RDFL: Lancefield supports two-tiered league but content to rebuild

LANCEFIELD president Clark Todd says a two-division Riddell District Football League would “make perfect sense” but has declared the Tigers can rebuild to be a finals contender.

Lancefield has endured a tough season with eight triple-figure losses. Picture: Andy Brownbill.

LANCEFIELD president Clark Todd says a two-division Riddell District Football League would “make perfect sense” but has declared the Tigers can rebuild to be a finals contender.

The club has won only three games since the start of 2017 and has suffered eight triple-figure defeats in nine games this season.

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Lancefield and Broadford were identified in last year’s AFL Goldfields senior competition review as clubs who would be provided “whatever assistance, advice and support … to ensure their ongoing sustainability and to improve their competitiveness”.

“Everything has been pulled apart and we are rebuilding,” Todd said.

“I have got no doubt we can be competitive again. It’s probably not going to be next year either.

“Whether we can be competitive with the Rupos and Diggers that come from the bigger towns is probably going to be a sticking point.”

Broadford has battled in recent seasons and is winless this year. Picture: Adam Elwood.

Lancefield draws on one of the smallest populations in the RDFL, according to the 2016 census.

The town was home to 1227 men and 446 people aged between 20-39, less than Woodend (2776 men), Diggers Rest (1385), Romsey (2375) and suburbs home to 10 of its rival clubs.

Only Rockbank (793 men) had less male residents than Lancefield.

Todd said indications had been the RDFL structure would not change, but added he was “happy to discuss” a two-tiered structure again.

“I think it needs to happen, just for the haves and the have nots,” he said.

It comes after Rupertswood president Brad Pietromonaco urged the RDFL to move to two divisions, raising concerns the competition was “bleeding heavily”.

Another club source, who declined to be named, said the RDFL had become a “very divided competition” and called on AFL Victoria to “rationalise country football in this area”.

Todd, who declared earlier this year Lancefield would “bring local football back to local football”, said the club would “just work harder” if the current league structure remained in place.

“We have got to rebuild that and hopefully get some of those locals that left to come back and rebuild the side again,” he said.