Bendigo FL discussion 2025

[Trent from barwon Heads]

To be fair Edwards can absolutely play mid but think his best spot is inside 50

I think he'll hwve to play mid otherwise he'll get pretty cold

 

[Master of Disaster]

Where would Castlemaine go if they left the league? I had high hopes that they would be a little more competitive with the top sides this year.

 

[Crazymaggy2020]

Where would Castlemaine go if they left the league? I had high hopes that they would be a little more competitive with the top sides this year.

You would think MCDFL along with Maryborough eventually. Comp would prob need to be tiered but it could be done. In saying that if the board at bendigo resigns the Maine still could survive long term in the BFNL

 

[NeonLeon81]

The question is when will they all resign and give ownership of the comp back to the clubs. Boards only work when they are skilled and brilliant communicators .

The shoulder tap will be in the next 4 weeks.

 

[Arnold Horshack]

You would think MCDFL along with Maryborough eventually. Comp would prob need to be tiered but it could be done. In saying that if the board at bendigo resigns the Maine still could survive long term in the BFNL

Same format just different people or get away from AFL Vic with a new group?

 

[Jack Doolan]

Where would Castlemaine go if they left the league? I had high hopes that they would be a little more competitive with the top sides this year.

Crazy would know better than me but I have heard there have been approaches from Riddell and Heathcote
Both leagues can see the benefits of a club who bring good crowds now and with a bit of success would be a nice cash cow for clubs
From what I hear Heathcote is a real chance of happening as soon as next year

 

[MortlockWatcher]

Is it just cynical old me but can anyone else see history repeating itself with the Bendigo league?

I am expecting AFLV to come out some time over the next year or two and say that the Heathcote league has to merge with the BFNL and form a two division Central Victorian competition (echoes of the Bendigo-Golden City scenario 45 years ago) in order to save the BFNL from capitulating.

 

[Vlodrive]

Crazy would know better than me but I have heard there have been approaches from Riddell and Heathcote
Both leagues can see the benefits of a club who bring good crowds now and with a bit of success would be a nice cash cow for clubs
From what I hear Heathcote is a real chance of happening as soon as next year

Would be nice to see Castlemaine enter RDFNL and Sunbury Kangaroos to return as well but only one is more likely than the other.

 

[BGOFootyNuff]

Is it just cynical old me but can anyone else see history repeating itself with the Bendigo league?

I am expecting AFLV to come out some time over the next year or two and say that the Heathcote league has to merge with the BFNL and form a two division Central Victorian competition (echoes of the Bendigo-Golden City scenario 45 years ago) in order to save the BFNL from capitulating.

Here’s hoping a change of leadership paired with trying to convince northern clubs to join and getting Marong/MGYCW into BFNL before they resort to something as nuclear as forcing and ruining multiple leagues to save 1.

 

[Jack Doolan]

Would be nice to see Castlemaine enter RDFNL and Sunbury Kangaroos to return as well but only one is more likely than the other.

I think the Riddell push is really about getting the Kyneton connection back which was great for both clubs but not sure it would be as appealing as other options

 

[jayco13]

To be fair Edwards can absolutely play mid but think his best spot is inside 50

He'll need a huge preseason if they want him in the midfield.
He can play but as you said best spot is inside 50. Great kick for goal.

 

[western royboy]

Is it just cynical old me but can anyone else see history repeating itself with the Bendigo league?

I am expecting AFLV to come out some time over the next year or two and say that the Heathcote league has to merge with the BFNL and form a two division Central Victorian competition (echoes of the Bendigo-Golden City scenario 45 years ago) in order to save the BFNL from capitulating.

I’d be pretty confident that will not happen. AFL Vic are concerned with pathways and that’s about it. They couldn’t give a rats about Community Senior Footy and if that’s not evident to everyone by now, you’re not looking hard enough. Numbers are poor in senior competitions everywhere in the country regions and not surprisingly the standard is dropping in a lot of major leagues with a slight lift in the minor leagues as players take the significant $$$ available to drop down a grade. And here’s the thing senior playing numbers statewide are in the decline and the explosion in junior numbers is not extending to seniors in fact it’s having the opposite effect, kids are checking out at 16,17 & 18 having played a million Micky Mouse games but never playing at senior level.

Amalgamations and clubs falling over will become more common place as participant numbers fall. Only the bigger clubs will survive because they will have the juniors that will sustain the AFL pipeline.

Always back self interest, you know it’s always trying.

 

[Wooden Robot]

I’d be pretty confident that will not happen. AFL Vic are concerned with pathways and that’s about it. They couldn’t give a rats about Community Senior Footy and if that’s not evident to everyone by now, you’re not looking hard enough. Numbers are poor in senior competitions everywhere in the country regions and not surprisingly the standard is dropping in a lot of major leagues with a slight lift in the minor leagues as players take the significant $$$ available to drop down a grade. And here’s the thing senior playing numbers statewide are in the decline and the explosion in junior numbers is not extending to seniors in fact it’s having the opposite effect, kids are checking out at 16,17 & 18 having played a million Micky Mouse games but never playing at senior level.

