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Their senior footballers are sitting second on the ladder and hold two wins already this season over top-placed Sandhurst.<\/p>\n
With some existing and potential rivalries on its doorstep, including the Bulldogs\u2019 old Riddell league sparring partner Sunbury, Brancatisano insisted the club\u2019s move to Ballarat would only enhance the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to increase revenue with clubs around here, playing Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh, Darley and Melton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Kyneton and Maryborough are now gone from the (Bendigo) league, we are too far from Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to concentrate north; it\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Football Netball League board chair Rob Simmonds expressed his delight with Wednesday night\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are never 100 per cent sure on how these things will go, clubs have always got to put their hat on and feel comfortable with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s really pleasing clubs were able to see the benefits of having Gisborne in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased the clubs were able to absorb it and think of the long-term sustainability and growth of our league and agreed it was the right thing to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a relief and we are looking forward and keeping our fingers crossed that the next few parts of the process go our way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simmonds saw Gisborne\u2019s inclusive culture as a strong fit for the Ballarat league.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we spoke to Gisborne, it wasn\u2019t them just saying, \u2018hey, what is your league like?\u2019 We had to feel them out too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to make sure they had the right cultures and ethos for us to want to have them in our league.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love the equality they have, with their netballers and footballers treated the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey look like a really great club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next Thursday\u2019s club vote will involve just under 300 members, the bulk of them players.<\/p>\n
In a statement published on its website in late June, the Bendigo league said it would continue to engage with \u2018relevant stakeholders\u2019 on Gisborne\u2019s request to transfer leagues, but made known its desire to retain the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BFNL board recognise that Gisborne\u2019s club vision and community connections are evolving but given the club\u2019s 20+ year relationship with the BFNL, we anticipate that Gisborne FNC will remain in the BFNL for 2026,\u201d league chair Carol McKinstry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould Gisborne FNC submit their intent to transfer, the BFNL board will evaluate the transfer request thoroughly, with consideration for our league and our broader football netball ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GISBORNE\u2019S proposed move to the Ballarat Football Netball League is a step closer after clubs voted emphatically to endorse the bid at a special league meeting on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs, who are seeking to become the Ballarat league\u2019s 11th senior club, were given a ringing endorsement by their potential new rivals, with the vote […]<\/p>\n