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Matt Johnston is the first of the Roosters players to sign to a Ballarat FNL club, signed with EastPoint. I think he's an ex-North Ballarat junior, wonder how that went over at North? I'm surprised he's the only player so far to be announced, must be plenty that have signed, but not yet gone public. Anyone hearing talk of other Roosters on the move? Nothing lodged on the BFNL website clearances list.
Also on movements, Sunbury recruiters have some work in front of them to replace the four going to St Albans, wonder if the there might be a few fringe Essendon VFL players nominating Sunbury as their home club, now that Dan Jordan has been named as the VFL coach.
Nick Peters is a huge loss to Lakers, class player, was easily in the leagues top-5 best players, very hard to replace.
 
Matt Johnston is the first of the Roosters players to sign to a Ballarat FNL club, signed with EastPoint. I think he's an ex-North Ballarat junior, wonder how that went over at North? I'm surprised he's the only player so far to be announced, must be plenty that have signed, but not yet gone public. Anyone hearing talk of other Roosters on the move? Nothing lodged on the BFNL website clearances list.
Also on movements, Sunbury recruiters have some work in front of them to replace the four going to St Albans, wonder if the there might be a few fringe Essendon VFL players nominating Sunbury as their home club, now that Dan Jordan has been named as the VFL coach.
Nick Peters is a huge loss to Lakers, class player, was easily in the leagues top-5 best players, very hard to replace.
There were about ten Roosters seniors who were out of contract at the end of this year, so it is prbable that they will look to other clubs. If the Roosters are to have a go at re-entering the VFL from 2019, they will be looking to retain a core group of players which may well find their way into the North City list throughout 2018. The Roosters are still talking of maintaining club memberships in 2018 although what that entitles members to is going to be interesting, perhaps the $70 membership will grant free access to all North City home games plus the normal array of club benefits.
 
There were about ten Roosters seniors who were out of contract at the end of this year, so it is prbable that they will look to other clubs. If the Roosters are to have a go at re-entering the VFL from 2019, they will be looking to retain a core group of players which may well find their way into the North City list throughout 2018. The Roosters are still talking of maintaining club memberships in 2018 although what that entitles members to is going to be interesting, perhaps the $70 membership will grant free access to all North City home games plus the normal array of club benefits.
Surely if the Roosters don't have a VFL licence all players contract are void?
 
Surely if the Roosters don't have a VFL licence all players contract are void?
Not sure how the fine print would read in the contracts but I imagine that you are quite right and the Roosters would be obligated to release all players from their contracts. It will make signing on new players very interesting for 2019 if they are to re-enter. At least they'd be starting with a clean sheet and it will offer a great opportunity for local BFNL and CHFL players to potentially step up into the VFL. That said, if the VFL were to re-admit them in 2019, then a decision to that effect would be made by at least July 2018 and allow the Roosters enough time to start signing on new players and coaching staff. I am of the understanding that money isn't the issue as the club's finances are actually pretty good compared with where they were at this time last year. Their issues still relate to governance and relationships within the club. Time will tell.
 
Not sure how the fine print would read in the contracts but I imagine that you are quite right and the Roosters would be obligated to release all players from their contracts. It will make signing on new players very interesting for 2019 if they are to re-enter. At least they'd be starting with a clean sheet and it will offer a great opportunity for local BFNL and CHFL players to potentially step up into the VFL. That said, if the VFL were to re-admit them in 2019, then a decision to that effect would be made by at least July 2018 and allow the Roosters enough time to start signing on new players and coaching staff. I am of the understanding that money isn't the issue as the club's finances are actually pretty good compared with where they were at this time last year. Their issues still relate to governance and relationships within the club. Time will tell.
They are not getting back into VFL anytime soon.
 
I am inclined to agree. The longer they are out ... It only takes a moment to close down a franchise but will take years to put back players and coaching staff. The time factor here is critical. New players and coaches aren't just going to mushroom out of nowhere. I suspect that the damage is done now, but the Roosters will give it a red hot try. Personally I believe that the VFL and AFL really aren't interested in a regional team. The AFL and Melbourne VFL are happy to poach talented players directly from existing regional leagues and the TAC competition and frankly don't need a Ballarat VFL team at all.