Amalgamations and clubs falling over will become more common place as participant numbers fall. Only the bigger clubs will survive because they will have the juniors that will sustain the AFL pipeline.

Always back self interest, you know it’s always trying.

Amen!
The Defence rests.

 

[ringo1]

I’d be pretty confident that will not happen. AFL Vic are concerned with pathways and that’s about it. They couldn’t give a rats about Community Senior Footy and if that’s not evident to everyone by now, you’re not looking hard enough. Numbers are poor in senior competitions everywhere in the country regions and not surprisingly the standard is dropping in a lot of major leagues with a slight lift in the minor leagues as players take the significant $$$ available to drop down a grade. And here’s the thing senior playing numbers statewide are in the decline and the explosion in junior numbers is not extending to seniors in fact it’s having the opposite effect, kids are checking out at 16,17 & 18 having played a million Micky Mouse games but never playing at senior level.

Amalgamations and clubs falling over will become more common place as participant numbers fall. Only the bigger clubs will survive because they will have the juniors that will sustain the AFL pipeline.

Always back self interest, you know it’s always trying.

Kids checking out because they have been told as young as 11 that their dreams of making it are over because they did not make some ridiuculous U/12 Academy and it repeats and rinses all the way to 18. Thursday night football another stake through the heart of local clubs. The lack of presence from AFL clubs in the country does not help. The only country clubs getting stronger are either those with a mortage on junior numbers or those who cheat the cap...and I'm pretty sure we could all name plenty of those.

 

[royboy2]

The shoulder tap will be in the next 4 weeks.

I heard of a potential vote by the clubs of no confidence?

 

[billyjoe]

Here’s hoping a change of leadership paired with trying to convince northern clubs to join and getting Marong/MGYCW into BFNL before they resort to something as nuclear as forcing and ruining multiple leagues to save 1.

Exactly. Should have looked after clubs while they had them.

 

[Arnold Horshack]

Kids checking out because they have been told as young as 11 that their dreams of making it are over because they did not make some ridiuculous U/12 Academy and it repeats and rinses all the way to 18. Thursday night football another stake through the heart of local clubs. The lack of presence from AFL clubs in the country does not help. The only country clubs getting stronger are either those with a mortage on junior numbers or those who cheat the cap...and I'm pretty sure we could all name plenty of those.

No-one misses out on those academies Ringo - too much $ for AFL Vic.

 

[Doona2]

No-one misses out on those academies Ringo - too much $ for AFL Vic.

Plenty miss out.

Often very much networked squads these days as there's no money on offer for "non bias" or independent football heads to go watch, source identify skills/traits/attributes that are appealing or attractive to the top level.

Club football is different to rep football which is different to school/pathways football and until we get back to having people who holistically understand that, the lazy cut/paste from rep squads or "club nominations" will continue to see many miss out.

Kids checking out because they have been told as young as 11 that their dreams of making it are over because they did not make some ridiuculous U/12 Academy and it repeats and rinses all the way to 18.

Amen ... got frowned upon recently amongst a conversation about this when asked "what's the worst bit about the pathways" - to which I said "a lot of the adults from junior clubs, parents to the pathway clubs"

 

[localfootyguru]

Kids checking out because they have been told as young as 11 that their dreams of making it are over because they did not make some ridiuculous U/12 Academy and it repeats and rinses all the way to 18. Thursday night football another stake through the heart of local clubs. The lack of presence from AFL clubs in the country does not help. The only country clubs getting stronger are either those with a mortage on junior numbers or those who cheat the cap...and I'm pretty sure we could all name plenty of those.

Don't start me about pathways and academies ringo1. The whole system is a sham - false promises, building up egos of both players and their parents, directing players to certain clubs as they will 'become a better player' and throwing them out the door shattered when decisions are made the player isn't supposedly good enough (even though they are teenagers).

We then see the individual give the game away and go do other things and then certain clubs then prey on these players enticing them to their club with more false promises and incentives. I can name many examples of this occurring over many years in football. My club at Maryborough certainly experienced this on numerous occasions.

Some of the people involved in these so-called higher performance environments shouldn't even be let near them. They are far from credentialled to be involved and they seem to bob up year after year in a nice new uniform!

The show just goes on and no one does anything about it. But the AFL are happy as there is a pathway in place.

Ridiculous..

 

[Shinjuku]

I’d be pretty confident that will not happen. AFL Vic are concerned with pathways and that’s about it. They couldn’t give a rats about Community Senior Footy and if that’s not evident to everyone by now, you’re not looking hard enough. Numbers are poor in senior competitions everywhere in the country regions and not surprisingly the standard is dropping in a lot of major leagues with a slight lift in the minor leagues as players take the significant $$$ available to drop down a grade. And here’s the thing senior playing numbers statewide are in the decline and the explosion in junior numbers is not extending to seniors in fact it’s having the opposite effect, kids are checking out at 16,17 & 18 having played a million Micky Mouse games but never playing at senior level.

Amalgamations and clubs falling over will become more common place as participant numbers fall. Only the bigger clubs will survive because they will have the juniors that will sustain the AFL pipeline.

