NCFL Central discussion 2025

[FootyLife481]

Tips this week
Sea lake beat Donald by 220 points
Calder beat Charlton by 200 points
Birchip beat St Arnaud by 210 points
Wedderburn beat Boort by 10 points

Sea Lake to destroy Donald. Sea Lake to boost their percentage here. Mckenzie, Cox and Wade to have 30+. Mckenzie to kick 5 as well. Jenkins and Brownless haven’t played for a while and if they play this game it will get even more ugly

Calder have worked it out I reckon. After thumping st arnaud last week and boort the week before they will beat Charlton by more. Exell and Humphreys to kick 10 each. Kennedy and Wade to have 30 each. If Keighran is back he will have 40

Birchip will thump an injury plagued st arnaud by a lot. By the sounds of it the saints lost a couple key players last week and there must be a few sore bodies by the sounds of it. Edward’s to kick 15. Nick Rippon to have 30 and 5.

Wedderburn to give Boort another reality check. Boort are on a low after losing the last couple. Wedderburn are a very united team and play well together. Although no Jensen or pallpratt could hurt. Baddelly Kelly is key for boort. If he can kick a bag that would very much help boorts chances.

Be an all time low for the league. 3 200pt losses in a round. Hopefully I’m wrong

 

[johnnymossop]

It is fair to say that what is happening to the once wonderful North Central League is the finest example of the demise of country football. One might throw up other examples, but I feel that this league has fallen like no other. It was a very good league / standard but has now unravelled to the point where I feel it will simply have to be abandoned and clubs scamper for new homes. The next 5 years will be telling. I'll watch Birchip on the weekend all going to plan. Might be messy

 

[Manang Rover]

It is fair to say that what is happening to the once wonderful North Central League is the finest example of the demise of country football. One might throw up other examples, but I feel that this league has fallen like no other. It was a very good league / standard but has now unravelled to the point where I feel it will simply have to be abandoned and clubs scamper for new homes. The next 5 years will be telling. I'll watch Birchip on the weekend all going to plan. Might be messy

Yes as a Mallee boy, it is very disheartening to see many leagues disband and towns/clubs merge. Sadly I dont think this can reversed or resuscitated! I feel that clubs will be forced to merge, remove wingers (VFA) play a senior match only.
Sea Lake, Nullyproof and Birchip may need to move to Swan Hill with St Arnaud Donald to Horsham District and Charlton Wedderburn to Bendigo district.

Wimmera league and HDFL need to potentially begin discussions on merging teams to save both competitions.

 

[Truck]

It is fair to say that what is happening to the once wonderful North Central League is the finest example of the demise of country football. One might throw up other examples, but I feel that this league has fallen like no other. It was a very good league / standard but has now unravelled to the point where I feel it will simply have to be abandoned and clubs scamper for new homes. The next 5 years will be telling. I'll watch Birchip on the weekend all going to plan. Might be messy

There's a real Friday pick me up.
Talk me through the your "demise of country football"?

The NCFL like most other leagues has a long history of teams recruiting big name players in. Boort probably the most notable back in the early 80's.
It think we would all love to see an even comp where anyone could win the flag. That is only a dream and hasn't been the case in the last 20 years.
There has always been a gap. maybe not as big, but always a gap.

Roll this Donald side out 10-20 years ago. They are getting the exact same result.
How would the 2025 St Arnaud fair against their 2015 Side? Or Charlton against their 2016 side?

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

There's a real Friday pick me up.
Talk me through the your "demise of country football"?

The NCFL like most other leagues has a long history of teams recruiting big name players in. Boort probably the most notable back in the early 80's.
It think we would all love to see an even comp where anyone could win the flag. That is only a dream and hasn't been the case in the last 20 years.
There has always been a gap. maybe not as big, but always a gap.

Roll this Donald side out 10-20 years ago. They are getting the exact same result.
How would the 2025 St Arnaud fair against their 2015 Side? Or Charlton against their 2016 side?

Every side has won a premiership in the last 20 years. However going forward that will not be the case. Be interesting how many different premiers there will be this decade. Im tipping 3.

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

2006 the Demons bottomed out after coming unstuck in 04/05.
We were on the end of some absolute hidings for the next 3 years.
Before claiming the 2010 flag, lost the 2011 to the Burn.

Swings and round about in footy. They’ve always been there, and will always be there. Unfortunately not everyone can win.

As shown at Tigerland invest in your junior program and reap the rewards.

These were different times. Footy landscape has changed.

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

What will be the closest 2nds game this week? I m tipping Lions over Charlton by 186 points. 4 losing teams to kick a total of 6 goals.

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

Jensen named in Redbacks side on their facebook but not on play hq. Why bother with the "smoke behind the mirrors"?

