Bulldogs vote ‘yes’ to Ballarat move

GISBORNE’S bid to join the Ballarat Football Netball League has received another emphatic endorsement from the club’s rank and file.

A motion that the Bulldogs’ netball and men’s football teams be affiliated with the Ballarat Football Netball League in 2027 received 90 per cent support at a special general meeting held on 30 April.

In a clear show of support for the motion, 129 members voted yes to the proposed move, while nine voted no.

Five eligible members abstained from voting.

It’s the second time in less than 12 months that club members have decisively voted in favour of the switch to the Ballarat league.

In August last year, 190 members voted in support of the move and 20 against, with 11 recorded as abstaining.

Despite having the support of the Ballarat league, the attempted move was the subject of a Bendigo Football Netball League appeal and was ultimately denied by AFL Victoria.

Gisborne’s bid to join the Ballarat league was high on the agenda when the board last met on 20 April.

Ballarat clubs will soon get their chance to have a say on Gisborne’s inclusion into the competition.

A similar vote of clubs last year produced a 46-4 result in favour of admitting the Bulldogs to the competition.

Any move will need the support of the Bendigo Football Netball League, which will consider its stance in due course.