Golden Rivers: Ultima seeks switch to Central Murray league for 2025
A premiership-winning country footy team is seeking a new home in 2025 to shore up its long-term future. See what is happening.
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Golden Rivers premiers Ultima has launched a late bid to join the stronger Central Murray league on the death knock of the club transfer window shutting.
Central Murray clubs will vote on accepting Ultima for 2025 next Wednesday, which is the final day when clubs can seek a move to another home.
Ultima, which beat Hay in the grand final this season by one point, has been working up a case to move leagues since April, according to club president Nathan Condely.
He said the club wanted to take control of its destiny with the Golden Rivers league losing three clubs since 2018.
“We remain very respectful of the Golden Rivers league,” Condely said.
“No way do we want to leave because we think we’re too good for the competition.
“This is for the long-term future.
“Hopefully we’re the catalyst for some sort of change in the area.”
Wakool folded in 2018 and Quambatook suffered the same fate at the end of 2022.
Nullawil left the Golden Rivers league at the end of 2022 and has since merged with Wycheproof-Narraport to become Calder United next year.
Condely said eight club stalwarts and an outside consultant, former AFL Victoria senior manager Jim Cail, did the bulk of the preparatory work exploring the club’s future.
They presented the options of joining the Central Murray or North Central leagues, or merging with another club, to the Ultima committee.
Club members recently voted 96 per cent in favour of pursuing a move to the Central Murray league.
Ultima will need support from nine of the 11 Central Murray clubs to keep the proposal afloat.
The next step would be gaining support from the five Golden Rivers clubs left behind: Hay, Murrabit, Wandella, Macorna and Moulamein.
“They will object, no doubt about it,” Condely said.
“But there will be no ill-feeling from us because it is the right thing to do for them.
“But the right thing for us in the long-term will be in the Central Murray.”
CLUB TRANSFERS 2024: HITS AND MISSES
Broadford: Recess to Bendigo – Successful
Bunyip: West Gippsland to Ellinbank – Successful
Cohuna Kangas: Central Murray to Heathcote District – Unsuccessful
Dookie United: Kyabram District to Picola District – Successful
Melton South: Ballarat to Riddell District – Successful
Maryborough: Bendigo to Maryborough & District and Central Highlands – Unsuccessful
Morwell East: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland – Unsuccessful
Newborough: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland – Unsuccessful
Yinnar: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland – Unsuccessful
Originally published as Golden Rivers: Ultima seeks switch to Central Murray league for 2025
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