Bendigo FL discussion 2025

[MortlockWatcher]

Would love to think that at board they spend time talking about the rantings of the tin hat brigade from the Maine then piss themselves laughing. Seriously think that in future all rantings from the brigade need to go unanswered. No need to fuel the fire.

You can always put them on ignore. Your choice.

 

[JP Ollards]

She reads it all the time and brings it up at meetings.

I’ve got people from 4 different clubs messaging me with info now and it really infuriates them when the in house stuff comes out accurately. They had a meltdown over the airing of the recent approach to open up the board.

Irony is I spent years challenging them through the correct channels and have cut through much more via a meaningless internet forum!

Soon you'll take over the world forest, I'd be staggered if the board, council and club officials take much notice of big footy

 

[Wooden Robot]

Let me ask you this then, if it was football do you think they would have turned over Sandhurst for Square because Essendon was playing and Toma was aligned when he played there?



You didn’t answer my question. You’ve called me a liar so be man enough to back it up.

VFL a little different to AFL. So no to Square.

Look, I would have thought outside the square a bit.
I would have had the premiers Gisborne playing a BFNL All-Star team. Something different to what we'll likely see at least three, if not four times during the season in Flat v Hurst.
Yet, you'd likely cry bias when the All-Star team was announced and it comprised five Sandhurst players, four from Flat and one from South Bendigo, given the absolute dominance of the top three (Gizzy, Sandhurst and Flat) over the last decade, an no Maine players.

I note the Ovens and Murray rep team are playing the Riverina team before a Super Netball clash between the GIANTS and Vixens in Griffiths next month.

But all I'm saying is I can see where the powers that be - and that includes the Vixens who's have to sign off on it - are at with their thinking.
The fact a Sandhurst player is now lining up for the Vixens is a huge deal in the netball world.

 

[Test Tickle]

 

[Forest St End]

Soon you'll take over the world forest, I'd be staggered if the board, council and club officials take much notice of big footy

You are greatly overestimating the capacity of those people.

They are the Homer Simpson’s of sports administration.

VFL a little different to AFL. So no to Square.

Look, I would have thought outside the square a bit.
I would have had the premiers Gisborne playing a BFNL All-Star team. Something different to what we'll likely see at least three, if not four times during the season in Flat v Hurst.
Yet, you'd likely cry bias when the All-Star team was announced and it comprised five Sandhurst players, four from Flat and one from South Bendigo, given the absolute dominance of the top three (Gizzy, Sandhurst and Flat) over the last decade, an no Maine players.

I note the Ovens and Murray rep team are playing the Riverina team before a Super Netball clash between the GIANTS and Vixens in Griffiths next month.

But all I'm saying is I can see where the powers that be - and that includes the Vixens who's have to sign off on it - are at with their thinking.
The fact a Sandhurst player is now lining up for the Vixens is a huge deal in the netball world.

VFL is the same as Super netball though, that’s where I was angling.

I wholeheartedly agree with your idea, would have been a logical and sensible move. My guess is Castlemaine won’t even have an A grade side this season so there wouldn’t have been any complaints, and regardless all the best Castlemaine players would be out there.

I do see where you are coming from but I don’t accept the premise that Gisborne shouldn’t have been given the first option to play, as premiers for the past two seasons. As much as we talk about bias in footy, perceived or otherwise, what goes on in netball is off the charts.

 

[Wooden Robot]

You are greatly overestimating the capacity of those people.

They are the Homer Simpson’s of sports administration.



VFL is the same as Super netball though, that’s where I was angling.

I wholeheartedly agree with your idea, would have been a logical and sensible move. My guess is Castlemaine won’t even have an A grade side this season so there wouldn’t have been any complaints, and regardless all the best Castlemaine players would be out there.

I do see where you are coming from but I don’t accept the premise that Gisborne shouldn’t have been given the first option to play, as premiers for the past two seasons. As much as we talk about bias in footy, perceived or otherwise, what goes on in netball is off the charts.

VFL is a state comp; same as VNL. The premier state comp.
Super Netball national, like AFL.

 

[Forest St End]

Live scenes from the hub as they read big footy today:

 

[Forest St End]

VFL is a state comp; same as VNL. The premier state comp.
Super Netball national, like AFL.

I’d argue in netball the top tier is international and so on but we are into semantics now.

I do respect having an exchange of views with someone who actually discusses the issue instead of childish insults though.

 

[Wooden Robot]

I’d argue in netball the top tier is international and so on but we are into semantics now.

