Bendigo FL discussion 2026

[Trent from barwon Heads]

I agree completely. The previous post implied that Maine and flat should of got the same deductions as south for no reason other than to be fair.

Clubs didnt even know south had it until the season started. In the ovens and murray it was public knowledge in November before the season started north albury got 1 extra point.

To my knowledge clubs wrote to the rac wanting to know why and there was dead silence.

To actually get additional points is pretty hard to get, like im sure clubs would have loved to have known why. As you recruit based on your points, yet in the bfl you go off recruit and then at the start of tje season ask for leniency and we wonder why the bfl is the laughing stock of country footy

 

[rkjc22]

Points system is a complete waste of time. Metro clubs all get the same max amount.

 

[rkjc22]

I don’t think anyone should have any issue with South over getting points reduced it’s not their job to give a sucker an even break
Where the issue would be is if it is correct that Castlemaine were denied any points relief to allow them to recruit Ben Brown for a few games which I have heard but not from anyone in a position to know
Maybe Crazy could comment on that

As I said last time you bought this up, Brown would've fit in all but 4 games for Maine. They would've known very early on with their injuries they could play him.

 

[Jack Doolan]

As I said last time you bought this up, Brown would've fit in all but 4 games for Maine. They would've known very early on with their injuries they could play him.

Yes we’ve been over this and as I said that’s not the way things work the guy has jobs coaching and other commitments and it doesn’t work to say if we get a few injuries we might be able to fit you in for a few games
Before the season started last year Castlemaine couldn’t fit its best 22 on the field because they were well over the points and as I’ve said before by any measure that is nonsense
Any decent person in charge of football would say to the like of Kangaroo Flat South Maryborough Castlemaine and any clubs that haven’t impacted finals for years to not worry about points and have as many as you can use

 

[BGOFootyNuff]

South got the points reductions yes because they asked but don’t think for a second that some other clubs didn’t also enquire once everyone started to notice Souths points. Eg M.Cameron somehow being 1, and 1 or 2 of the Kerang guys were reduced by a 1.

There was another top 5 team who were not happy about the points and then approached the league about getting reductions and were rejected with 0 explanation and were told nothing about South’s reduction.

Getting the points reductions isn’t the biggest problem it’s the lack of transparency and the feeling that rules that were made for “equalisation” are being twisted far to much for some and rigidly followed for others… that’s not really fair or equal is it…. Salary cap should go because as everyone knows it’s being blatantly ignored and impossible to police but the points I think could be ok if it’s used correctly and consistently.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

 

[western royboy]

View attachment 2480167

Plenty have noticed, plenty are bringing up the issues, but they have ZERO power to influence anything

#shitshow

 

[Wooden Robot]

Speaking to a league boss (far away from Bendigo) today and I broached the subject of fly in-fly out players.
Indicated that flights count towards the cap; so too do things like rent and accommodation if players are being up by the club.
I guess most on here know this or at least gathered, but good to
Have confirmation.
Apparently a club somewhere got into strife paying a few recruits’ rent for the year.
But as we hear often on here, it all has to be proven.

 

[Crazymaggy2020]

How many will be drafted from the dragons oh I mean the pioneers

 

[footyhead2367]

How many will be drafted from the dragons oh I mean the pioneers

How often do the dragons feature in your dreams? You seem to always be thinking of them.

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

What happens if 0 players are picked?

 

[Crazymaggy2020]

What happens if 0 players are picked?

Just a lean year. The same old cycle will continue without question

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

Just a lean year. The same old cycle will continue without question

Just off the top of my head 0 pios, 1 bushy, 1 gippy power, 0 ballarat rebels, to me it shows the decline in country footy. Kids who are drafted from the country tend to be on a scholarship anyway

 

[Wooden Robot]

Just off the top of my head 0 pios, 1 bushy, 1 gippy power, 0 ballarat rebels, to me it shows the decline in country footy. Kids who are drafted from the country tend to be on a scholarship anyway

Good year for interstaters.
My boys Centrals in SA had three taken tonight

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

Good year for interstaters.
My boys Centrals in SA had three taken tonight

And eastern ranges boys too

 

[Wooden Robot]

And eastern ranges boys too

Between the two, it's a fair ol' chunk.

 

[Doona2]

How many will be drafted from the dragons oh I mean the pioneers

Will be lean pickings across a few regions this year, in what should be a huge “red flag” contributed to by how not only lists are put together, but how and by who our supposed “semi elite” guys and girls are supported.

Our state level pathways needs a boost of financial resources, otherwise nothing will change now.

Nothing about those with their hands up, as they’re keen, eager and it’s totally not their fault they’re falling into such important gigs instantly prior to compiling the skillset and necessary “holistic” experience in regards to the programs.

 

[localfootyguru]

Will be lean pickings across a few regions this year, in what should be a huge “red flag” contributed to by how not only lists are put together, but how and by who our supposed “semi elite” guys and girls are supported.

