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Bendigo FL discussion 2026

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Mad Jack said:
2 words sum it up - Aunty Carol
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So clubs didn't get a vote on Broadford coming in, Gisborne going out?
Meaning all the power remains with only a handful or smaller amount of people, who are meant to act in the genuine best interests of the stakeholders - as in the fee paying clubs, fee's rustled up amongst communities by volunteers.

Sounds very much like the current political landscape ... and again horribly sad for the folk at Gisborne, not that anyone outside of the GFNC seems to care :'(
 
Doona2 said:
So clubs didn't get a vote on Broadford coming in, Gisborne going out?
Meaning all the power remains with only a handful or smaller amount of people, who are meant to act in the genuine best interests of the stakeholders - as in the fee paying clubs, fee's rustled up amongst communities by volunteers.

Sounds very much like the current political landscape ... and again horribly sad for the folk at Gisborne, not that anyone outside of the GFNC seems to care :'(
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The board holds the votes. Otherwise whats the point of having one? Just have the Presidents vote on every issue.

And before anyone comes rushing to accuse me of anything again, I've been very clear I think Gisborne is a terrible decision by the board and Carol should have stepped down after her comments on stage Grand Final day.

I just think she's being used as an easy target when the clubs as a collective and other board members could've tossed her any time they wanted but haven't.
 
rkjc22 said:
The board holds the votes. Otherwise whats the point of having one? Just have the Presidents vote on every issue.

And before anyone comes rushing to accuse me of anything again, I've been very clear I think Gisborne is a terrible decision by the board and Carol should have stepped down after her comments on stage Grand Final day.

I just think she's being used as an easy target when the clubs as a collective and other board members could've tossed her any time they wanted but haven't.
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Of course clubs should be given a say on matters pertaining to the league and especially it's future.

Intriguing logic. Gisborne decision is terrible and said chair's actions on GF day were out of line, but clubs shouldn't have a say.

So it's an autocracy?

There's basically no reason to have presidents meetings or gatherings of clubs, as it's at best superfluous and at worst irrelevant, as the board will do what it pleases.

I seriously hope it isn't like that.
 
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rkjc22 said:
The board holds the votes. Otherwise whats the point of having one? Just have the Presidents vote on every issue.

And before anyone comes rushing to accuse me of anything again, I've been very clear I think Gisborne is a terrible decision by the board and Carol should have stepped down after her comments on stage Grand Final day.

I just think she's being used as an easy target when the clubs as a collective and other board members could've tossed her any time they wanted but haven't.
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No idea why TBH with the structure you highlight, and if/when the clubs simply front up to meetings, don't have a say, or have any concerns considered is when I'd (if I was at a club involved) would be asking questions.

No skin in this game, and don't know this person everyone labels at all - I'm just a passionate community sport follower, and from afar the optics and perceptions over the past 3-6 months aren't great or of a positive nature towards the Bendigo FL.

Can we control perceptions? No we can't.
Many people think/perceive me a certain way and that I can't control.
What I/we can control is how I/we function/conduct one's self, treat others and the personal integrity I/we attempt to live lifes by.

So if as you say rkjc22 you too think Gisborne should've been allowed to transfer, and the GF waffle be not a good look - one can assume even if a vast majority, other than the current board and a few voting club reps (going against the masses) think the opposite then nothing changes - and everyone just uses these platforms to simply let off steam and scream f**k out aloud when they feel the need.
 
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Wooden Robot said:
Of course clubs should be given a say on matters pertaining to the league and especially it's future.

Intriguing logic. Gisborne decision is terrible and said chair's actions on GF day were out of line, but clubs shouldn't have a say.

So it's an autocracy?

There's basically no reason to have presidents meetings or gatherings of clubs, as it's at best superfluous and at worst irrelevant, as the board will do what it pleases.

I seriously hope it isn't like that.
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I wasnt saying the clubs shouldn't have a say, apologies if it came across that way.

I was just saying they dont have a vote and under the current structure of an "independent" board that makes sense.
 
Doona2 said:
No idea why TBH with the structure you highlight, and if/when the clubs simply front up to meetings, don't have a say, or have any concerns considered is when I'd (if I was at a club involved) would be asking questions.

No skin in this game, and don't know this person everyone labels at all - I'm just a passionate community sport follower, and from afar the optics and perceptions over the past 3-6 months aren't great or of a positive nature towards the Bendigo FL.

Can we control perceptions? No we can't.
Many people think/perceive me a certain way and that I can't control.
What I/we can control is how I/we function/conduct one's self, treat others and the personal integrity I/we attempt to live lifes by.

So if as you say rkjc22 you too think Gisborne should've been allowed to transfer, and the GF waffle be not a good look - one can assume even if a vast majority, other than the current board and a few voting club reps (going against the masses) think the opposite then nothing changes - and everyone just uses these platforms to simply let off steam and scream f**k out aloud when they feel the need.
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As I said I wasn't trying to say they shouldnt have a say.

I was just saying they dont have a vote.

My question would be, if we gave clubs a vote, would they vote for the leagues best interests or their own?

I like the current model, the board just needs more independence from a couple of clubs.
 
The gisborne situation makes the whole board and afl central vic positions unattenable any more. How can you be chasing clubs north of bendigo to join and force the most southern club to stay against their will, so they look good. The fact none of the board has not handed in their resignation is a joke
 
Trent from barwon Heads said:
The gisborne situation makes the whole board and afl central vic positions unattenable any more. How can you be chasing clubs north of bendigo to join and force the most southern club to stay against their will, so they look good. The fact none of the board has not handed in their resignation is a joke
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Agree and you wait and see the Bendigo clubs turn on the board 12 months in if Echuca gets up and dominates all football and when I say dominate I mean 10-12 goals better than the second best team. If anyone thinks the debacles we have witnessed with the clubs that have been lost then wait and see what unravels if Echuca comes in. The happy, comfortable clubs will revolt because their self interest serves them well now because they are comfortable and competitive. That will all change.
 
