Bendigo: Maryborough departure to leave only eight clubs in major league

The Bendigo league has been rocked by Maryborough following Kyneton’s lead and wanting out. But the exodus might not be over yet.

Maryborough has made the call to depart the Bendigo Football League after 32 years, sparking fresh fears the exodus of clubs hasn’t finished yet.

The 143-year-old league is facing its biggest crisis since 1979 when it only had seven clubs with the back-to-back exits of Kyneton and Maryborough leaving it with eight next year.

The only non-Bendigo based club to win a senior premiership since 2001 is Gisborne, which has previously denied speculation it could also leave and join the 11-team Ballarat league and have instant rivalries with Melton, Darley and Sunbury.

Being an eight-team league will make it difficult for existing clubs to attract players for 2025 following a drain of top-end talent this year.

Former Bendigo league chairman Jock Clark. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Former Bendigo league chairman Jock Clark said the competition had never been at a lower ebb.

“I love the Bendigo league, but there seems to be no new ideas, no vision,” he said.

“Where does the board see us being in two, five and 10 years time?

“Anything they might do, is always done in secret.

“Bring the people with you.”

Maryborough has “resolved to investigate moving to another league” following a disastrous start to this season that has included losses by 258, 333 and 184 points with the club also forfeiting reserves matches in those rounds.

Maryborough has signalled its intention to leave the Bendigo league.

The update said: “The committee has determined that our current situation is unsustainable and failure to act will be severely detrimental to the sustainability of the club.

“Our juniors remain strong and has resulted in some of our players achieving representative honours and entering pathway programs.

“Unfortunately this does not transcend performance and retention of this talent has been an ongoing issue.”

Maryborough president Scott Quinlan was contacted by the Weekly Times for comment.

Maryborough, which has a population of 8000 people, could join the Maryborough-Castlemaine or Central Highlands leagues next year and hasn’t ruled out merging.

Bendigo Football-Netball League chairwoman Carol McKinstry. Picture: La Trobe University.

Bendigo league president Carol McKinstry said she doubted it would stand in the way of Maryborough leaving.

“We’ve always said regarding Maryborough we want whatever is best for football in that region,” she said.

“Maryborough has been an absolute powerhouse in years gone by, but they do lose a lot of their talent to the district leagues.”

Maryborough’s decision to leave Bendigo coincides with the absence of an overarching governing body in the Central Victoria region following the recent winding up of the commission and the replacement council yet to be formed.

It’s expected to be in place before a leagues’ forum on June 19.

Marong and Maiden Gully-YCE have been touted as potential additions to the Bendigo league, but Marong president Darren Turnbull believes a move now would be premature and Maiden Gully-YCW has won only one match in the Loddon Valley league this season.

Former clubs Echuca and Rochester are entrenched in the Goulburn Valley league.

The seven clubs in the Bendigo league in 1979 were Sandhurst, Golden Square, Eaglehawk, Castlemaine, Kyneton, South Bendigo and Kennington-Strathdale with the latter folding in 1994.

Maryborough joined the Bendigo league in 1992 and won back-to-back flags in 1998-99 under coach Neville Massina and produced two Michelsen Medal winners, Jamie Bond (1996), Matt Aston (2002).

Its greatest player is Carlton legend John Nicholls, whose brother Don, also played for the Blues after starting at Maryborough.