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NorthernBastard said:
Running the AFLOE umpires in conjunction with EFL would be a smart move - could offer training both suburban and wherever it is now (Healesville?), but share knowledge and resources.
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may as well just move the whole comp into the EFL tbh, not sure how sustainable the current setup is.
 
That has been loosely proposed before. Bit like YVCA cricket being absorbed into RDCA. EFNL could have an extra 2 stand alone divisions for current OE clubs but you would only need 1 head office, 1 umpiring group, 1 media team, 1 marketing team, etc. If not done properly, clubs will just plan to move of their own accord. I would be watching Mt Evelyn, Upwey and Belgrave over the next few years.
 

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ManInWhite said:
In this instance I think the league were forced into the change to prevent further umpires leaving - being stale wasn't the issue. Getting onto the front front was necessary because, as you say, quality coaches are rare and can take some time to find. Especially seeing as NFL are also on the hunt.

In some ways I wonder if the league saw this coming (I know some of the key people follow social media) so it wasn't hard to read the room. To that end, have they done some pre-work to suss out a suitable replacement before they pulled the trigger this week? We'll find out if the role gets filled quickly or not. Avoids the embarassment of clearing the position and then advertising and finding that nobody applies.

Today I was thinking of an "out of left field" approach. In order to avoid the hassle of OE Board trying to oversee the Umpiring Department, why not contract out the supply of umpires to an independent body? Similar to MPNFL obtaining their umpires from the Southern Umpires Association (SUA)? All current OE umpires would be required to (for example) join the EFNL umpires group. A contract would be executed to have the EFNL group provide umpires to the OE competition in an arms length arrangement. It could easily be arranged for legacy OE umpires to continue being appointed to YV games majority of the rounds (due to home location) although it does allow them to experience EFNL games if they desire. Also means that existing EFNL umpires can experience a change of footy by doing some games out east. Scott VN (EFNL advisor) very much wants a second umpires training base which could be co-located closer to the OE geography. Combined umpires group would have access to the much greater depth of EFNL coaching resources. Added bonus is the benefit of a wider social group for functions during the year. Current pool of OE umpires is quite small and social functions often get cancelled due to a shortage of numbers. This harms umpire retention because off field enjoyment is minimal - with a large group this would be so different. Tonight I attended a fantastic EFNL organised get together. Around 50 turned up which is actually a small portion of the 600 or so registered umpires. I'm not sure if OE even has 50 umpires these days? Nobody will worry if umpires are running from 1 league to another as everyone will be part of the same organisation.

Another benefit could be that with a larger organisation, the suggestion of clubs having to provide reserve grade umpires could be avoided as there is potentially a larger group of umpires willing to make themselves available.

I make this sound so easy and simple but the reality is that the concept would no doubt be harder to implement. But maybe the start of something to look at in a season or 2? It means the league don't have the added burden of trying to manage the umpiring department - all they have to worry about are the footy & netball clubs and just pay the EFNL an invoice once per week / fortnight / month. Also requires the EFNL to be on board - they might just say bugger off right from the start!

Just a thought bubble but in a world of diminishing resources, maybe things just need to be done a bit differently?
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It certainly can work, the first two years would be the hardest, getting umpires to umpire in the "other" league.

When i was with the SUA, we obviously did the MPNFL (2 Divies) and the SEFNL & then helped out at start of OEFNL comp due to ump shortages. Some umpires just "stuck" to their area. Eg MPNFL or SEFNL etc. Others like myself, enjoyed the change of scenery and alternated between leagues. I enjoyed umpiring with the YV umpires.
Maybe the UA in Eastern need to become an independant association, this may be too much hard work to do for the sake of a few extra umpires and games.
Man in White is right, why not just give it a go in 2026 and see how in pans out!
 
Word floating around is YJ are really struggling (even compared to last season).
A lot of players not happy with the coach and some issues with match payments.
Obviously Spaulding has gone to Emerald, dos Santos playing vets at YG another handful also going across to the Piggery.
 

PREMIER DIVISION​

EMERALD

IN: Ethan Grose (returning), Luke Spaulding (Yarra Junction), Jordan Donadel (Upper Ferntree Gully)

OUT: Callum White (Rosebud), Ben Pola (Cranbourne), Nick Russo (Cranbourne), Jake Cawsey (Chirnside Park), Anthony Fischer (Cranbourne)

GEMBROOK COCKATOO

IN: Marley Williams (Port Melbourne Colts), Robbie Nahas (North Ringwood), Ash Beck, Nick Adams

OUT: Myles Wareham (Hampton Park)

HEALESVILLE

IN: Rodney Van Riet (Newport)

OUT: Luke Potts (Oakleigh District), Aaron Edwards (Reservoir)

MONBULK

IN: Ryan Burleigh (Heathmont)

OUT:

MT EVELYN

IN: Tommy Burkitt (Mitcham), Daniel Chamberlin (Montrose), Jason Want (South Croydon), Lucas O’Neill (South Croydon), Ryley Mckernan (Montrose), Cooper Beckwith (Lillydale), Jaymin Townsley (Lilydale), Nathan Arena

