BFNL 2024: Hopes of 12-team Bellarine comp in 2025 appear over after unknown club withdraws application

AFL Barwon’s 12-team Bellarine competition plan appears all but over after a decision from an unknown club. And AFL Barwon has provided a statement.

AFL Barwon’s 12-team competition plan has suffered a major setback. Picture: Alan Barber

AFL Barwon’s plan to field a 12-team Bellarine competition in 2025 in in tatters after the unknown 12th club withdrew their application.

The peak body confirmed to this masthead on Monday that Surf Coast Suns remained in contention to be part of the proposed 12-team BFNL competition in 2025, up from the current 10-team competition.

BFNL clubs were supposed to meet with AFL Barwon on Wednesday night to discuss the cases of those two clubs, but an email from regional manager Ed Wilson to clubs on Wednesday morning confirmed that the unidentified club has pulled out.

Wilson confirmed that this club failed to meet the four key objectives to enter the senior ranks and that the club wants to remain anonymous.

Clubs from the Bellarine are now set to meet with AFL Barwon next Wednesday night to review Surf Coast’s submission, with the Suns themselves believing that other clubs don’t want them to join the competition.

Surf Coast will meet with AFL Barwon next Monday.

“In-line with the New Club Entry application process that closed on 24 April 2024, AFL Barwon firstly received an application from Surf Coast FNC for entry into the Bellarine FNL. As part of an extensive review of Surf Coast FNC’s application, several face-to-face engagements have transpired, with one final engagement scheduled to take place on Monday night (May 27),” AFL Barwon said in a statement.

“All Bellarine FNL Clubs have been invited to attend a meeting with AFL Barwon on Wednesday 29th May to be provided with a secondary consultation opportunity (following the most recent on April 22), following the conclusion of AFL Barwon’s engagement with Surf Coast FNC. This opportunity for Bellarine FNL Clubs to be engaged is pivotal to the success and future of the League, and AFL Barwon is looking forward to this evening.

“As part of the New Club Entry application process that closed on 24 April 2024, AFL Barwon also received a second application from a Club within the AFL Barwon region. As part of an extensive review of this Club’s application, including several face-to-face engagements, the Club has opted to withdraw its application for entry into the Bellarine FNL for 2025. AFL Barwon is supportive of this withdrawal noting the Club did not meet all four pillars of entry criteria – Facilities, Financials, Participation and Club Development.

“Following this withdrawal, the Club has requested continued confidentiality noting the public significance and attention with originally expressing an interest in moving leagues, within the local community. AFL Barwon respects this request and will continue to honour this, noting the conclusion of their application process.

“AFL Barwon looks forward to concluding the New Club Entry application review process for Surf Coast FNC, to provide certainty and a future for their Football & Netball programs, as well as certainty on the future of the Bellarine FNL. Any change is significant and the AFL Barwon Commission is grateful for the ongoing engagement of all stakeholders, in ensuring that equitable opportunities for participation and sustainability continue to be prioritised within the Barwon region.

Wilson told this publication in March, before the restructure was announced, that having 11 teams as opposed to 12 in the Bellarine competition would create equalisation challenges.

“The introduction of (just) Surf Coast Football Netball Club does create challenges when it comes to how both fixturing and finances are managed if some clubs have more home games than another it creates an inequity in terms of gate and canteen revenue but then also fixturing,” Wilson said.

“Having an even fixture with an even number of clubs of course promotes greater fixture equalisation and that reflects in both the sports of football and netball. Interest has been far and wide and we want to make sure that opportunity is there for clubs to canvas what their future looks like.”

Originally published as BFNL 2024: Hopes of 12-team Bellarine comp in 2025 appear over after unknown club withdraws application