 

[Old bomber]

There's a real Friday pick me up.
Talk me through the your "demise of country football"?

The NCFL like most other leagues has a long history of teams recruiting big name players in. Boort probably the most notable back in the early 80's.
It think we would all love to see an even comp where anyone could win the flag. That is only a dream and hasn't been the case in the last 20 years.
There has always been a gap. maybe not as big, but always a gap.

Roll this Donald side out 10-20 years ago. They are getting the exact same result.
How would the 2025 St Arnaud fair against their 2015 Side? Or Charlton against their 2016 side?

If you look back at the % of the bottom teams over the last 16 years you can see the gap is widening between the top and bottom teams.
The following is the amount of teams finishing the season with a % below 50 meaning they average getting their score doubled every week.

2010 = 0
2011 = 1
2012 = 0
2013 = 1
2014 = 1
2015 = 1
2016 = 0 Sea Lake entered comp
2017 = 0
2018 = 0
2019 = 2
2020 No ladder
2021 = 1
2022 = 3
2023 = 1 Nully entered comp
2024 = 2
2025 = 3 at present. 2 of these are under 30%

 

[FootyLife481]

What are ways that you could fix the league without changing the league?
-Start doing more junior development programs. That’s way the local kids get better and play more seniors
-Get the points system right. Eventually sea lake will lose their advantage of all those 1 pointers and it will even out. And if Birchip keep finishing high on the ladder their points should go down. Same with Calder.
-Limit the amount of recruits brought in by each club. Rather than have lots of a high grade players. Just have a few A graders. Quality>Quantity.
-Open up the salary cap. If teams have it then let them spend it and face the consequences if they go broke.
-Have a draw that represents the ladder from the previous year. Instead of top teams playing the bottom teams 3 times have the top teams play the other top teams and the bottom sides play the bottom sides.

I’d hate to see the league go down. Obviously teams are going to have their highs and lows. I’d love to see more junior development programs. Such as more interleague games. Send coaching clinics around clubs to give the kids different experiences. It can only do good. Seeing young kids go from playing juniors at your club then to seniors is great. How many kids are apart of the Pioneers team. 1 overager? We need our kids getting better if we want the league to survive.

 

[johnnymossop]

Its is not about % or flags.
Football is no longer the be all and end all. Kids are not inclined to want to run and do the hard stuff.
Minimal footy at school. lack of parental desire. Cost of living. Violence in sport. Online world.
Smaller families and family breakdown. Petrol. Volunteers required to be IT gurus to set up the weekend.
RSA stuff. Good Sports crap. I mean It's crazy - less small clubs more bigger clubs is the future. Get it organised now or die on the vine. Oh wait too late for some already. Look at cricket - 20 years ahead - but no we just say spend more or recruit more or ....

 

[beesknees22]

If you look back at the % of the bottom teams over the last 16 years you can see the gap is widening between the top and bottom teams.
The following is the amount of teams finishing the season with a % below 50 meaning they average getting their score doubled every week.

2010 = 0
2011 = 1
2012 = 0
2013 = 1
2014 = 1
2015 = 1
2016 = 0 Sea Lake entered comp
2017 = 0
2018 = 0
2019 = 2
2020 No ladder
2021 = 1
2022 = 3
2023 = 1 Nully entered comp
2024 = 2
2025 = 3 at present. 2 of these are under 30%

Good stats but a % is relative . I think the absolute values will provide a more complete analysis . total overall points and average team points is what I would be looking at

 

[beesknees22]

Its is not about % or flags.
Football is no longer the be all and end all. Kids are not inclined to want to run and do the hard stuff.
Minimal footy at school. lack of parental desire. Cost of living. Violence in sport. Online world.
Smaller families and family breakdown. Petrol. Volunteers required to be IT gurus to set up the weekend.
RSA stuff. Good Sports crap. I mean It's crazy - less small clubs more bigger clubs is the future. Get it organised now or die on the vine. Oh wait too late for some already. Look at cricket - 20 years ahead - but no we just say spend more or recruit more or ....

Your team down the drain?

 

[johnnymossop]

Your team down the drain?

yes and I can't see them coming back

 

[Man on the hill]

Good stats but a % is relative . I think the absolute values will provide a more complete analysis . total overall points and average team points is what I would be looking at

Between 1985-2015, 12 teams finished with a percentage over 200. Since the caps have come in, it's already happened 10 times, with 3 clubs currently sitting above 200. Sea Lake is on track to achieve this for a 6th straight season.

 

[Man on the hill]

Timeline of ladder post finals ladder positions since 1985
Premiers in Gold, Runners Up in Yellow, Wooden Spooners in Navy

 

[Stottzy]

Well, at least we got one great game with Boort and Wedderburn. What is going on at Donald is just sad.

