I feel like the best thing to do to try to protect their future is move leagues. Central Highlands could be the best option. It would be their best (and possibly only) chance of trying to get some more talent as well as experienced players through the door. Opens Ballarat up as a feasible area to recruit from. Sell some hope to potential recruits of competitiveness. Currently not many want to play there knowing it’s a hiding every week, with no light any the end of the tunnel. Might also be their best chance to get some young locals back who are taking the easier route (and probably making $300 a game rather than $50) in the MCDFNL.
Bendigo FL discussion 2024
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Forest St End
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I think the moving leagues idea is better in theory than reality.
The problem for clubs like Maryborough and Castlemaine is they have no connection to a place like the Central Highlands. There’s zero interest from any locals in that competition or the clubs in it.
Their kids and community are connected to Bendigo and Maryborough Castlemaine footy. I know Maryborough came from Ballarat but there’s a reason they left and that was a long time ago. Riddell worked for Kyneton because it had connections for them.
The only viable league change for Maryborough and Castlemaine in my opinion is the Maryborough Castlemaine comp and that will never happen, largely because the clubs there will never agree to take them.
Realistically I think it’s merger or cease to exist because neither are viable in Bendigo long term. It has to be Castlemaine and Campbells Creek and a third club joining the Giants.
There is simply too many clubs in the Maryborough and Castlemaine regions full stop. Unless clubs get proactive and start making big decisions for themselves then the o going struggles will ultimately lead to the end.
Make the big calls clubs or have them made for you
Make the big calls clubs or have them made for you
Crazymaggy2020
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Who’s going to make the hard calls ? Certainly not AFLCV they are toothless tigers. I just read an article and I quote cam tomlins “Maryborough have been competitive this year and will remain a major league club” he says that the bendigo League have assisted them ? HOW ? And I’m not sure why Cam is quoting Bendigo as a major league - because it isn’t anymore .
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Sadly, from afar it does seem to be the case.
The clubs themselves need to solidify their own ongoing viability.
I feel too many expect other to solve these sorts of problems for them which is a recipe for disaster.
People can only take copping a pounding for so long before they walk away, surely a future in another comp is preferable to not existing at all?
Exactly look at nully and Wycheproof, the southern mallee thunder and Ouyen united got on the front foot and success followed.
Multiple mergers are need around castlemaine and Maryborough
At a guess, I'd suggest he is saying that clubs need to make the choice to merge or else they run the risk of disappearing.
It is not AFLCV's role to force clubs to merge - on these issues they should provide guidance or advice. The clubs need to show leadership and be on the front foot. Two clubs in the Maryborough district did this last year but the issue is that there are still too many clubs in that area.
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You are correct Roota. Too many clubs with too many agendas and self interest which has got in the way of any change occurring.
A good example of the resistance to change was the work completed by AFL Goldfields in 2017 which recommended change to the football landscape around Maryborough and included Clunes joining the MCDFNL and Carisbrook into the Central Highlands FNL. The response to the recommendations was a defiant ‘no’ despite significant engagement with clubs and stakeholders. If some of the changes occurred football may be in an improved state in the region.
Have a look at clubs like Campbells Creek, Dunolly, Avoca and Talbot who are all perennial strugglers and any good players these clubs may have (often home grown) are ‘snapped up’ by other district clubs often on payments well above their realistic market value. The unwillingness of clubs to work together and make change continues. Even when the Maryborough Giants were suggested, some of the feedback from surrounding clubs was less than helpful/ complementary despite both Rovers and Royal Park being aware of their predicament and going on the front foot to get the best outcome possible.
A good example of the state of football around Maryborough and Castlemaine is the top 4 for the MDCFNL has probably already been decided this early in the season with the same clubs up top. That is not healthy for anyone with the lack of competition but these clubs can’t see past their noses to realise football in the area is not in good health.
It should be noted that demographics of the area with an ageing population, a loss of young people due to work and study and the cost of living issue are also impacting greatly on the ability of clubs to obtain players and be sustainable for the long term.
Finally the amount of money being offered to players by some of these district clubs is often astonishing. Individuals are receiving well above market value in many cases and whilst you can understand players going there due to the money and benefits on offer, this is impacting greatly on football in the area. It is not sustainable.
It would be great if all clubs in the region could work together but I cannot see this occurring due to the continued self interest, lack of foresight and acceptance that things need to change to ensure football remains sustainable and a sport for all in the region.
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You are correct Trent. As someone that was involved in the bringing together of Walpeup Underbool and the Ouyen United clubs, the merge has been successful and has overcome many challenges. This is due to all involved looking at the bigger picture and a commitment to ensure there is football and netball (and recreation and social opportunities) in the area for youth and the general community.