I do respect having an exchange of views with someone who actually discusses the issue instead of childish insults though.

It's all about the issues and bettering this competition from my end.
Whether we all agree or disagree, the passion from many is obvious.

 

[Forest St End]

I wonder if the News Ltd media realise this is all coming from a person that has openly stated in the past that he hopes the league falls over.

Absolutely I do want that because it is the only way any change will happen. As we poor simpletons down south have said for decades, nothing happens in footy until it happens in Bendigo.

I’d love to see Castlemaine, Flat, Gisborne and more leave and then the clubs that have been indifferent or complicit in the inactivity in addressing issues in the game would find themselves without an adequate competition.

If that was to happen watch how fast we would see a tiered system or something else introduced.

 

[knowsnothing]

I do want that because it is the only way any change will happen. As we poor simpletons down south have said for decades, nothing happens in footy until it happens in Bendigo.

I’d love to see Castlemaine, Flat, Gisborne and more leave and then the clubs that have been indifferent or complicit in the inactivity in addressing issues in the game would find themselves without an adequate competition.

If that was to happen watch how fast we would see a tiered system or something else introduced.

Happy to banned over this comment but F*** me, I don't think any Bendigo league club would give two shits, if this Vixens game was in Gisborne and who played.

I think the target is to get people to the game to see Bendigo people in a Bendigo game.

Id assume if it was in Gisborne they'd probably play sunbury not sandhurst.

The more advertisement netball can get the better, it's going to be a cracking season with some talent coming into the league.

Or maybe the league got on here and thought I could stir the pot even more.

Football in the region is up shit creek not just Bendigo, all that happens on here is shit can a group which I'd hope would have better things to do then be on here.

You can argue clubs have recruits in other leagues but go and look at the bottom 5 the reserves and u18s in each of their leagues its not ok.

Its not a BFNL issue is a AFL Vic issue in fact it's a sport issue, participation in all sports is low, irrespective of your stats forest. People will. Always move out of towns like Maine and Maryborough. Simply there's no work. However Rochy seem to do this well.

I've been part of clubs, I've recently been part of club that lost all of our u16s, shattering absolutely and may struggle junior wise for some time.
Hopefully some of the kids who have gone to stronger clubs come back after u18s better footballers and potentially senior players. Does it make it hard absolutely are we blaming other clubs no, we’re trying to protect it happening again.

no one wants a club to die however with your juniors what is the club meant to do. Say no to a gun junior and turn them away. For them to venture to another club down the road.

Pios have no bearing on this there's a kid still aligned to white hills who’ll make the pios list.

That's not an excuse, u18 kids are recruited absolutely, to ensure clubs have numbers, sometimes the players and good ones reach out who just happen to be pios kids.

I get your frustrations and hope at some stage the addy runs something of Castlemaine.

Question does castlmaine have a paper like maryborough does and doesn't talk about other BFNL clubs? Asking for a friend.

If you really want to achieve an outcry that may go viral there's a thing called Facebook that could help but you'd need to put your name up.

I love the comments I've spoke to x person who said hadn't spoken but another exec has the reality is unless the president comes out and says why not us. Doesn't really matter

Its like using the excuse that my mothers, aunties step husbands, ex wife dogs had pups so I can't train.

I hope Maine goes well this year be great for the league, region and the forum and I'd assume the players, because if someone was talking about my club like a few do on here I'd cringe.

At some stage this has to have a negative effect on people's mental state and you need to be mindful of that.
Volunteer hours volunteer pay.
Same as football club. Can't see you blaming the club on any of whats occurred in the last 10 years.

 

[jayco13]

Happy to banned over this comment but F*** me, I don't think any Bendigo league club would give two shits, if this Vixens game was in Gisborne and who played.

I think the target is to get people to the game to see Bendigo people in a Bendigo game.

Id assume if it was in Gisborne they'd probably play sunbury not sandhurst.

The more advertisement netball can get the better, it's going to be a cracking season with some talent coming into the league.

Or maybe the league got on here and thought I could stir the pot even more.

Football in the region is up shit creek not just Bendigo, all that happens on here is shit can a group which I'd hope would have better things to do then be on here.

You can argue clubs have recruits in other leagues but go and look at the bottom 5 the reserves and u18s in each of their leagues its not ok.

Its not a BFNL issue is a AFL Vic issue in fact it's a sport issue, participation in all sports is low, irrespective of your stats forest. People will. Always move out of towns like Maine and Maryborough. Simply there's no work. However Rochy seem to do this well.

