St Mary’s premiership player Zak Sherman believes the GFNL needs a mini-draft and amended points structure

A GFNL premiership player has revealed his ideas on how the region’s premier football competition can become competitive again.

Zak Sherman playing for Geelong’s VFL team in 2015. Picture: Alison Wynd

There’s a reason fans flock to the AFL — the league and its clubs have long understood that on-field equality is good for business.

While “good business” is not the aim for local football and netball clubs, the benefits of community sport can only be amplified through strong and equal competition.

Look at the buzz around the GFNL last weekend — close games build an atmosphere that makes local sport great.

Unfortunately, last week was the exception; this week we’ll likely return to the regular schedule of weekly beltings.

Since starting my senior career, there have been competitiveness issues across Geelong’s three leagues.

Every few years, promotion and relegation is floated as the miracle solution.

Zak Sherman celebrates a goal with Dion Johnstone in 2024. Picture: Mark Wilson

Maybe I’m shortsighted, but I can’t see how divisions magically fix the underlying problems plaguing the state’s “top” country league.

At best, for remaining GFNL clubs, it shifts the problem elsewhere.

At worst, it does nothing.

In my view, a league is only as strong as its weakest member.

By that logic, the BFNL and GDFNL are streets ahead of the region’s so-called “premier competition.”

Yes, clubs still battle, but the gap isn’t as extreme.

Checking the results is exciting — you never know what each round will bring.

The most interesting thing about the GFNL results, most weeks, is seeing the biggest margin. No wonder some clubs start to struggle.

A shiny new divisional structure doesn’t address the challenges these clubs face, regardless of what league they end up in.

Clubs and AFL Barwon need to decide what they value most: being known as the best country league in the state, or being a genuine competition with some semblance of equality. We need a combination of top-down rules and bottom-up support to restore desperately needed balance to the GFNL.

For one, the points system could become a true equalisation measure.

It can play the role of the draft in the AFL, allocating teams fixed points based on finishing position — limit points at the top, give freely at the bottom.

Force the strong clubs to be more selective about the players they recruit, or risk playing top talent in the twos — we all know how that goes.

It seems the GFNL has become a victim of its own success.

Geelong’s unique make-up – with Deakin, the Gordon, Marcus Oldham, and access to two strong VFL programs – makes it the perfect place to chase your footy dreams while studying or starting your career.

Top talent gravitates towards the GFNL, which has set a revolving door in motion.

One that largely favours the top clubs.

The kids get to chase higher honours, and the same clubs get an influx of fresh talent each year to chase a premiership.

The bottom clubs are left to wildly overpay or miss out completely.

The reality is, players are willing to take less to play in the “big games”.

It’s not black and white, but the monopoly on talent is driven by opportunity.

Sherman playing against the Tigers in 2015. Picture: Alison Wynd

To combat this, the league could introduce a mini-draft for out-of-town VFL players wanting to align with the GFNL.

Combined with a more deliberate points system, this would help spread talent across the league.

Short-term the GFNL may lose players to other competitions.

But for fans and players, close games and regular upsets would more than make up for a minor drop in top-end talent.

Combine stricter equalisation measures with some AFL Barwon-led creativity, like slick digital content, and greater support for club-run initiatives to boost engagement across the region. Then, Geelong might finally be ready for divisions — not as a Band-Aid fix for a deeper problem, but to enhance already strong competitions.

Originally published as St Mary’s premiership player Zak Sherman believes the GFNL needs a mini-draft and amended points structure