Our state level pathways needs a boost of financial resources, otherwise nothing will change now.

Nothing about those with their hands up, as they’re keen, eager and it’s totally not their fault they’re falling into such important gigs instantly prior to compiling the skillset and necessary “holistic” experience in regards to the programs.

There will be lean pickings for some time. Many young talented players are now 'snapped up" on scholarships and all sorts of promises from schools in the city who allegedly have high performance programs which is absolute 'bunkum'. Its only called a high performance program because a former AFL player is involved. The quality of these programs is debatable.

I am not convinced the pathways need financial help, that has happened before with negligible benefits - just more board carriers as I term them was the outcome. Improved financial remuneration is needed to attract better people but there needs to be other changes including better relationships with clubs who often have little to no influence on the player they have nurtured and know more about than the pathway club will ever do as to them they are just a number.

The system has been broken for years and personally has provided no benefits for local football. I don't think it would be missed if it disappeared in its entirety. To also add the lack of players being drafted from these clubs also shows the lack of interest/ value of football in rural communities. The AFL do not care!

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

There will be lean pickings for some time. Many young talented players are now 'snapped up" on scholarships and all sorts of promises from schools in the city who allegedly have high performance programs which is absolute 'bunkum'. Its only called a high performance program because a former AFL player is involved. The quality of these programs is debatable.

I am not convinced the pathways need financial help, that has happened before with negligible benefits - just more board carriers as I term them was the outcome. Improved financial remuneration is needed to attract better people but there needs to be other changes including better relationships with clubs who often have little to no influence on the player they have nurtured and know more about than the pathway club will ever do as to them they are just a number.

The system has been broken for years and personally has provided no benefits for local football. I don't think it would be missed if it disappeared in its entirety. To also add the lack of players being drafted from these clubs also shows to total lack of interest/ value of football in rural communities. The AFL do not care!

The afl should scrap the under 18s system, the best 30 kids should be at the ais in Canberra and play in the vfl. Other kids can play school footy and local footy and have under 23 interleague, move the national champs to September and play as curtain raisers for afl finals

 

[localfootyguru]

Just off the top of my head 0 pios, 1 bushy, 1 gippy power, 0 ballarat rebels, to me it shows the decline in country footy. Kids who are drafted from the country tend to be on a scholarship anyway

If the GWV team has not produced a draftee this year that demonstrates the issues with country football and junior participation/ development. Whilst I am not a supporter of the pathway program, they are generally a much better run organisation than some of their counterparts and do seem to 'care more' about country football than others.

Any individual that shows some promise seems to end up getting a boarding scholarship at one of the prestigious schools based in Melbourne and Geelong and when the player is drafted, it gives them an opportunity to promote how good their program is.

If I hear another story about Haileybury College and Matthew Lloyd's involvement in their 'football program' I will vomit... Their program doesn't produce any more potential AFL players and players such as those from the SANFL are probably better positioned to move into AFL football as they are already playing senior football instead of being 'protected' by playing in the school competitions which can be best described as 'bruise free football'.

 

[ringo1]

The afl should scrap the under 18s system, the best 30 kids should be at the ais in Canberra and play in the vfl. Other kids can play school footy and local footy and have under 23 interleague, move the national champs to September and play as curtain raisers for afl finals

Those kids would be butchered against the big VFL bodies. Simply every AFL club should have an Academy. First choice on their own kids in the draft and those not taken can be picked up by other clubs.

 

[Doona2]

I am not convinced the pathways need financial help, that has happened before with negligible benefits - just more board carriers as I term them was the outcome. Improved financial remuneration is needed to attract better people but there needs to be other changes including better relationships with clubs who often have little to no influence on the player they have nurtured and know more about than the pathway club will ever do as to them they are just a number.

Exactly (in bold) what I was trying to say.

If low level local “community” footy can pay upwards of $20-25-30k for coaches the pathways are no hope of attracting the same types for assistant or development gigs for about 30% of that.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

I see no reason why AFL clubs shouldn’t fit the bill for talent programs by way of having u18’s.
With scholarships going the way they are , kids are being taken out of their homes to further their chances at AFL at 15-16 already .
Community footy and kids families ATM are propping up the TAC / Coates league for what ? 2% at best of the kids who play in the comp during the year get drafted .

 

[Jack Doolan]

Bit of a sign of greater societal problems wouldn’t do any harm to get rid of private schools altogether
Be nice to see a few more Tom Stewart’s in drafts give local footballers a shot

 

[BGOFootyNuff]

Bit of a sign of greater societal problems wouldn’t do any harm to get rid of private schools altogether
Be nice to see a few more Tom Stewart’s in drafts give local footballers a shot

The problem there is there isn’t many Tom Stewart’s around. I do t think there would be a huge number of local footballers who would be AFL level. Look at Dom Brew dominates VFL won everything you can just about and will never play AFL.