The Bendigo Umpires Association and the Bendigo Junior Football League are looking forward to added assistance from some well known and respected Bendigo Football Netball League players.

The SS&A Ovens & Murray Football Netball League is pleased to announce Kerry Bahr as the new coach of the SS&A OMFNL under 18's interleague squad. The Ovens & Murray will take on the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football Netball League at Visy Park on the 25th of May 2013.

The Red Onion Creative Ballarat Football League U/16.5 Interleague side will again play AFL Cairns in a one off match at the Mars City Oval in a twilight match on Friday 5th April 2013 at 4:00pm.

All clubs are advised to read the National Transfer Regulations in relation to registrations and clearances for football players.
The AFL National Player Transfer window has now opened. Clubs are now able to lodge player transfers from February 1 through to Sunday June 30.

Click HERE to find an updated version of the National Player Transfer Regulations as at January 2013.

First appeared: www.vcfl.com.au Friday, February 01, 2013

FOR the first time in 132 years, Kyneton football club doesn't have enough players to make up a senior team - and they're not the only ones.

The Ballarat Football League is delighted to announce that the hottest new football competition - the exciting AFL 9's competition is coming to Ballarat.

The all new AFL 9's football is a social, touch only version of AFL football that is spreading rapidly right around Australia! It's a fast, free-flowing game that involves 9 players on each team playing on a smaller field. Best of all, it's "touch football" with no tackling or bumping, making it suitable for people of any age or skill level.

AFL 9's enables people of all ages and ability levels to participate (both male & female) in a competition that provides a social and fitness outlet. The Ballarat 9's competition is a "mixed league" and whilst we will allow (for example) sides of all male players, we encourage each side to have at least 2 females in their side.

The game is played between two teams of nine (9) with interchange players. The field has a maximum length of 100 metres and is divided into three zones: Forward, Midfield and Defensive zones. It involves the usual AFL skills, minus the tackling. You can kick goals, lay off a quick handball and take a diving mark.

The Ballarat AFL 9's competition will run on Friday night's, and will kick off on Friday 16th November 2012.

Games will be played at a single venue and the 1st ever Grand Final will be played leading into Christmas!

The premiership team will be awarded a winners cheque of $1000 - and of course a Cup!

How do I register a team?

It's really easy! Simply contact Liam Brady at the Ballarat FNL on 0408 518 908 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Please find below details for the Bendigo Football Netball League 2012 AGM

2012 Bendigo Football Netball League

Annual General Meeting

To be held on Thursday 6th December

At the South Bendigo FNC Social Rooms

Commencing at 6.30pm

Further to the recent announcement of the recruitment process for the new Central Victoria Australian Football (CVAF) Commission, I would like to announce and introduce the inaugural chair and commissioners.

The recruitment process encompassed a broad cross section of interest; both of professional backgrounds and heavily weighted community volunteerism. ‘The interest shown was overwhelming; we received over 35 expressions of interest and we are very encouraged for the future in that people really want to put their hand up to tackle the real issues in football communities.' (Nick Carter, CVAF Working Group Chair)

As well as the appointment of the eleven commissioners, the process also included the search for a chair person. I am pleased to announce Collin Brady has accepted the position as inaugural chair. Collin has wide ranging skills and experience at all levels of community football; as a player, coach, an administrator as club president, league delegate and more recently as a board member of the Bendigo Football & Netball Club. ‘Col brings enormous balance and leadership to the commission. His involvement at the heart of clubs, but also his leadership from a community engagement perspective will provide great thought to building the capacity of football communities - we are very fortunate to have him on board.' (Nick Carter, CVAF Working Group Chair)

Collin Brady, heads up ‘Community Strengthening' for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank nationally and has developed strategies in conjunction with communities all over Australia to build the capacity and sustainability of communities the bank operates in. Collin has also been heavily involved in local and state government in the field of community development, sports and recreation, and in the past was a founding member and former chairman of the Strathfieldsaye Community Enterprise, a group which was instrumental in building the sport and recreation facilities to support the development of the Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Clubs introduction into the Bendigo Football Netball League.

New commissioners
The following people have been successful in gaining selection on the first CVAF Commission and will be formally appointed prior to Christmas. Collin Brady (Chair), Leon Holt, Brett Fitzpatrick, Greg Westbrook, Mark Johnston, Wendy James, David Joss, Meagan Keating, Andrew Cooney and Nick Carter.

