North East: Tallangatta and Ovens and King leagues to manage their own affairs

Country football’s administration landscape is changing again, with many recommendations of an exhaustive review a decade ago being abandoned.

North East Victoria is the latest region to dismantle the regional administration model for country football leagues that has existed for nearly a decade.

Tallangatta District and Ovens and King leagues will return to self-administration in 2024 after having their operations performed by the AFL North East-Border hub.

The Upper Murray league was also previously in the northeast hub, but managed its own affairs this year.

The region’s major competition, the Ovens and Murray, never joined up.

It leaves the hub in charge of the Albury-Wodonga and Wangaratta junior competitions and the North East female league next year.

Creation of regional administration centres and commissions were key recommendations of the review of country football carried out by leading administrator Peter Jackson.

Former AFL administrator Peter Jackson carried out a review of country football nearly a decade ago. Many of his recommendations including shared administration hubs have been shelved. Picture: Alex Murray

Goulburn-Murray, Central Victoria and Barwon are among regions where administration hubs are still intact.

A move from commissions to councils in the Wimmera, Western District, Goldfields and Gippsland regions will be completed in early 2024 with councils to still retain responsibility of managing the salary cap, player points and club transfers to other leagues.

The administrative changes will enable the AFL to “sharpen the focus” on game development and participation, according to AFL community football manager John O’Donohue.

“The role of AFL Victoria has been redefined in recent times with a clear focus on growing participation, supporting community football and developing facilities and partnerships,” he said.

“League management is an optional service only by agreement with leagues and regions.

“Importantly, region managers are playing a key strategic role in the planning and delivery of participation growth initiatives and the strategic direction of football in their region.

“To do this successfully, they cannot be consumed with league management obligations and responsibilities which has been the case.”

AFL Victoria has experienced difficulty in retaining staff in regional-based roles.

BENDIGO, GOULBURN VALLEY DRAWS OUT

Echuca’s Sam Reid will co-coach the Goulburn Valley interleague team in 2024. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Bendigo and Goulburn Valley leagues have released their 2024 fixtures on Tuesday.

Bendigo will have a stand-alone match between Castlemaine and Maryborough on Good Friday (March 29) before round 1 is held a fortnight later with Gisborne to have the opening round bye as a result of Kyneton defecting to the Riddell District league.

Bendigo will play the Victorian Amateur Football Association in a representative fixture on July 6.

The grand final replay between reigning premiers Golden Square and Sandhurst will be a stand-alone game on May 25.

The Goulburn Valley league has elected not to follow the lead of many other leagues and start at Easter, with round 1 pencilled in for April 6.

GV will play Ovens and Murray for the third successive year with a venue still to be announced for the May 25 clash.

Damian Sexton is expected to coach the O & M interleague team again in 2024. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

GV will be co-coached by Echuca star Sam Reid and Mark Lambourne, who co-coached with league legend Stephen Ash this year.

Damian Sexton, who has coached the O & M, for the last two years, is expected to coach again in 2024 as it aims to complete a hat-trick of wins over GV.