Sport
26 July, 2024
MCDFNL and CHFL reject Maryborough FNC’s application to join for the 2025 season
The Maryborough Football Netball Club are now considering their options for the 2025 season, with the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League (MCDFNL) and the Central Highlands Football League (CHFL) both rejecting their applications to join.
Following media reports that the MCDFNL had voted against the club joining the league, Maryborough released a statement to members and supporters of their 2025 intentions.
The club confirmed they had considered expressions of interest with the MCDFNL and CHFL, while also confirming discussions with the Maryborough Giants surrounding a merger.
“As previously advised, the club sought to investigate alternatives to playing in the BFNL off the back of a prolonged period of not being competitive in senior football,” the statement reads.
“These investigations centered around moving to another league as well as merging with a suitable club. We sent expressions of interest to the MCDFNL and CHFL as part of this process, as well as engaged in discussions with the Maryborough Giants.”
The Magpies also discussed the discourse with the MCDFNL, where their proposal to join the league was defeated.
“Our president received a call from the MCDFNL president advising they had undertaken a vote with their club presidents and the majority (four to nine against) had voted against the MFNC joining the MCDFNL. Whilst this was not a formal vote of their executive, it was indicated that the formal vote would mirror the wishes of the clubs.
“At the time of writing, we have not received formal written acknowledgement of our declined application from the board of the MCDFNL. Further, we have not received any written advice for the reasons for our failed application.”
The club were disappointed with media reports which had not allowed the Magpies to communicate the results of their discussions to their members and supporters.
“It was always our intention to communicate with our members promptly upon receipt of written advice,” it read.
As a result, the option to join the MCDFNL is “currently closed” for the 2025 season, according to the club.
“If the board of the MCDFNL has formally rejected our application, we accept that decision. Obviously, we don’t agree with it. But there is no right of appeal to this process as defined in the MCDFNL constitution.
“We saw some obvious benefits in having all games played on the same day, as it would allow us to restructure and vertically integrate our club. The MCDFNL also have a bye and with us being located in the heartland of the league, we felt there were strong synergies in being a productive member of the MCDFNL.
“Disappointingly that view was not shared by the majority of clubs, many of whom sit on the board of the MCDFNL. We do note that there were some clubs who voted for our inclusion, so hopefully that door can open at some point in the future and we look forward to maintaining a dialogue with the MCDFNL to seek inclusion in the future.”
The club’s discussions with the CHFL also saw the league decline their application to join in 2025, with insufficient support from clubs stated as a factor in their decision.
Specific discussions around a potential merger with the Maryborough Giants were also high-lighted by the club.
“Our discussions with the Giants are also at a stalemate. The Giants’ board are still grappling with the integration of their two legacy clubs. Our doors remain open to the Giants, but we regret to advise there is not enough support from within the Giants board to continue discussions at this point in time,” the statement reads.
“We have left our door open to other clubs for merge discussions, but currently, we have no other ongoing discussions taking place.”
The rejections from the MCDFNL and CHFL means there are now three key options for the Maryborough Football Netball Club — continuing in the BFNL, going into recess, or seeking a merger.
“The BFNL has been consistent in their support of the MFNC and have reaffirmed they are more than happy for us to remain in the BFNL in season 2025. We thank the BFNL board and other clubs in the league for their continued support and understanding through this difficult time,” the statement reads.
“The option exists to put senior football and netball into recess by agreement with the BFNL, on the premise that the club would regroup and seek to rejoin the league in the short term.
“This would leave our juniors untouched and free to continue competing in the BJFL.
“There is no immediate necessity to make a call to recess the club. This is an option that is always available to us and is viewed as a last resort.
“Our door remains open to the Giants and we are also open to discussions with a suitable partner. But presently, there are no advanced discussions taking place.”
The rejection from the MCDFNL and CHFL means plans for a general meeting to discuss future plans, as well as members to vote on their future, have been put aside.
