Official Club Stuff North Ballarat - 2019 Return to VFL Unlikely

[The_Wookie]

THE VFL competition could lose its second club in little more than two months, with North Ballarat set to decide whether it continues in the state league at a board meeting on Monday night.

North Ballarat's looming board vote follows Frankston's expulsion from the VFL in late September, when the state league's governing body, AFL Victoria, terminated the Dolphins' licence after they were placed under financial administration.

North Ballarat entered the 2016 season as a standalone club after ending an eight-season partial alignment with North Melbourne that yielded three consecutive VFL premierships from 2008-10.

The Roosters finished second last this year – ahead of only Frankston – after notching just three wins.

It is understood they are now considering focusing solely on the Ballarat Football League, where they field a team, North Ballarat City, amid concerns about the mounting costs of fielding a VFL team.

North Ballarat chairwoman Jenny Bromley did not return calls when contacted about Monday night's vote, but AFL Victoria released a brief statement to AFL.com.au.

"AFL Victoria has been informed about a board meeting at the North Ballarat Football Club on Monday night, and will await the result of that meeting before making any further comment," AFL Victoria said.

If the Roosters vote to leave the VFL, the competition will be reduced from 15 to 13 teams next season.

It would also mean Eureka Stadium would be left without a VFL tenant as it nears the end of a major redevelopment ahead of the venue's first scheduled AFL game, between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in round 22 next season.

The Victorian State Government contributed $15 million to the stadium's redevelopment.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-12-03/board-meeting-to-decide-north-ballarats-vfl-fate

 

[walhawk]

Probably better that they go if they are going to perenially struggle season after season to meet VFL compliancy which is not getting any less costly season after season. If they are going to struggle with player payments, administration, travelling costs and no doubt the capitation fees involved with staying under the less than protective umbrella of the VFL at the expense of their other clubs in te BFNL then it's best that they pull back out.

The problem for the Roosters in Ballarat is that they are not supported by the majority of local BFL footy fans who watched them dominate the BFL before they joined the VFL. The Roosters are seen locally in Ballarat as the Collingwood of that competition which has made it hard for them to garner local support since joining the VFL.

If Ballarat is to field a viable VFL team then it must be a joint team formed, supported and sponsored by the BFL. The team cannot be named after an existing BFL team as the Roosters are. The team would have to have a whole new name and colours. Now that would work.

That would not work. It would be like Bendigo. They would have no supporters no sponsors. No volunteers.
At least NB have somewhere to go if they leave the VFL.
Eventually Coburg will likely fold. As would Box Hill and half the clubs if without AFL partnerships.
The bottom line is that there is very little support for second tier footy.
Supporters and players would rather be in a local league.

 

[SportsCentre]

and slowly the VFL will become the "AFL Reserves" competition the AFL clubs want, without the expense of starting a new league.
Like watching a slow moving glacier

 

[HedgeFund]

and slowly the VFL will become the "AFL Reserves" competition the AFL clubs want, without the expense of starting a new league.
Like watching a slow moving glacier

^^^^^^^^^^
Yep. Totally agree

 

[walhawk]

Local paper says AFL media report was exaggerated and there is not a vote tonight.
Roosters to play on in 2017.

 

[HedgeFund]

No vote, but board was meeting as per usual every month with speculation an item in "general business" would be discussing whether to put remaining in the VFL to a members vote within the next fortnight.

Don't presume any media reports to be accurate around this type of issue. The inaccuracy of reporting around Frankston folding was horrendous.

 

[The_Wookie]

we could do with some source articles lads.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/...rman-says-no-vote-planned-on-roosters-future/

North Ballarat Football Club chairman Jenny Bromley says she is unaware of any plans to call for a vote at a board meeting on Monday night to determine the Roosters’ future in the VFL.

She said having a vote on whether the Roosters stayed in or left the VFL was not an agenda item for the regular monthly meeting.

“I haven’t heard of anything – 100 per cent.”

Bromley told The Courier that the agenda certainly included the club’s financial battle to maintain a presence in the VFL – as it did every month.

The club has called on the Ballarat community to get behind the Roosters financially to enable them remain in the competition.

