Rupertswood president Brad Pietromonaco issues warning one AFL Goldfields league will fold unless structural changes take place

A RIDDELL District Football League president has cast doubt on the viability of the region’s three competitions, declaring one will “fold within the next couple of years”.

Rupertswood and Macedon do battle in last year’s RDFL grand final. Picture: George Salpigtidis.

A RIDDELL District Football League president has cast doubt on the viability of the region’s three competitions, declaring one will “fold within the next couple of years”.

Rupertswood president Brad Pietromonaco said one of the Bendigo, Ballarat or Riddell leagues would be disbanded unless changes were made to the structure within AFL Goldfields.

It comes after AFL Goldfields general manager Rod Ward said lopsided results in the first half of the RDFL season had added “further weight” to calls for a two-tiered league.

TWO-TIER RDFL BACK ON THE AGENDA

After seven rounds, 19 of the 41 matches played have been decided by 97 points or more.

Pietromonaco said the RDFL was “bleeding heavily” and he was concerned for the plight faced by the competition’s smaller clubs.

“I can tell you it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse,” he said.

Rupertswood was identified as a club capable of making the switch to the Ballarat league during last year’s AFL Goldfields senior competition review. But Pietromonaco remains adamant last year’s runner-up will not be leaving the RDFL.

He said he would prefer to “try and fix the RDFL”, adding “that’s our home league”.

“The RDFL is bleeding heavily at the moment and the results stand out,” he said.

“I am personally all for the Division 1 and Division 2 in the RDFL.

“Super league, whatever they are going to call it. Let’s get the Bacchus Marshs, Darleys, Sunbury Lions and Gisborne back into it.”

The review suggested Ballarat clubs Sunbury, Melton and Melton South and Bendigo club Gisborne could be part of an expanded RDFL.

However, there has been reluctance from some clubs to consider a move, with Gisborne declaring it had “no plans” to switch from the Bendigo league.

Pietromonaco suggested AFL Goldfields should consider nearby Essendon District league clubs as part of an expanded RDFL.

“Get all the sides together,” he said.

“Even if you have got Craigieburn, Jacana and East Sunbury back. It’d be a very popular and healthy league.”

He said clubs would leave the RDFL unless the divide between teams was addressed.

AFL Goldfields has stated any changes to the RDFL structure were unlikely to take place next year.