AFL Goulburn-Murray cuts ties with Barooga leaving female teams in limbo
A club’s move to an unaffiliated competition has triggered an AFL crackdown that threatens to destroy two women’s teams and end dozens of playing careers.
Barooga has accused AFL Goulburn-Murray of “payback” for joining the unaffiliated Picola District league with two female football teams at risk of folding.
The club was well advanced in the process of starting up a new club in the town for the teams to continue playing in the AFL-affiliated Northern Victorian women’s competition, but has been met with a wall of silence since late last month.
On Thursday, a joint statement from AFL Victoria, AFL Goulburn-Murray and the Murray league confirmed the scrapping of “associated benefits” resulting from Barooga’s decision to return to the Picola District league.
“It is confirmed that Barooga Football Netball-Club will not be eligible to access AFL-supported programs including participation in any affiliated competitions for men and women, facility funding, junior competition and talent pathway programs, representative opportunities such as the V/Line Cup and Talent Leagues, the National Protection Program, Child Protection Cover, and the protections offered under national rules, regulations and transfer policies.”
The statement also confirmed the establishment of female teams at Cobram, which plays in the Murray league, were underway.
Barooga president Darrell Bowden said the club was prepared to forego the “associated benefits” for its male players, but wanted to to do everything in its power to retain them for their female players.
“All we thought we had to do was start a new entity and that is what we’ve done,” he said.
“We finalised all our paperwork, paid our fees this week and let AFLGM know on Tuesday that we were good to go.
“But we’ve just been given the cold shoulder and it’s left 40 girls high and dry.
“We haven’t heard from anyone since November 27 after being in consultation with them for a couple of months.
“It’s just payback for us joining the Picola league even though we were prepared to start a new club.”
AFLGM regional manager Shaun Connell has been contacted for comment.
PICOLA RETURN SEALED
Barooga has been given the green light to return to the Picola District league where it last played 37 years ago.
In a move that only officially started a month ago, Barooga will depart the Murray league where it won four flags inside a decade before stumbling on hard times in recent seasons.
Barooga was officially admitted back into the Picola District league by its board on Monday night and will wear a predominantly yellow jumper from next year to avoid a clash with Tungamah.
“It’s a huge relief,” Barooga president Darrell Bowden said.
“It gives us direction, a focus and a stepping stone to revitalise the club.
“For a town of our size it’s where we need to be.”
The move from the Murray league had overwhelming member support, but still required the Picola District board to tick off the switch.
Barooga has been granted 43 player points under the Picola District equalisation model, three less than it played with in the Murray league in 2025 when it finished winless.
Picola District also asked for a five-year commitment to field a full complement of four football teams and seven netball teams.
The addition of Barooga has also led to Picola District board formally committing to “potentially dividing into two competitions in the future”.
Between 2009 and 2018 it had 17 clubs and was split into two divisions until Tungamah, Katandra, Dookie United and Shepparton East left to remain affiliated with the AFL.
Tungamah, Katandra and Dookie United have since returned while the competition has remained unaffiliated with the AFL.
Barooga becomes the competition’s 16th club next year and league operations manager Shane Railton said it was “open for business”.
“In the next few days we will start reaching out to clubs and asking them what is their position on a split and if we do split how would you like it to look,” he said.
“There are clubs on our periphery that are open to the idea of coming in.
“It’s just what way we set it up.”
Murray league president Julie Walsh was contacted for comment.
