Riddell District: Rejuvenated Kyneton ready to fire following league switch

Kyneton’s switch to the Riddell District has rejuvenated the former Bendigo league club, with a marquee fixture to kick-start their season.

Kyneton’s switch to the Riddell District country footy league after a 77-year stint in the Bendigo league has rejuvenated the club, according to president Hayden Evans.

Mr Evans said he had “never seen interest and buy-in like it” with unprecedented numbers of players training under first-year coach Ethan Foreman.

Paul Chapman coached Kyneton in its final season in the Bendigo league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Riddell District league has also scheduled Kyneton a stand-alone Good Friday match against 2023 grand finalist Woodend-Hesket.

“The majority of the 50-plus players we’ve got on the track are locals who are keen, training hard and really excited about the year,” Mr Evans said.

“I’ve never seen interest and buy-in like it.

“Our juniors are also excited about playing in an under-19s competition against kids they go to school with.

“That younger demographic has had such a positive impact on everyone.”

Mr Evans said the Riddell District league had been “unbelievably supportive” in facilitating the club’s switch from the Bendigo league, which has been left with nine clubs following Kyneton’s exit.

“We don’t feel like we’ve ever had the support that we’re getting,” he said.

The Good Friday match was a specific request Kyneton made to the Riddell District league hierarchy as part of its application to join the competition.

New Kyneton coach Ethan Foreman, left, playing for Riddells Creek in 2019. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Foreman replaces former Geelong premiership player Paul Chapman as Kyneton coach.

Foreman coached Kyneton’s under-18s team last season and also played for the Tigers in their final year in the Bendigo league.

Kyneton’s move was driven by a combination of factors including the Riddell District league having a $35,000 lower salary cap, less club management and umpiring fees and opportunities to host finals.

Meanwhile, the Bendigo league’s general manager Cameron Tomlins is still performing the role of acting AFL Central Victoria regional manager with just over two months before the start of the BFNL season.

No appointment has been made for a permanent replacement for former AFLCV chief Craig Armstead, who has taken up a senior role at the Bendigo sports stadium.

AFLCV commissioners will next month to make a ruling on a fresh bid to admit a Maiden Gully-YCW under-18s team into the Bendigo league for this season.