OUT: Cooper Colee (Seville)

OFFICER

IN: Nathan Allen (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Ash Allen (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Max Welsh (Orbost Snowy Rovers), Matt Di Biase (Koo Wee Rup)

OUT: Brenton Hillard (Warragul Industrials), Jeremy Monckton (Warragul Industrials), Zakery De Bono (Pakenham), Zack Charles (Doveton)

OLINDA FERNY CREEK

IN: Lachlan Kennedy

OUT:

UPWEY TECOMA

IN: Jack McKay (Fitzroy), Spencer Richards-West (South Belgrave), Bailey Oates (returning), Hudson Solomon

OUT:

WANDIN

IN: Daniel Willis (Echuca), Ben Johnson (Montrose), Cayden Black (South Belgrave), Joel Garner (VFL)

OUT: Clint Johnson (retired)

WOORI YALLOCK

IN: Ryley Monkhorst (Mooroolbark)

OUT: Bailey Syswerda (The Basin), Kynan French (Lilydale), Joshua Neal (Mooroolbark), Baylin Spencer (South Croydon), Jak Ryan (Mooroolbark), Mason O’Neill (Seville)


DIVISION 1​

ALEXANDRA

IN: Charlie Boots (Hawthorn AFC), Harry Prendergast (Imperial)

OUT:

BELGRAVE

IN: Mitch Summers (Beaconsfield)

OUT: Aaron Green (retired)

PAKENHAM

IN: Tanner Stanton (Hampton Park), Jake Kidd (South Belgrave), Nash Butler (South Belgrave), Finn Nicholas (South Belgrave), James Ahern (Drouin), Jordan Lucas (Officer), Gerrard Berry (Forrestdale, Perth), Zakery De Bono (Officer), Xane Callow (Officer), Noah Morrell (Officer)

OUT: Jordan Stewart (Warragul), Zac Stewart (Warragul), James Harrison (Warragul), Tom Hillard (Warragul), Jai Rout (WA)

POWELLTOWN

IN: Josh Cowan (St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers), Alex Cross (St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers), Cooper Ferries (Black Rock), Ryan Handley (Black Rock), Jarrad Kay (Highett), Liam Lucas (Avenel), Shannon Halliday (returning), Jarryd Wines (Black Rock), Mitch Caddy (Black Rock)

OUT:

Josh Cowan in action for St Bede’s. Photo: Andrew Batsch
SEVILLE
IN: Cooper Colee (Mt Evelyn), Mason O’Neill (Woori Yallock), Trent Davison (Lilydale)

OUT:

WARBURTON MILLGROVE

IN: Pat Huynh (Montrose), Jake Upton (Lilydale), Toby Mitchell (returning), Josh Read (Yarra Junction), Kyle Ferguson (Woori Yallock)

OUT: Trent Elliott (Kilsyth)

YARRA GLEN

IN: Jae MacDonald (Mooroolbark), Ryan Smith (returning), Jake Ferris (Healesville), Sheldon Smith (Coldstream), Blake Binion (returning), Trent Russell (Chirnside Park), Brendan James Mount Evelyn (Mount Evelyn)

OUT:

Jack Rennex playing for East Brighton. He’s joined Yea. Picture: Hamish Blair
YEA

IN: Jack Rennex (East Brighton), Zac Fawdry (Healesville), Andrew Dowling (Avenel), Riley Alduos (returning), Ash Walsh (Waverley Blues)

OUT: Harrison Jarvie (Bendigo league), Sam Gregory (Seymour)

YARRA JUNCTION

IN: Terry Van Horick (St John’s), Lochie Winter-Annette (Powelltown), Michael Cramp (East Ringwood), Kyle Delaney (Heathmont)
OUT: Luke Spaulding (Emerald)
 
Be interesting to see how Woori go next year. Will still be strong, but going to be very top heavy. Lost a lot of pace this off season and only recruited another big player.
 

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an interesting topic over on Valley Vicious Facebook about vets footy.

From what I’ve heard and seen on socials four clubs have serious interest and numbers to get a team up. Mt Evelyn, Gembrook, Belgrave and Yarra Glen.

Word from League HQ is they only need four teams minimum for a competition. Is this just the league being money hungry again i.e affiliation fees or will they let these teams explore playing in other vets comps, potentially the EFNL.
 
Glorfindel said:
This was posted a little while ago as well however no real source and friends I know on outer east committees hadn’t heard anything about it.
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Upwey had a committee meeting a few weeks ago in regards to whether it happens or not. I believe it will happen in 2026. Dependent how they go this year will depende on what's division they end up in. I would imagine div 2 will be there starting point.
 
Pendles1991 said:
Upwey had a committee meeting a few weeks ago in regards to whether it happens or not. I believe it will happen in 2026. Dependent how they go this year will depende on what's division they end up in. I would imagine div 2 will be there starting point.
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I think you’ll find they’ve already been told their starting point and it was stipulated it’ll be a couple of rungs lower than Div 2…….
 

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