Bendigo FL discussion 2025

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BGOFootyNuff said:
season 2025 will not be the ideal season surely everyone knows that. There is no way to make everyone/every club happy its impossible. Put out the fixture deal with what you are given and play football. Then looking into 2026 with the ideal rose coloured glasses from a fixture point of view everyone plays everyone twice and happy days. If there is a bye so be it.
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Yeah Broadford vs Sandhurst at the QEO should be a good clash


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BGOFootyNuff said:
season 2025 will not be the ideal season surely everyone knows that. There is no way to make everyone/every club happy its impossible. Put out the fixture deal with what you are given and play football. Then looking into 2026 with the ideal rose coloured glasses from a fixture point of view everyone plays everyone twice and happy days. If there is a bye so be it.
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If I look at 2026 and beyond with practical glasses I’d think what we have now is the favourite to be the ongoing reality.

Broadford not getting up, Maryborough either not coming back or merging into MCDFL and Moama going elsewhere would all be favourites at this point I’d think.

So this time next year we will get the earnest article from Westy about how the board and staff have done everything possible to get clubs in and through no fault of their own own, have failed.

The league is stuck with a lopsided season and illegitimate finals and possibly premierships.

Gisborne leave and the doom cycle continues with less and less money coming in, meaning less recruits and the league continues to lose any gravitas it once had.

Given the available evidence and the calibre of people in charge, I fear we are heading for a really terrible outcome for those of us with an affinity for the league.
 
Forest St End said:
If I look at 2026 and beyond with practical glasses I’d think what we have now is the favourite to be the ongoing reality.

Broadford not getting up, Maryborough either not coming back or merging into MCDFL and Moama going elsewhere would all be favourites at this point I’d think.

So this time next year we will get the earnest article from Westy about how the board and staff have done everything possible to get clubs in and through no fault of their own own, have failed.

The league is stuck with a lopsided season and illegitimate finals and possibly premierships.

Gisborne leave and the doom cycle continues with less and less money coming in, meaning less recruits and the league continues to lose any gravitas it once had.

Given the available evidence and the calibre of people in charge, I fear we are heading for a really terrible outcome for those of us with an affinity for the league.
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Forest I do agree with a lot you say and that does look like the likely outcome. Would you yourself put your hand up and do something to change the narrative?
 

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BGOFootyNuff said:
season 2025 will not be the ideal season surely everyone knows that. There is no way to make everyone/every club happy its impossible. Put out the fixture deal with what you are given and play football. Then looking into 2026 with the ideal rose coloured glasses from a fixture point of view everyone plays everyone twice and happy days. If there is a bye so be it.
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The BFNL has a very late start to the season compared to other major leagues. Last year the O&M and Goulburn Valley leagues to name two were enjoying large crowds around the Easter period. With that in mind why not start the BFNL season three weeks earlier and have three full rounds. Every club will have to play Gisborne, Sandhurst, whoever - three times.

Yes it won't be perfect as a club may get one home game and two away against say Gisborne, but I believe this is still much better than an 'incomplete' season. Clubs playing some home games at the QEO (as I believe Square is considering while Wade street is out of action) could also nullify this advantage.

An earlier start when the weather is mild also presents the opportunity for some night and Sunday games which won't clash with surrounding leagues. I think the interest is there with the likes of Castlemaine & South Bendigo improving. Just get them on the park so the public can see them. Likewise with a grand final reply.
 
AlburyE said:
The BFNL has a very late start to the season compared to other major leagues. Last year the O&M and Goulburn Valley leagues to name two were enjoying large crowds around the Easter period. With that in mind why not start the BFNL season three weeks earlier and have three full rounds. Every club will have to play Gisborne, Sandhurst, whoever - three times.

Yes it won't be perfect as a club may get one home game and two away against say Gisborne, but I believe this is still much better than an 'incomplete' season. Clubs playing some home games at the QEO (as I believe Square is considering while Wade street is out of action) could also nullify this advantage.

An earlier start when the weather is mild also presents the opportunity for some night and Sunday games which won't clash with surrounding leagues. I think the interest is there with the likes of Castlemaine & South Bendigo improving. Just get them on the park so the public can see them. Likewise with a grand final reply.
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That would make too much sense and mean all would be equal - no chance of happening


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Each team will have two byes and a interleague bye. Season to start week before Easter. Multiple teams lobbying for Good Friday games. My tip is there will be one at day and one at night / twilight.