I've been part of clubs, I've recently been part of club that lost all of our u16s, shattering absolutely and may struggle junior wise for some time.
Hopefully some of the kids who have gone to stronger clubs come back after u18s better footballers and potentially senior players. Does it make it hard absolutely are we blaming other clubs no, we’re trying to protect it happening again.

no one wants a club to die however with your juniors what is the club meant to do. Say no to a gun junior and turn them away. For them to venture to another club down the road.

Pios have no bearing on this there's a kid still aligned to white hills who’ll make the pios list.

That's not an excuse, u18 kids are recruited absolutely, to ensure clubs have numbers, sometimes the players and good ones reach out who just happen to be pios kids.

I get your frustrations and hope at some stage the addy runs something of Castlemaine.

Question does castlmaine have a paper like maryborough does and doesn't talk about other BFNL clubs? Asking for a friend.

If you really want to achieve an outcry that may go viral there's a thing called Facebook that could help but you'd need to put your name up.

I love the comments I've spoke to x person who said hadn't spoken but another exec has the reality is unless the president comes out and says why not us. Doesn't really matter

Its like using the excuse that my mothers, aunties step husbands, ex wife dogs had pups so I can't train.

I hope Maine goes well this year be great for the league, region and the forum and I'd assume the players, because if someone was talking about my club like a few do on here I'd cringe.

At some stage this has to have a negative effect on people's mental state and you need to be mindful of that.
Volunteer hours volunteer pay.
Same as football club. Can't see you blaming the club on any of whats occurred in the last 10 years.

 

[JP Ollards]

Happy to banned over this comment but F*** me, I don't think any Bendigo league club would give two shits, if this Vixens game was in Gisborne and who played.

I think the target is to get people to the game to see Bendigo people in a Bendigo game.

Id assume if it was in Gisborne they'd probably play sunbury not sandhurst.

The more advertisement netball can get the better, it's going to be a cracking season with some talent coming into the league.

Or maybe the league got on here and thought I could stir the pot even more.

Football in the region is up shit creek not just Bendigo, all that happens on here is shit can a group which I'd hope would have better things to do then be on here.

You can argue clubs have recruits in other leagues but go and look at the bottom 5 the reserves and u18s in each of their leagues its not ok.

Its not a BFNL issue is a AFL Vic issue in fact it's a sport issue, participation in all sports is low, irrespective of your stats forest. People will. Always move out of towns like Maine and Maryborough. Simply there's no work. However Rochy seem to do this well.

I've been part of clubs, I've recently been part of club that lost all of our u16s, shattering absolutely and may struggle junior wise for some time.
Hopefully some of the kids who have gone to stronger clubs come back after u18s better footballers and potentially senior players. Does it make it hard absolutely are we blaming other clubs no, we’re trying to protect it happening again.

no one wants a club to die however with your juniors what is the club meant to do. Say no to a gun junior and turn them away. For them to venture to another club down the road.

Pios have no bearing on this there's a kid still aligned to white hills who’ll make the pios list.

That's not an excuse, u18 kids are recruited absolutely, to ensure clubs have numbers, sometimes the players and good ones reach out who just happen to be pios kids.

I get your frustrations and hope at some stage the addy runs something of Castlemaine.

Question does castlmaine have a paper like maryborough does and doesn't talk about other BFNL clubs? Asking for a friend.

If you really want to achieve an outcry that may go viral there's a thing called Facebook that could help but you'd need to put your name up.

I love the comments I've spoke to x person who said hadn't spoken but another exec has the reality is unless the president comes out and says why not us. Doesn't really matter

Its like using the excuse that my mothers, aunties step husbands, ex wife dogs had pups so I can't train.

I hope Maine goes well this year be great for the league, region and the forum and I'd assume the players, because if someone was talking about my club like a few do on here I'd cringe.

At some stage this has to have a negative effect on people's mental state and you need to be mindful of that.
Volunteer hours volunteer pay.
Same as football club. Can't see you blaming the club on any of whats occurred in the last 10 years.

1 kid from the hdfl is on the pios list and one from the lvfl. To suggest juniors aren't moving earlier is crap.

You're right its state wide, what's the afl who've taken over every comp in the state doing about it? Kids aren't playing footy, yet there was a community camp around Bendigo, which no one knew anything about, how does that happen, if you're running a community camp at least go to 50% of primary schools and spend a minimum of a week to get kids excited about footy.

