Bendigo FL discussion 2026

[Trent from barwon Heads]

I accept I’m old school and underestimate what goes on however I can’t find 40 hours a week in that let alone any more
Seems to me in some ways it’s easier these days when I timekeep it all goes into the iPad and the results and ladders update themselves not like the old days when the sheets would have to go in and be done by hand
Videos and stats seem to be done by other companies and the clubs run all the game day stuff no one goes to the tribunal anymore unless the league has it in for them
They could easily chop those rubbish previews and reviews which read like a form 4 kid wrote them and just direct everyone to the paper instead maybe even link memberships to a Bendigo Advertiser subscription
I struggle to see what else there is chase a few sponsors and make a few Facebook posts but as I say I am probably uninformed about what they do

Forrest you couldnt lie straight in bed, theres a number of league sponsors nowadays, that require bang for their buck, how many games every week for every league?

Your old stomping ground has a 150k + vehicle for the ceo to look after the gfl and bfl and juniors and netball

 

[Wooden Robot]

The removal of RAC’s may see greater focus on reducing workload through improved procedures and interaction between league and club .
It will most likely see a realisation that selling rights to community footy broadcasting is not viable particularly with AFL starting weeks in advance of what community clubs can and being played every day and night of the week.
In turn we may see things like stats , live streaming / videoing of every game being dropped .
People will initially be upset but ultimately more people will return to watching games live , increased crowds more money in clubs pockets .

Well, it's logical - broadcasting and stats and the like will get the flick as one of the first cost-cuts.
I don't know how popular or widely viewed they were (outside looking for evidence to prove different perspectives on controversial grand final incidents ).
I'm sure those mourning their loss most will be the few remaining journalists who cover the BFNL, who put them to good use, and drove content with them.
Whether it results in an eventual lift in crowds, the jury is out. They've been declining for years, well before livestreams and replays.
I don't think it's the availability of livestreams that is keeping people at home, or should I say, keeping them away from other pursuits.
Footy, as much as well on here love it, is no longer the be all and end all for families and the like on a Saturday.
I split time between Bendigo, Ovens and Murray, Ballarat and Western Border this year, but there's just not the large number of die-hards anymore.
Even I'm just as happy to disappear to the racetrack, a quiet corner in the pub or have a quiet day at home.
I can see a Gisborne having some big crowds if they ever get the green light in Ballarat against Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh, Darley and Sunbury, but they are as likely to draw a big gate against Strathfieldsaye as they would Sebastopol or Redan.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

How much is to get games taped ? Id think 95% of leagues have every game taped with many leagues having a live stream for game of the week

GVL reported a tad over $90K last year for videoing , streaming and data .

 

[Jack Doolan]

Forrest you couldnt lie straight in bed, theres a number of league sponsors nowadays, that require bang for their buck, how many games every week for every league?

Your old stomping ground has a 150k + vehicle for the ceo to look after the gfl and bfl and juniors and netball

Forest wanted to sack all the staff I just can’t cop there is enough work running a country league for more than one
The job you are talking about is to run about 7 different competitions on a much bigger scale than up here
I’d imagine the junior and women’s leagues will fund their own staff members I couldn’t see Gisborne being too thrilled funding a staff member to run junior footy for a competition they aren’t in

 

[Wooden Robot]

Forrest you couldnt lie straight in bed, theres a number of league sponsors nowadays, that require bang for their buck, how many games every week for every league?

Your old stomping ground has a 150k + vehicle for the ceo to look after the gfl and bfl and juniors and netball

A quick glance at the BFNL website reveals Bendigo Mazda (major sponsor), Bart' n 'Print, Bendigo Party Hire,
Bendigo Bank, Cleanaway, Coffee Storm, Drummond Coffee, Guzman Y Gomez, High Street X-Ray, Kieser, Great Ideas and Gifts, PFD Foods, Simon Rosa Concreting, The Bendigo Club, Workforce/XS, Sherrin, Sportspower and Red Onion.

Obviously the Addy, Fresh FM and Gold FM would be media partners with no cash changing hands except for the premiership cup.

I’m sure there would be an approved beverage supplier/sponsor too, likely CUB and Coca-Cola, that tip in and need to be looked after.

