Dunolly leaves LVFL for either MCDFL or recess

[Mobbs]

Here's the Bendigo Advertiser news article : http://bendigo.yourguide.com.au/det...gory=general sport&story_id=289166&y=2004&m=2

Club faces crisis
Monday, 1 March 2004

THE Dunolly Eagles Football-Netball Club will be forced into recess this season if it's not admitted into the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League.

Dunolly president Ray Flett yesterday confirmed the grim situation for the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football-Netball League club, which failed to win a game in the seniors last season.

"If the Dunolly Football Club does not get into the MCDFL, it will be in recess this year," Flett said.

History suggests that once a club goes into extinction, rarely is it revived.

"We've told the players and the town that history shows it doesn't look good," Flett said.

Dunolly has had about 25 players capable of playing senior football commit to it this season if it plays in the MCDFL, but no more than 12 have signalled their intentions to play for the club if it remains in the Loddon Valley competition.

Among those who have committed to play for Dunolly in the MCDFL are several players who recently left the club because of the amount of travel associated with the LVFL.

"We've got quite a few players that have been away from the club because of the travelling distances who said that if we went back to the MCDFL, they would definitely play again for Dunolly," Flett said.

The club lodged an application with the VCFL early last month requesting a transfer to the MCDFL - that request will be the topic of a meeting to be held between Dunolly, the MCDFL, LVFL and VCFL representatives in Bendigo tonight.

The meeting will outline the future of Dunolly and the outcome of the club's application to switch leagues is expected to be known as early as tomorrow night.

"After Tuesday night, we'll know from a club point of view which way we're heading . . . whether we're actually a club or whether we will be in recess for 12 months," Flett said.

Dunolly's senior side had an average losing margin last season of 224 points and in round 16, was on the end of a 455-point hammering at the hands of Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.

"It was quite apparent after what we had gone through that the numbers just weren't going to be there for us, so we had to do something fairly dramatic," Flett said.

Along with the application to join the MCDFL, Dunolly last month dismissed non-playing coach Ron Donaldson, who was appointed last November to lead the side this season.

 

[OldSchool]

My 2nd game of senior football was against Dunolly and they were in the MCDFL then.
It's a shame when you hear of country clubs going into decline.

 

[Mobbs]

Which MCDFL club were you playing for, OldSchool?

Dunolly came to the Lexton FL from the 80s to late 90s.

This brings the attrition rate for the old Lexton FL clubs of my era up to :

Avoca - still going
Dunolly - recess?
Landsborough - folded
Lexton - still going
Marnoo - folded
Moonambel - folded
Natte-Bealiba - still going
Navarre - still going

 

[Mobbs]

From the Bendigo Advertiser 4th March : http://bendigo.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=290057&class=sport

Eagles clear to play in MCDFL
Thursday, 4 March 2004

THE Dunolly Football Club was last night thrown a lifeline by the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League.

The MCDFL executive and clubs have agreed to allow Dunolly to join the competition in 2004, and in doing so, have saved the former Loddon Valley Football League side from being forced into recess.

Dunolly president Ray Flett confirmed earlier this week that had the MCDFL refused to allow the Eagles to join its league, the club would have been forced into recess this season.

MCDFL clubs last night voted on Dunolly's application to join the league at the Maryborough Rovers clubrooms, and while support was not unanimous, a sound majority gave its approval.

Dunolly's transfer must now be ratified by the VCFL and that's expected sometime next week.

As expected, Flett was a relieved man last night.

"It's a weight off the shoulders, that's for sure," Flett said.

"Before the meeting we were unsure if we'd have a club to work for this year. "We have to thank the MCDFL for making the decision in our favour.

"It's a relief for us, but we know it's only the first hurdle and we still have a number of hurdles to jump before the season starts." Dunolly has given the MCDFL a guarantee that it will stay with the league for 10 years and will field the full quota of three football and three netball teams.

The club will revert back to its original black and yellow striped guernsey.

"We're taking this as a shot in the arm and welcome them with open arms," MCDFL secretary Max Martin said after the 90-minute meeting.

"From everyone in our league, we wish them all the best." Martin has no doubt the VCFL will rubber-stamp the league's decision.

Dunolly's admittance into the MCDFL won't cause any major headaches regarding fixturing.

It will play the team that was scheduled to have the bye.

Dunolly's first game in its new home will be against Campbells Creek at Campbells Creek on April 17.

"They will do very well - they'll win games and will be very competitive and of course, they'll receive all the co-operation in the world from us," Martin said.

"They were very grateful to the LVFL for the way they were received there - this will be a shot in the arm for the club." The most recent club to be admitted into the MCDFL was Trentham in the early '80s.

MCDFL president Jock Sellers confirmed the major factor that swayed the league to accept Dunolly was if it didn't, the club would not be playing anywhere in 2004.

"The clubs didn't want to see another club with the tradition Dunolly has disappear," Sellers said.

"They were a fairly powerful club in the late '50s . . . the (MCDFL) clubs have received them fairly well and we're pleased with the vote." Dunolly was in the Maryborough District Football League until 1981 before switching to the Lexton, and later Lexton Plains Football League, in 1982.

It joined the LVFL in 2001, but endured a horror season last year when its senior side failed to win a game and had an average losing margin of 224 points.