Country football leagues dig in heels over AFL Victoria’s restructure of the game

COUNTRY football is under pressure, with clubs allegedly forced to sign away control of the game to the AFL amid claims the state’s peak body is trying to take control of grassroots competition.

Coach Nick Smith (centre) with players from the Werribee Centrals in the Geelong & District Football League. Picture: Tony Gough

COUNTRY football clubs have accused the AFL of ­bullying and manipulation, ­claiming they are being forced to sign away control of ­grassroots competition.

Representatives from more than 15 leagues and clubs met this month to discuss the pressure they claim AFL Victoria is putting on clubs to join regional administration centres as part of a controversial management model being introduced across the state.

But AFL Victoria has vigorously defended itself, saying it was trying to deliver an ­administration structure that could keep pace with the growth of the game and help country footy flourish.

“We are dealing with a couple of leagues here who are quite happy with their own ­administrations and all we have suggested is there is scope to create greater efficiencies of scale through administration,’’ AFL Victoria boss Steven Reaper said.

READ MORE: COUNTRY AFL CLUBS TAKING A STAND AGAINST RESTRUCTURE

Steven Reaper. Picture: Andy Rogers

GDFL president Neville Whitley. Picture: Alison Wynd

Under the strategy laid out by AFL Victoria, country leagues will be managed by region commissions by the end of 2019 with independent regional administration centres established in each zone to deal with daily workings within each club, much like a body corporate.

But leagues have accused AFL Victoria of an underhanded bid to wipe out boards. They claim AFL Victoria has:

INCREASED fees and forced clubs into debt;

REWRITTEN league rules without consultation with board members;

WARNED clubs they will be cut from fixtures unless they sign affiliation agreements;

THREATENED to cut off access to umpires, TAC pathway programs and insurance coverage; and

IN at least one case, sold assets without consultation.

In a twist, it is also believed the AFL deregistered the Victorian Country Football League — but the name has now been legally secured by representatives from a string of country clubs who plan to re-emerge as a branded association aimed at fighting back.

Geelong & District Football League president Neville Whitley said: “I understand the need for some leagues to seek assistance through RACS but where there are well-run ­leagues, all we are asking for is a choice.”

Mr Reaper said most leagues were satisfied with the shift. “We don’t want to get caught in the 1980s when it comes to administering our football,” he said. “At the end of the day, we are trying to do what’s best for the game.’’

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