Bunyip approved to join the Ellinbank competition

A country footy side on one of the state’s longest losing streaks has found out what competition it will be in next year. Here is what we know.

Bunyip walks off the ground during the season in the West Gippsland league. Picture: Joanne Bertone Dijkstra

It will be a warm welcome back to the Ellinbank District league for Bunyip next year.

The Bulldogs have had their application to join the competition approved, meaning the club is one step closer to being back in the Ellinbank District league.

The team received enough votes from current clubs and board members to join after a meeting was held on Tuesday night.

All that is needed now is for AFL Victoria to approve the move with the Bulldogs’ current home, the West Gippsland league understood not to be against the move.

“I think they are pretty relieved for their future (with them now in), talking to the president,” Ellinbank District league president Ray Wall said.

“I’ll talk to Tim (Cotter) today (about the move).”

The competition will now have 18 rounds with 12 teams involved.

Wall said there would be two byes throughout the season, to compensate for the byes lost with Bunyip joining.

The clubs were happy about the move to keep the byes.

It will be the first time since 2016 the Bulldogs have played in the Ellinbank District league.

EARLIER

Bunyip hopes it can finally call the Ellinbank District league home once again.

The Bulldogs have applied to re-join the competition looking to end their eight year association with the West Gippsland league.

Last year the club looked to join Ellinbank but wasn’t successful.

This year, after a season of planning, the club has tried again hoping to get the clubs on board.

A meeting will be held on October 1 by the Ellinbank clubs and board to vote on the proposed move.

Sheppard said the club was better prepared this year to give it a crack.

“Our first meeting (this year) it came back up, will we have a go at Ellinbank again,” Bunyip president Steven Sheppard said.

“We went about it a totally different way (the second time).

“We set up a sub committee and went out and reached out and started talking to all clubs.”

Bunyip have been part of West Gippsland since 2017 when it was moved from the EDFNL to the newly formed competition.

The Bulldogs were part of its former home from 1982 to 2016, winning three premierships.

Bunyip are looking to move away from the West Gippsland league after eight years in the competition. Picture: Bunyip Football Netball Club.

A review from AFL Victoria into Gippsland football made the move after the West Gippsland league was created.

While Bunyip made the finals in 2022 the team has struggled since, not winning a game in more than two seasons and currently sitting on a losing streak of 37 matches.

Sheppard said the time had come for the club to return to what is home to them.

“We were taken out of somewhere where we were comfortable and happy,” he said.

“We want to go back.”

Sheppard said the move was also being made to keep their juniors and protect the Bulldogs for the future.

Bunyip stand together during a West Gippsland league this year. Picture: Joanne Bertone Dijkstra.

But he conceded wherever it go it will be tough.

The club has appointed a new coach, Nick Smith, with most of this year’s players re-signing to stay at the team.

“I would dare say, whatever happens next year, whichever league we are in it will be tough,” Sheppard said.

“There is no magic bandaid, you can’t wave that wand and start saying you’ll win 60-70 per cent of your games.

“It’s going to be tough regardless of where we are. But as our new slogan says – it’s the climb.

“It’s fighting our way back.”

Sheppard revealed West Gippsland would not stand in their way if Ellinbank agreed to the move.

Ellinbank District president Ray Wall said the vote needed to be 75 per cent in favour of the move for it to be approved.

All 11 clubs would get a vote as well as five board members.

This means 12 out of the 16 votes would need to be yes.

Wall added if Bunyip was approved the competition would remain at 18 matches but find a different way to have more byes included.

Each team would face everyone once before playing some other sides twice in the final seven rounds before finals.

Originally published as Bunyip approved to join the Ellinbank competition