Outer East league: Broadford FN club’s football department goes into recess for 2024

The home club of former AFL bad boy Barry Hall has made the difficult decision to withdraw its footy teams from the 2024 season.

Broadford’s football sides will sit out season 2024. Picture: JH photography

Another footy club has withdrawn its football teams from action for the next 12 months.

Broadford Football Netball Club’s football department will go into recess in 2024.

The club’s financial members voted at a special general meeting on Wednesday night that the football will go into recess, while the Roos’ netballers will explore their options to play in a winter competition in 2024.

Broadford had applied in August to join the Kyabram District Football Netball League, seeking to leave the Outer East Football Netball League, where it has played since 2020.

After the KDFNL rejected the Roos’ application to join their league, AFL Victoria advised that

an appeal of the KDFNL decision was not available to Broadford due to the club wanting to move from a metropolitan-based league (OEFNL) to a country-based league (KDFNL).

Broadford’s committee then sought alternative options for their immediate playing future.

Former AFL player Barry Hall celebrates a goal with Matt Whitty while playing for Broadford in 2013.

Barry Hall as a Bulldog.

Broadford president Bonnie Welch said the club would now re-assess all viable options for finding a league to best suit her club’s long-term future.

“Every decision that we have made throughout this journey has been open, transparent and informed, and most importantly, and led by our members in the best interests for our club for future sustainability on all levels,” she said.

“While there isn’t a league that is a perfect fit for us, what we would like is somewhere that sees the value our community club would bring to their competition.

“The advocacy and engagement we undertook to enter the KDFNL clearly demonstrates a gap

within the system where no matter what you present as a club, your future can be determined by other clubs with varying interests.’’

Broadford has provided grounding for many past and current VFL/AFL and VNL players including premiership players Alan Ezard, Barry Hall, Jack Green and Bob Suter.

Welch said the club’s committee and senior coach Alwin Neilson had consulted closely with senior players and were determined and confident for the return of senior football in 2025.

“Even though the football program itself on field is on pause, our off field is just ramping up,’’ she said.

Welch added: “We are also working closer than ever with our junior club and are working towards some great initiatives to build stable and strong pathways for immediate and future generations.”

Welch said club would work hard to ensure it had netball teams play in 2024.

“Our netball department has always been very united, competitive and we will ensure the netball program continues in 2024 with preseason and trials to start early next year,” she said.

Another Outer East league club, Yea Tigers, went into recess in 2023 but have emerged re-energised with a full list of players ready for 2024.