AFL Central Vic: Maiden Gully-YCW plans to field junior team in Bendigo dashed
The football landscape in Central Victoria remains in a state of major flux with one club’s plans foiled by the governing body. See the latest.
AFL Central Victoria Commission has broken its silence on its reasons for knocking back Maiden Gully-YCW fielding an under-18 team in the Bendigo Football League next year.
The Bendigo league supported the move given Kyneton had left its ranks with the long-term hope Maiden Gully-YCW would became the replacement 10th club.
Maiden Gully-YCW plays in the Loddon Valley league, which appealed Maiden Gully-YCW reforming its under-18s and playing in the Bendigo league.
AFLCV upheld the appeal, but reasons for the rejection were not spelt out.
“One of the biggest considerations was that they hadn’t fielded an under-18 side for the last two years,” AFLCV Commission chairman Nicholas Rolfe said.
“Various assurances were given in relation to that.
“But ultimately we are in charge of football for the greater good and our primary concern has to be the leagues in combination with the clubs.
“We felt it would be better if they competed in the Loddon Valley for the short-term.”
Mr Rolfe said Maiden Gully-YCW only had one ground and there would be fixturing issues if the club had teams playing in two leagues.
Maiden Gully-YCW is located in a growth corridor of Bendigo.
Mr Rolfe also conceded the chances of another competition being created, as flagged earlier, this year were dead in the water after Kyneton was accepted into the Riddell District league and Cohuna Kangas saw its future remaining in the Central Murray league.
Informal approaches to Goulburn Valley clubs Echuca and Rochester about returning to the Bendigo league have fizzled out.
Marong also failed in its bid to leave the Loddon Valley league and join the Heathcote District league this year.
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