 

[HedgeFund]

Confirmed in The Ballarat Courier that NB Roosters have decided to "go again" in 2017. However, it seems the board are very sensible in how they're approaching their predicament. Flagging that they need greater community support in order to remain viable as a VFL entity beyond this season.

Unless AFL Victoria decide to pull the rug out prematurely, it looks like the VFL will be a 14 team competition for season 2017. Beyond that though, it's looking decidedly grim for non-AFL linked clubs.

 

[The_Wookie]

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/4337374/confirmed-roosters-staying-on-in-2017/?cs=61

UPDATE, 8.35am: Roosters chairman Jenny Bromley has confirmed to The Courier the North Ballarat Roosters will stay on in the Victorian Football League in season 2017.

Bromley will issue a more detailed statement later this morning but has just confirmed the club is going on next year.

However, she insists there a is a lot of hard work ahead for North as it works to get the Ballarat community and corporate support on board.

 

[The_Wookie]

AFL Victoria Statement
http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=50258426

North Ballarat Football Club has informed AFL Victoria that it will continue in the Peter Jackson VFL competition for season 2017 after a meeting of its board on Monday night.

AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper said the news is a positive for the competition, with state league football continuing to have a place in regional Victoria.

“It is pleasing to have North Ballarat Football Club reaffirm its commitment to the Peter Jackson VFL competition in 2017,” Reaper said.

“AFL Victoria will continue to work with the club, like we do all clubs, to help support their future in the competition.”

 

[HedgeFund]

They also need to work hard at building membership, 700 is no where near enough to provide a decent base

Surely an extra 1000-1500 through the gates for home games would be better for the club's bottom line.

If a club's membership is 700, and they just finished second bottom in a competition where the bottom team just went into recess. I wouldn't want to be the Membership Manager!

How they could expect to get twice as many people through the gates as the FULL membership list is beyond rational analysis. Last I checked the VFL crowds North Ballarat were lucky to get more than 500 at a game at all, maybe 1000 against a Collingwood or Essendon.

 

[walhawk]

Rebrand Ballarat Roosters for 2017 with upgraded stadium and give it one last crack.

 

[SportsCentre]

Rebrand Ballarat Roosters for 2017 with upgraded stadium and give it one last crack.

This is the exact same reason why the Melbourne Tigers became Melbourne United in the NBL.
Kids who were playing representative basketball for other associations (Dandenong, Bulleen etc) were competing against the Melbourne Tigers junior teams and therefore not becoming Tigers NBL supporters. Rebranding as United removed the supporting the enemy position.

I would presume supporters of other Ballarat league teams aren't switching to North Ballarat for similar reasons.

 

[walhawk]

This is the exact same reason why the Melbourne Tigers became Melbourne United in the NBL.
Kids who were playing representative basketball for other associations (Dandenong, Bulleen etc) were competing against the Melbourne Tigers junior teams and therefore not becoming Tigers NBL supporters. Rebranding as United removed the supporting the enemy position.

I would presume supporters of other Ballarat league teams aren't switching to North Ballarat for similar reasons.

Yes but that was obvious 20 years ago when they joined. That ship has sailed. They will pull out after 2017 and Frankston will rejoin, keeping 14 teams.

 

[HedgeFund]

Yes but that was obvious 20 years ago when they joined. That ship has sailed. They will pull out after 2017 and Frankston will rejoin, keeping 14 teams.

They will pull out after 2017.

Can't see Frankston regaining a licence. Realistically, who will want to coach or play for them given their recent history? Almost everyone has (presumably happily) settled at a new club now.

 

[Roogal]

The Roosters have appointed a new CEO and will hold fresh Board elections in February. At the moment, the front runner for their new President/Chairmen is a leading Ballarat businessman who was their President several years ago when they were at their peak and had won three VFL flags 2008-10. The Roosters might be in the corner but they are busily reorganising, regrouping, and properly rebuilding to stand alone which is what they never really had the chance to do after North Melbourne FC abandoned them in 2015.

The Roosters might just turn around and surprise a lot of people who have been reading their last rites over the last several months. If the Roosters finish this year climbing higher on the ladder then look out, they might just be around a bit longer than what many think.

