Bellarine Football Netball League reveals clubs’ strong opposition to competition overhaul with nine clubs against proposal

After the GDFNL and GFNL showed their hand, the Bellarine competition has shed light on where they stand. But AFL Barwon sees it differently.

Torquay celebrate winning the BFNL premiership. Picture: Alan Barber

Bellarine Football Netball League chairman Mick Fitzgerald said the league’s clubs strongly oppose AFL Barwon’s proposed competition restructure, with Ocean Grove the only club in favour.

Fitzgerald confirmed the suspicions of rival clubs by revealing that nine of the league’s 10 teams were against the competition overhaul, which was officially tabled to clubs earlier this month.

After canvassing the views of BFNL clubs, Fitzgerald met with AFL Barwon regional manager Ed Wilson this week to inform the BFNL of their overall position.

However, Wilson told this publication that he believes more BFNL clubs are supportive of the proposal than against it.

He said this is based off one-on-one consultations the governing body has had with clubs since the model was released on December 5, with some clubs deciding against sharing their views publicly.

Fitzgerald’s claim comes after nine of the 12 Geelong Football Netball League voted against the sweeping changes, with South Barwon the only club in support.

The Geelong & District Football Netball League was not included as part of the official plan, with GDFNL president Neville Whitley confirming they were not interested.

Ocean Grove president Pete Smith told this publication on Wednesday that his club had ambitions to enter the top competition in the region, whether that be the Geelong Football Netball League or the proposed Premier League in AFL Barwon’s model.

Just one club is in support of the changed. Picture: Alan Barber

Former Barwon Heads president Tim Goddard slammed the model in October, describing it as a “utopian vision” and claiming it would abandon BFNL clubs.

Fitzgerald said that BFNL clubs as a whole are happy with where their competition currently sits.

“Following feedback from member clubs from the BFNL, it can be said that the vast majority of clubs are not in favour or interested in the current proposal being put forward by the AFL Barwon commission,” Fitzgerald said.

“The general feeling is that the BFNL is a very well functioning and resourced league and that the ongoing competitiveness of both football and netball needs to be both congratulated and continued. As a board, we canvassed clubs on their thoughts and stated that there would be no prejudice on their views as we are simply the voice of the clubs.

“We also emphasised that we would support clubs if they wished to entertain changing leagues (GFNL or GDFNL). The BFNL clubs believe that their league is going from strength to strength in terms of participation, membership and support and will continue to push to be the wonderful community based league with a mix of city, coastal and country clubs.

“As it currently sits, if it went to a vote it would be 9 to 1 against change. We acknowledge there are potentially new senior clubs in the pipeline and that is something that AFL Barwon will need to address when they are ready.”

Ocean Grove is the only BFNL club to publicly support the model. Picture: Alan Barber

But Wilson said that the individual meetings they have had with clubs tell a different story.

Clubs have told AFL Barwon that they are unwilling to share their views in a group setting because they want to keep their position confidential.

There is also a sense that clubs against the proposal are more vocal than those that supportive.

While the public results from the three competitions are concerning on the surface, the governing body will continue to consult clubs and push on with the process.

“In terms of what has been shared with us in one-on-one consultation, we’ve certainly had more Bellarine clubs in support than more Bellarine clubs against, Wilson said.

“Naturally in those group forums for some clubs it is not the place where they feel most comfortable in sharing their opinions.

“We think that it’s good for people to be able to engage with one another but in terms of getting a firm position there are a number of clubs have shared with us they don’t want to have their position known publicly. And we respect that, so that’s why we see that the sharing with us is different to (what is said) in that group setting.

“We have had Bellarine clubs against, absolutely, but we still have a significant group who are yet for form their position or share where they see themselves fit within the model, and we respect that.

It’s only been two weeks since we released the proposal and what is a busy time of year, a number of clubs will need greater time, greater dialogue internally to determine where they see themselves fit within the model.

He said that they have not lost hope of the overhaul going ahead in 2025, with the group voting in the GFNL also not reflecting Wilson’s private conversations with clubs.

“Not (having doubts) at the moment based on the conversations we are having with clubs one-on-one, even amongst the Geelong clubs, what we are hearing from clubs individually is different to what we are hearing from that group setting,” Wilson said.

“It is a similar thread across where clubs have enjoyed the opportunity to date as part of this project to be able to consult directly with the governing body and be able to share what are their challenges, what are their opportunities.”

Originally published as Bellarine Football Netball League reveals clubs’ strong opposition to competition overhaul with nine clubs against proposal