Wimmera, North Central: The do’s and don’ts of country footy mergers

Without having your “ducks in a line” merging country footy clubs can be a difficult exercise. See what those involved in successful mergers recommend.

Country footy’s moving season has started.

Clubs, coaches and players are casting an eye to 2025 and beyond despite this season’s premierships still to be fought out in September.

But in some cases, clubs are contemplating even bigger history-altering calls as they seek to avoid joining a list of those that are disappearing at the rate of more than one per year since 2000.

A tipping point has been reached with all too familiar signs of trouble.

Population shrinkage due to factors outside of country footy’s control in a lot of cases has put the lifeline of a steady stream of junior players on an irreversible downward trajectory.

Committee members and volunteers are fatigued from trying to keep the club afloat.

Changing leagues can be a less painful option.

But the only other way out, merging, can often be the hardest.

Greg Bellinger has been part of one of the state’s most successful mergers, the Southern Mallee Giants.

Farming towns Hopetoun and Beulah parked to one side decades of rivalry to come together in the mid-2010s.

Southern Mallee Thunder's Greg Bellinger. Picture: Georgia Hallam

Less than a decade later the Giants joined with Jeparit-Rainbow to become the Southern Mallee Thunder playing in the Wimmera league this year and sitting on top of the ladder with finals in sight.

“Our biggest focus was keeping something going for our kids,” Bellinger said.

“But if you want to keep footy and netball going in your local community you’ve got to be prepared to give and take.

“My first bit of advice for everyone going into the room for the first time together to discuss merging would be put your egos in a bin at the front door before you start.

“You’re either in it together or you’re not. It has to be 50-50.

“Right now we’ve got four grounds with two home games each.”

He said club constitutions that could have been written more than 100 years ago have to be studied closely.

“To get 70 per cent member support for a merger is a massive number,” he said.

“I can’t stress enough the need to have all your ducks in a line.

“It’s just the little things that can easily bring you unstuck.”

Southern Mallee Thunder's Jake Garvey is caught in a tackle against Warrack Eagles. Picture: Georgia Hallam

Bellinger called on AFL Victoria to offer clubs incentives to merge.

He said more mergers meant player payments could be driven down harder, achieving the goal of easing the burden on volunteers who raise the money to pay players.

Waiving or significantly reducing affiliation fees for two years following a merger and player points relief to recruit a marquee player were just two of his suggestions.

“Merged entities don’t have to start off winning flags,” Bellinger said.

“But if they’re not successful right from the start they’re going to die pretty quick.

“If there were incentives on the table I’m sure there would be a lot more of them.”

Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport will play as stand-alone clubs for the final time next month before merging in 2025. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport have agreed to a merger for 2025 when the club will become known as Calder United.

It will also split matches 50-50 and remain in the North Central league, which is unique to most leagues in that it also has a hockey competition.

Nullawil has agreed to build a hockey ground at its home ground after only coming into the league last year.

Stuart Craig is a business manager for Bendigo-based Sports Focus, a regional body that provides guidance to grassroots sporting clubs on governance, committee and volunteer management and often gets calls about football-netball club mergers.

He said they can’t be rushed and required meticulous attention to detail.

“My advice would be don’t wait until December and think next season we’re going to amalgamate,” he said.

“Successful ones start the season before and give members, sponsors, everyone, a voice and opportunity to voice what their expectations are.

“They understand the reasons why the amalgamation is being proposed and they’re committed to the process.

“What often happens is there are people who are willing to support, help or assist with an amalgamation, but they don’t understand how much detail is involved.

“I’ve spent weeks helping clubs go through a merger only to see it blow up in our faces come the (annual general meeting) because they haven’t consulted the right people, not everyone had an opportunity to have the voice they thought they needed to have.

“There is a lot of passion, a lot of emotion, attached to amalgamations purely because of the history of the clubs involved.”

Sports Focus business manager Stuart Craig. Picture: Supplied

Also, understanding the terms of a merger was crucial.

“The parties can then come to the table with their non-negotiables,” he said.

“What does the structure of the new club look like, what’s its potential new name, how are the finances going to be managed?

“Right down to the small things that make a big difference to individuals like where are our honour boards going to be hung.”

COUNTRY FOOTY’S MOVING SEASON

WANTING TO MOVE

Bunyip: West Gippsland to Ellinbank District

Newborough: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland

Morwell East: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland

Yinnar: Mid Gippsland to North Gippsland

Maryborough: Bendigo to Central Highlands

Cohuna Kangas: Central Murray to Heathcote District

MERGING IN 2025

Calder United: Nullawil/Wycheproof-Narraport

MERGERS IN WAITING

Benalla, Benalla All Blacks: All Blacks sitting on bottom of Ovens & King senior ladder with no reserves or junior teams. Benalla having multiple forfeits of reserves team in the GV this season.

Corowa Cluster: Well-known trouble spot for lack of juniors and situation is not improving. Corowa-Rutherglen has resumed from a season in recess and Wahgunyah is still struggling.

Upper Murray: The state’s smallest league and if one of Bullioh, Corryong, Cudgewa or Tumbarumba falls over, the one-team from the area playing in the Tallangatta District league will be on again.

Charlton: Began discussions with Wycheproof-Narraport before backing out, leading to the Nullawil-Wycheproof-Narraport merger that will happen in 2025. Charlton’s closest neighbour is Donald.

Taylors Lakes, Laharum: Talks were taking place last year before being put on hold. A wider review of the Horsham District league that the two clubs play is nearing release.

Calivil, Mitiamo: Merger of the two Loddon Valley clubs has been floated previously and retains merit.