Bendigo FL discussion 2026

[Shinjuku]

The transfer rules use to determine that if a club had a failed transfer attempt they couldn’t apply or transfer for a set time frame . If that remains the case regardless of Gisbourne or the current boards wish they can’t go anywhere .

What is the timeframe and will it restrict them leaving in 2027?

 

[Jack Doolan]

If current board doesn’t have a request why would they give any response ?

The question was what is the board’s attitude to Gisborne leaving and I’m saying Gisborne hasn’t been told anything
There’s no deal to let them leave next year and been no contact from new board to tell them how they see things

 

[Wooden Robot]

The question was what is the board’s attitude to Gisborne leaving and I’m saying Gisborne hasn’t been told anything
There’s no deal to let them leave next year and been no contact from new board to tell them how they see things

You would hope that dialogue happens soon and that there is a general increase in communication from the board towards clubs and a more open and cordial relationship between board and clubs.

 

[Quarry Hill]

If current board doesn’t have a request why would they give any response ?

With respect Roar every Tom, Dick & Harry, not to mention every football fan living between Melbourne and Mildura know Gisborne want out ASAP. If this Board wants another request before stating their 'Gisborne position' we might as well replace them as well. This is the hottest topic in Central Victoria football and getting the view of the current Board as to where they see the future direction of the BFNL is the very first logical step they can take.

 

[BGOFootyNuff]

With respect Roar every Tom, Dick & Harry, not to mention every football fan living between Melbourne and Mildura know Gisborne want out ASAP. If this Board wants another request before stating their 'Gisborne position' we might as well replace them as well. This is the hottest topic in Central Victoria football and getting the view of the current Board as to where they see the future direction of the BFNL is the very first logical step they can take.

Maybe waiting till they elect their Chair before getting vocal publicly. Who knows but I agree I think some transparency and information would be good.

 

[Wooden Robot]

With respect Roar every Tom, Dick & Harry, not to mention every football fan living between Melbourne and Mildura know Gisborne want out ASAP. If this Board wants another request before stating their 'Gisborne position' we might as well replace them as well. This is the hottest topic in Central Victoria football and getting the view of the current Board as to where they see the future direction of the BFNL is the very first logical step they can take.

Give them a little time .... only elected three weeks ago. Probably haven't even had time to convene for the first time, and certainly no election of a new chairperson (spokesperson).
I'm sure there will be a new chairperson announced soon and the board's direction will become known and announcements will flow.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

With respect Roar every Tom, Dick & Harry, not to mention every football fan living between Melbourne and Mildura know Gisborne want out ASAP. If this Board wants another request before stating their 'Gisborne position' we might as well replace them as well. This is the hottest topic in Central Victoria football and getting the view of the current Board as to where they see the future direction of the BFNL is the very first logical step they can take.

The board is bound to follow rules . Although everyone might want the leagues board to disclose their position in a specific topic eg Gaborone heaving , if Gisbourne can’t leave for another 2-3 years what’s the point ?
Also the notion of the league coming out and saying club z,y,z is interested in joining is riidiculius . The clubs involved possibly haven’t even met or decided if they’ll Meet with their members .

 

[western royboy]

Sadly, Lara FC have had to withdraw from the GFL this year in Senior and Reserve Football…heed the warnings now, country footy in serious decline due to lack of leadership

 

[Doona2]

And went to a comp that has the prelim final and grandfinal in a wind tunnel that runs east / west and is arguably the worst surface north of and including Broadford .

Lay off Harley Hammond Reserve Broadford there Roar
Come Rd.1 it will be in pretty good nick

 

[footyhead2367]

Is the Broadford oval in back condition?

 

[Quarry Hill]

The board is bound to follow rules . Although everyone might want the leagues board to disclose their position in a specific topic eg Gaborone heaving , if Gisbourne can’t leave for another 2-3 years what’s the point ?
Also the notion of the league coming out and saying club z,y,z is interested in joining is riidiculius . The clubs involved possibly haven’t even met or decided if they’ll Meet with their members .

