Murrabit faced with real threat to shut its doors after Golden Rivers

A club in the state’s northwest concedes its playing days could be numbered after a report recommended the league it plays in shuts down. Here is current state of play.

Josh Kennedy helped Murrabit to a vital win in 2023 as part of the Carlton Draft. Picture: Lloyd Polkinghorne.

Murrabit president Ross Stanton concedes he had a sleepless night on Wednesday, fearful for what the next few months could bring to the Blues and the town’s community.

The future of the Golden Rivers league, the competition the Blues play in, is up in the air after a Northern Future’s Project report was released on Wednesday.

The recommendation was for the league to shut down at the end of this year and every team find a new competition, or merge, ahead of 2026.

If it doesn’t happen, the Golden Rivers league could play on next year if four teams stay.

“We haven’t settled on any options for Murrabit at this stage until we saw the report, which just came up,” he revealed.

“I had a sleepless last night (Wednesday), I didn’t like the report a lot.

“I know Golden Rivers is in a transition point but I’m not sure what is available to our club. One of the key things I’m really disappointed about is the time frames that are listed.

“We’re heading for a rushed decision that won’t engage all our community and all of our members. We’ll all fail because of it all down the track.”

Stanton said the first focus would be to talk to other clubs and see if there was a focus to remaining in the competition next year.

Playing in the Golden Rivers in 2026 would extend the decision to move by another 12 months.

“That would be an option we look at (keep four teams for next year),” he said.

“I’m going up to Hay this weekend so I’ll have a conversation with George (the president). I sent an email to all clubs last night, almost saying that (let’s stay).

“It’s too rushed we need another 12 months.”

If three clubs choose to move, Stanton said the options were move to another league, merge, or shut the doors.

“We would look at entertaining Loddon Valley a little bit,” he said.

“The disadvantage for Loddon Valley is we’ve got good junior numbers. They don’t have under-15s, so that is a disadvantage.

“If we try and go to Central Murray who do have those they may go you need under-12s and we’ve only got eight-10 under-12s.

“They also have four more netball sides they run as well.”

Murrabit FC during its 100th year celebration in 2019. Former president’s Rowan McKerrow (left) and Cameron Coulter with Charlie Gillingham. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Stanton added there would be an increased cost to being in the Central Murray league.

A merger is also out of the question, according to the president.

“We don’t see a merge option for us,” he said.

“It’s merge with Kerang or it’s merge with Koondrook Barham. That’s not a merger, that’s a close doors and out the window.”

He’s now worried if a suitable home is not found, it could be it for the 106-year-old club.

And if it happens, what impact does it have not only with the Murrabit community but other Golden Rivers clubs facing the same situation.

“What happens to Murrabit, Wandalla, Macorna and Moulamein if their club falls over,” Stanton said.

“Where is the connection point for community outside of those clubs. It’s not there.

“If the (farmers) are not going to footy, they are not connecting with anyone.

“We want to stay as Murrabit and be a competitive club somewhere.

“If that can’t happen and there is no choice, it is probably close doors.”

Clubs will discuss the project recommendations next week with a better picture of what’s to come.

Originally published as Murrabit faced with real threat to shut its doors after Golden Rivers