Div 1 2026

[The Montreal Screwjob]

Care to name or just throw a blanket over every person involved ?

Well I'm happy to share the text I received earlier this week. It's been confirmed by a EFNL Board member too. Crazy stuff

Mail on Doncaster





Committee was confident on numbers, told the senior players all was good





Got to the first practice match and they had 30 players for two teams. Heaps of blokes had to double up





After the game the coaches and committee told the players we need you to bring mates down to fill teams





Players said wtf, you’ve been telling us for months we’re fine for numbers, it’s too late now





Skipper and eight senior players got together and said we’re done, we clearly don’t have numbers and will fold, we’re finding another club





Chopper (on committee) has got hold of it and sent skipper threatening texts, you’ve killed our club, I’ll kill you, I know where you live, tell your family to watch their backs, real psycho shit





The league gets involved and said boys you can’t leave or the club will fold, so we’re not clearing you





The skipper forwarded the text messages to the league rep and said well look at this, a committee member is sending me death threats, we are leaving and you will be clearing us





League said well okay, fair enough. Doncaster finished

 

[muesli]

I think Upwey still on the cards for entry next year.

If Upwey enter, then the league should promote the 2 grand finalists from div 2 and slot Upwey in Div 2.

 

[hotchilli]

Well I'm happy to share the text I received earlier this week. It's been confirmed by a EFNL Board member too. Crazy stuff

Mail on Doncaster





Committee was confident on numbers, told the senior players all was good





Got to the first practice match and they had 30 players for two teams. Heaps of blokes had to double up





After the game the coaches and committee told the players we need you to bring mates down to fill teams





Players said wtf, you’ve been telling us for months we’re fine for numbers, it’s too late now





Skipper and eight senior players got together and said we’re done, we clearly don’t have numbers and will fold, we’re finding another club





Chopper (on committee) has got hold of it and sent skipper threatening texts, you’ve killed our club, I’ll kill you, I know where you live, tell your family to watch their backs, real psycho shit





The league gets involved and said boys you can’t leave or the club will fold, so we’re not clearing you





The skipper forwarded the text messages to the league rep and said well look at this, a committee member is sending me death threats, we are leaving and you will be clearing us





League said well okay, fair enough. Doncaster finished

Yikes, good volunteers are hard to find.

 

[outside_off]

Yikes, good volunteers are hard to find.

The skipper is not faultless in this whole saga

 

[hotchilli]

The skipper is not faultless in this whole saga

I’m sure there are plenty of factors that have gone into the downfall of the club.

 

[adock]

The blame game is well and truly on. I get emotions are high but some of the ridiculous things being said this week about taking certain players to court to stop them playing at other clubs, even though Doncaster is in recess, is quite strange.

This didn't just happen overnight, its been building for years now. Its not the coaches fault or the captains fault. But it is the clubs fault. Not individuals, but the club as whole hasn't been good enough.

How long do people expect players to get smashed every week for? A lot of players stuck fat with the relegation but there was an expectation things would turn around being out of Premier Div last year but it didn't, they were lucky Wantirna South was in Div 1.

They haven't been competitive since 2018, its now 2025. Those 23/24 years olds in 2018 are 30 now, your football life is limited.

2024 3-15
2023 1-18
2022 5-13
2021 3-8 (covid)
2020
2019 4-12

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

Just last week some were proclaiming they should play kids & battle through it like Norwood have. Go figure.

Big issue is off field it’s left to too few. Having no juniors coming through means no off field new blood. Many of those still there have been have been around for well over 30 years. Tough gig & to be honest it must become tiring.

 

[MortlockWatcher]

If Upwey enter, then the league should promote the 2 grand finalists from div 2 and slot Upwey in Div 2.

Or have the bottom side relegated from D2 and the D3 premiers and Upwey-Tecoma go into D2?

 

[thommo_legend]

Schilling has walked out on Norwood

 

[Blacky burner]

Just last week some were proclaiming they should play kids & battle through it like Norwood have. Go figure.

Big issue is off field it’s left to too few. Having no juniors coming through means no off field new blood. Many of those still there have been have been around for well over 30 years. Tough gig & to be honest it must become tiring.

I keep on agreeing with you bobby your spot on .since covid as ive said before halving of the salary cap has slowly been the demise of the club .unlike most clubs stuck by the rules .junior club has gone from 13 sides in 2010 to 6 now most of them with other sides nothing coming through on and off the field.once players figured it was possibly going to be another tough year they jumped ship .i personally get why they were frustrated but to do it 2 weeks before season starts was a disgrace .

 

[MortlockWatcher]

I suppose the big issue if I read it right was supressing how low the numbers were until after the practice match (when they came up with the zinger of a comment "we need you to bring mates down to fill teams" just weeks before the season) after being told all along that numbers were fine.

