Goulburn Valley: Brad Noonan appointed league’s operations manager
A sporting administrator who has worked at AFL club Carlton has taken on the role of running the Goulburn Valley league.
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The Goulburn Valley Football-Netball League has secured an operations manager with experience at the elite level of football.
Brad Noonan has been appointed to the GV role after being an assistant football manager with Carlton and also time in positions with VFL club the Northern Bullants, AFL Victoria and casual positions with the Victorian Football Umpires Association and as an official AFL timekeeper.
“His resume showed strength in administration and management positions and demonstrated a focus on developing solid relationships with internal and external stakeholders,” AFLGM regional manager Shaun Connell said.
AFLGM appointed 48-year-old Noonan to the role after the GV late last year extended its administration management contract with the Shepparton-based hub for a further three years.
Noonan replaces Kyle Povah, who stepped down one month before the finals started.
An announcement is expected shortly for a replacement for Trent Mills, who juggled his time between the GV and Northern Country Women’s League, before departing after the finals.
The GV is surrounded by three leagues with their own administrative set-ups.
FINALS FORMAT REVIEW
The Goulburn Valley Football-Netball league could have a different finals format “moving forward” with three options on the table.
A survey is being conducted of the league’s 12 clubs on whether they want to stick with the top-six status quo, whereby the two top teams meet in the first week of finals, or move to a top-six where the top two teams have the bye in week one of finals.
The latter operates in the neighbouring Murray league with a top-five system that is used in the Ovens and Murray, Hampden, Gippsland and Bendigo leagues, the other option presented to clubs.
The loser of the clash between the top and second-placed teams in the GV presently is heavily disadvantaged by needing to win two sudden death finals to make the grand final.
“There has been discussion for some time with clubs around what is the best format for our league,” GV chairwoman Jacqui Hudgson said.
“Clubs were surveyed prior to the new year, but not all responded so we have opened it up again.”
A move to a top-five is the least likely outcome given it would rob the league of income due to one less day of competition.
The survey closes on February 5 with a change from the present format strongly favoured, according to a Weekly Times online poll.
Just 11 per cent of respondents want the status quo retained with the Murray league format the favoured way with 50 per cent support.
A top-five has 39 per cent backing.
Murray league general manager Dale Norman said its format suited all grades due to a “compromised fixture” with all teams not playing each other twice.
“Some may have an easier draw than others,” he said.
“Anyone is a chance within the top-six and those teams ranked 3-6 are a chance of getting on a roll.
“Although finishing top two is a massive advantage.
“The senior premier has come from the top two since 2011.
“Over the four-week period I believe the teams that have made the grand final were the two best teams.”
The Murray league will return to a 12-team competition this season with Tocumwal being accepted back into the Picola District league, which has a top-eight finals series held over five weeks for its 15 clubs.
Last season in the GV Seymour finished second and went out in straight sets with losses to premier Echuca and Euroa.
The previous year Mansfield finished second and also lost to Echuca in week one before losing to Euroa in the preliminary final.
The O & M, which has two fewer clubs than the GV, has had a top-five finals series since the early 1970s.
Meanwhile, the GV announced a change to its 2024 fixture with Mansfield to host Echuca on Easter Saturday.
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Originally published as Goulburn Valley: Brad Noonan appointed league’s operations manager
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