I’m sure the league would want more sponsors and suppliers and would be working at it.

 

[Jack Doolan]

A quick glance at the BFNL website reveals Bendigo Mazda (major sponsor), Bart' n 'Print, Bendigo Party Hire,
Bendigo Bank, Cleanaway, Coffee Storm, Drummond Coffee, Guzman Y Gomez, High Street X-Ray, Kieser, Great Ideas and Gifts, PFD Foods, Simon Rosa Concreting, The Bendigo Club, Workforce/XS, Sherrin, Sportspower and Red Onion.

Obviously the Addy, Fresh FM and Gold FM would be media partners with no cash changing hands except for the premiership cup.

I’m sure there would be an approved beverage supplier/sponsor too, likely CUB and Coca-Cola, that tip in and need to be looked after.

I’m sure the league would want more sponsors and suppliers and would be working at it.

That’s a lot of cash with sweet f a to show for it

 

[Wooden Robot]

Forest wanted to sack all the staff I just can’t cop there is enough work running a country league for more than one
The job you are talking about is to run about 7 different competitions on a much bigger scale than up here
I’d imagine the junior and women’s leagues will fund their own staff members I couldn’t see Gisborne being too thrilled funding a staff member to run junior footy for a competition they aren’t in

Ignoring the elephant in the room. Women's leagues, sadly, don't make any money, so won't be funding a volunteer staff member.
Only have to see that at the top level where the W game runs as at a giant loss and is fully subsidised by AFLM (to quote that knob Bob Murphy).
Can debate the applicability, integrity and everything else about it, but it's here to stay and won't be changing.
Not a footy club that will be getting a single development or funding request approved by any form of government or private business that can't show a benefit to women's footy.
Plenty of the attractiveness of women';s footy is that subs and the costs to play are kept low.

 

[Hermes70]

A quick glance at the BFNL website reveals Bendigo Mazda (major sponsor), Bart' n 'Print, Bendigo Party Hire,
Bendigo Bank, Cleanaway, Coffee Storm, Drummond Coffee, Guzman Y Gomez, High Street X-Ray, Kieser, Great Ideas and Gifts, PFD Foods, Simon Rosa Concreting, The Bendigo Club, Workforce/XS, Sherrin, Sportspower and Red Onion.

Obviously the Addy, Fresh FM and Gold FM would be media partners with no cash changing hands except for the premiership cup.

I’m sure there would be an approved beverage supplier/sponsor too, likely CUB and Coca-Cola, that tip in and need to be looked after.

I’m sure the league would want more sponsors and suppliers and would be working at it.

The Riddell League has a turn over of close to $3 million and growing. The Ballarat Football League is similar. Figures are available to clarify in their PUBLISHED annual reports.
To think a league like Bendigo could be run by 1 person like a volunteer is madness.
These leagues are multi million dollar enterprises and need the resources to be able to function.
AFL VIC give about $40k funding, that’s all.
Another thing that will become a League issue is umpires. There’s a lot to consider when taking on your own admin.

 

[western royboy]

Another thing that will become a League issue is umpires. There’s a lot to consider when taking on your own admin.

Umpires are a massive issue in every region, ironically because AFL Bic has applied the same principle in that it’s only interested in pathway umpires rather than the 95% who have effectively been left to fend for themselves and in many areas screwed over.

 

[Jack Doolan]

The Riddell League has a turn over of close to $3 million and growing. The Ballarat Football League is similar. Figures are available to clarify in their PUBLISHED annual reports.
To think a league like Bendigo could be run by 1 person like a volunteer is madness.
These leagues are multi million dollar enterprises and need the resources to be able to function.
AFL VIC give about $40k funding, that’s all.
Another thing that will become a League issue is umpires. There’s a lot to consider when taking on your own admin.