According to the club, there is now no decision to make, while the BFNL have indicated they are happy for the Magpies to continue in the league in 2025 and beyond.
“However, we recognise that to remain in the BFNL there needs to be some significant changes. We cannot sustain our current output in senior football,” the club statement reads.
“We are presently working to implement an out of the box strategy that would allow the club to compete in 2025 in the BFNL.
“The club needs more players with the desire and capacity to compete at the BFNL level as well as off-field support in administration and operations.
“We have sought assistance from members and supporters throughout the season, on several occasions, but this has generated no meaningful change despite there being plenty of well-wishers and statements of support.
“If we do not have people come forward, the club, your club, will cease to operate in its present form, and 152 years of history will come to an abrupt halt.
“While the committee and players are continuing to fight to keep the future for the club intact, we will have no option but to consider a recess if we do not realise meaningful change in the short term. We sincerely hope this does not happen.”
AFL Central Victoria region manager Cameron Tomlins highlighted that discussions have continued with Maryborough in terms of their potential affiliation with the BFNL for 2025.
“As it stands, Maryborough are an affiliated club with the BFNL, and nothing has changed. The BFNL board have been incredibly supportive for a long period of time, and there’s been a number of challenges and pressures in the region. There’s some ability of the league to navigate that and some things that are out of our control,” he said.
“The message for a long period of time has been that Maryborough as a football and netball club are certainly highly valued by the BFNL, and that hasn’t changed. There has been respect from the league while the club goes through a process to understand where the future of the club lies, their sustainability and the best fit.
“Ultimately, if it’s with the BFNL, that is great, if that was to be elsewhere, we are respectful of the process they have undergone and supportive of the decision.”
Tomlins said he was grateful for the ongoing support that opposition BFNL clubs — who have helped provide players to assist Maryborough in fielding senior teams for the second half of the season.
“There is a lot of support from the league and the opposition clubs, to their credit,” he said.
“They appreciate the challenges specifically in the broader region in Maryborough and Castlemaine.
“They are going through some challenges in their participation base this year, so the league has been incredibly supportive of measures that we have the authority to roll out to ensure the football and netball presence remains in Maryborough for the remainder of the season.
“Deep down, all clubs go through challenges, and I think their ability to roll their sleeves up and be on the same page and help each other to see this season out, is a credit to everyone involved.”
Tomlins also highlighted the new AFL Central Victoria council and their role in assisting Maryborough as part of a wider review of football in the region, with an eye on potential widespread changes in 2026.
“We are very aware that everywhere is different in terms of profiling other leagues across the state, populations and how their pathways feed into those major league teams,” he said.
“We have a good understanding of that space, but every club does have their own challenges and they understand better than their league and region what their best course of action is to address those might be.
“That’s where we have been leaning in and supporting clubs, from a BFNL perspective, to make sure there is a major league pathway in as many areas of Central Victoria as we can sustain.
“It is a shift and a slightly different model for our region. Our council have been in place for about a month now, so we are looking at our strategic decisions for 2025.
“It is going to be difficult to look at widespread change, but they are really keen to build some data and understand the evidence, with a view to a broader review of football and netball with a lens to the 2026 season.”
Tomlins said while recess is an option for the Magpies, the BFNL and AFL Central Victoria will continue working with the club to assess their options.
“Ultimately, I think it is fair to say no one wants to see football and netball clubs going into recess in any sort of form,” he said.
“Certainly, we would be supportive of suggestions and ideas. I’ve said to the club a few times that no idea is off the table or stupid. There are things we might not be able to influence, and there’s some that we will. I think that support will remain.
“We certainly want clubs to continue on in a fashion that is sustainable, I think that’s important, but we are respectful of clubs going through a process of where they currently are and where their future lies to be sustainable year-on-year.
“Recess would obviously be the last-case resort for any club.”
MCDFNL president Kathie Teasdale was contacted for comment, however a response had not been received at the time of publication.