Bendigo FL discussion 2024

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GrassKat said:
In essence a community works together to buy an annual source of entertainment. This entertainment provides a valuable way of connecting with not only their own community but with neighbouring communities. The community involvement is paramount and does indeed keep the town alive.

In recent years, I feel that many minor league teams have gone from strength to strength with burgeoning Reserves numbers and junior numbers, while Reserves competitions at major league level have dropped off dramatically. I believe that since AFL players aren't being plucked from major leagues like they once were, the lustre of doing what is required to play at that higher level has worn off and without extra renumeration many players don't see the worth in playing at that level.

I think we will see more more major league teams look to drop a level, or go into recess in the coming years; as we have seen with Corowa-Rutherglen, Maryborough and Kyneton in recent times. Which adds another layer of uniqueness to the Broadford situation as most clubs won't be entertaining the idea of ever going up a level.
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Yep if you look at the Heathcote and bellarine and west Gippsland, north central they have serious talent, where guys enjoy the community aspect as well as playing a good standard. Great point. I'd think only rhe ovens and murray and Geelong leagues have kept a really high standard out of the 6 major leagues
 

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ROOTA#6 said:
Problem is that some towns of that size either don’t want them or there are too many clubs for the area
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Roota, how can we have a town of that size not be in a major league or become extinct? The Cash Cows some district clubs have become without any eyebrows being raised will continue to decimate major league football. In the past few years Corowa-Rutherglen (recess), Maryborough(recess) Kyneton RDFL, Melton Sth RDFL have fallen on hard times. However if this Salary Cap charade continues it will spread throughout the state. Either police the cap or don't have one...like some clubs presently don't.
 
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Forest St End said:
Brace yourselves but I’m with control on this one.

Top 4 doesn’t really grab me, would be my last preference after a 5 or even an 8.

Given I think we are going to see a uneven draw I think the higher ratio of finals spots is ok.
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Yes I also agree. With seven competitive teams next season the final five will likely remain up for grabs until the end of the home and away games and a final five gives an extra dimension to the finals series. There will also be more interest in the finals next season with probably Castlemaine being there and possibly South Bendigo. At this stage I see Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye as the only certainties.

I am being repetitive I know but I think it is far more important for the BFNL to have an even competition (and next year should be the best in that regard for quite some time) than to have more teams.

On the issue of player payments in the BFNL I am very wary of some of the statements floating around. I doubt if anyone on this forum has full knowledge of the issue, but it would only take one bitter ex spouse/partner to expose additional payments above a player's contract for that club to be exposed and the ramifications would be massive. My impression (from my time living in Bendigo) is clubs like Sandhurst and Golden Square always used employment opportunities to recruit players. This, hard work by volunteers and good juniors sustains them. The price they pay is never ending rumours nearly always starting in a pub somewhere, but note how even they find it hard to keep their best players moving on to surrounding leagues.
 
confusing trying to catch up with news during my time away. Top 5 and 8 teams yet broadford from what I can tell is in?
accepted for what. netball reserves and 3rds but no senior team?
 
Coach_Beard said:
confusing trying to catch up with news during my time away. Top 5 and 8 teams yet broadford from what I can tell is in?
accepted for what. netball reserves and 3rds but no senior team?
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Top 5 confirmed.

As I understand it Broadford is now a club in the league but will not play in any form next season.
 

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Trent the flight Steward said:
How does that happen?
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Seems bizarre to me but as I hear it they are officially a member of the league so they have the same say in matters as any other club, but they are unlikely to field any sides.

I think they would have liked to run netball and at least an under 18 football but the clubs won’t cop missing a gate for it.
 
NeonLeon81 said:
Seems teams are focused on keeping their talent more than recruiting it - Castlemaine and South the only ones brining in any talent at this point?
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Talking to a few people from different clubs and this is tied to the discussion we have had previously about player payments.

Clubs are really feeling the impact financially, the loss of Kyneton is huge because it was in most clubs top 2 gates and the loss of the home game killed a function and associated bar takings. Maryborough was another good one and no one was watching them last season either.

Interest is down and crowds are down across the board, it’s no coincidence only Castlemaine who had a massive year financially and South who have had a big boost from Harry Trott, are in a position to spend more.

Maybe the hub had it right all along. Destroy the league and player payments will be controlled because no one will have the money. Is it possible they are geniuses?
 
Forest St End said:
Talking to a few people from different clubs and this is tied to the discussion we have had previously about player payments.

Clubs are really feeling the impact financially, the loss of Kyneton is huge because it was in most clubs top 2 gates and the loss of the home game killed a function and associated bar takings. Maryborough was another good one and no one was watching them last season either.

Interest is down and crowds are down across the board, it’s no coincidence only Castlemaine who had a massive year financially and South who have had a big boost from Harry Trott, are in a position to spend more.

Maybe the hub had it right all along. Destroy the league and player payments will be controlled because no one will have the money. Is it possible they are geniuses?
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The board would have known halfway through the year maryborough would struggle next year to be in the league. They've lost 2 clubs in 2 years, where was their forward thinking? They've got Moama, the Calder lions, maiden gully and even getting white hills and huntly merge, with one bfl team and one heathcote team and marong. Yet we have broadford accepted in, yet it appears they won't play a game in 2025, in any grade, talk about a Clayton's team there. We have an 8 team comp, with top 5, I'm not sure how that'll go as it looks like flat will be weak and whoever plays them 3 times has a really good chance of getting 5th.
 
Trent the flight Steward said:
Even kyabram would have been an aggressive target to try lure
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I agree Trent. I know that Ky, Rochy and Echuca are most likely not gettable at all but sets your sights high and come up with a strategy that lures 2 of them or even Moama as a starting point. The gates with any of these clubs in your league would be huge as they are in the GV. If that fails then look within your own backyard for a club.
 

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