cmfl theres under 12, 15 and 18, not sure the gr clubs could do this

 

[royboy2]

Nully didn't have a Hockey side when they came in. So I doubt it would be an issue.
You would like to think someone from the HUB or the NCFL have asked the question of Macorna, Wandella and Ultima.

Could be wrong here, but I was under the impression Nully were told they had to organise a hockey side within a few years after joining, couldn't do that and was part of the reason for the merger.
Im sure GR clubs have looked into NCFL, they would be derelict in their duties if they didn't.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

Yep they would but the bottom sides are weaker and theres not as many grades of footy, in the cmfl theres under 12, 15 and 18, not sure the gr clubs could do this

Less netball sides to. If they haven’t been able to recruit while a premiership is not that far away from any club atm then they will never be able to in a stronger league.

I just hope that in five years we have seen mergers rather than clubs going the way of Quamby and Wakool

 

[Truck]

Could be wrong here, but I was under the impression Nully were told they had to organise a hockey side within a few years after joining, couldn't do that and was part of the reason for the merger.
Im sure GR clubs have looked into NCFL, they would be derelict in their duties if they didn't.

I think they were told “it would be good if they could look at it” but ultimately Nully never had much/any interest in it. But was largely driven by jnr numbers and future proofing.
Clubs can survive for a long time buying in a senior side, but it gets to the stage of "what’s the point?". To a certain degree like what happened at Quamby. Lots of people traveling to keep a club going for a community that a large part had physically moved away from.


The Lions merger had been in the works/discussions since 2018. However the new club would have played in GRFL.
As Nully felt a merger and change of leagues all at the same time was too much to bite off for their members/community.

 

[royboy2]

I just hope that in five years we have seen mergers rather than clubs going the way of Quamby and Wakool

Sadly I think this will be the case, The cash outlay required to compete in CM, unfortunately will kill off a few GR clubs.