If the new BFNL Board agrees to clear Gisborne and they put in a new application supported by the Ballarat Board and AFL Victoria (and any other necessary party), I cannot see why it would take 3 years to clear them. I understand why 2026 would be too soon but not 2027. If (and I emphasise 'if') there is some rule where a clearance agreed by all parties takes 3 years, then it needs to be rescinded right now.

Echuca and Moama have had discussions with the BFNL and I hope their members don't think it was about importing tea from China. There would be nothing wrong with the BFNL Board simply saying they would like to expand into Northern Victoria if clubs capable of major league football in that area were willing and able to join the competition.

In summary all of us would like is to hear the intentions of the new Board at the earlier opportunity. A statement of their attitude to keeping/clearing Gisborne would be a good start.

 

[GoodNessMe]

If the new BFNL Board agrees to clear Gisborne and they put in a new application supported by the Ballarat Board and AFL Victoria (and any other necessary party), I cannot see why it would take 3 years to clear them. I understand why 2026 would be too soon but not 2027. If (and I emphasise 'if') there is some rule where a clearance agreed by all parties takes 3 years, then it needs to be rescinded right now.

Echuca and Moama have had discussions with the BFNL and I hope their members don't think it was about importing tea from China. There would be nothing wrong with the BFNL Board simply saying they would like to expand into Northern Victoria if clubs capable of major league football in that area were willing and able to join the competition.

In summary all of us would like is to hear the intentions of the new Board at the earlier opportunity. A statement of their attitude to keeping/clearing Gisborne would be a good start.

https://bendigofnl.com.au/images/documents/2025/2025-29%20BFNL%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf

Gisborne leave, with inclusion of Broadford.

Public document say's a focus area's is to be a 10 + team competition. Common sense says to find 3 + teams they would have to be looking north.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

If the new BFNL Board agrees to clear Gisborne and they put in a new application supported by the Ballarat Board and AFL Victoria (and any other necessary party), I cannot see why it would take 3 years to clear them. I understand why 2026 would be too soon but not 2027. If (and I emphasise 'if') there is some rule where a clearance agreed by all parties takes 3 years, then it needs to be rescinded right now.

Echuca and Moama have had discussions with the BFNL and I hope their members don't think it was about importing tea from China. There would be nothing wrong with the BFNL Board simply saying they would like to expand into Northern Victoria if clubs capable of major league football in that area were willing and able to join the competition.

In summary all of us would like is to hear the intentions of the new Board at the earlier opportunity. A statement of their attitude to keeping/clearing Gisborne would be a good start.

Don’t always get what you want and no league should be airing their business publicly .
There is a significant negative affect on clubs when they are publicly rumoured or otherwise to be moving comps , particularly when it doesn’t eventuate.
No club should ever be in the position Gisborne are now in . Communications with all parties should have happened behind closed doors and if it was known they were going to be opposed and potentially not transferred they should have not continued .
What I have now read from what I believe to be the current afl vic country rules there is no time frames around anything including application . Whilst it is not BFL who Gisbourne applies to leave Bendigo and join Ballarat , it is AFL Vic . Whilst any appeal is to AFL not AFL Vic which I believe has previously been assumed .

 

[localfootyguru]

This club ‘should be a powerhouse’, but its senior side folded on the eve of the season

The club was first established around the 1880s and has been a long-time member of GFNL, considered one of the strongest football leagues in the state.

www.theage.com.au

Well done ringo1 on getting media interest in the plight of Lara FNC. Pity there wasn't this much interest in when my club, Maryborough FNC with 150 years of tradition and history went into recess. I find it disappointing there was no media interest in Melbourne about our plight which is becoming commonplace in country football where the stronger clubs pillage the lesser/ weaker clubs and governing bodies just sit idle and let this continue.

Where is the accountability of the governing bodies and their nonexistent efforts to support country football. Surely the media needs to place some focus on them and their inaction.

