“DON’T be alarmed, but be aware” is the message local football and netball clubs are receiving following confirmation of a regional review into the two sports.
AFL Central Murray – which encompasses the Central Murray Football Netball League and the Golden Rivers Football League – will spend the next 12 months completing a review, with a declining number of players and volunteers a key concern.
Board members from both leagues, as well as club representatives, local government personnel and other stakeholders met last week to discuss the current state of both sports in the region.
Those in attendance at the meeting established a list of reasons why the review should be held, with changing demographics and the ability to be sustainable into the future a driving factor.
“We are seeing further scarcity of players and volunteers, and this, coupled with increasing complexity within the industry, is having an effect on our clubs,” AFL Central Murray chairman, Neville Brady said.
“Our charter is to manage the game within the region and we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t plan for the future.”
The review will look at the structures of governance and junior competitions, viability of leagues and clubs, equalisation measures and what other leagues across Victoria are doing to address these issues.
“What we are doing is ensuring there is a crash net around us if things start to fall down,” GRFL chairman, Daryl Billing said.
“The key message to clubs is don’t be alarmed, but be aware.”
Commissioners will speak to both leagues and clubs to establish the review’s terms of reference, with a working party to be formed.
The first of these discussions occurred on Wednesday night, with Brady addressing GRFL club representatives during a mid-season meeting at Barham.
“The review will provide all our stakeholders to present their views, concerns and possible options,” Brady said.
“A review should be something that clubs not be fearful of. In reality, it is the mechanism to develop a longer term plan to sustain clubs, the game and manage the overall environment prior to any urgency that may arise.”
It is anticipated final recommendations will be released by June 2018.