Clubs in Geelong are putting a lot of effort into their junior programs. Bell park have launched dragons DNA and have guys who would make an all star senior coaching panel in country footy develop their juniors. St marys in Geelong also have a number of ex cats with kids taking junior footy training, starting at under 10s.

Castlemaine have had in the last 30-40 years some of the most talented players in the bfl, are many involved at junior club level?

I'm not sure struggling bfl clubs are doing anything like it.

If clubs like lalbert and ultima can get juniors consistently and develop their juniors into good senior footballers then some bfl clubs aren't trying hard enough.

 

[rkjc22]

Does anyone know if it's possible to contact the council?

 

[MortlockWatcher]

The council could well be a myth.

 

[harsh. but fair]

Loving the passion on display for late January.
But does anyone else think it’s a bit odd that BFNL doesn’t reveal its financials like other major leagues do from what I read before Xmas in News Ltd publication. OM $60k profit, GV $80k loss, Ballarat, Gippsland profit. If you want to be a major league you’ve got to act like one and roll with punches of good & bad news.

 

[Mad Jack]

Loving the passion on display for late January.
But does anyone else think it’s a bit odd that BFNL doesn’t reveal its financials like other major leagues do from what I read before Xmas in News Ltd publication. OM $60k profit, GV $80k loss, Ballarat, Gippsland profit. If you want to be a major league you’ve got to act like one and roll with punches of good & bad news.

Spot on, it’s more than odd. Going with their M.O of trying to sweep negative news under the carpet. Same as when the South points debacle was uncovered.

 

[Forest St End]

Does anyone know if it's possible to contact the council?

I’ve heard if you place a Sherrin on the table at midnight on the 13th of the month, turn it anti-clockwise three times while chanting the Professor’s name, they will appear.

 

[Forest St End]

Happy to banned over this comment but F*** me, I don't think any Bendigo league club would give two shits, if this Vixens game was in Gisborne and who played.

I think the target is to get people to the game to see Bendigo people in a Bendigo game.

Id assume if it was in Gisborne they'd probably play sunbury not sandhurst.

The more advertisement netball can get the better, it's going to be a cracking season with some talent coming into the league.

Or maybe the league got on here and thought I could stir the pot even more.

Football in the region is up shit creek not just Bendigo, all that happens on here is shit can a group which I'd hope would have better things to do then be on here.

You can argue clubs have recruits in other leagues but go and look at the bottom 5 the reserves and u18s in each of their leagues its not ok.

Its not a BFNL issue is a AFL Vic issue in fact it's a sport issue, participation in all sports is low, irrespective of your stats forest. People will. Always move out of towns like Maine and Maryborough. Simply there's no work. However Rochy seem to do this well.

I've been part of clubs, I've recently been part of club that lost all of our u16s, shattering absolutely and may struggle junior wise for some time.
Hopefully some of the kids who have gone to stronger clubs come back after u18s better footballers and potentially senior players. Does it make it hard absolutely are we blaming other clubs no, we’re trying to protect it happening again.

no one wants a club to die however with your juniors what is the club meant to do. Say no to a gun junior and turn them away. For them to venture to another club down the road.

Pios have no bearing on this there's a kid still aligned to white hills who’ll make the pios list.

That's not an excuse, u18 kids are recruited absolutely, to ensure clubs have numbers, sometimes the players and good ones reach out who just happen to be pios kids.

I get your frustrations and hope at some stage the addy runs something of Castlemaine.

Question does castlmaine have a paper like maryborough does and doesn't talk about other BFNL clubs? Asking for a friend.

If you really want to achieve an outcry that may go viral there's a thing called Facebook that could help but you'd need to put your name up.

I love the comments I've spoke to x person who said hadn't spoken but another exec has the reality is unless the president comes out and says why not us. Doesn't really matter

Its like using the excuse that my mothers, aunties step husbands, ex wife dogs had pups so I can't train.

I hope Maine goes well this year be great for the league, region and the forum and I'd assume the players, because if someone was talking about my club like a few do on here I'd cringe.

At some stage this has to have a negative effect on people's mental state and you need to be mindful of that.
Volunteer hours volunteer pay.
Same as football club. Can't see you blaming the club on any of whats occurred in the last 10 years.

That was a bit of a roller coaster ride, we were together and apart a few times.

For brevity’s sake I’ll just add two thoughts.

Does it make it hard absolutely are we blaming other clubs no, we’re trying to protect it happening again.