How many staff does Riddell have?
From an outside perspective the coverage is just as good as anything you get from Bendigo and the clubs say it is better run and cheaper so would be a good model to copy

 

[Wooden Robot]

How many staff does Riddell have?
From an outside perspective the coverage is just as good as anything you get from Bendigo and the clubs say it is better run and cheaper so would be a good model to copy

Riddell has a CEO, general manager of operations, a football operations manager, a club development manager and an umpire operations manager, so at least four full-time (assuming umpiring is a part-time like in Bendigo).
The Bendigo umpires manager's job is a 20 hour a week gig, 52 weeks a year.. Obviously 30

The league has a board of 10, specialising in everything from risk management, female footy, netball, junior football, senior football alongside a president and two vice-presidents.

 

[Long Run]

Riddell has a CEO, general manager of operations, a football operations manager, a club development manager and an umpire operations manager, so at least four full-time (assuming umpiring is a part-time like in Bendigo).

The league has a board of 10, specialising in everything from risk management, female footy, netball, junior football, senior football alongside a president and two vice-presidents.

And someone had the audacity to dismiss Riddell as an inferior league. Goodness me.

 

[Wooden Robot]

And someone had the audacity to dismiss Riddell as an inferior league. Goodness me.

From the staff through to the board, looks very well resourced with some clear lines of individual responsibility and focus.

 

[saintron]

Can we talk about something else rather than this crap not interested in what Riddell league etc does

 

[Vlodrive]

Can we talk about something else rather than this crap not interested in what Riddell league etc does

Bendigo should be taking a few pages out of the Riddell book

 

[Shinjuku]

Can we talk about something else rather than this crap not interested in what Riddell league etc does

Best way to go I find is to just bring up a different topic if something isnt of much interest on here

 

[Wooden Robot]

Can we talk about something else rather than this crap not interested in what Riddell league etc does

C'mon Ronnie, it's all intertwined.

 

[Jack Doolan]

Riddell has a CEO, general manager of operations, a football operations manager, a club development manager and an umpire operations manager, so at least four full-time (assuming umpiring is a part-time like in Bendigo).
The Bendigo umpires manager's job is a 20 hour a week gig, 52 weeks a year.. Obviously 30

The league has a board of 10, specialising in everything from risk management, female footy, netball, junior football, senior football alongside a president and two vice-presidents.

4 full time staff at Riddell?
I find that amazing but I humbly withdraw my previous comments that should be the model for all leagues going forward
It does beg the question who is paying for it and how do they have that and still have cheaper fees?

 

[Crazymaggy2020]

4 full time staff at Riddell?
I find that amazing but I humbly withdraw my previous comments that should be the model for all leagues going forward
It does beg the question who is paying for it and how do they have that and still have cheaper fees?

They actually go and and actively attract sponsors, they generate big gates at finals and they don’t waste it. Staff are well credentialed and are driven to succeed. This all helps

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

They actually go and and actively attract sponsors, they generate big gates at finals and they don’t waste it. Staff are well credentialed and are driven to succeed. This all helps

Bendigo is totally different to riddell, its not a great example of how the bfl could be run. Heathcote is more closer aligned to riddell thwn bendigo

 

[Grimmett]

Central Highlands FL always remained outside the Goldfields Hub apart from affiliating for access to umpires, the tribunal and funding grants. Was run for two decades by a couple, one simultaneously a VCFL employee. Changed at the end of the season and is now being run by a former RAC employee.
Sounds like an easy gig but as a 17 team competition with five grades he's got enough to keep him busy full time. AFL Vic has a marvelous ability to increase the workload of league employees.

Question for the Castlemaine crew. If the club was to leave the BFNL, which league would best suit the club in future years?

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

Bendigo is totally different to riddell, it’s not a great example of how the bfl could be run. Heathcote is more closer aligned to riddell thwn bendigo

Alot more teams in alot more grades and probably 5-6 times the annual turn over .
I’d imagine the umpires would have their own administration that won’t be aligned to the BFL .

 

[Ch0sen1]

Young league BnF Sandhurst bloke to South confirmed , potentially due to Bryce Curnow playing himself over him?

 

[Trent from barwon Heads]

How many points have south been given this year? They played over last year? Surely they are below 40 this year

 

[Shinjuku]

Young league BnF Sandhurst bloke to South confirmed , potentially due to Bryce Curnow playing himself over him?

Sandhurst may need to edit or remove that massive list of signings they posted on socials recently. Few starting to leave as happens every year at every club