Whilst there are challenges with a reduced population, less young people and an older demographic, the new club is in exceptional health, financially strong and has excellent community and business support. The merge allowed the club to enter the Mildura and Adelaide markets and resulted in many former and high quality players returning to play often for payment well less than what was on offer elsewhere.
Finally the merge has also seen a strong family focused culture develop and this now makes the Ouyen Kangas a club that is very attractive for players, their families and both the general and business community want to be a part of.
Unfortunately many clubs around Maryborough and Castlemaine can’t see beyond the entrance to their respective home ground and therefore change is not on their agenda despite it being urgently needed.
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Forest St End
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Those comments are so out of touch they are frightening. If that is the leadership then god help the game.
With all due respect to the learned minds in this discussion, to me there is a lack of clarity about the fundamental issues at play here.
Yes there are too many clubs, everywhere, not just in Castlemaine and Maryborough but that is only part of the equation.
Fact is Castlemaine and Maryborough, the Giants, Campbells Creek, Harcourt, Maldon, Newstead and Carisbrook could all merge tomorrow and create a super club but they would still not have the ability to compete in the long term in Bendigo.
There are multiple factors at play that create a playing field that is hopelessly lopsided in favour of the other Bendigo clubs.
If you analyse simple demographics, economic and employment data, it is plain and clear that a club from those areas will not be sustainable against most of the other clubs in the longer term.
The only way to change that is to employ equalisation measures. In the same way St Kilda would never be able to compete with Collingwood if the AFL didn’t use equalisation mechanisms, neither will the country clubs if it doesn’t happen in country footy.
What can league administrators actually do to help Maryborough? Really I’d love to know. The only way is to have clubs merged or dissolved so that the number of options for players is reduced.
The best scenario is for clubs to be proactive and so it themselves so that the can maintain some identify, family links, sponsorship money and community support
Ouyen United, Berri Culgoa Sea Lake Nandaly, Southern Mallee Thunder and let’s not forget Kerang (which is actually an amalgamation of Kerang, Rovers and Appin) are examples of how things need to be done
Crazymaggy2020
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They could start by equalising the competition. How many points did the top 4 teams come back this year ? Or did they stay the same ?
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Crazymaggy2020
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Better than doing nothing. It will take a few years like stopping clubs having advantages in the junior spaces but if you act on it eventually it will help equalise. Nothing has been done to maintain equality and that’s why the comp is now dog sh$&
Like If we just stood back and accepted that violence against women was going to happen and changes were too hard to make an impact. We have to keep challenging the wrongs but you need courage to do so
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Points appear to be irrelevant in Maryboroughs case as if you read into Gurus post they seem perhaps to not be in a great financial position anyway, they could have 60 points and wouldnt have the money to improve off that. Any chance of a Maryborough/Castlemaine merge? With the population makeup of both towns(Maryborough almost appears to be an attractive retirement town/Castlemaine with a trend to the arts) it would appear that neither is in a financial position to continue to go alone for much longer. As far as Maggys hobby horse goes instead of whinging about the ability of the Bendigo based teams to poach your youth, do something to make your team more attractive to the youth.
They are too far apart
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They would be relevant if the system worked.
I posted in last year’s thread how points would look if AFL Victoria had a common sense system where team points automatically adjusted each year depending on ladder position. With that model since the start of the points system Gisborne would be about 34.
The team that beat Maryborough had 35 but the devil is in the detail.
Blake playing as a 1 pointer. Let’s say there were no discounts and you cop an extra point for moving clubs in the same league, and another point if they are a higher points team. Now he costs 6, and the other two boys from Castlemaine cost 4 more. Already they are on 44.
Take away all the other discounts and they are not recruiting blokes from Castlemaine because there is no way they can play them. They have to play some local kids instead. Maryborough still lose and by plenty but it’s not the bloodbath it was and will continue to be.
The biggest joke is the loyalty discounts after one year (loyalty, my arse).
There should be no discounts for loyalty until a player is into his fourth season at a club, then you wouldn't have clubs gaining up to six points each year for recruits returning after one year.
That would then make it the equalisation measure that AFLV was probably hoping for initially (they only problem was the poor initial execution of the system).
There should be no discounts for loyalty until a player is into his fourth season at a club, then you wouldn't have clubs gaining up to six points each year for recruits returning after one year.
That would then make it the equalisation measure that AFLV was probably hoping for initially (they only problem was the poor initial execution of the system).
Crazymaggy2020
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Surprising appointment of the inter league coach 
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I know it doest matter big picture wise but how many of the 'star' players from the 'lower league' clubs in that area would hang around to play in the Bendigo league??
Many would be out there for the $$ or coz they don't have the time to commit to playing 'major league' footy.
The merger gives you, hopefully, more players but what would the quality look like??
