Jack Doolan
Team Captain
- Apr 23, 2025
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I guess they are banking on the AFL not wanting to lose a strong club and all the benefits they get from that and once they see they are serious about sitting out they will back down
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Bendigo FL discussion 2025
- Thread starter fatkidinthepocket
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I guess they are banking on the AFL not wanting to lose a strong club and all the benefits they get from that and once they see they are serious about sitting out they will back down
If you go into recess and not pay any affiliation fees for 2026, then you are a non-affiliated club and that would help open up the situation for Gisborne.
A league cannot force a club in recess to be affiliated and pay affiliation fees.
One key to this situation is the financial aspect - if the club is involved in a financial situation, it ties that club to the league and they can be easily screwed over. It allows a league to fine the club for anything it wants to to the extend that the fine becomes astronomical and is a massive problem if the transfer situation is revisited 12 months later. The league would come and say that they will waive the fines as long as the club commits to them for a set time period (e.g. 5, 10, 20 years). A "nuts over a barrel" situation that the club is trying to avoid at all costs, especially when they have zero trust in the league.
Can anyone confirm whether Maryborough is paying fees to the league while they are in recess?
A league cannot force a club in recess to be affiliated and pay affiliation fees.
One key to this situation is the financial aspect - if the club is involved in a financial situation, it ties that club to the league and they can be easily screwed over. It allows a league to fine the club for anything it wants to to the extend that the fine becomes astronomical and is a massive problem if the transfer situation is revisited 12 months later. The league would come and say that they will waive the fines as long as the club commits to them for a set time period (e.g. 5, 10, 20 years). A "nuts over a barrel" situation that the club is trying to avoid at all costs, especially when they have zero trust in the league.
Can anyone confirm whether Maryborough is paying fees to the league while they are in recess?
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Broadford needed permission from their league to move.
It would have been approved within 10 seconds of asking for permission
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Yes, don't miss the chance to kick down on a club.
From memory, the Outer East weren't keen on them coming in but people in higher places wanted them put into a league and the clubs voted them in anyway, which made the preamble redundant.
The region from Wallan to Benalla along the Hume Highway has been in need of its own league pretty much since the Central Goulburn/GVL Division 2 was dismantled 25-odd years ago.
The region from Wallan to Benalla along the Hume Highway has been in need of its own league pretty much since the Central Goulburn/GVL Division 2 was dismantled 25-odd years ago.
I mean into Bendigo. They were in recess but still needed permission from their old league.
Do we think Bendigo changes their mind a year after Gisborne make them look silly?
As per Mad Jack's comment, the clearance would have been granted very quickly as they were a poor fit for the Outer East league and few other OEFNL clubs would have missed them, primarily due to travel.
Hence the need for a Waranga-North East league re-boot to better cater for the towns in that region.
Hence the need for a Waranga-North East league re-boot to better cater for the towns in that region.
- Oct 5, 2004
- 2,255
- 2,644
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- Other Teams
- Avoca FNC, Ouyen Kangas FNC
Outer East clubs did not vote in Bradford, the league commission approved their admission despite the club having no real affiliation with the league and region. The whole thing was a debacle, and clubs were more than happy to see the back of them. AFL Victoria in their wisdom had a significant say in this decision occurring at the time and certainly influenced the league's commission to a position where they were pressured to accept them into the league despite significant reservations.
tasmanlvr
Club Legend
Agreed with this. Having moved back from Maryborough to Melbourne this year, and seeing first hand working in the Mitchell Shire region, it is rather interesting seeing three clubs within half an hour of one another playing in three different leagues, for instance, similar to, for example, Maryborough, Talbot and Clunes doing essentially the same thing.
I'd be interested to know who'd be a part of it though, because Wallan and Kilmore in particular as the gateway to the region seem to be very happy in their respective leagues.
- Oct 5, 2004
- 2,255
- 2,644
- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
- Other Teams
- Avoca FNC, Ouyen Kangas FNC
We are not paying fees to any league at Maryborough FNC at this time. We are not a member of the Bendigo FNL anymore.
The whole situation with AFL Victoria is a sham. Where were they when my club was in trouble and what about their absence when our first application to join the MCDFNL was rejected? We have had little to no help from them and I am sure they don't even know we exist. They 'cherry pick' what they want to be involved with and have little to no interest in the wider health of country football.
I stated some time ago on this forum that back in 2024 Gisborne were looking to leave the Bendigo FNL. The demographics of their area have changed and a move into the Ballarat FNL is the best fit for their future. How AFL Victoria cannot see this or consider the future viability of a club is beyond me. The club wishes to leave so they should be free to do so. The current status of the Bendigo FNL and the circus in the manner it is run gives even more credence in why the club wants to move on.
