Direction for some clubs still clouded

JUST what league some Central Victorian-based football netball clubs will be based in next season is still clouded.

After weeks of drawn-out discussions by the AFLCV commission, some leagues and clubs, the future direction for Maiden Gully YCW, Marong, and Cohuna Kangas is far from set.

All three clubs had applied to join the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District FNL in 2024.

The HDFNL’s nine current clubs met last week and the majority decided the competition’s make-up be status quo for next season.

Since then, the HDFNL board has said it would accept new clubs if the commission approved their transfer.

That scenario may not yet play out as the commission has declared it has no role to play until the Heathcote DFNL confirms its intention to accept a club or clubs.

For the three clubs which have requested a move there’s plenty to play for on the ovals and courts across the next few weeks.

Reigning premier in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL seniors competition, Marong is chasing back-to-back flags.

The Maiden Gully YCW Eagles are flying high on the netball court in many grades.

Among them is the Adam Boldiston-coached A Grade team which finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder and is also chasing back-to-back premierships.

All seven of the Eagles’ netball teams featured in the first round of the Loddon Valley Netball League finals.

Cohuna Kangas was runner-up in the Central Murray FNL senior footy competition in 2022.

The Kangas have cited declining player numbers in football and netball, and more of its player and member base linked to Echuca, Bendigo and Melbourne as major factors in exploring a change in league.

In the wash-up of recent weeks, AFLCV has said a proposed new league, which could have kicked off in 2024, had been quashed for now.