Sport
15 July, 2025
Maryborough Magpies seek clarity from MCDFNL following recent refusal
“What seemed like the most logical option for the club, for a team in Maryborough to join the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL), is now gone.”
The Maryborough Football Netball Club (MFNC) is still assessing its options for a return to senior football and netball in 2026 following its unsuccessful application to MCDFNL.
The Magpies’ 153-year history remains in jeopardy following last Wednesday’s vote, which failed to gain the 15 votes needed for the MFNC to return out of recess and join the MCDFNL next season.
It marks the second consecutive season the league has knocked back the Magpies’ ambitions of joining, with club presidents from all 13 teams in the MCDFNL voting four to nine against the proposal last season.
According to MFNC president Glen Bardsley, the club hasn’t received any notice from the league about the final vote count or any official reason as to why the application was rejected.
“They told us we didn’t get the 75 percent of the vote needed and that was it,” he said.
“That’s all we have got, we can’t get what the vote was, we’re not asking for who voted what, we just asked what the vote outcome was and they won’t tell us.
“There is a chance for a team to survive and it just got knocked back for whatever reason.
“We have had a fair bit of support from teams in the MCDFNL who are very disappointed in the decision.”
The MFNC entered into recess last October following unsuccessful expressions of interest to the MCDFNL, Central Highlands Football League, and possible mergers with several local clubs.
While their senior football and netball departments have remained in recess this season, the club has kept four junior football teams running, ranging from under 10s to under 16s.
Despite this, Bardsley said the club’s junior football program could now face serious issues following last week’s decision.
“The juniors will hopefully continue but the problem there is once they turn 16 where do they go?” he said.
“If they try and get into a MCDFNL team next year they might not be able to get in because they are all full.
“I think there are a lot of kids starting to get a little bit worried that they might not be playing football next season.”
With the club in the midst of shock and disappointment following the decision, past and present players, members, and volunteers gathered on Friday night at Princes Park for their July Platinum Club Members Function.
While he would have rathered the event be a night of celebration following a successful application, Bardsley said the event signalled the club’s community remains as tight as ever, as they prepare to navigate all potential options to secure their long-term future.
“We are having a look at their process to see whether it was done right or not, some of their rules we’re not sure if they followed them correctly,” he said.
“We don’t know 100 percent, we are looking at all our options, getting advice on whether we can pursue this further or if we just let it be and from there we don’t know.”