sandwichartist
Debutant
The aforementioned Bairnsdale move to the West Gippy/Gippsland league was the feature story in todays Bairnsdale advertiser. Biggest club in the East Gippy league and have one 6 of last 9 flags but still seems to have come from nowhere a bit. The fact that they rolled 2nd place Wy Yung by 20 goals in the top 2 semi final last week may have caused the underlying belief that they are too good for the competition to fully come to the surface. It's a long article but sums up the situation pretty well, although some points are sort of non-issues. Thoughts from our valley neighbours??
A meeting was held last Monday night of people who have expressed an interest in the concept, a chance to brainstorm ideas before putting a
proposal to the EGFNL, its clubs and the intended
league.
The club has its sights on the West Gippsland Latrobe FL (major league), while the
Bairnsdale Football Club is in the early stages of a proposal that will see it abandon the East Gippsland Football Netball League to have a presence in the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (major league).
A meeting was held last Monday night of people who have expressed an interest in the concept, a chance to brainstorm ideas before putting a
proposal to the EGFNL, its clubs and the intended
league.
The club has its sights on the West Gippsland Latrobe FL (major league), while the
Advertiser is also aware of moves to consider the North Gippsland Football Netball League. It is understood the concept stemmed from the playing group at Bairnsdale, which then passed it to the committee for further consideration. No formal approach to the VCFL has been made as yet, nor has there been any requests to talk to
other leagues. All discussions to this point have been “informal and factfinding”. However, there have been attempts to gauge the interest from the other leagues.
The Advertiser can confirm conversations were held with Chris Somalis
(WGLFL general manager) and Gordon Bayley (NGLFL general manager) to ascertain if there was any interest in these leagues accepting Bairnsdale at some future date. Victorian Country Football League area manager, Ben O’Brien, told the Advertiser the idea is known, but far from formally.
“I don’t know anything new other than it is very preliminary. Very, very,
very early,” he said. The WGLFL, soon to be the Gippsland Football League, is apparently open to a 10-team competition. It currently has nine, with Garfield likely to make way for Wonthaggi Power (formerly of the Alberton league – that in itself has provided well-documented headaches for the VCFL) for the 2010 season, but has an interest in having the ‘strong’ areas of Gippsland represented. The eastern clubs of Sale, Traralgon and Maffra would be accommodating of Bairnsdale entering their competition.
Representatives of the Bairnsdale Football Club were apprehensive in talking to the Advertiser - under apparent advice from the VCFL – with fears of jeopardising its proposal based on politics between Wonthaggi’s recruitment into the league and Bairnsdale’s perhaps future presence. However, according to Mr O’Brien the VCFL has issued no such ‘suppression order’ on the club, with Wonthaggi’s move’s having no bearing on any upcoming decisions. “Two separate issues. Wonthaggi needs to find a place to play footy in 2010. (And) The likelihood of anything happening in 2010 (for Bairnsdale) is zero. But who knows what footy in this region will look like in five years,” he said. “The VCFL has had no
contact with the Bairnsdale Football Club and we’re not in the practice of telling people they can’t talk (to the media).” The East Gippsland
FNL would also not make comment at this early stage.
Bairnsdale’s on field success this year – and over a number of years –
is a basis behind the idea. The state of the EGFNL competition, like most
country leagues including West Gippsland Latrobe FL, is such that there are irregularities at both ends of the spectrum. The second semi final last weekend was an example with Bairnsdale heading straight to the grand final by defeating its nearest rival, Wy Yung, by 113 points.
other leagues. All discussions to this point have been “informal and factfinding”. However, there have been attempts to gauge the interest from the other leagues.
The Advertiser can confirm conversations were held with Chris Somalis
(WGLFL general manager) and Gordon Bayley (NGLFL general manager) to ascertain if there was any interest in these leagues accepting Bairnsdale at some future date. Victorian Country Football League area manager, Ben O’Brien, told the Advertiser the idea is known, but far from formally.
“I don’t know anything new other than it is very preliminary. Very, very,
very early,” he said. The WGLFL, soon to be the Gippsland Football League, is apparently open to a 10-team competition. It currently has nine, with Garfield likely to make way for Wonthaggi Power (formerly of the Alberton league – that in itself has provided well-documented headaches for the VCFL) for the 2010 season, but has an interest in having the ‘strong’ areas of Gippsland represented. The eastern clubs of Sale, Traralgon and Maffra would be accommodating of Bairnsdale entering their competition.