 

[ringo1]

This club ‘should be a powerhouse’, but its senior side folded on the eve of the season

The club was first established around the 1880s and has been a long-time member of GFNL, considered one of the strongest football leagues in the state.

www.theage.com.au

Well done ringo1 on getting media interest in the plight of Lara FNC. Pity there wasn't this much interest in when my club, Maryborough FNC with 150 years of tradition and history went into recess. I find it disappointing there was no media interest in Melbourne about our plight which is becoming commonplace in country football where the stronger clubs pillage the lesser/ weaker clubs and governing bodies just sit idle and let this continue.

Where is the accountability of the governing bodies and their nonexistent efforts to support country football. Surely the media needs to place some focus on them and their inaction.

Cheers mate and it could all be fixed in 5 minutes tbh. The GFL will end up being an 8 team comp. Nth Shore, Geelong West and Grovedale will all be under enormous pressure. Its basically, like most leagues a 4 team competition with little hope for those teams outside the top 4. Surely the feedback is there to see that this system ain't working!

 

[Jack Doolan]

https://bendigofnl.com.au/images/documents/2025/2025-29%20BFNL%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf

Gisborne leave, with inclusion of Broadford.

Public document say's a focus area's is to be a 10 + team competition. Common sense says to find 3 + teams they would have to be looking north.

I’m not fluent in corporate wank speak but what is the point of a plan that has almost zero content as to how you will actually achieve the broad goals you make?

All the goals are very lovely but it contains very little substance for example it says they want all teams represented grand final day by evolving the competitive balance what the hell does that mean

 

[Shinjuku]

I’m not fluent in corporate wank speak but what is the point of a plan that has almost zero content as to how you will actually achieve the broad goals you make?

All the goals are very lovely but it contains very little substance for example it says they want all teams represented grand final day by evolving the competitive balance what the hell does that mean

You are spot on Jack. These documents form part of employees measurable KPI's so when they sit down for their Performance Reviews they can refer back to to them but in real terms they are like a balloon animal - full of hot air that provide a whiff of hope and excitement but then shrivel up and end up in the bin sometime thereafter.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

I’m not fluent in corporate wank speak but what is the point of a plan that has almost zero content as to how you will actually achieve the broad goals you make?

All the goals are very lovely but it contains very little substance for example it says they want all teams represented grand final day by evolving the competitive balance what the hell does that mean

They want to evolve ( improve ) competiveness with the ultimate being that all clubs have a team in a Grand finale .

 

[Wooden Robot]

Cheers mate and it could all be fixed in 5 minutes tbh. The GFL will end up being an 8 team comp. Nth Shore, Geelong West and Grovedale will all be under enormous pressure. Its basically, like most leagues a 4 team competition with little hope for those teams outside the top 4. Surely the feedback is there to see that this system ain't working!

All the best ringo1 ... hope you can get the Cats back up and running again as early as possible.
Thoughts are with you and the club.
A query if I may? What happens to the players, particularly around points?
I could be wrong but would imagine most clubs are set with player numbers and points allocations etc. Where do players look at going and are they say one pointers going elsewhere? Two pointers? Three pointers?
Would it be feasible - and it's entirely up to individuals - but to move a large number to say North Shore to at least shore up (pardon the pun) the Gulls for a year or two? Led to believe they are not travelling too flash.
Last thing you want is players going to bigger clubs and not coming back, which I guess is a risk wherever they go.

 

[ringo1]

All the best ringo1 ... hope you can get the Cats back up and running again as early as possible.
Thoughts are with you and the club.
A query if I may? What happens to the players, particularly around points?
I could be wrong but would imagine most clubs are set with player numbers and points allocations etc. Where do players look at going and are they say one pointers going elsewhere? Two pointers? Three pointers?
Would it be feasible - and it's entirely up to individuals - but to move a large number to say North Shore to at least shore up (pardon the pun) the Gulls for a year or two? Led to believe they are not travelling too flash.
Last thing you want is players going to bigger clubs and not coming back, which I guess is a risk wherever they go.

