Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park on the verge of a merger

Two country Victoria footy clubs who look set to merge for 2024 have revealed the discussions go back more than a decade. Here’s what has led to the decision.

After years of discussions Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park feel now is the right time to merge and form one team next year.

Both Maryborough and Castlemaine District Football Netball clubs are in the initial phase of an amalgamation after forming a working group more than a month ago to explore the possibility.

The working committee came to the conclusion it needs to happen with both clubs announcing publicly late last week what was going on.

“This goes back 10 years or more,” Maryborough Rovers vice president Mark Raven revealed.

“There was a real close opportunity then (a decade ago) that they almost merged the two teams.

“It’s something that has been brought up every year.”

But recently the idea has become something both clubs need to pursue, according to Raven.

There are three teams in Maryborough — Royal Park and the Rovers, with the other club, Maryborough, competing in the Bendigo league.

In a town of over 8000 people getting numbers to play for all three clubs is starting to become a bridge too far.

“It is extremely difficult for all of us to field full sides of juniors and seniors,” he said.

“It makes sense this year that the two clubs have got finally together and realised this is the time to look at it.

“Both clubs are feeling the pressure of fulfilling everything (filling teams).

“We’re both pretty good off field (financially) so the timing would be better now than when one club is really struggling and the other is moving along all right.

“While we are both in a strong position off the field we see this as a good opportunity to get together and do it right so we can set it up and be successful from the start.”

The process now is to give both clubs members, players and fans all the information they need about the potential merger.

Royal Park and Maryborough Rovers will hold meetings at their respective clubs on Thursday, March 30.

A vote will then be held next month to decide whether the amalgamation for 2024 will take place.

“We both need 75 per cent of the vote to be yes,” Raven said.

“We are looking at around the end of April into the start of May that we have a decision on it.”

At the meeting next week the future of what the potential merged club will look like will be unveiled.

Raven said all options are on the table for what the new entity could be.

“We have mooted the idea whether we put the two names together or we go down the path of forming a brand new club for the community of Maryborough,” he said.

“We’ve got two ways to go and we know which way we’ll be leading, which will be discussed on our information night.

“We want to promote the club as a club for the community in Maryborough that everyone can feel welcome to come.”

So far from Rovers point of view, most are agreeing the move needs to be made to ensure the club survives.

“We contacted quite a few of our life members to let them know before the media release to see what their reaction was and we have had no push back from them,” Raven said.

“Our life members have had the opinion that this has gone on too long and the time is right now.

“They understand the difficulties of the landscape in the town.

“The players response has been quite positive actually.

“We’ve been down and out for quite some town and they know we can form a decent team and be quite competitive (if it happens).”

Royal Park president Kate Balzan said the club’s members mostly were supportive of the move as most understood the need for it to happen.

She said for too long both clubs have been fighting against each other to attract players.

“Some of our junior numbers are struggling, as are our seniors,” Balzan said.

“We’re just thinking it is time we start to come together as a community.

“We’re trying to pull from the same group of people and keep local people playing but we’re pulling against each other at times.

“We feel like it’s time the community comes together as one.”

An outcome on the potential merger is expected to be finalised before the middle of the season.

EARLIER

It could be the end of an era for two clubs in the Maryborough and Castlemaine District competition (MCDFNL) at the end of this season.

The Maryborough Rovers and the Royal Park Tigers have announced they are exploring the possibility of amalgamating before the 2024 MCDFNL season after they established a working committee to look at the option.

The announcement was made by each club to its members on Friday.

In a joint statement, the clubs said the working committee had come to the conclusion amalgamation is something that needs to be considered.

“The combined working party have met to discuss the future of both clubs and explore the possibility of amalgamating the two clubs for the 2024 MCDFNL season,” the statement said.

“The working party has reported back to both board, recommending that both boards should continue discussions to fully explore the possibility.

“The boards of the Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park have agreed to continue this consultation phase and understand the importance of this opportunity and feel that to achieve due diligence that all opportunities should be explored to the fullest.”

The announcement does not impact this year’s season with both teams to field teams in football and netball this year.

Maryborough Rovers could merge with a rival club. Picture: Rob Leeson.

A decision on whether to amalgamate will be decided by members of both clubs with both boards now looking to consult with them over the next few weeks.

Nothing, as yet, has been decided on a potential new name, new colours or where the games could be played.

Both clubs have also had discussions with AFL Goldfields and Netball Victoria about the move.

The move has come after years of struggle for both teams, in football, in the MCDFNL.

Maryborough Rovers are currently on a 24-game losing streak and have not made the finals since 2017.

Maryborough Rovers and Campbells Creek face off in 2022. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Royal Park last made the finals in 2018 but have won just seven games in the past two seasons.

Both clubs are also close to each other with just 3km between their home grounds.

The potential amalgamation would reduce the number of teams in the MCDFNL to 13 and change 150 years of history.

Royal Park, formed in 1934, have won eight premierships in the competition with Maryborough Rovers winning three in their 57 years in the league.