North Central: Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil members agree to merger

Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport could be an instant powerhouse when they merge next year. They could also be meeting in the finals in 2024 after big off-seasons.

Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport are putting big decisions of a new name, colours and where the club will play matches in 2025 in the hands of a yet-to-be announced working party of representatives of both clubs.

But what is beyond dispute is the merged club will be a powerhouse at senior level in its first season if recruiting gains made since last year can be retained.

Nullawil has topped up a team that lost the grand final last year by 14 points, with a triple Central Murray league best and fairest winner, Matthew Wade, and former AFL key defender Peter Faulks.

POLL: Where would a merged Nullawil-Wyche-Narraport side finish in the Bendigo league this year? @theweeklytimes@ctryfootyscores

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) March 20, 2024

Wycheproof-Narraport missed finals last year, but is poised to charge up the ladder with a league best and fairest in two competitions, Steve Kennedy, and brothers Josh and Nick Grabowski.

The shortage of junior players at both clubs has largely brought the two clubs only 20 minutes apart together.

Since merging in 1964, Wycheproof-Narraport holds the record for most flags in the North Central league with 19, while Nullawil came into the NCFL after winning seven flags in the Golden Rivers league between 1998 and 2022.

Mick Giddings won four Feeny Medals playing for Narraport and Wycheproof-Narraport. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Four-time Feeny medallist Mick Giddings is widely regarded as Wycheproof-Narraport’s greatest player, even though Merv Keane started his career at the Demons before joining Richmond as a teenager and playing in three flags and being selected in the Tigers’ Team-of-the-Century.

David Watts won 11 best and fairests for Nullawil and brothers Chris and Colin Waterson began their careers at Nullawil before also playing at VFL/AFL level.

NCFL president Tim Lockhart said mergers were an “inevitability” in country football, but the union of Nullawil of Wycheproof-Narraport was the first between two existing clubs since Birchip and Watchem-Corack merged in 1997.

Mervyn Keane marks the ball against Collingwood in the 1980 VFL grand final. He was recruited from Wycheproof-Narraport in the early 1970s.

Sea Lake-Nandaly, the reigning NCFL premiers, came into the league in 2015 from the old Mallee league.

“It’s always sad to lose a club or two merge into one,” Mr Lockhart said.

“But inevitably with the diminishing numbers in the country it’s been slowly happening for 100 years.

“Nully and Wyche have been talking for a few years and couldn’t agree what league they wanted to play in.

“Nully coming to the North Central has made it all a bit more clear cut.

“Inevitably there will be (more mergers), but what the time frame for that is is yet to be seen.”

As for how strong the merged club will be in 2025, Mr Lockhart said: “They will have points issues and salary cap issues like everyone else.

“But they’ve got the makings of a very strong side.”

OLD FOES AGREE TO MERGE

North Central league rivals Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport have agreed to a merger for the 2025 season.

Member votes were held late last week with Nullawil attaining the more than two-thirds majority required last Thursday and Wycheproof-Narraport members doing the same the following night.

A shortage of junior players and concerns around volunteer numbers have been the catalyst for the two clubs opening merger talks.

The name and colours of the merged entity will be made later in the year.

Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil renewed an old rivalry last year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Last season was the first time the two clubs played against each other since 1951 when Nullawil made the switch from the Golden Rivers league.

Wycheproof and Narraport merged 60 years ago.

Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil are 20 minutes apart and discussed a merger in 2019, but Nullawil opted to remain in the Golden Rivers league.

Three years ago, Wycheproof-Narraport and another North Central league club Charlton had merger talks. More than 80 per cent of Wycheproof-Narraport members voted in favour, but that union was scuttled when Charlton fell short of the 75 per cent support required.

Wycheproof-Narraport president Rick Allan said it had been “actively seeking” a merger in recent years.

“Everyone is realistic about the position of the club in terms of juniors,” he said.

“You’ve got to have strong juniors to have a strong club.”

Nullawil lost the grand final by 14 points last year and Wycheproof-Narraport missed finals, but the latter has recruited strongly for 2024.

Nullawil made the grand final in its first season in the North Central league last year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Nullawil president Grant Kelly said it didn’t want to “miss the boat” when the offer to merge presented.

“We just had to make sure the timing was right,” he said.

“It’s been driven by small numbers of junior players and volunteer burnout.

“It all snowballs. We had to get ahead of the curve and we think we have.

“This will put a bit of pressure on a lot of other clubs now.”

Both clubs have a big shortage of players in the under-17 age group and preliminary talks have included the option of a combined team playing in 2024 under the Nullawil name.

The two clubs have new faces as senior coaches this year with Wayne Mitorvic taking over at Wycheproof-Narraport and Daryl Wilson in charge of Nullawil after a successful stint at the helm of Bendigo league club Strathfieldsaye.

Wimmera club Southern Mallee Giants and Horsham District league club Jeparit-Rainbow have merged ahead of this season and will be known as Southern Mallee Thunder.

Maryborough-Castlemaine league rivals Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park have also merged in the off-season to be known as Maryborough Giants.

COUNTRY FOOTY MERGERS SINCE 2000

2000 Moyston-Willaura

2000 Korumburra-Bena

2001 Woorndoo-Mortlake

2001 Warrack Eagles

2001 Terang-Mortlake

2001 East Point

2003 Timboon Demons

2003 Orbost-Snowy Rovers

2003 Kolora-Noorat

2003 Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers

2004 Tooleybuc-Manangatang

2004 Glenthompson-Dunkeld

2005 Wonthaggi Power

2005 Rand-Walbundrie

2006 Billabong Crows

2006 Coreen-Daysdale-Hopefield-Buraja United

2006 Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock

2007 Omeo-Benambra

2012 Hamilton Kangaroos

2013 Casterton-Sandford

2014 Natimuk United

2015 Robinvale-Euston

2015 Southern Mallee Giants

2016 Geelong West Giants

2016 Ouyen United

2016 Rand-Walbundrie-Walla

2024 Maryborough Giants

2024 Southern Mallee Giants-Rainbow-Jeparit