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

what happened to the roosters when i was living in ballarat there home games were always packed and it was hell getting into the ground

 

[HedgeFund]

Major sponsor just pulled out.

Board in disarray, only 4 sitting members and saviour has withdrawn as sole nominee for President.

Oh dear.....

 

[Roogal]

Eureka Stadium Update. The Ballarat City Council have recently compulsorily acquired the North Ballarat Sports Club and training facilities and have been at pains to emphasise that they are not taking over the Club (as it will continue to operate as a private business, but as a tenant of the venue who will be relieved of the overheads and costs associated with ownership of a venue).

The City Council's actions were prompted by the North Ballarat Sports Club not guaranteeing that the whole facility would be available during future AFL games and other major events. That has been a sticking point after months of negotiation and stone walling by the Club. The AFL, the VFL, the new North Ballarat CEO, and local leagues have endorsed the City Council's actions and believe that it will help to secure the Roosters future.

The images below are from last Thursday (Courtesy of Rhys Cahir). We can see the ground coming back to green after the builders accidently cut a main feeder water line into the irrigation system back in September. This is why the ground was drying out before Christmas. The pipe was finally fixed in mid December.

You can see the Western Stand progressing and about 70% of the main structure in place. From where the image below was taken on Saturday, soon a new 50 sqm video scoreboard will be installed by mid-March.

Below: The Northern Stand (Social Club) has the roofline coming together and concrete is yet to be laid and poured above the new players races and seats. The Eastern Stand to the right is designed to have the back concrete slabs removed and a steel frame erected immediately behind it to extend it by a further 14 rows which would add a further 2000 seats in the future if the ground ever requires expansion:

 

[Roogal]

City of Ballarat takes over Eureka Stadium for $5.5 million (Ballarat Courier)

Story by Brendan Wrigley
27 Apr 2017, 5 p.m.

Taking over: North Ballarat Football Club chairman John Nevett (pictured) believes the compulsury acquisition of the Eureka Stadium precinct will allow the club to make savings across the board.

The City of Ballarat will fork out more than $5.5 million in order to take control of the Eureka Stadium precinct after the state government gazetted the acquisition on Thursday.

The council first issued the intention to compulsorily acquire the precinct in February while the then-board was in the midst of a spate of resignations.

The North Ballarat Football Club will now be given a short grace period before a formal, three-month interim lease is entered into. From there the precinct will be put out to a tender process where the Sports Club, along with other organisations, will be able to bid for the lease.

City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said “the primary and singular purpose (of the acquisition) was to secure the key asset of changerooms to ensure the ability to deliver AFL fixtures and other major events, and we’re very confident we’ve achieved that.”

While the ground itself as well as parts of the changerooms already fell under crown land, the remainder of the precinct including the gaming and dining rooms and the car park were on the freehold title held by the club.

A further three-month interim lease may be arranged if council is unable to secure a permanent deal in the allocated time. The move follows the club’s decision to scrap the role of football manager after its former full-time inhabitant, Marg Richards, declined to take on the job in a part-time capacity.

General manger of football Gary Buckenara also left the club in December last year after the board dissolved the newly-created role.

North Ballarat chairman John Nevett said while he still questioned the need for the compulsory acquisition, the funds would assist the club’s bottom line. He also said current employees of the sports club, including the North Ballarat City manager, would take joint responsibility over the tasks of football manager.

“We will achieve considerable savings across all departments by virtue of the changes which have been forced upon us, and that's a good thing for North,” Mr Nevett said. “There were other options (to the acquisition), they were discussed with the council by the previous board as late as towards the end of last year.”

Mr Nevett reiterated his commitment to ensuring all elements of the sports club remained viable, he said it was time for the Roosters to be rebranded to allow the club to be a representative of the whole region. “There’s been discussions at all levels...that the time has come for the Roosters as they exist in the VFL to exist in a competition where they are identifiable through the western region of Victoria.