If they were up front earlier, maybe they would have had better numbers sooner and this may have been avoided.

You reap what you sow.

 

[Blacky burner]

I suppose the big issue if I read it right was supressing how low the numbers were until after the practice match (when they came up with the zinger of a comment "we need you to bring mates down to fill teams" just weeks before the season) after being told all along that numbers were fine.

If they were up front earlier, maybe they would have had better numbers sooner and this may have been avoided.

You reap what you sow.

Wasn't at the practice match but was told 52 signed players at the time ?hoping to add a few more .was there at xmas when players were asked to get ya mates down .
I was hoping hopefully get through this year stay up and look at merging with donvale but obviously that wont happen .

 

[josha93]

Schilling has walked out on Norwood

Has he signed elsewhere? I know he is into his fitness doing lots of Hyrox and ultra marathons etc.

 

[Harry Cheezels]

If anyone thinks Doncasters Captain had anything to do with their demise your completely wrong. He messaged atleast 15-20 former players pleading them to play. One of his good mates Steve Latino who hasn't played for atleast 5-6 years even signed up 2 weeks before they folded just so they could get numbers. And yes he absolutely copped it from the committee member.
He saw the writing on the wall after that praccy match, remember he's been through this before.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Whatever has happened over the past few months, the reality is simple, if you don’t have at least a reasonable pipeline of juniors coming through then as a club you are really just biding time til the inevitable.

 

[smy1305]

Whatever has happened over the past few months, the reality is simple, if you don’t have at least a reasonable pipeline of juniors coming through then as a club you are really just biding time til the inevitable.

Too true. Except Balwyn

 

[Thepigshow]

Has he signed elsewhere? I know he is into his fitness doing lots of Hyrox and ultra marathons etc.

He’s playing at Newbridge in lvfl

 

[localfootyguru]

He’s playing at Newbridge in lvfl

On good coin too. Hasn’t endeared himself to many in the past few years. Gave nothing to his past 2 homes despite promising the world. Will be interesting to see how he goes at Newbridge as the standard of footy is good and I think Father Time has caught up with him. Playing on big grounds may also be a challenge as he will need to get his own footy at times.

 

[Saltness]

On good coin too. Hasn’t endeared himself to many in the past few years. Gave nothing to his past 2 homes despite promising the world. Will be interesting to see how he goes at Newbridge as the standard of footy is good and I think Father Time has caught up with him. Playing on big grounds may also be a challenge as he will need to get his own footy at times.

Kicked 3 goals and they lost by 8

 

[josha93]

On good coin too. Hasn’t endeared himself to many in the past few years. Gave nothing to his past 2 homes despite promising the world. Will be interesting to see how he goes at Newbridge as the standard of footy is good and I think Father Time has caught up with him. Playing on big grounds may also be a challenge as he will need to get his own footy at times.

Wouldn’t be happy if you were Norwood. Signed and committed and I assume has gone for more coin. Was a very loyal servant to Montrose for years then went and played a few seasons at North Ringwood, went back to Montrose got his life membership there for 200 games then spent a year at Traralgon and then The Basin.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Norwood publishing their teams with nine players in the reserves and 13 in the U19s. That looks pretty dire in Round 2.

Surely their U19s can’t last much longer.

We have just lost two clubs, can’t lose another.

 

[josha93]

Norwood publishing their teams with nine players in the reserves and 13 in the U19s. That looks pretty dire in Round 2.

Surely their U19s can’t last much longer.

We have just lost two clubs, can’t lose another.

Just had a look at their Facebook page, on there they have 17 named in reserves and 19 in the U19s. Looks like the 19s game is 16 a side which can be arranged in the 19s.

 

[magpies2013]

Norwood publishing their teams with nine players in the reserves and 13 in the U19s. That looks pretty dire in Round 2.

Surely their U19s can’t last much longer.

We have just lost two clubs, can’t lose another.

And the u19s still beat the Boronia Bears sorry I mean Hawks last week

 

[Harry Cheezels]

Shame about the Weather but what a cracker of a game to start the round

South Belgrave at home just in a close one over Beacy. South #1 seed for now.

Park Orchards at home should be ro strong against a plucky Bayswater.

Boronia to announce themselves to the division against Montrose.

Nth Ringwood in a close one against arch rival Norwood.

 

[The Kaiser Chief]

Shame about the Weather but what a cracker of a game to start the round

South Belgrave at home just in a close one over Beacy. South #1 seed for now.

Park Orchards at home should be ro strong against a plucky Bayswater.

Boronia to announce themselves to the division against Montrose.

Nth Ringwood in a close one against arch rival Norwood.

that is some win by Boronia over Montrose