Country footy chiefs have called for an urgent review of the game in Victoria

The AFL continues to haul in record profits, but there are genuine fears for the health of football at grassroots level. Country footy chiefs are calling for an urgent statewide review and a shake-up of AFL Victoria.

Work Safe Sherrin Footy. Weekly Times Football Generic PICTURE: ANDY ROGERS

Country footy chiefs have called for a statewide review of the sport in regional areas and a shake-up of AFL Victoria’s management of the grassroots game.

The Andrews Government has been urged to lead a probe into AFL Victoria’s governance in regional areas amid fears for the future of country clubs and leagues.

AFL Victoria — which receives funding from clubs and leagues in return for steering a healthy game — has been accused of failing to provide leadership and direction in some areas.

It comes as many country clubs say they are struggling to field teams due to a lack of numbers and claims the AFL struggles to understand some issues country leagues face keeping our great game alive.

Former Gippsland AFL commissioner John White called for “an independent inquiry into the relationship between AFL Victoria and communities who are the backbone of activities in football and netball’’.

He has written to Sports Minister Martin Pakula claiming “AFL Victoria fails to recognise the importance of community football/netball and the important role clubs play in galvanising communities’’.

Country footy chiefs have called for an urgent review of the governance of the game. Picture: Pauline Bayley

He also accused AFL Victoria of failing to properly fund community football and of creating a “master-servant relationship which denies communities independence’’.

“Football clubs are the lifeblood of many rural and remote communities and from what I’ve seen the AFL don’t have a full appreciation of that,’’ he said.

“Different regions have different needs … teams are regularly forfeiting because they can’t field a team.

“The AFL have got to listen to the communities and adopt some of the thoughts that are being raised by those communities.’’

AFL Victoria head Ricky Bell said the body “decentralised the decision making around football in regional areas” over the past six years and works closely with regions to “support the growth and sustainability of the game in country Victoria”.

“We understand the challenges that many regions face in relation to population decline and the ageing of the population which impacts on clubs and leagues,” he said.

“Despite these challenges we are really proud that the year to date registered football participation in country Victoria is almost 4000 ahead of last year.”

But Geelong and District president of 34 years Neville Whitley accused AFL Victoria of leaving local leagues to sort out their own problems.

Country footy chiefs have called for an urgent review of the governance of the game. Picture: Geoff Rounds

“We see that AFL Victoria are meant to be the leaders on this and if they don’t want the responsibility, let’s go back to the old VCFL (Victorian Country Football League),’’ he said.

“If there are clubs that need help we should be tipping more money into those organisations to keep them afloat.’’

The Picola and District Football Netball League cut ties with AFL Victoria in 2018 out of frustration but paid $116,000 to reaffiliate this season after reaching some administrative compromise.

League operations manager Shane Railton said there was a “huge amount of issues all over the state’’.

“There needs to be an independent body that can be consulted by people who are aggrieved,’’ he said.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula said there was “no basis for the government to intervene”.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula says the government shouldn’t get involved in the issue. Picture: Getty Images

“Matters relating to the governance and management of local football leagues and commissions are entirely a matter for AFL Victoria,” he said.

But Mr White said country footy leaders would not take kindly to the government failing to intervene.

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“The implications are bigger than football or netball,’’ he said.

“The implications are what happens to these towns and the local communities surviving? These bigger issues have to be looked at.’’

Phillip Island Football Club president Chris Ross said more clubs were likely to merge unless the AFL offered more help.

“I believe the biggest issue is the AFL continues to make record profit but not enough goes to community clubs,’’ he said.

“I don’t think the AFL at the top gives a s--t about grassroots footy.’’

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