Cheers mate. The allocation of points for all Lara players are being discussed as I post. Hopefully some common sense prevails. Lara and Nth Shore are not exactly friends so it makes it tough. A year is a long time in Football and getting those players back is going to be, in some instances problematic.

 

[Doona2]

You are spot on Jack. These documents form part of employees measurable KPI's so when they sit down for their Performance Reviews they can refer back to to them but in real terms they are like a balloon animal - full of hot air that provide a whiff of hope and excitement but then shrivel up and end up in the bin sometime thereafter.

Least there wasn't any money wasted on it, and it is not over the top and quite achievable in most parts of the content.

 

[localfootyguru]

Cheers mate and it could all be fixed in 5 minutes tbh. The GFL will end up being an 8 team comp. Nth Shore, Geelong West and Grovedale will all be under enormous pressure. Its basically, like most leagues a 4 team competition with little hope for those teams outside the top 4. Surely the feedback is there to see that this system ain't working!

The GFL is pretty much a 4 team competition and dominated by the same clubs each year. I will say I have some connections at Colac FNC and they are doing a good job being competitive but they are in a good space and a point of difference for players in their area. They are a very well run club both on and off field.

As has occurred in the BFNL, influential clubs with their own agendas hijacked decisions made by the commission to try and improve football in the region. Again the tail wagged the dog as certain clubs wanted to keep the status quo and dominate football in the GFL to the disadvantage of the lesser clubs in the league who they continue to pillage year after year.

Another competition in disarray. Where are the governing bodies, missing in action again.

 

[Del233027]

The GFL is pretty much a 4 team competition and dominated by the same clubs each year. I will say I have some connections at Colac FNC and they are doing a good job being competitive but they are in a good space and a point of difference for players in their area. They are a very well run club both on and off field.

As has occurred in the BFNL, influential clubs with their own agendas hijacked decisions made by the commission to try and improve football in the region. Again the tail wagged the dog as certain clubs wanted to keep the status quo and dominate football in the GFL to the disadvantage of the lesser clubs in the league who they continue to pillage year after year.

Another competition in disarray. Where are the governing bodies, missing in action again.

Newtown have hardly won a flag, yep they've got strong juniors, but hardly a power club, bell park are a bloody good club and will play finals this year, colac youre right are a well run club, good juniors, ability to get guys to come in from the minor league and can recruit. Seb Ross is their senior coach.

Not sure you can compare geelong footy to bfl, youve got afl and ex afl players volunteering their time to help with juniors and thats a massive development advantage compared with the rest of the state. Even the gdfl had the great peter riccardi coach north geelong to a flag last year.

Leopold have been a very good side for a number of years, who are expected to drop but at the same time their young guys could do a st marys.

Yep grovedale, geelong west and north shore are struggling a bit, but grovedale would be on par with gisborne, so its a high standard of footy

 

[olly21]

Cheers mate. The allocation of points for all Lara players are being discussed as I post. Hopefully some common sense prevails. Lara and Nth Shore are not exactly friends so it makes it tough. A year is a long time in Football and getting those players back is going to be, in some instances problematic.

Feel sorry for Lara and you mate. I always enjoyed going out to when playing on the snake pit as a opposition player.


Im interested Ringo what are your fixes to make GFL a better club?

 

[ringo1]

Players wanting a clearance to another club within the league need to be 8-10 points;
Transfer fees need to be structured and paid by club poaching player(s)
Geelong VFL Players need to be balloted out. Sth Barwon have 10 VFL listed players on their list
No stacking of juniors in multiple teams in age groups.
St Mary's win the flag using 28 points. Why have they still got 38 to work with this year.

I might be wide of the mark but clubs such as Nth Shore, Geelong West and Grovedale will perish unless somrething is done. Hopefully Lara can get back up in 2027