They have effectively crowded the VFL comp now with the creation of the separate North Melbourne VFL team and by re-admitting the Dolphins (the VFL is now exclisively metro and AFL), that there is no room left in the competition for a Roosters franchise ... that's my belief (I may be wrong, but I don't think that I am).
 
Not sure how the fine print would read in the contracts but I imagine that you are quite right and the Roosters would be obligated to release all players from their contracts. It will make signing on new players very interesting for 2019 if they are to re-enter. At least they'd be starting with a clean sheet and it will offer a great opportunity for local BFNL and CHFL players to potentially step up into the VFL. That said, if the VFL were to re-admit them in 2019, then a decision to that effect would be made by at least July 2018 and allow the Roosters enough time to start signing on new players and coaching staff. I am of the understanding that money isn't the issue as the club's finances are actually pretty good compared with where they were at this time last year. Their issues still relate to governance and relationships within the club. Time will tell.
If Ballarat get a VFL team license back then it will have no north Ballarat roosters involvement whatsoever. City of Ballarat and AFL Goldfields will hold the license and appoint people to run the club. New name,new colours a whole new beginning.
 
If Ballarat get a VFL team license back then it will have no north Ballarat roosters involvement whatsoever. City of Ballarat and AFL Goldfields will hold the license and appoint people to run the club. New name,new colours a whole new beginning.
I can't see that. Even on the off chance that the Roosters re-entered the VFL, then it wouldn't be under the North Ballarat brand, that's a given! Funding would be critical, and also having a base. Would an AFL Goldfields team be supported by the Ballarat Leagues Club or the North Ballarat Sports Club. Would the new team use the Eastern, City or Northern Oval as its base? The Club President of North Ballarat maintains that if North Ballarat are given their marching orders from the North Ballarat Sports Club, that legally the Ballarat Council are obligated to fund the construction of a similar venue (clubrooms and social facilities for its cricket, netball and football teams) at a new location, under the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act.

It's all speculation. I think that the horse has bolted. The VFL have gotten what they wanted. North Ballarat and the last regional Victorian team gone. Channel 7 weren't interested in broadcasting any Ballarat games, the VFL is now effectively an AFL Reserves competition with a few hold out stand-alone metro teams making up the numbers. I really can't see an AFL Goldfields team having any more chance or traction than what the Roosters had.
 
I can't see that. Even on the off chance that the Roosters re-entered the VFL, then it wouldn't be under the North Ballarat brand, that's a given! Funding would be critical, and also having a base. Would an AFL Goldfields team be supported by the Ballarat Leagues Club or the North Ballarat Sports Club. Would the new team use the Eastern, City or Northern Oval as its base? The Club President of North Ballarat maintains that if North Ballarat are given their marching orders from the North Ballarat Sports Club, that legally the Ballarat Council are obligated to fund the construction of a similar venue (clubrooms and social facilities for its cricket, netball and football teams) at a new location, under the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act.

It's all speculation. I think that the horse has bolted. The VFL have gotten what they wanted. North Ballarat and the last regional Victorian team gone. Channel 7 weren't interested in broadcasting any Ballarat games, the VFL is now effectively an AFL Reserves competition with a few hold out stand-alone metro teams making up the numbers. I really can't see an AFL Goldfields team having any more chance or traction than what the Roosters had.

Interesting comment in today's Courier attributed to Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon:

It reads:
"He also flagged that the Bulldogs want to assist in bringing new Ballarat based footy clubs into the VFL and the VFLW to replace the North Ballarat Roosters. “The vision of what footy in Ballarat can be is extraordinary,” Mr Gordon said.


I think its pretty clear that the Roosters are done!
What is not so clear to us watching this train wreck unfold, is what or who has engineered the wreck? The Ballarat Council? AFL Goldfields? Western Bulldogs? North Ballarat City members or perhaps all four!
I wonder how long it will be before we hear that the Bulldogs have signed a lease for the sports club facility?
There's already talk of North City looking to buy land in Invermay.
There's lots more to play out here over summer!
 
