Gisborne players and members briefed on bid to leave Bendigo league
Bendigo’s worst case scenario could be about to unfold with one of its strongest clubs investigating leaving at the end of the season.
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Bendigo is facing the doomsday scenario of having a record equalling low of seven teams in 2026 with one of its strongest clubs seriously contemplating a move to a neighbouring major league.
Late last week Gisborne briefed its present playing group of the increasing likelihood the club will make another bid to join the Ballarat league next year.
Gisborne has been a powerhouse club since joining the Bendigo league in 2000.
It contested six successive grand finals for four flags between 2002 and 2007 and won another premiership in 2022.
The Bulldogs were narrowly beaten in last year’s grand final by Sandhurst and its A grade netball team has won the last two Bendigo flags.
Gisborne has to lodge an “intention to transfer form” with AFL Victoria and the Bendigo league by June 30 under new rules for clubs wanting to change leagues.
Gisborne president Tony Brancatisano said players were briefed on the potential move last week ahead of “going through the process and seeing where we end up”.
“We want to work out where we want to be in the next five years,” he said.
“If we’re not doing our due diligence we’re not doing the right thing.
“We’ve been looking at it for 10 months now.
“We’ve got Melton, Darley, Bacchus Marsh and Sunbury right on our door step.
“Financially we’re better off in Ballarat, but if we went into Ballarat, football-wise we would need to pick up a couple of players.
“The Bendigo competition has dropped off big time.”
Bendigo league chairwoman Carol McKinstry said: “We know Ballarat last year spoke to (Gisborne) and have spoken to them recently as well.
“We haven’t heard anything official yet.
“Clubs look at their options and committees wouldn’t be doing their due diligence if they didn’t look at their options.”
Professor McKinstry said the league was still planning for Broadford to enter the league in 2026.
“They are working very, very hard and hopefully they can make some big announcements soon,” she said.
Ballarat league president Rob Simmonds declined to comment when contacted.
In 2012, Gisborne considered making its most recent move from Bendigo to Ballarat.
Gisborne would restore the Ballarat league to an 11-team competition following the loss of Melton South to the Riddell District league this season.
It would create instant rivalries and big gates with Ballarat’s “eastern bloc” of clubs including reigning premiers Melton, Darley, Sunbury and Bacchus Marsh.
But on the flip side it would be a disaster for Bendigo.
It has only eight clubs presently with Broadford still trying to reassemble a team to play in a major league for the first time after two years in recess.
A disgruntled Kyneton left Bendigo two years ago and Maryborough went into recess this season after a horror 2024.
Moama has also put on hold plans to join either the Bendigo or Goulburn Valley leagues next year.
The seven clubs in the Bendigo league in 1979 were Sandhurst, Golden Square, Eaglehawk, Castlemaine, Kyneton, South Bendigo and Kennington-Strathdale with the latter folding in 1994.
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Originally published as Gisborne players and members briefed on bid to leave Bendigo league
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