Gisborne have been a benchmark in the league in so many ways and have been a great servant of the league. They owe the Bendigo FNL nothing and should be allowed to move.
I again wish to reiterate why couldn't the Maryborough FNC receive the same level of effort and support as what is occurring with trying to keep a club in a league they don't wish to participate in from those in power. As mentioned in my post, those in power do not care about the wider health of country football and the value of sport in local communities and just wish to pick and choose things that meet their agendas. Sport and recreation and community building opportunities are needed more than ever in society and this is being completely forgotten.
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So my advice to Gisborne is that, if this circus continues, the club goes into recess, resigning as a member in the process as they are going into recess, and not to pay any fees (as they are not an active club).
Therefore, they cannot be held back as an unfinancial member club and they have Maryborough as a precedent, as set by the league itself.
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Jack Doolan
Team Captain
- Apr 23, 2025
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- AFL Club
- Essendon
From what I’ve heard that’s their last resort option even talking to clubs about a loan arrangement for footballers and netballers for the season
Jack Doolan
Team Captain
- Apr 23, 2025
- 497
- 685
- AFL Club
- Essendon
I for one applaud Gisborne for digging in for three years I’ve read non stop bitching and moaning on here about the league but until now no one has had the guts to make a stand
How good would it be if other clubs came out now and said if you make Gisborne stay we won’t play either time for a revolution
How good would it be if other clubs came out now and said if you make Gisborne stay we won’t play either time for a revolution
I think you’re forgetting that 1 club made a stand and left 2 years ago. Looking like a smarter move by the day.
Jack Doolan
Team Captain
- Apr 23, 2025
- 497
- 685
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Very good point but current clubs still need to stand up
Trent from barwon Heads
Club Legend
- May 30, 2025
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Skip bray has just resigned from riddells Creek after coaching the last 2 flags, riddells Creek has the money and professionalism to get waters as coach, id be very uneasy with these developments if I was on the gisborne board.
You cant actually loan players for a year if you go into recess. Id tip 50-75% that leave wont come back, same with netball. Gisborne are a very good club, they've produced some of the best bfl players of the last 25 years, what the league and afl vic are doing to them has the potential to ruin the club for 10 years
You cant actually loan players for a year if you go into recess. Id tip 50-75% that leave wont come back, same with netball. Gisborne are a very good club, they've produced some of the best bfl players of the last 25 years, what the league and afl vic are doing to them has the potential to ruin the club for 10 years
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Vlodrive
Club Legend
- Apr 30, 2022
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Spoke to some lads I know at Gisborne and most want nothing to do with the giants but will be happy to play for other RDFNL and a particular EDFL D2 club in the area if it comes to that. They are hoping there is a way to be playing for the red white and blue though next year though.
Trent from barwon Heads
Club Legend
- May 30, 2025
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The Bendigo league will never get any more clubs if they keep gisborne. How can you try and recruit moama and echuca and keep gisborne. Wheres the strategic direction provided by afl victoria, maybe look on the map where gisborne is located, where Bendigo clubs are located and where ballarat clubs are.
The lack of trying to keep maryborough and Kyneton, by the bfl is baffling, yet they go and get Broadford who has no ties to the region, has never played major league footy after letting 2 clubs go, without providing any enticements by points and salary and not try entice quality clubs north of Bendigo is simply mind boggling and yet the red carpet is still out for Broadford.
The decisions by afl victoria, throughout this year, reflect poorly on their competence to run Aussie rules outside the afl, and we are not far from seeing clubs and leagues break away. There has been zero direction provided on strengthening footy in the state.
The lack of trying to keep maryborough and Kyneton, by the bfl is baffling, yet they go and get Broadford who has no ties to the region, has never played major league footy after letting 2 clubs go, without providing any enticements by points and salary and not try entice quality clubs north of Bendigo is simply mind boggling and yet the red carpet is still out for Broadford.
The decisions by afl victoria, throughout this year, reflect poorly on their competence to run Aussie rules outside the afl, and we are not far from seeing clubs and leagues break away. There has been zero direction provided on strengthening footy in the state.
Quote in the Addy article saying they were happy for Kyneton to go as they needed to play in a league of a lesser standard. Yet then they bring Broadford in.
Begs the question, if Flat and Castlemaine were to request to leave, does this mean a precedent has been set around “appropriate standards”? Be hard to knock them back given that since they had the year off, Kyneton consistently finished above those 2 clubs.
I'm hearing an EDFL div 1 recently promoted, with players having an affinity to the club thru school and friends, with the coach being a past player and coach of Gisborne striking a one year contract deal.
I wander what castlemaine are thinking of all this as they could well be asking for a transfer at the end of 2026 too by all reports
Castlemaine should refuse to pay affiliation fees next year. The league won't kick them out because they can't lose another team and then Castlemaine can leave as an unaffiliated club