I don’t think anyone blames the clubs. Yes you can see things from a different ethical perspective at times but at the end of the day in sport we play to the rules. It’s the administrators who are at fault.

I’ll give an example. At the league meeting when the points system was first announced our club president at the time put his hand up and asked a very smart question. The gist of it was some clubs in the league have over double the amount of juniors than others do, therefore they are logically going to have twice as many one pointers seniors, which is a huge advantage. Basically he asked if they had considered that in the system.

One of the other club reps immediately said yes but you only need 20 juniors to make a senior team and you have that so it doesn’t matter if someone else has 80.

Those of us in the room who had passed year 7 maths found that funny until we saw the hub staff nodding along.

Another country club pointed out the points system as it stood would incentivise clubs to raid the juniors of other clubs and that was dismissed as well.

Almost ten years later what has happened? Every flag is being won by big junior population teams using very low points and juniors are getting raised as you describe with your club.

It’s just a very predictable failure of policy.

Can't see you blaming the club on any of whats occurred in the last 10 years.

Once again I’ll repeat, no one has ever said anything of the sort.

Spot on, it’s more than odd

Corrupt? Hopefully David Johnston is on the case.

 

[rkjc22]

I’ve heard if you place a Sherrin on the table at midnight on the 13th of the month, turn it anti-clockwise three times while chanting the Professor’s name, they will appear.

I've heard they've been rather active amongst the leagues. Just curious if there's anyway for anyone to contact them with ideas and suggestions.

 

[Truck]

I've heard they've been rather active amongst the leagues. Just curious if there's anyway for anyone to contact them with ideas and suggestions.

I’d imagine if you contacted the hub they would put you in touch.

 

[ROOTA#6]

I’d imagine if you contacted the hub they would put you in touch.

Oh god….you didn’t just say that did you.

Surely if he contacts the hub he will be just be put through to another staff member pretending to be a member of the council and the details of the caller will be forwarded to Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye for future recruiting or membership purposes

 

[Mad Jack]

Oh god….you didn’t just say that did you.

Surely if he contacts the hub he will be just be put through to another staff member pretending to be a member of the council and the details of the caller will be forwarded to Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye for future recruiting or membership purposes

Sandhurst must have diverted their membership hotline number to Strath’s number

 

[Arnold Horshack]

You didn’t answer my question. You’ve called me a liar so be man enough to back it up.

You are a liar. Partner of one of their star players was my source.

Have a lie down Forest. You don't react to being challenged very well. Just because you missed out on a job and your elite insight keeps getting knocked back doesn't mean you need to become this unhinged surely?

 

[knowsnothing]

That was a bit of a roller coaster ride, we were together and apart a few times.

For brevity’s sake I’ll just add two thoughts.



I don’t think anyone blames the clubs. Yes you can see things from a different ethical perspective at times but at the end of the day in sport we play to the rules. It’s the administrators who are at fault.

I’ll give an example. At the league meeting when the points system was first announced our club president at the time put his hand up and asked a very smart question. The gist of it was some clubs in the league have over double the amount of juniors than others do, therefore they are logically going to have twice as many one pointers seniors, which is a huge advantage. Basically he asked if they had considered that in the system.

One of the other club reps immediately said yes but you only need 20 juniors to make a senior team and you have that so it doesn’t matter if someone else has 80.

Those of us in the room who had passed year 7 maths found that funny until we saw the hub staff nodding along.

Another country club pointed out the points system as it stood would incentivise clubs to raid the juniors of other clubs and that was dismissed as well.

Almost ten years later what has happened? Every flag is being won by big junior population teams using very low points and juniors are getting raised as you describe with your club.

It’s just a very predictable failure of policy.



Once again I’ll repeat, no one has ever said anything of the sort.



Corrupt? Hopefully David Johnston is on the case.

Again, you can blame others or you can man up and go we got it wrong.

You need ownership of you're own future not hand held waiting for others to help you.

We've had this discussion before plenty of worse of clubs statistically then Maine but are very successful.

I would say you would have zero chance on the board or council purely for the fact you're always right and always negative.

Points system wise comment had nothing to do with the junior programs and coaches they have in place.

Let me guess you want only each club to have 1 junior team. Still wont help castlemaine.

This appears to bring down the quality of the league to make it even. Come up rather then go down.

What do you think will happen with that?
Your so called elite teams become better. As they will just handpick the best 24 players in Bendigo. Not many of your junior B players become senior footballers