There's lots more to play out here over summer!
Ooo yeah, not a truer word has been said. All things said and done, if the North Ballarat Sports Club and all of its teams are forced to move or be relocated, I can't see why a new pavilion can't be built on the Western side of Northern Oval No 2? I mean the ground already has lights and has been built to AFL playing standard. Surely they can share it for training with what ever team occupied the Mars Stadium.

I find Peter Gordon's comments interesting, given that his club were instrumental in the demise of the Roosters in the VFL by forcing their separation from the North Melbourne Kangaroos when they forced the Kangaroos from Ballarat in 2015. It makes you wonder how much of the threat the Western Bulldogs regarded North Ballarat FC in terms of their own designs and expansion plans for Ballarat as far back as 2012? Clearly the Western Bulldogs have seen the NBFC as their biggest threat to Ballarat expansion and have actively eliminated them.
 
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Interesting comment in today's Courier attributed to Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon:

It reads:
"He also flagged that the Bulldogs want to assist in bringing new Ballarat based footy clubs into the VFL and the VFLW to replace the North Ballarat Roosters. “The vision of what footy in Ballarat can be is extraordinary,” Mr Gordon said.


I think its pretty clear that the Roosters are done!
What is not so clear to us watching this train wreck unfold, is what or who has engineered the wreck? The Ballarat Council? AFL Goldfields? Western Bulldogs? North Ballarat City members or perhaps all four!
I wonder how long it will be before we hear that the Bulldogs have signed a lease for the sports club facility?
There's already talk of North City looking to buy land in Invermay.
There's lots more to play out here over summer!

There is only one architect of the demise of North Ballarat as a VFL club Doc. Don't take my word for it, ask some of the former North board members who quit in disgust about a year ago
 
There is only one architect of the demise of North Ballarat as a VFL club Doc. Don't take my word for it, ask some of the former North board members who quit in disgust about a year ago
I think that John Nevett and his Board have got to take a lot of credit for the damage done. The players and coaching staff were kept completely uninformed through the 2017 season. They made Marg Richards's (their Operations Manager of 20 years) position untenable in early 2017. They closed ranks to block out Peter Wilson (the one man who could have saved them) from becoming Club President. It's only now that they have woken up to themselves, but it is too late. I really don't think that John Nevett honestly thought that the VFL would boot them. He is genuinely shocked, but it was the wake up call that, that board needed.

By late 2016 there was a genuine air of arrogance around the club that Mars Stadium was being built for them, that it wouldn't be built beyond it's first stage because they believed that the Western Bulldogs would only end up playing a couple of seasons in Ballarat and that the Roosters would ultimately inherit the new and upgraded facilities by default. Because they owned the Sports Club they believed that they could name the terms for hiring their facilities on AFL game days and for other major events and tried to put the Ballarat Council and the AFL over a barrel.

Well they came a "cropper"! They did not foresee that the Ballarat Council might actually pull the rug from under them and compulsorily acquire their clubhouse, carparks and land. They totally underestimated the Ballarat Council and other key stakeholders and their desire to make the Western Bulldogs alliance work. The Western Bulldogs had lined up their ducks and had done their ground work.

The Roosters should have seen the writing on the wall when they were forced into separation from North Melbourne and forced to become a stand-alone VFL team (at the Western Bulldogs hands and the Ballarat Council delivering the final coup d'état with their withdrawal of financial sponsorship support for the North Melbourne Football Club). The Roosters must have known then that they had no friends in the Council and few within the wider Ballarat football community.
 
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I think its pretty clear that the Roosters are done!

There's already talk of North City looking to buy land in Invermay.
The following link might reinforce what you are saying: https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-invermay+park-502426382

The Courier reported recently that the Midlands Golf Club were looking to unload a large parcel of land. This might be feasible as the North Ballarat Sports Club have $5.5 million from the seizure of their club facilities. $5.5 million will go a long way to building two new ovals, four light towers and a new sports club pavilion. Their gaming machine revenue would cover any additional expenses over time. That would leave the Council in a real hole with what to do with a completely empty North Ballarat Sports Club at Mars Stadium? That building is huge and would take a lot to fill it.
 