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

Well, at least we got one great game with Boort and Wedderburn. What is going on at Donald is just sad.

Cant remember too many 40+goal scores in the 60 years I have played and followed NCFL. 3 winning margins totalled 579 points. How much longer the league survives in its current form is uncertain. Apologies to losing 2nds sides today much closer results than I thought they would be. Boort accuracy appears to be the difference. See Jensen played kicked 3.

 

[Saintsone]

Cant remember too many 40+goal scores in the 60 years I have played and followed NCFL. 3 winning margins totalled 579 points. How much longer the league survives in its current form is uncertain. Apologies to losing 2nds sides today much closer results than I thought they would be. Boort accuracy appears to be the difference. See Jensen played kicked 3.

The league is in trouble

 

[countryfooty37]

Great game at Wedderburn today. Boort did well to get the lead back and win after being 5 goals up at 3qt. Walking wounded today the Redbacks. Younger Palpratt did his hammy in the warm up, coach did his as well, and another bloke (Chalkley I think) was on crutches at half time. Makes it hard for them now but they seem to show plenty of fight at times.

I nearly fell off my chair when I saw Jensen run out to play. The compression fracture he sustained had obviously healed quicker than expected.

As for the other results it’s not good viewing. There’s sides that don’t win many games in every league every year but the disparity between the bottom 3 and the rest in the NCFL is really worrying.

Cant remember too many 40+goal scores in the 60 years I have played and followed NCFL. 3 winning margins totalled 579 points. How much longer the league survives in its current form is uncertain. Apologies to losing 2nds sides today much closer results than I thought they would be. Boort accuracy appears to be the difference. See Jensen played kicked 3.

 

[fatkidinthepocket]

The league is in trouble

Most of us acknowledge that except those that are comfortable at the top. The problem is solving the dilemma. Do AFLCENTRALVIC care whats happening? It appears not. NCFL, LVFL need urgent leadership from those that are in charge. GRFL appears doomed. And finally the BFNL which was once a strong and proud league is looking very sick and lopsided. Time for those at AFLCENTRALVIC to get off their arses and show leadership by planning for the immediate not just the future. They appear currently to be incapable of any thinking. If they dont do anything leagues need to get together without them and formulate their own plans for the future.

 

[Man on the hill]

I believe it is a record high score and margin. Probably not something to be overly proud of. I’d doubt it serve any benefit to either side.

 

[Saintsone]

Most of us acknowledge that except those that are comfortable at the top. The problem is solving the dilemma. Do AFLCENTRALVIC care whats happening? It appears not. NCFL, LVFL need urgent leadership from those that are in charge. GRFL appears doomed. And finally the BFNL which was once a strong and proud league is looking very sick and lopsided. Time for those at AFLCENTRALVIC to get off their arses and show leadership by planning for the immediate not just the future. They appear currently to be incapable of any thinking. If they dont do anything leagues need to get together without them and formulate their own plans for the future.

Not sure what AFLCENTRALVIC can do. It’s an arms race, Birchip , Calder and Sealake have the coin and the others can’t compete. Those clubs need to be careful as they will have no one to play against and other leagues wont want them.

 

[Truck]

Not sure what AFLCENTRALVIC can do. It’s an arms race, Birchip , Calder and Sealake have the coin and the others can’t compete. Those clubs need to be careful as they will have no one to play against and other leagues wont want them.

Just so we are all on the same page, Charlton had a great crowd today.

Talk of the league folding is a little premature.

With that said, there is still the need for some progressive thinking. if AFLCV aren’t brave enough to do it and look at changes then let’s get out.
The new council has less substance than the commission.

 

[FootyLife481]

Not sure what AFLCENTRALVIC can do. It’s an arms race, Birchip , Calder and Sealake have the coin and the others can’t compete. Those clubs need to be careful as they will have no one to play against and other leagues wont want them.

None of those teams are going to give in. Only hopes would be 1. Birchip and Calder running out of money. 2. Sea Lake young guns try and go play some higher standards. Other than that good luck. Other teams don’t have the money to compete. Boort have obviously gone all out this year which isn’t a bad thing. They are competing but if that’s what it takes to compete then the other teams may be in trouble. If you look at the juniors St Arnaud should improve but whether they can keep those players is another thing. Boort are also solid in the juniors. Sea lake don’t lack young players either. Birchip don’t have much coming up in the next few years but they will just continue to recruit. Can’t see Calder getting much worse. Might lose a bit of depth from the potential ones players playing twos might go elsewhere. Again they have a lot of money but also have some very good locals. I hate to say it but it’s Donald’s own fault for their fall. They have spent some coin the previous years and neglected their locals. Now they have no money meaning no recruits and their locals have gone. Charlton are on the up I believe but obviously it would take some big recruiting to be within the contenders