Kangaroo Flat sets themselves up for the future with meeting
Kangaroo Flat has addressed talk its future could be in a neighbouring competition with rival clubs already battling for survival. The president provides a run down on a future proofing meeting this week.
Kangaroo Flat’s future remains in the Bendigo league according to president Leigh Bailey.
The Kangaroos announced last week the club would hold a meeting on Wednesday night to discuss their future.
The social media post said “the purpose of this meeting is to inform all our members, supporters, and stakeholders of some exciting news about the club for the foreseeable future and beyond”.
It added the structure of the committee for next year would be discussed and what the club is proposing to do off the field to secure its long-term future.
Bailey said it was a meeting the club had planned to put them on the right foot to prepare for the future challenges as a country club.
But the meeting has instead started talk about the club moving away from the Bendigo league to another league, with the Heathcote District league mentioned.
“You can put that to bed (any talk about leaving),” Bailey said.
“I don’t know why anyone is even questioning it.”
Bailey said a decision to move would ruin their netball team, which has been successful for the past few years, making two of the past three grand finals and having the best player in the competition last year in Chelsea Sartori.
“We would lose everyone, every one of those players,” he said.
“It would weaken our netball.”
The meeting is looking at how the team can be better on and off the field, particularly with its senior football.
It’s been 15 years since the seniors made finals with the team finishing sixth three times since 2009.
“We want the league to be strong and not for one minute do we want the strong clubs to become weaker, we want to try to lift ourselves up and how we go about that is what we plan to do (with the meeting),” Bailey said.
But president also conceded the league could do better.
He said if Maryborough and Castlemaine clubs are getting support, the same should be on offer to them.
“It’s good to see the support Maryborough and Castlemaine is getting,” Bailey said.
“Sometimes we are left out and maybe it’s because we have a good netball side, which we are grateful for.
“But we are striving for success on the football field as much as anyone else is.”
Bailey said discussions are happening with the Bendigo league to sort something out.
He conceded conversations with the competition haven’t been there for the past few years, leading to the position it is in now.
Last year Kyneton left, reducing the league to nine teams, and with Maryborough rumoured to be on its way out, there could be just eight teams remaining in 2025.
Bailey said the time for action was now, and the league needed to communicate it’s plans for the future.
“It’s on our doorstep now, with clubs merging and going into recess, or folding completely,” he said.
“The clubs haven’t been consulted, there’s been no conversation. Whatever happens down the track, whatever scenario comes down to play.
“We need to talk, collectively, as a league and the teams in the league.
“Sometimes the league forgets that.”
Bailey spoke to Bendigo league operations manager Cameron Tomlins on Saturday and was assured actions were in place to improve on that.
Tomlins was in attendance at Flat’s match against Sandhurst.
Kangaroos Flat is currently eighth on the ladder and play Maryborough this week.
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