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Following the lodging of an appeal by the Bendigo league, AFL Victoria knocked back the club’s request to join the Ballarat league in September.<\/p>\n
In response to the AFL Victoria ruling, a Bendigo league spokesperson branded the decision as ‘a positive outcome’ for the league.<\/p>\n
“The Bendigo Football Netball League looks forward to the continued participation of the Gisborne Football Netball Club as a highly valued member of our league,” the spokesperson said in a statement released to the media.<\/p>\n
“The GFNC holds a strong reputation both on and off the field and continues to bring great value to our competitions.<\/p>\n
“We extend our sincere thanks to all BFNL member clubs and AFL Victoria for their cooperation and support throughout the appeal process.<\/p>\n
“The BFNL reaffirms its commitment to working constructively and positively with all clubs, ensuring both club and league sustainability remains at the forefront within the defined framework of the AFL Victoria club transfer regulations.”<\/p>\n
Top three in 2025 in both senior football and A-grade netball; senior football premiers as recently as 2022; and back-to-back A-grade netball winners in 2023-24; Gisborne has been one of the BFNL competition’s most successful teams since joining the league in 2000.<\/p>\n
But as injuries and other player unavailability took its toll, the Bulldogs struggled with numbers at senior and in particular reserves level in the latter part of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs’ reserves finished last with just one win, while the under-18s were eliminated in the first week of finals.<\/p>\n
Gisborne sought the move to Ballarat to take advantage of several ready-made rivalries, including long-time foe Sunbury, Darley, Bacchus Marsh and Melton.<\/p>\n
All four clubs sit within a 15-minute (Sunbury) to 30-minute (Melton) drive of Gisborne.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs’ previous closest Bendigo league rival Kyneton moved to the nearby Riddell District league in 2024, removing by far the club’s biggest gate for the season.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat league has already reinforced its desire to have Gisborne on-board at the earliest possible opportunity.<\/p>\n
“The Ballarat Football Netball League remain committed to Gisborne FNC becoming an affiliated member into the Ballarat Football Netball League in the future,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“We are looking forward to continuing dialogue with the Gisborne FNC.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GISBORNE Football Netball Club has conceded its immediate future lies in the Bendigo Football Netball League, but is vowing to ramp up efforts to switch to the Ballarat league in 2027. In a letter to club members in December, Bulldogs president Tony Brancatisano said despite the ‘dedicated efforts’ of the club’s committee, the club was […]<\/p>\n