Northern Football Netball League makes shock finals decision

Where did negotiations between the Northern league and Northern Bullants break down? It’s seen the league end a near 20-year partnership and move its Division 1 finals to a new home.

South Morang celebrates their premiership at Preston City Oval. Picture: Andrew Batsch

A dispute over bar revenue prompted the Northern Football Netball League to pull out of a near 20-year partnership with VFL club Northern Bullants and take its finals elsewhere.

The Bullants had wanted a slice of bar and gate revenue from matches played at Preston City Oval but it is believed negotiations broke down around revenue sharing and the use of the club’s function room and bar.

Instead, the NFNL will play its top-flight Division 1 finals at Epping Reserve.

The league made the announcement on Wednesday night.

NFNL CEO Martin Stillman said while negotiations broke down he hoped the league could return to Preston in 2026.

The crowd at Preston City Oval for last year’s Division 1 grand final. Picture: Andrew Batsch

“While both organisations entered negotiations in good faith and share a commitment to delivering a high-quality finals experience, the Northern Football Netball League and Northern Bullants were ultimately unable to reach an agreement on several key terms,” Stillman said.

“As a result the Northern Football Netball League proceeded with alternative arrangement for the 2025 finals series.

“The NFNL has the utmost confidence in the Epping Football Netball Club’s ability to host a Division 1 finals series, having a strong track record of successfully hosting during the Diamond Valley and Northern league era.

“The NFNL has worked in conjunction with the Northern Bullants for 20 years and unfortunately we weren’t able to come to an amicable arrangement to continue that for 2025.”

Division 2 and 3 and Women’s finals venues are yet to be confirmed after being played at Lalor and Epping last year, while Whittlesea has also been a regular host.

Cramer Street has been home to NFNL Division 1 finals and the Division 2 grand final since 2007, while Women’s deciders have been held there since the competition’s introduction in 2017.

The Bullants changed management mid-year with Neil Howard appointed club president.

Howard was disappointed with the NFNL’s negotiations, calling them “churlish and unprofessional”, and believed middle ground could have been found.

He said the league wanted control of all bar sales, gate takings and would give the Bullants the canteen, which he estimated at $35,000.

“Our want of taking 15 per cent of the gate and 15 per cent of the bar wasn’t going to meet with their (expectations), and that’s fair,” Howard said.

“We were expecting them to come back with a much lower percentage and we would move on from there but we were then given an offer, a monetary figure, which was insulting.

“We were prepared to grant them the function room for the grand final breakfast, until midday, and then operate the bar thereafter – but nowhere else, we wouldn’t sell alcohol anywhere else.

“That’s the disappointing thing, they didn’t come back and say ‘the board doesn’t like it, what about two or three per cent’ (of the gate and bar).”

The VFL club, which will revert to Preston Bullants in 2026, is struggling financially.

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It is one of the main avenues for Northern league players to VFL and has helped the likes of Finnbar Maley (Eltham, North Melbourne) reach the AFL, while Saad El Hawli and Brandon Ryan have also been drafted out of the club.

The Bullants had 10 NFNL aligned players on their initial list this season, second most behind Coburg, and seven NFNL players featured in Saturday’s clash with Richmond.

In announcing the venue change, the league trumpeted its decision to freeze entry and beverage prices, while also offering free access to junior finals and grand finals and Women’s minor finals.

“These initiatives are part of the NFNL’s broader efforts to support clubs, players, and the local community insuring as many people as possible can share in the excitement and celebration of finals football 2025,” the statement said.