Bendigo: Broadford won’t take part in 2025 season
Broadford will spend another 12 months preparing for the massive step up of a return in a major country footy league.
The Bendigo Football-Netball League will be an eight-team competition next season with its latest recruit, Broadford, spending another year in recess.
After a turbulent 12 months, which has seen Kyneton leave to join the Riddell District league and Maryborough go into recess, Bendigo has resisted easing Broadford into the competition with minor grade football and netball teams.
A year ago, Bendigo was prepared to accept a Maiden Gully-YCW under-18s football team as part of a first step to integrate the club into the league, but the move was blocked by the AFL Central Victoria Commission.
Broadford last fielded football teams in the Outer East competition in 2023.
“This is an exciting chapter for our club,’ Broadford president Bonnie Cavanagh-Welch said.
“Our goal is not just to join the BFNL but to compete at a high level.
“We will use this time in recess to ensure we’re in the best possible shape to take the field in 2026, both on and off the field.”
Bendigo league chairwoman Carol McKinstry said: “We are excited to welcome Broadford.
“While they will remain in recess for 2025, we are confident that the groundwork laid during this time will lead to a strong and sustainable future for the club in 2026 and beyond.”
In a best-case scenario, Bendigo could be an 11-team competition in 2026 with the addition of Broadford and Moama and the return of Maryborough.
Moama is investigating joining Bendigo or Goulburn Valley leagues with a move from the Murray league as early as 2026.
Bendigo will need to make a call on whether it plays a 14-round or 21-round season or an 18-round season with not every club playing each other three times.
Broadford’s chances of competing in the Bendigo league next year suffered a major setback when former Bendigo Pioneers coach Damian Truslove knocked back its coaching job.
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