Representatives of the Bairnsdale Football Club were apprehensive in talking to the Advertiser - under apparent advice from the VCFL – with fears of jeopardising its proposal based on politics between Wonthaggi’s recruitment into the league and Bairnsdale’s perhaps future presence. However, according to Mr O’Brien the VCFL has issued no such ‘suppression order’ on the club, with Wonthaggi’s move’s having no bearing on any upcoming decisions. “Two separate issues. Wonthaggi needs to find a place to play footy in 2010. (And) The likelihood of anything happening in 2010 (for Bairnsdale) is zero. But who knows what footy in this region will look like in five years,” he said. “The VCFL has had no
contact with the Bairnsdale Football Club and we’re not in the practice of telling people they can’t talk (to the media).” The East Gippsland
FNL would also not make comment at this early stage.
Bairnsdale’s on field success this year – and over a number of years –
is a basis behind the idea. The state of the EGFNL competition, like most
country leagues including West Gippsland Latrobe FL, is such that there are irregularities at both ends of the spectrum. The second semi final last weekend was an example with Bairnsdale heading straight to the grand final by defeating its nearest rival, Wy Yung, by 113 points.
The general consensus of the meeting of interested persons on Monday night was that there is a need to examine thoroughly the current state of football and netball in East Gippsland. A concern is that a number of the area’s ‘better’ footballers leave the area to play in the major league. There is a perception that moving to a major league is the preferred development pathway, as opposed to remaining in the local leagues.
The concept is aimed at players willing to train and play at a higher
level rather than a recruitment drive around the EGFNL. It has been suggested an initial squad of 30–35 players would be sought to commence pre-season training. Players not making the cut each week would return to their own clubs to play each Saturday. Players from the existing Bairnsdale senior list who do not make the cut would be balloted to the existing EGFNL clubs, perhaps on a draft system. If the proposal was to be accepted, Sunday games would be preferred to avoid clashes with the
EGFNL, or night games on a Saturday.
This is dependent on a number of factors, the first being that Bairnsdale
is accepted into the major league. It is intended that the club would field only seniors and under 18s. The WGLFL also plays under 16 and reserves, plus five grades of netball. There are a number of questions still looming over the idea, and a number of consultation meetings lie ahead.
A business plan needs to be considered and a study will be conducted to establish the impact it will have on the local team. Will it help or hinder the EGFNL to have the major side out of the local competition?
Fees alone are double that in the WGLFL to East Gippsland.
According to Mr O’Brien, the VCFL will take into consideration the affect it will have on the EGFNL, once a formal proposal has been lodged.
“Yes we do, it depends a lot on the mood of the old league, the club and the new league. The VCFL board has to approve the transfer, but a lot depends on those three parties. The impact on local footy would be a priority.”
There is expected to be a meeting on October 5 at the Bairnsdale Football Club social rooms from 6.30pm to outline more detailed plans to have a major league club based in Bairnsdale. “For the Bairnsdale footy club,
and I hope they’re aware of this, it’s not a matter of snapping your fingers and changing leagues, there’s a lot more to go under the bridge before that happens,” Mr O’Brien said.
A similar proposal, which would have seen a new club developed as an East Gippsland representative side and independent of the Bairnsdale FC, was put forward in 2004. It was unsuccessful on a number of fronts, largely financial, player availability and the role existing clubs would play in providing the players.
The concept is aimed at players willing to train and play at a higher
level rather than a recruitment drive around the EGFNL. It has been suggested an initial squad of 30–35 players would be sought to commence pre-season training. Players not making the cut each week would return to their own clubs to play each Saturday. Players from the existing Bairnsdale senior list who do not make the cut would be balloted to the existing EGFNL clubs, perhaps on a draft system. If the proposal was to be accepted, Sunday games would be preferred to avoid clashes with the
EGFNL, or night games on a Saturday.
This is dependent on a number of factors, the first being that Bairnsdale
is accepted into the major league. It is intended that the club would field only seniors and under 18s. The WGLFL also plays under 16 and reserves, plus five grades of netball. There are a number of questions still looming over the idea, and a number of consultation meetings lie ahead.
A business plan needs to be considered and a study will be conducted to establish the impact it will have on the local team. Will it help or hinder the EGFNL to have the major side out of the local competition?
Fees alone are double that in the WGLFL to East Gippsland.
According to Mr O’Brien, the VCFL will take into consideration the affect it will have on the EGFNL, once a formal proposal has been lodged.
“Yes we do, it depends a lot on the mood of the old league, the club and the new league. The VCFL board has to approve the transfer, but a lot depends on those three parties. The impact on local footy would be a priority.”
There is expected to be a meeting on October 5 at the Bairnsdale Football Club social rooms from 6.30pm to outline more detailed plans to have a major league club based in Bairnsdale. “For the Bairnsdale footy club,
and I hope they’re aware of this, it’s not a matter of snapping your fingers and changing leagues, there’s a lot more to go under the bridge before that happens,” Mr O’Brien said.
A similar proposal, which would have seen a new club developed as an East Gippsland representative side and independent of the Bairnsdale FC, was put forward in 2004. It was unsuccessful on a number of fronts, largely financial, player availability and the role existing clubs would play in providing the players.
