Rochester juniors already there in the Bendigo league and Echuca nearly went there in the juniors this year. Moama will be going to the Bendigo league in 2026 and Echuca will follow. Rochester maybe not but that’s there call. Practically it makes sense. The standard will lift over time if we base it on Ringos theory of a bigger population base and they sort it out at league level.
Goulburn Valley FL 2025
- Thread starter barfly
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Does it make sense? I'm not so sure.
Echuca clearly a rung or 2 above anyone in the GV.
Majority of Bendigo clubs would struggle to make the top 6 in GV (and that includes Broadford
)And coz they 'nearly went there in the juniors' means there must have been some significant reasons not to go... travel probably the main one.
So, as of now, Echuca has no connection to the Bendigo league. So what's the draw to go there?
From the 2024 Outer East FNL by-laws.
The forfeiture fines for Reserves were $400 for if the home team forfeited or $600 if it was the away side.
In the Seniors it was $500 for a home club and $800 if it was the away team. Other grades were billed $100 as a flat rate fine.
In the instance where Powelltown's 2s (away team) forfeited on a Thursday night to Alexandra early in the year, the club was fined $600 by the league and $300 of that was given to Alexandra as compensation for the forfeit by the league.
You should have a read of the Bendigo forum over the past 12 months, then you will see why it won't happen.
Guess time will tell.
- Jul 25, 2014
- 4,953
- 8,808
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
I guess the pathways of Echuca and Moama is up to them ... personally, I think it's more likely Moama join the GV in 2026 but who knows.Does it make sense? I'm not so sure.
Echuca clearly a rung or 2 above anyone in the GV.
Majority of Bendigo clubs would struggle to make the top 6 in GV (and that includes Broadford
And coz they 'nearly went there in the juniors' means there must have been some significant reasons not to go... travel probably the main one.
So, as of now, Echuca has no connection to the Bendigo league. So what's the draw to go there?
What a massive rivalry that might be once Moama have the opportunity to catch up. An Andrew Walker like ex-AFL coach is a prerequisite along with the professionalism embraced by Echuca. Then offer alternative junior optons to play GV footy other than EFC.
If they both go to the BFL then as other posters suggest ... Echuca versus Broadford will be a treat. Might need to apply the mercy rule at half time!
Rochester will never go back to the BFL.
The good folk of Rochester will never forget the treatment they received in the early 70's from the Bendigo League. That League was super strong in the 80's to mid 90's. In the past 12 months, Kyneton has left, Maryborough is in recess, K Flat is on the edge and Castlemaine is having their last crack at surviving and being competitive. South Bendigo is attempting to bounce back. Then there is the bizarre enticement of Broadford, a club that has been kicked down the road by other leagues. The ridiculous notion of Broadford reappearing is one of the most concerning decisions made. Echuca and Rochy would make a mess of K Flat, South and God help us when they play Broadford. Now...I reckon there are plenty of reasons to stay well clear of what is happening down that way.
Rochester Juniors moved to the Bendigo League due to the management of the competition by AFL Central Vic and the grading set up. It also provides better pathways for their better junior players. The decision to move there was not done in consultation with the senior club.
GVL would be best to learn from recent events within the BFL.
There is strong and growing rumours of as many as 4 clubs in serious financial difficulty and no end in sight for clubs struggling on field nor apparent efforts to resurrect the path they are heading .
They need assistance , not fines and it’s occurring all around the state .
There is strong and growing rumours of as many as 4 clubs in serious financial difficulty and no end in sight for clubs struggling on field nor apparent efforts to resurrect the path they are heading .
They need assistance , not fines and it’s occurring all around the state .
While current regulations exist it is impossible to rise from the bottom quickly. Every side has the same cap and some have a few more points but that's it! Good luck if you are in the bottom 4!
Last edited:
- Jul 25, 2014
- 4,953
- 8,808
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Which clubs ROAR?
Strongly disagree that they need assistance from the league. Clubs are responsible for their own destiny and nothing but hard work and strong off field leadership gets a club back on track. The fact clubs have been allowed to be “mediocre” in regards to fielding teams has bred a culture of “giving up”. The issue here is a lack of leadership and conviction at league level. The league can’t be responsible for clubs when they are a basket case themselves.
Agree..,get rid of the salary cap and keep the points as they don’t lie.
The move to the Bendigo league for juniors from all reports is a huge success. To think they did this without consulting the senior club would to me be a very strange decision. The pathways of your juniors is essential to the senior club so consultation on this would be the first point of call I would have thought. No consultation would be irresponsible I would think.
You do realise that many clubs position is caused by a continual wish to flood kids into major cities ‘junior only ‘ comps .
The region undertook a junior review where it was agreed that GVL should have an aligned u16 comp and junior only comps in the region should stop at u14 level.
Before it even had a chance to get off the ground the junior comp changed its age group to u15’s undermining the proposed new GVL junior comp.
The pain clubs are now feeling could be well directly attributed to the failure to implement what the region wanted and had agreed to .
Last edited:
Might find that traceability, which encourages paying of tax , is linked to federal government funding .
So we are drinking from the Devil's cup?
The decision to move didnt require consultation outside of their club. It was a serious case of having to reshape their club for the sake of the very pathway you talk about above. You have to remember that the GVL starting their doomed Under 16 competition had a massive trickle down affect on clubs like Rochester with a limited numbers of kids. When GVL started their 16's comp the Shepp District Junior Football League in 2022 changed their age groups to odd years from evens so the system of Under 12/14/16 into GVL 18's changed to 11,13,15's into GVL 16's and 18's. Small towns like Rochester couldn't in their wildest dreams fill teams in 5 age groups and if they didn't field a team in 15's they would have players finishing Under 13's in Shepp Junior FL and straight into GVL Under 16's which would have destroyed their pathway in a heartbeat. The moves made by GVL and Shepp District JFL didn't really leave Rochester Junior Football with a choice but to explore their options and by all accounts the move to Bendigo has been a success
- Moderator
- #220
The SDJFL 11/13/15 arrangement went completely against the Junior Review. I still have no idea why it was allowed to pass. This decision is what doomed the GV U16s to fail, also the Wang Junior League not releasing Benalla and Mansfield to compete.
Spot on post this. What lead to the demise of the GV Under 16’s continuing was that the GV let the clubs down and lacked leadership in this space. Exactly what I said, no leadership by the board and pandering to the clubs that voted it out. This is why they are a basket case. Believe it’s back on the agenda (under 16’s comp) in the GV and that would be a good thing.
Yes a tragedy that the under 16’s comp was stopped.
I just wandered down to Arden Street to watch North Melb v Williamstown, in a 4 X 20-minute game. The sides had mostly players trying to get on a list. It is fair to say Hugh Byrne was BOG easily!
Last edited:
Don't think so mate
