AFL Barwon says feedback has been generally in support of proposed competition model

As the third consultation with clubs looms, AFL Barwon has shed light on how clubs are feeling about the revamped competition structure put forward.

Picture: Mark Wilson

A wave of support has come for AFL Barwon’s proposed competition shake-up for football and netball as the third consultation meeting between league headquarters and clubs looms.

AFL Barwon regional manager Ed Wilson said the feedback they have received from clubs has generally been supportive of the new model.

That new league structure would see clubs from the Geelong Football Netball League, Bellarine Football Netball League and Geelong and District Football League fall under the one umbrella with promotion and relegation, headed by a lucrative Premier League.

Two forums have been held with AFL Barwon and clubs across the region, with a third to be conducted next Tuesday at Buckley’s Entertainment Centre.

At the last meeting in October, 46 per cent of clubs were supportive of the overhaul, 25 per cent were opposed and while 30 per cent had not provided a position.

Wilson said there is still plenty to be worked through before a decision is made and that there remains concern over what the future holds for some clubs under the new structure.

Torquay celebrates winning the premiership. Picture: Alan Barber

“The feedback we are receiving has been generally in favour of what we have proposed across senior and junior football and netball and that is really pleasing for the working committee that the work we are putting together is paying off,” Wilson said.

“But in saying that there is still significant consultation for us still to complete as we continue to evolve the project.

“For those who have provided their feedback that is of a challenging or an opportunistic nature, it sits around what does the future look like in 10-15 years’ time, and what’s the transition period.

“Naturally we can understand that to go from the current model to a new model is definitely a big shift and that’s where a lot of the questions come from, ‘how do we go from the current day to the first day of the new model in the future’.

“And that’s very fair feedback that we have received, that is something we are looking to provide greater clarity on at our third forum.”

The complexion of the proposed league structure will be dictated by the amount of GDFNL clubs that decide to join, along with the introduction of Surf Coast Suns to the senior ranks.

Wilson has had “robust” discussions with a number of GDFNL clubs and welcomes more to come forward and share their views with AFL Barwon.

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“We have been very humbled by the open conversations that a number of the Geelong and District clubs have had with us about their future,” Wilson said.

“We invite more of them. We have been very pleased to have had a number of robust conversations about what their future looks like.

“We have been critical in the work that we are doing to make sure that we understand every club’s viewpoint and provide every club the one-on-one opportunity to convey that to us, and that is still a work in progress.

“By us understanding where every club sits that then for us will allow us to understand how many clubs there would be from day one and what that split would look like.”

The consultation process will continue beyond next week’s meeting and the overhaul would only go ahead in 2025 if AFL Barwon informs clubs of its plans before the start of the 2024 season.

Wilson also said that the fixtures for the GFNL and BFNL seasons was being assessed by AFL Barwon’s operations team with the GDFNL fixture released last week.

Round one of the BFNL season is expected to coincide with the Easter weekend.

Originally published as AFL Barwon says feedback has been generally in support of proposed competition model