200-point reserves thrashings recorded in North Gippsland, Maryborough-Castlemaine and Central Murray

Reserves footy is back on the agenda after some big thrashings. See what some clubs are doing to overcome the problem.

Country footy reserves matches are blowing out by more than 200 points early in the season as leagues turn to ways to keep the grade attractive to young players and fit for purpose.

A 235-point thrashing was handed out in the North Gippsland league on Saturday and a similar result was recorded in the Maryborough-Castlemaine District league.

In the Central Murray league, a 203-point win was posted and only one of the five matches was decided by under 11 goals.

The post Covid-era has seen forfeits in the Bendigo and Goulburn Valley leagues despite teams being able to play matches with reduced numbers under AFL Victoria rules.

One-sided results have been commonplace in country football reserves competitions at the start of the 2025 season. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

The Gippsland league isn’t immune to lopsided results, but in a bid to shore up crucial numbers, particularly those coming out of under-age ranks, clubs have rebranded reserves teams as development teams.

Leongatha led the way when Trent McMicking was appointed senior coach and the move has been copied by Traralgon, Morwell and Moe.

League president Andrew Livingtstone said development “had a nicer ring to it”.

“We want to make it more attractive to players who don’t see themselves as being a reserves player or twos player,” he said.

“Development sounds better with kids transitioning out of the thirds, who might not be quite ready to play seniors, or are in and out a bit.

“It might be the small thing that keeps a young kid playing in our league.”

Corowa-Rutherglen has followed suit in calling its reserves a development team.

It beat the reigning premiers on Saturday after having only seven regular players last year.

The difficulty in coming up with a statewide solution was underlined in Gippsland when Bairnsdale returned to the major league in 2011 without reserves and players not selected for seniors played at neighbouring district clubs.

But the arrangement ended in 2018 when Bairnsdale’s reserves reformed and made finals the following year.

POLL: After some very lopsided results in country footy reserves competitions early in 2025 is the current model broken and in need of attention? @theweeklytimes@ctryfootyscores

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) April 9, 2025

Merged club Calder United is bucking the trend in the North Central league by being flush with reserves players for coach Tom Bickley.

Nullawil won the reserves flag last year, but Wycheproof-Narraport struggled for numbers.

“We’ve gone from last year looking for blokes every week to telling people this year they’re not getting a game,” club president Ricky Allan said.

“We’ve also got excellent numbers on the training track which is a big thing as well.

“It’s creating competition within the club and putting pressure on your seniors as well.”