Maryborough’s bid to join the Maryborough Castlemaine league rejected
A country footy battler’s bid to find a new home for the 2025 season has suffered a blow after it was rejected by a neighbouring competition. Here’s what we know.
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Maryborough will not be joining the Maryborough Castlemaine league next year after the club’s application was rejected by the teams in the competition.
This masthead can reveal a vote was held on Friday to determine if Maryborough would be allowed to move to the competition from the Bendigo league.
Maryborough lodged an application after deciding to move on from its current home after 32 years.
The team is currently winless in 58 matches and earlier this season conceded the largest score and largest loss in the history of the competition.
In recent weeks, the senior men’s team, have been forced to field players from the opposition sides to play.
But their move won’t be to the Maryborough Castlemaine league after the league confirmed the application was rejected.
Sources close to this masthead said the vote was nine clubs to four against the move.
“Following a comprehensive process of consultation and voting with our member clubs, a decision was made by a majority vote to reject the application to join the MCDFNL made by the Maryborough Magpies,” MCDFNL president Kathie Teasdale said.
“We gave the clubs all the data and relayed information given to us by Maryborough FNC and they (the clubs) made informed decisions.”
Teasdale didn’t reveal why the clubs voted no declining to comment on their behalf.
The rejection now leaves with Maryborough on the back foot to find a home for 2025.
The next option is to apply for the Central Highlands competition, which the club indicated it would if the MCDFNL application failed.
Central Highlands administrator Diane Ryan said no formal application had been made yet.
“We have canvassed our clubs (to gauge interest),” she said.
“We have got some feedback from most clubs (about their entry).
“Now what the club (Maryborough) need to do now is put in a formal application, if they want to come this way, and then we’ll hold a special general meeting (SGM).”
Ryan said a few clubs had requested more information about Maryborough’s move.
If Maryborough do submit a formal request it will take the league three or more weeks to make a decision with a SGM to be held 21 days after the submission.
A rejection from the Central Highlands would leave Maryborough’s options limited after that.
The club could continue in the Bendigo league, which would require them to dramatically improve recruitment during the off-season.
They could also head north to apply for other leagues, including the Heathcote District or Loddon Valley leagues.
The final option is merge with another entity.
Maryborough Giants, their cross-town neighbours, ruled out the move recently but there are other clubs in the area which could provide an option to do it.
If a merger happens, with another MCDFNL side, it would allow them to enter the competition but at the expense of losing some if not all of their identity.
“It is my understanding they could merge with another club in the league,” Teasdale said.
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