Local football could be in for a shake-up, with the Bellarine Football Netball League exploring its future options, including self-administration.
The BFNL has been administered by AFL Barwon and its predecessor, Football Netball Geelong, since 2000.
As revealed exclusively on K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast on May 21, Bellarine president Michael Fitzgerald held discussions earlier this month with his GDFNL counterpart, Neville Whitley.
The region’s oldest competition continues to stand alone, but has handed administration of junior football, football umpire appointments, and the tribunal to AFL Barwon.
“I met with Neville, and he gave me a rundown on their structure and how it works, as well as their affiliation with AFL Barwon and how that works,” Fitzgerald said.
“And then I’ve just relayed that information back to the (Bellarine) clubs at a meeting two weeks ago.”
Formed in 1971, the Bellarine Football League was self-administered until coming under the umbrella of Football Geelong, which was replaced by AFL Barwon ahead of the 2014 season.
The Bellarine and District Netball Association oversaw the netball competition that aligned with the football until the end of 2010.
The BFNL annually renews its administration agreement with AFL Barwon at its annual general meeting.
Fitzgerald says the Football Geelong/AFL Barwon model has “worked well”, but he says Bellarine clubs want “more of a voice” in the current and future direction of AFL Barwon.
He claims the clubs also want better communication from head office, citing a lack of information associated with Surf Coast joining as the competition’s 11th club next year.
“Given the fact that we’re over a third of the way through the season, 2025, and not far away from a marked change of our competition structure, no one knows what it’s going to look like in this 11-side competition,” Fitzgerald said.
“What’s the draw look like? What’s the season length look like? Who plays who? And the like.
“Is everything going to stay as it is, or should we be looking to alter things slightly for the betterment of the Bellarine as a whole?”
K rock Football understands clubs were disappointed to find out salary cap and player points system concessions for Surf Coast via the media.
“A BFNL coach texted one of the presidents while we were in the meeting,” Fitzgerald said.
“That’s the sort of information that needs to be a correct process around informing stakeholders, and that probably just didn’t occur.”
Fitzgerald says the Bellarine is also keen to be recognised by AFL Victoria as a Premier League, which would result in a greater salary cap and change the value of a player coming from another Premier League from four points to three.
“There’s probably seven or eight of them (premier leagues) around the state, and they’re not all at the same level,” he said.
“The Murray League and the Goulburn Valley League are both Premier competitions, and clearly the Goulburn Valley is a stronger competition than the Murray League.
“We feel that the population growth and potential growth of the Barwon region could sustain two Premier competitions.
“There are flow-on effects in terms of being able to market your club to your junior players to remain.
“And there’s salary cap implications associated with being a premier comp; points and all that sort of stuff.”
Fitzgerald confirmed Bellarine clubs will meet with AFL Barwon tomorrow night.
“AFL Barwon will be looking to bring everyone up to speed on changes that have occurred,” Fitzgerald said.
“Obviously, there have been a lot of changes occur at Highton with the change of Region General Manager, and a few senior staff.
“Hopefully there’s a bit of an information session where people can get a bit of an idea of where the whole thing sits.”
AFL Barwon has been contacted for comment.
X: @krockfootball
