BFL discussion 2025

[Kilonewton]

Clubs supplying their own umpires for this weeks reserves games? Not sure if this is a common trend but thought it’s an issue the Ballarat league wouldn’t have?

Not an ideal situation, but a few away for school holidays.

The BFUA have lost a few over the summer and word is that they hired a new coach who didn’t engage well enough soon enough to keep them. That new coach was gone just before the season started, read into that whatever you want.

Regardless of those shenanigans, some of the older guys who would normally do ressies look like they’ve finally retired, and some of the younger ones that were coming through have either left the area for education or decided that they preferred to play rather than umpire, as they could combine both with junior footy on Sundays and umpiring on Saturdays. Now they’ve moved up to U/18s or Senior footy, they can’t do both.

 

[ICS]

Not an ideal situation, but a few away for school holidays.

The BFUA have lost a few over the summer and word is that they hired a new coach who didn’t engage well enough soon enough to keep them. That new coach was gone just before the season started, read into that whatever you want.

Regardless of those shenanigans, some of the older guys who would normally do ressies look like they’ve finally retired, and some of the younger ones that were coming through have either left the area for education or decided that they preferred to play rather than umpire, as they could combine both with junior footy on Sundays and umpiring on Saturdays. Now they’ve moved up to U/18s or Senior footy, they can’t do both.

All valid points you make.

Just a very poor look for a high quality competition, regardless if its reserves.

Any chance the league could establish a relationship with umpiring organisations in surrounding leagues??

 

[Turbos mail]

Ordinary act that. Any jaw or facial damage? 4 to 6 weeks seems less than perhaps required. Perhaps there needs to be a suspension given in line with the time to victim misses ie injuries mean same weeks out give the assailant a suspension subject to when the victim resumes.

Not a great look and glad the player is ok.

Watch the incident closely and leading up to it the Bacchus player puts a knee into George from behind which triggers the reaction. Yes elbow isn’t great but if you do this type of sh&& to someone from behind you surely expect a reaction. Both players should be suspended. If George gets weeks so should the Bacchus player.

 

[keithrichards]

Not a great look and glad the player is ok.

Watch the incident closely and leading up to it the Bacchus player puts a knee into George from behind which triggers the reaction. Yes elbow isn’t great but if you do this type of sh&& to someone from behind you surely expect a reaction. Both players should be suspended. If George gets weeks so should the Bacchus player.

Shocking take Turbo.

BM player leans into him. No kneeing whatsoever

I’d give him 5-6 weeks based on that footage

 

[Turbos mail]

Shocking take Turbo.

BM player leans into him. No kneeing whatsoever

I’d give him 5-6 weeks based on that footage

Before he leans into him you can see a knee which triggers it off. I don’t follow either so unbiased here. I’m just against all the stuff that happens from behind from players as it triggers players reactions. Elbow’s doesn’t look great but he reacted not instigated it from the vision I seen.

 

[Kilonewton]

All valid points you make.

Just a very poor look for a high quality competition, regardless if its reserves.

Any chance the league could establish a relationship with umpiring organisations in surrounding leagues??

All associations struggle to have enough for full panels. So by taking some from say Riddell Umpires for Eastern Bloc games would just weaken the panels for Riddell.
It should be noted that it was field umpires only, goals & boundaries appointments were fulfilled. U/18s you can get away with having umpires double up into either or Central Highlands or Maryborough Castlemaine, but an umpire doing ressies doesn’t have the time to travel between grounds. And unlike goal umpires, field umpires doubling up ressies into Seniors is not a thing.

 

[ICS]

All associations struggle to have enough for full panels. So by taking some from say Riddell Umpires for Eastern Bloc games would just weaken the panels for Riddell.
It should be noted that it was field umpires only, goals & boundaries appointments were fulfilled. U/18s you can get away with having umpires double up into either or Central Highlands or Maryborough Castlemaine, but an umpire doing ressies doesn’t have the time to travel between grounds. And unlike goal umpires, field umpires doubling up ressies into Seniors is not a thing.

Point taken.

The problem is clubs will still be charged the same umpire affiliation fees

 

[Kilonewton]

Point taken.

The problem is clubs will still be charged the same umpire affiliation fees

That’s between the clubs and the league. Pretty sure the umpires don’t get paid if they’ve not provided the service.
Speaking of affiliation fees, does anyone know anything about an apparent 20-30k hit to the league’s budget with 1 club less, plus Sunbury no under 18s?

 

[Dontrodden]

That’s between the clubs and the league. Pretty sure the umpires don’t get paid if they’ve not provided the service.
Speaking of affiliation fees, does anyone know anything about an apparent 20-30k hit to the league’s budget with 1 club less, plus Sunbury no under 18s?

 

[Grimmett]

$18000 for not fielding a 3rds team

 

[MortlockWatcher]

If I read that right, chuck in another $500 on top of that season fine for each away game to compensate the home club.
If you have nine away games that takes it up to $22,500.

 

[Dontrodden]

Shocking take Turbo.

BM player leans into him. No kneeing whatsoever

I’d give him 5-6 weeks based on that footage

George got 3 ??? Was offered the early guilty plea of 4. Decided to fight it and gets 3. FFS.

 

[leo tolstoy]

If I read that right, chuck in another $500 on top of that season fine for each away game to compensate the home club.
If you have nine away games that takes it up to $22,500.

Will the league actually apply this? Wondering if Sunbury thought about this before pulling their team.

 

[TheGreatBambino]

Great story with Simon Lafranchi reaching 200 games. Been a mainstay at the Bacchus Marsh since 2010 without much fanfare. Always thought he was an unsung hero of that flag in 2016.

I know a fair few that have played with him over the years & haven’t heard a bad word said about him.

 

[BlueJet]

Well said. He's been a great representative of Bacchus Marsh for a long time.

 

[Grimmett]

Fantastic achievement to play 200 senior games at this level. Not many achieve it at any level these days.