Stay tuned: The Roosters likely to soon be re-branded as 'The Greater Western Victoria Roosters'

 

[Roogal]

Eureka Stadium earlier this week:

The scoreboard is soon to be installed to the lower right of the nearest goal posts

 

[Roogal]

Eureka Stadium Updates:

2 Weeks Ago:

Seats being installed:

Two weeks ago at night training - North Ballarat Roosters:

Yesterday (Sat 16 Jun 17):

 

[HedgeFund]

Today

Williamstown 16.22.118 d North Ballarat 9.8.62

North Ballarat currently sitting 0-9.

What's the point of having a nice ground if you can't be competitive in your competition?

 

[Roogal]

Today

Williamstown 16.22.118 d North Ballarat 9.8.62

North Ballarat currently sitting 0-9.

What's the point of having a nice ground if you can't be competitive in your competition?

Good question, and it will only get worse as the VFL regresses into a two-tiered competition. In all fairness North Ballarat have improved considerably this year despite their well documented off field management issues. You need to keep perspective that last week and this week the NB Roosters faced the two top teams in the VFL. They have come close to winning at least five of those nine games. So in the words of Tony Jones on Q&A, "I'll take what you said as a comment and not as a question".

If North Ballarat don't last in the VFL (and I think they won't) the VFL will eventually become the AFL Reserves exclusively. You need to consider that teams like Port Melbourne and North Ballarat are playing against teams that have full AFL player lists in some instances. I suspect that the VFL wants the old VFA teams to all eventually drop. It won' t get any more competitive next year when North Melbourne drop Werribee and leave them as a stand alone club and North Melbourne enter the VFL with a full AFL list.

If the North Ballarat Roosters drop from the competition the Ballarat Council have openly left the door open for a new franchise to occupy Eureka Stadium. After all, the ground hasn't been redeveloped for the benefit of the North Ballarat Football Club. If NB Roosters were to withdraw from the VFL it may not be beyond the realms of possibility for the Western Bulldogs Reserves to play more home games there. The Ballarat Council have plenty of other grounds that they can relocate the Roosters to such as North Ballarat Number 2.

That said, my understanding is that North Ballarat are now looking at re-branding as "Greater Western Victoria Roosters" in order to act as a pathway club from a region of 400,000 in order to even up against the Melbourne AFL backed teams. North Ballarat's management are well aware that they aren't well supported in Ballarat, they know that most locals hate them and see them as nothing more than a local suburban club playing in the VFL and not as a representative team from their city.

 

[Roogal]

From today's Ballarat Courier:

North Ballarat ‘definitely committed’ to future in VFL, but there’s no guarantees...

Tim O'Connor
26 Jun 2017, 4:51 p.m.

As AFL Victoria looks to finalise the VFL structure for next season, North Ballarat Football Club remains keen to stay in the competition, according to its chairman John Nevett.

North Ballarat's home at Eureka Stadium.​

In a brief statement provided to The Courier, Nevett said North Ballarat “is definitely committed to continuing in the VFL in 2018 and beyond.”

Despite Nevett’s strong words, it is no foregone conclusion that the Roosters will be granted a licence in the statewide league for next year. AFL Victoria is expected to meet with North Ballarat’s board in the coming weeks to talk about its future before deciding on how the VFL will look in 2018.

Frankston is one club that is hoping to return to the VFL ranks after having its licence withdrawn for 2017 following a host of off-field issues. John Hook, the competitions manager at AFL Victoria, said he would like to know North Ballarat’s plans before the end of the current season. “We’d be sitting down with North Ballarat and their management and talking (about) what their plans are. How they’re going to be competitive going forward. “Licences don’t just roll over each year. We’ve got to be convinced that the clubs really want to be there, want to be involved, have got the support and all those sort of things. “Those discussions (with North Ballarat) will be held before the season’s end, there’s no doubt about that.”

In February this year, when it remained unclear if the Roosters would field a team in the VFL during 2017, AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper said there was potential for a new Ballarat-based entity to take up a spot in the competition. In theory, this could still occur if the Roosters were to withdraw their interest or AFL Victoria decide to revoke their licence. “If, for some reason, there was a decision by North Ballarat to pull out and there was a vacancy, we would certainly look at all avenues for this season,” Reaper said early this year.

North Ballarat has been plagued by off-field drama in recent times – including major board disruptions and financial issues – and currently sits winless at the bottom of the VFL ladder.