I think that Peter Nevett and his Board have got to take a lot of credit for the damage done. The players and coaching staff were kept completely uninformed through the 2017 season. They made Marg Richards's (their Operations Manager of 20 years) position untenable in early 2017. They closed ranks to block out Peter Wilson (the one man who could have saved them) from becoming Club President. It's only now that they have woken up to themselves, but it is too late. I really don't think that Peter Nevett honestly thought that the VFL would boot them. He is genuinely shocked, but it was the wake up call that, that board needed.

By late 2016 there was a genuine air of arrogance around the club that Mars Stadium was being built for them, that it wouldn't be built beyond it's first stage because they believed that the Western Bulldogs would only end up playing a couple of seasons in Ballarat and that the Roosters would ultimately inherit the new and upgraded facilities by default. Because they owned the Sports Club they believed that they could name the terms for hiring their facilities on AFL game days and for other major events and tried to put the Ballarat Council and the AFL over a barrel.

Well they came a "cropper"! They did not foresee that the Ballarat Council might actually pull the rug from under them and compulsorily acquire their clubhouse, carparks and land. They totally underestimated the Ballarat Council and other key stakeholders and their desire to make the Western Bulldogs alliance work. The Western Bulldogs had lined up their ducks and had done their ground work.

The Roosters should have seen the writing on the wall when they were forced into separation from North Melbourne and forced to become a stand-alone VFL team (at the Western Bulldogs hands and the Ballarat Council delivering the final coup d'état with their withdrawal of financial sponsorship support for the North Melbourne Football Club). The Roosters must have known then that they had no friends in the Council and few within the wider Ballarat football community.


Some good points.
You mean John Nevett though.
To be fair, the white ants had been in the house long before he was given the job. The Nth City crew have worked long and hard for the moment in the sun and they finally have their crowning glory. He is a novice, demonstrated by his embarrassing media performance following the VFL expulsion. He is fathoms out his depth.
North have known for a long time that they have no friends anywhere in Ballarat, but there is a big difference between having no friends and having enemies. They've made a lot of enemies over the last couple of years.
Also, you might find that they already own land in Invermay.[/QUOTE]
 
The following link might reinforce what you are saying: https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-invermay+park-502426382

The Courier reported recently that the Midlands Golf Club were looking to unload a large parcel of land. This might be feasible as the North Ballarat Sports Club have $5.5 million from the seizure of their club facilities. $5.5 million will go a long way to building two new ovals, four light towers and a new sports club pavilion. Their gaming machine revenue would cover any additional expenses over time. That would leave the Council in a real hole with what to do with a completely empty North Ballarat Sports Club at Mars Stadium? That building is huge and would take a lot to fill it.

John Nevett surely can't be blamed for them getting booted out of the VFL, that decision was likely made by AFL Vic in 2016 around the time North were struggling to pay their players. Their financial situation obviously went down hill quickly after trying to go stand-alone in the VFL, having to recruit and pay players big money to be competitive with the AFL aligned teams. To attribute blame, I'd be looking closely at the management and board in-place during the transition from AFL aligned to stand-alone.

I don't see why they would spend a large portion of that money $5.5m, on a sports oval? If they move away from their current location they wont be able to take their pokies with them as I'm pretty sure the council wont issue Pokies licenses outside of the CBD (for new venues). So they would end up with an oval at Invermay and perhaps have to buy an existing pokies venue in the Ballarat CBD?
 
I think that Peter Nevett and his Board have got to take a lot of credit for the damage done. The players and coaching staff were kept completely uninformed through the 2017 season. They made Marg Richards's (their Operations Manager of 20 years) position untenable in early 2017. They closed ranks to block out Peter Wilson (the one man who could have saved them) from becoming Club President. It's only now that they have woken up to themselves, but it is too late. I really don't think that Peter Nevett honestly thought that the VFL would boot them. He is genuinely shocked, but it was the wake up call that, that board needed.
.

AMEN :(
 
John Nevett surely can't be blamed for them getting booted out of the VFL, that decision was likely made by AFL Vic in 2016 around the time North were struggling to pay their players. Their financial situation obviously went down hill quickly after trying to go stand-alone in the VFL, having to recruit and pay players big money to be competitive with the AFL aligned teams. To attribute blame, I'd be looking closely at the management and board in-place during the transition from AFL aligned to stand-alone.

