AFL Victoria tightens rules on country club league moves
Country footy clubs wanting to change leagues in 2026 must act soon and provide more detailed evidence. See all the changes.
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Country footy clubs exploring a move to another league have to act quicker and build a strong case from the outset under changes adopted by AFL Victoria.
Clubs seeking a new home in 2026 have to start the process by the end of next month with a major prerequisite being the league it wants to join being on-board with the move.
Appeal rights remain, but if the destination league declines a club’s
application to transfer, there is “no appeal process available and the matter is closed”.
“If a league says ‘no they don’t want a club’ that’s as far as it goes,” AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue said.
“A lot more onus is being put on the club.
“If they want to move, they need to substantiate their case.
“The appeal process is only relevant for a club to be released from a league, not to get into a league.”
The Weekly Times flagged the changes were coming a month ago with clubs expected to know the outcome of their proposed move by the end of August.
The transfer window previously was August to October.
Clubs also need to document “specific evidence” on player numbers, travel, finances and player points an salary cap implications early in the process.
Last year, Golden Rivers club Ultima waited until early November to be told it was unsuccessful in joining the Central Murray league.
Broadford was accepted into the Bendigo league last year, but remains in recess.
“The process was really clunky,” O’Donohue said.
“It was too late.
“A lot of times submissions were made in October and if there was an objection along the way, they weren’t being resolved until December.
“But probably the bigger one was that all stakeholders just didn’t have all the correct information at hand to make informed decisions.
“What’s going to happen now, is you put everything on the table at the start.
“The reason we’ve acted now is because there are already clubs looking to do something.”
This week Ultima confirmed its intention to again apply to join the Central Murray league in 2026.
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Originally published as AFL Victoria tightens rules on country club league moves
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