South appear set to have the rough end of the stick fixture wise IF you’re not taking into to account they’re a completely different side than 2024. Who is to say they won’t be better than Strath?
 
MortlockWatcher said:
AFLV only want 'approved persons' as decision makers in hubs so they can control the narrative.
His nomination wouldn't be approved as he would most definitely rock the boat.
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An argument of convenience as much as anything.
If people care as much as they claim, they'll get involved, even if club side where there is some chance of driving change.
 
It happens. I know of a person in a different league who nominated for the board a couple of years ago and did not gain approval by the league for nomination despite his club officially nominating him. Their local hub had instigated a vetting process for board nominees when they took over which included representation from AFLV and he was told by his club that AFLV vetoed his name. He is not known for being a 'yes' man and that would have been his flaw in this case.
 
Arnold Horshack said:
South not happy with playing the best sides? Maybe the reason they've been irrelevant for 30 years.
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How is it though that the league cant create a draw that has the Top 4 from the previous year having the tougher draw. Its the easiest and most obvious thing to do. People may argue that we dont know if they are going to be any good this year but that same argument then applies to the bottom 4 as well.
 
MortlockWatcher said:
It happens. I know of a person in a different league who nominated for the board a couple of years ago and did not gain approval by the league for nomination despite his club officially nominating him. Their local hub had instigated a vetting process for board nominees when they took over which included representation from AFLV and he was told by his club that AFLV vetoed his name. He is not known for being a 'yes' man and that would have been his flaw in this case.
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Indeed but there are still ways to effect change - get involved at club or league level, both of which can serve as a pathway to roles at AFLHQ if that's the endgame.. I know people that have done precisely that.

When your level of investment is to just bitch & moan on social media, of course you won't get a look in.
 
Shinjuku said:
How is it though that the league cant create a draw that has the Top 4 from the previous year having the tougher draw. Its the easiest and most obvious thing to do. People may argue that we dont know if they are going to be any good this year but that same argument then applies to the bottom 4 as well.
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No issues with a draw based on previous years placing at all and it is very simple and logical to do that. My comment is that South being unhappy that they have a tough draw sums up why they're the club they are.
 

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olly21 said:
Forest I do agree with a lot you say and that does look like the likely outcome. Would you yourself put your hand up and do something to change the narrative?
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Yes absolutely and have been there and done that to an extent in club capacities. As I often say I don’t write anything on here I haven’t said directly to the staff or their predecessors already.

I wouldn’t work with the hub model under any circumstances, it is completely flawed and irretrievable in my eyes. I toyed with the idea of going on the council and was encouraged to by several people but I knew it would ultimately be a lip service exercise and the subsequent appointments proved that.

If the clubs ponied up and went back to an independent structure I’d be the first person to put my hand up.
 
Baffles me that there is not one club prepared to break ranks & speak up with their dissatisfaction at current operating model. What have they got to lose? Their frustrations, concerns, would be met with receptive ears. Is there no coincidence with what is happening in Goulburn Valley & Bendigo with how footy is being run? It’s a matter of public record GV paid $144k to an admin set up that produced a $80k loss in 2024. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing and expecting different outcome
 
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Long Run said:
Baffles me that there is not one club prepared to break ranks & speak up with their dissatisfaction at current operating model.
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Funny you mention that because I heard a whisper today that a Bendigo club made an approach to ask that at least half the board quietly step down before the AGM to allow for a peaceful regeneration of leadership.

A respectful approach was made along the lines of we’d rather do this together than try and get clubs together to vote etc which would service no one.

Apparently the response was we are just fine as we are thanks very much and go your hardest for a vote because we know we will have the support of several clubs and Broadford will tip the balance our way if it comes to it.

This is democracy manifest.
 
Forest St End said:
Funny you mention that because I heard a whisper today that a Bendigo club made an approach to ask that at least half the board quietly step down before the AGM to allow for a peaceful regeneration of leadership.

A respectful approach was made along the lines of we’d rather do this together than try and get clubs together to vote etc which would service no one.

Apparently the response was we are just fine as we are thanks very much and go your hardest for a vote because we know we will have the support of several clubs and Broadford will tip the balance our way if it comes to it.