I don't see why they would spend a large portion of that money $5.5m, on a sports oval? If they move away from their current location they wont be able to take their pokies with them as I'm pretty sure the council wont issue Pokies licenses outside of the CBD (for new venues). So they would end up with an oval at Invermay and perhaps have to buy an existing pokies venue in the Ballarat CBD?

Dig deeper pal you might be surprised ;)
 
Some good points.
You mean John Nevett though.
To be fair, the white ants had been in the house long before he was given the job. The Nth City crew have worked long and hard for the moment in the sun and they finally have their crowning glory. He is a novice, demonstrated by his embarrassing media performance following the VFL expulsion. He is fathoms out his depth.
North have known for a long time that they have no friends anywhere in Ballarat, but there is a big difference between having no friends and having enemies. They've made a lot of enemies over the last couple of years.
Also, you might find that they already own land in Invermay.
[/QUOTE]While we've differing views on North overall, sadly you're 100% on the money here.
Hopefully if a VFL side can be start up in future, it can be free of the embarrassing bullshit that brought about the demise of the Roosters.
 
While we've differing views on North overall, sadly you're 100% on the money here.
Hopefully if a VFL side can be start up in future, it can be free of the embarrassing bullshit that brought about the demise of the Roosters.[/QUOTE]

Yeah it's no secret that I'm not a North fan BlueJet. Out of all the clubs I played against in & around Ballarat there are two clubs that I dislike more than any and that's your mob and Hepburn. Various reasons but the main ones, they share an arrogance that's second to no one and (hate to admit it), they are both well run consistently successful clubs. But beneath all the hate and wanting them to lose, I've always had the utmost respect for them. That respect was only strengthened when the Roosters won their 3 VFL flags. For North, that respect is now gone, and I know a lot of people feel the same way, not just in Ballarat. And that, as I see it, is North's biggest problem
 
Some good points.
You mean John Nevett though.
To be fair, the white ants had been in the house long before he was given the job. The Nth City crew have worked long and hard for the moment in the sun and they finally have their crowning glory. He is a novice, demonstrated by his embarrassing media performance following the VFL expulsion. He is fathoms out his depth.
North have known for a long time that they have no friends anywhere in Ballarat, but there is a big difference between having no friends and having enemies. They've made a lot of enemies over the last couple of years.
Also, you might find that they already own land in Invermay.
[/QUOTE]
Getting my Johns and Peters mixed up .. my bad!
 
Just thought its worth talking about player points……

Bendigo and District Leagues have had their 2018 player points allocated as follows

Bendigo Advertiser……”One of the focuses of the panels determining the point allocations for each league was to take a tiered approach.”

“The Bendigo (38, 43, 46), Heathcote District (40, 43, 46) and Loddon Valley (40, 46, 48) leagues each have three tiers of point allocations, while North Central (40, 43) has two.”

Can’t help but think this method has its advantages over the Ballarat FNL system. Going by this method the teams with a flag in the past 3-years might be on 38-points. Then have a middle tier on 44 that have not won a flag for 5+ years then a 3rd tier that is for those without a flag for 15+ years on 48.

I know its not the Melbourne cup but at least the points system can be policed, not like the salary cap!
 
Just thought its worth talking about player points……

Bendigo and District Leagues have had their 2018 player points allocated as follows

Bendigo Advertiser……”One of the focuses of the panels determining the point allocations for each league was to take a tiered approach.”

“The Bendigo (38, 43, 46), Heathcote District (40, 43, 46) and Loddon Valley (40, 46, 48) leagues each have three tiers of point allocations, while North Central (40, 43) has two.”

Can’t help but think this method has its advantages over the Ballarat FNL system. Going by this method the teams with a flag in the past 3-years might be on 38-points. Then have a middle tier on 44 that have not won a flag for 5+ years then a 3rd tier that is for those without a flag for 15+ years on 48.

I know its not the Melbourne cup but at least the points system can be policed, not like the salary cap!
I just think having everyone on the same points, whatever that may be, is the better option. It still stops clubs bringing in a heap of new players every year.
Don't agree about penalising the Premier. They are normally the better run and harder working clubs. What if a club does it properly and develops within for about 5 years then is lucky enough to win a flag. They then get penalised?
 
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