Shinjuku said:
Agree and you wait and see the Bendigo clubs turn on the board 12 months in if Echuca gets up and dominates all football and when I say dominate I mean 10-12 goals better than the second best team. If anyone thinks the debacles we have witnessed with the clubs that have been lost then wait and see what unravels if Echuca comes in. The happy, comfortable clubs will revolt because their self interest serves them well now because they are comfortable and competitive. That will all change.
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Exactly what I was getting at before, albeit poorly worded.

Would clubs vote to accept Echuca knowing how far behind they all are?

I doubt it.
 
rkjc22 said:
Exactly what I was getting at before, albeit poorly worded.

Would clubs vote to accept Echuca knowing how far behind they all are?

I doubt it.
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have just finished 3 years involvement in the RDFL and they have a board, clubs voted on incoming clubs, genuinely contribute to elements of league operations (voices are heard/considered), and despite an unavoidable uneven draw there seems to be plenty of harmony.
Guess it must depend on who's sits around said tables.
 
How many clubs go to a vote of members on all matters including a member joining or leaving ? Coaching appointments etc etc ?
Associations rules dictate who determines membership and members vote on rule changes .
Many leagues have moved to a board structure rather than delegate and provided conflict of interests are avoided they generally work fine and far more efficiently .
 
Trent from barwon Heads said:
The gisborne situation makes the whole board and afl central vic positions unattenable any more. How can you be chasing clubs north of bendigo to join and force the most southern club to stay against their will, so they look good. The fact none of the board has not handed in their resignation is a joke
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I am curious as to why is Gisborne wishing run away to another league when they were quite happy to stay in the league when they were winning?
 

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The Longblow said:
I am curious as to why is Gisborne wishing run away to another league when they were quite happy to stay in the league when they were winning?
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They have been successful for a long time, extremely well run club, the problem is travel, the rdfl junior level is pretty good, why travel 2 hours every 2nd week, when all travel is 30 minutes, in ballarat they will have instant bigger crowds and rivalries with Sunbury, marsh, darley and melton, entice the better juniors from riddell to ballarat and maintain strong reserves through less travel

Also their closest rival Kyneton is no longer there, its not like they havent thought of ballarat in the past either
 
Trent from barwon Heads said:
They have been successful for a long time, extremely well run club, the problem is travel, the rdfl junior level is pretty good, why travel 2 hours every 2nd week, when all travel is 30 minutes, in ballarat they will have instant bigger crowds and rivalries with Sunbury, marsh, darley and melton, entice the better juniors from riddell to ballarat and maintain strong reserves through less travel

Also their closest rival Kyneton is no longer there, its not like they havent thought of ballarat in the past either
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Not much difference at all between gisborne to ballarat and gisborne to Bendigo travel times. No team in the Bendigo League is 2 hours from Gisborne unless you mean return trip time.
 
The Longblow said:
Not much difference at all between gisborne to ballarat and gisborne to Bendigo travel times. No team in the Bendigo League is 2 hours from Gisborne unless you mean return trip time.
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Return trip yes. Theres no club close in bendigo anymore, Sunbury, darley, marsh and melton are all 20 minutes from gisborne all play in ballarat
 
The Longblow said:
I am curious as to why is Gisborne wishing run away to another league when they were quite happy to stay in the league when they were winning?
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May have escaped you. They won plenty of games this year and were sitting top two for most of it til injuries took a toll.
Might have even been sitting atop the senior ladder at the time of the club vote in August.
Had beaten Sandhurst twice and Eaglehawk twice, so hardly in a rut.
 
The Longblow said:
Not much difference at all between gisborne to ballarat and gisborne to Bendigo travel times. No team in the Bendigo League is 2 hours from Gisborne unless you mean return trip time.
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With 11 teams in the Ballarat league, they'll be making the 60-70 minute trip a mere four times a year while having the luxury of going 20 minutes down the road to Sunbury and 25 to Darley and Bacchus Marsh.
 
Trent from barwon Heads said:
They have been successful for a long time, extremely well run club, the problem is travel, the rdfl junior level is pretty good, why travel 2 hours every 2nd week, when all travel is 30 minutes, in ballarat they will have instant bigger crowds and rivalries with Sunbury, marsh, darley and melton, entice the better juniors from riddell to ballarat and maintain strong reserves through less travel

Also their closest rival Kyneton is no longer there, its not like they havent thought of ballarat in the past either
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I agree that those are all valid reasons but the main one has to be the Giants introducing senior teams? No more 20 top age 18's walking into your club, your 15-30 ranked senior players can stay home and be guaranteed senior footy.
 

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Doona2 said:
have just finished 3 years involvement in the RDFL and they have a board, clubs voted on incoming clubs, genuinely contribute to elements of league operations (voices are heard/considered), and despite an unavoidable uneven draw there seems to be plenty of harmony.
Guess it must depend on who's sits around said tables.
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I'm a cynic Doona. ;)
 
Plenty happening up north, with Echuca now openly reviewing its long-term place in the Goulburn Valley League. The club’s frustrations with league processes and its historical Bendigo ties make this a fascinating watch. I’ve written a full breakdown here: https://localsportsvictoria.com.au/goulburn-valley-league-echuca-2027-move — what do you think? Would a move strengthen the Murray Bombers or hurt the GVL more?
 

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Bendigo FL discussion 2026

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