This is democracy manifest.
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Square attracted some very unfavourable comments on this forum earlier in the year based on a rumour of a player's inappropriate use of social media and the negative consequence this had on the club's recruiting. My own comment is any club that can appoint Dean Strauch as the coach of its Under 18's team is not in a bad place. This appointment of a man of this character and background would make them the envy of every football club in the country. While they have lost Toma & Monti they seem to have picked up some useful recruits. I predict they will be well in the mix again.

I think next year will be the most interesting season the BFNL will have for many decades. The key will be the number of even teams with everyone but Kangaroo Flat a chance for the finals. Even the Flat have their best coaching set up for many years. If new teams enter the BFNL in 2026 (or later) they need to be competitive or to be honest this will just result in more boring one sided games that have plagued the BFNL for some time. This destroy interest. We all want to see Maryborough succeed but surely they have to merge with another team such as the Giants for a long term future regardless of what league they play in. Nothing would be more harmful to the club than coming back into the BFNL and getting belted week after week again. The same applies to Broadford, particularly as a club also in recess.

In summary the biggest factor by a country mile for a healthy BFNL is an even competition - not the number of teams.
 
AlburyE said:
Square attracted some very unfavourable comments on this forum earlier in the year based on a rumour of a player's inappropriate use of social media and the negative consequence this had on the club's recruiting. My own comment is any club that can appoint Dean Strauch as the coach of its Under 18's team is not in a bad place. This appointment of a man of this character and background would make them the envy of every football club in the country. While they have lost Toma & Monti they seem to have picked up some useful recruits. I predict they will be well in the mix again.

I think next year will be the most interesting season the BFNL will have for many decades. The key will be the number of even teams with everyone but Kangaroo Flat a chance for the finals. Even the Flat have their best coaching set up for many years. If new teams enter the BFNL in 2026 (or later) they need to be competitive or to be honest this will just result in more boring one sided games that have plagued the BFNL for some time. This destroy interest. We all want to see Maryborough succeed but surely they have to merge with another team such as the Giants for a long term future regardless of what league they play in. Nothing would be more harmful to the club than coming back into the BFNL and getting belted week after week again. The same applies to Broadford, particularly as a club also in recess.

In summary the biggest factor by a country mile for a healthy BFNL is an even competition - not the number of teams.
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Dean Strauch... what a player
 
Forest St End said:
Funny you mention that because I heard a whisper today that a Bendigo club made an approach to ask that at least half the board quietly step down before the AGM to allow for a peaceful regeneration of leadership.

A respectful approach was made along the lines of we’d rather do this together than try and get clubs together to vote etc which would service no one.

Apparently the response was we are just fine as we are thanks very much and go your hardest for a vote because we know we will have the support of several clubs and Broadford will tip the balance our way if it comes to it.

This is democracy manifest.
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Surely there are retiring members each year, And clubs can nominate new members?
NCFL clubs have just voted on their new board members this week.
 
AlburyE said:
In summary the biggest factor by a country mile for a healthy BFNL is an even competition - not the number of teams.
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I agree as a spectator but the club people paying the bills wouldn’t.

They want more games and at the moment the only way to get them is to compromise the competition.

Truck said:
Surely there are retiring members each year, And clubs can nominate new members?
NCFL clubs have just voted on their new board members this week.
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They can but the gist of this was let’s avoid the look of a coup and do it peacefully.

There’s currently 7 members of the board, two casual appointments due to be ratified at the agm. Not sure of any others.

The board can be as big as nine so the suggestion was three of the existing remain and the clubs get together and come up with 6 more names to join them, one of whom would be chair.

The only way to achieve something like that without cooperation at the moment would be to force a special general meeting and spill the board which would be a shocking look that even Westy would have to report on.
 
Old bomber said:
There are other leagues around that have uneven draws that operate fine
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They do because at the end of the day we all just get on with it like we will this year.

It’s far from ideal though and almost always caused by teams or leagues merging or dying and changing the numbers.

We’d definitely prefer not to see a premiership helped being decided because a team finished top instead of second on percentage after they played an extra game against a poor team or any of the many other convolutions an uneven draw can cause in finals.
 
Forest St End said:
They do because at the end of the day we all just get on with it like we will this year.

It’s far from ideal though and almost always caused by teams or leagues merging or dying and changing the numbers.

We’d definitely prefer not to see a premiership helped being decided because a team finished top instead of second on percentage after they played an extra game against a poor team or any of the many other convolutions an uneven draw can cause in finals.
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I don’t hear anyone from the GV, Ballarat or Central Murray leagues complaining that their leagues are worse off for having an uneven draw.
 

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