Tom King appointed Bendigo league manager

The Bendigo league has a permanent general manager at long last. See who will be taking the reins.

The Bendigo Football-Netball League has appointed a full-time general manager 12 rounds into the season.

The search for a permanent replacement officially began when the previous league manager Cameron Tomlins accepted the AFL Central Victoria regional manager job vacated by Craig Armstead at the end of last season.

Tomlins has been juggling the two roles at a time when the league is facing the departure of a second club in as many years.

Tom King, who joined AFLCV in January this year, will begin a “gradual transition into the BFNL role in coming weeks”.

The lengthy search underlines the ongoing difficulties AFL Victoria is having retaining and attracting staff at remaining regional administration centres based in Bendigo and Shepparton.

Gisborne and Sandhurst are on track to meet in the Bendigo league grand final this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Many other leagues have either transitioned back or retained their own full-time management staff.

“We congratulate Tom on his appointment and progression within the football and netball industry, and acknowledge his dedication to the commercial, media and operations role,” Tomlins said.

“We look forward to Tom leading the future success of the BFNL.”

King said he was “super excited” to start the job after working for the RACV and AFL club Western Bulldogs before joining AFLCV.

“I am committed to supporting BFNL players, clubs, and the broader community,” he said.

“I am eager to contribute to the league’s future starting with the 2024 finals series.”

POLL: What league is better fit for Maryborough from 2025 and beyond? @theweeklytimes@ctryfootyscores@AFL_CentralVic

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) July 2, 2024

AFLCV recently replaced its former commission led by lawyer Nicholas Rolfe with a council led by Nicholas Falconer.

The Bendigo league resumes on Saturday following last weekend’s representative match against the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

Meanwhile, O&M club Corowa-Rutherglen’s application to retain the 60 player points it has this season has been fired off to AFL Victoria for approval.

The club was granted extra player points after spending 2023 in recess and has not won a match this year.

Originally published as Tom King appointed Bendigo league manager