Always back self interest, you know it’s always trying.

Great post. Very accurate in many ways.

 

[rkjc22]

Elite pathway bullshit isnt solely a football problem. I've been told Castlemaine would dominate netball if their players hadn't been poached.

0 idea how true that is so tell me if I'm wrong.

 

[Arnold Horshack]

Plenty miss out.

Often very much networked squads these days as there's no money on offer for "non bias" or independent football heads to go watch, source identify skills/traits/attributes that are appealing or attractive to the top level.

Club football is different to rep football which is different to school/pathways football and until we get back to having people who holistically understand that, the lazy cut/paste from rep squads or "club nominations" will continue to see many miss out.



Amen ... got frowned upon recently amongst a conversation about this when asked "what's the worst bit about the pathways" - to which I said "a lot of the adults from junior clubs, parents to the pathway clubs"

The pathways squads here are garbage - capped numbers from all clubs.

 

[Wooden Robot]

Elite pathway bullshit isnt solely a football problem. I've been told Castlemaine would dominate netball if their players hadn't been poached.

0 idea how true that is so tell me if I'm wrong.

Not sure they'd dominate - three super strong teams at the top - but they'd be a contender.
League best and fairest was a Maine girl; the third placegetter (and winner of the previous two b&fs) a Maine girl; a goal shooter who played for the Strikers.
That's a handy top three - depth might be an issue.
Handy defender from Flat a Maine girl and young and up and coming midcourter from South a Maine girl too.

 

[Doona2]

The pathways squads here are garbage - capped numbers from all clubs.

And therein raises an immediate "red flag" Arnold Horshack if the words "capped" and "clubs" are even in the same sentence when it comes to nailing the actual best 50 players within your entire region.

I'd argue that at times the best player at an unperforming side, who is competitive, unconditionally is better equipped than player 9-10 in a stacked junior side that isn't coached for being versatile or shown how to defend properly.
One's ability to defend and/or react to transition or how quick they look to respond, impact/locate on turnover is massive these days.

The ball in hand stuff is easy, especially when junior coaches and parents roll out that he/she is "elite by foot" in which I always reply with "as in elite at all 20-30 different types of kicks wow" ha ha

I'll say it again, who's going out to watch games, compare "like for like" types, who can line up 6-7 kids who all boast to be mid/fwd's then nail the 3-4 for the actual point of difference they possess?

Who, watching these games, sourcing talent and are all over the Pio's list profile, how does not just 2026, but 2027 look, all with the understanding of what sizes, shapes, skills, traits, attributes may be necessary - all whilst having the right calibre and characters to set standards, lead by example and run the locker room?

It feel like each year it's all chips in now across many regions with the 2-3 names who Cal Twomey rates, when the real trick is how do we get players 5-8, or even one more player exposed and spoken about, perhaps onto a VFL list as the demographic of player up your way is often more akin to late body development come 19-21yo.
Meaning the kids need to be set up for the "fight" or the longer route via state league football, and most critically have it all explained as to why as opposed to the lazy "not draftable" line.

Otherwise as ringo1 stated young boys and girls will leave the game after their draft year simply because of not reaching expectations placed on them .... in most cases by others, not themselves.

I could go on ....

 

[Jack Kelly]

And therein raises an immediate "red flag" Arnold Horshack if the words "capped" and "clubs" are even in the same sentence when it comes to nailing the actual best 50 players within your entire region.

I'd argue that at times the best player at an unperforming side, who is competitive, unconditionally is better equipped than player 9-10 in a stacked junior side that isn't coached for being versatile or shown how to defend properly.
One's ability to defend and/or react to transition or how quick they look to respond, impact/locate on turnover is massive these days.

The ball in hand stuff is easy, especially when junior coaches and parents roll out that he/she is "elite by foot" in which I always reply with "as in elite at all 20-30 different types of kicks wow" ha ha

I'll say it again, who's going out to watch games, compare "like for like" types, who can line up 6-7 kids who all boast to be mid/fwd's then nail the 3-4 for the actual point of difference they possess?

Who, watching these games, sourcing talent and are all over the Pio's list profile, how does not just 2026, but 2027 look, all with the understanding of what sizes, shapes, skills, traits, attributes may be necessary - all whilst having the right calibre and characters to set standards, lead by example and run the locker room?

It feel like each year it's all chips in now across many regions with the 2-3 names who Cal Twomey rates, when the real trick is how do we get players 5-8, or even one more player exposed and spoken about, perhaps onto a VFL list as the demographic of player up your way is often more akin to late body development come 19-21yo.
Meaning the kids need to be set up for the "fight" or the longer route via state league football, and most critically have it all explained as to why as opposed to the lazy "not draftable" line.

Otherwise as ringo1 stated young boys and girls will leave the game after their draft year simply because of not reaching expectations placed on them .... in most cases by others, not themselves.

I could go on ....

Steve Sharp and Stephenson,tried to stop Barry Hall,all because he did not come through the under 16 development squad.Too old they said.Cleary convinced them,after countless heated discussions.How many others were lost?