‘We believe that the diligent process undertaken with selection of process has resulted in a diverse group of people with common interest and strong levels of experience in leading change.' (Nick Carter, CVAF Working Group Chair)
On behalf of AFL Victoria and CVAF Working Group I would like to congratulate all successful commissioners.

Nick Carter
Central Victoria Australian Football, Working Group - Chairman

Today the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League becomes the WorkSafe AFL Vic Country.
The WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) announced on August 31, 2012 that it would support the reforms to the administration and structure of football in Country Victoria that were announced in the 2011 ‘Review of Football In Country Victoria' (the Review).

Since this announcement working parties have been formed in all parts of the state to assist in the establishment of Regional Commission structures and I am pleased to report that these working parties are continuing to make significant strides in establishing commission structures (albeit at different paces) that once established will be responsible for making strategic decisions in the best interests of football in a particular region.

In addition to the establishment of Regional Commissions and overall reforms, from 1 November 2012, the WorkSafe VCFL will integrate its existing staffing structure with that of AFL Victoria's.

As previously advised, services currently being offered by the WorkSafe VCFL will continue to be delivered through this integrated organisational structure and the employment of additional staff will take effect once Regional Commissions are established.

The integration means that several WorkSafe VCFL staff will take on new roles and responsibilities within the integrated structure either within the overall AFL Victoria business structure or the newly created WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Football Department.

The integration also means that existing AFL Victoria Regional Development Managers servicing country Victoria will report directly into the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Football Department which going forward will be headed up by Brett Connell as the Country Football Manager.

It is important to note that until Regional Commissions are established, roles and responsibilities for staff in regional locations will remain the same as they are now.

For example, WorkSafe VCFL Area Managers will continue to service you as they have been in the past. Once Regional Commission structures are put in place, some existing staff in regional locations will begin to take on new roles as Football Development Managers who will then report locally to either a Region General Manager or Regional Commission depending on the location.

This role in effect is a combination of the duties currently undertaken by both the WorkSafe VCFL Area Manager and AFL Victoria Regional Development Manager.

Throughout this period of change, you will continue to be updated by WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country as to how these changes will impact you in your region.

In addition to the structural changes and as previously eluded to, the WorkSafe VCFL will rebrand itself from 1 November 2012 and now be known as WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.

The existing VCFL logo will be replaced with a new logo. Branding guidelines will be provided to all affiliates in the coming weeks that will provide a full run down on the use of the new logo along with timeframes for changing over existing on field apparel to incorporate the new logo.

There is no doubt that we are entering a new and exciting era for country Football in this state and the WorkSafe VCFL believes that these reforms will greatly assist in the development and growth of football in country Victoria.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all affiliates whom I have dealt with over my previous eight years with the WorkSafe VCFL. As I embark on a new role within the integrated structure, Brett Connell will assume the key administrator role within country Victorian football as the Country Football Manager of WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.

As such please don't hesitate to contact Brett Connell or your respective Area Manager in regards to any of the above.

 

Kind regards,

Steven Reaper
Chief Executive Officer
WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League

Article first appeared www.vcfl.com.au Friday, November 02, 2012

The final recommendations for the Southern Border Review have been released today by the WorkSafe VCFL and SACFL.
The 2012 Southern Border Review Panel have released their final recommendations to all stakeholders across the review area of South East South Australia and South West Victoria.

These final recommendations have recently been fully adopted by both the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) and the South Australian Community Football League (SACFL) Boards.

The 2012 Southern Border Review was commissioned in late 2011 by both the VCFL and SACFL to establish qualitative and quantitative data to allow recommendations for the optimal structure of football competitions in South West Victoria and South East South Australia for season 2013 and beyond.

The Panel comprised both South Australia Community Football League (SACFL) and WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) senior managers.

Such a review had been requested by the Western Border Football League and supported by the Hampden Football Netball League. A large number of requested club movements in recent years had also been a factor in the decision to embark on this review.

Extensive consultation underpinned the project, with the panel sitting in 7 locations and meeting directly with over 83 organisations.

The final recommendations have taken in to account all preliminary recommendations feedback. Each stakeholder response to every preliminary recommendation had been factored in to an overall club, league and region wide summary tool that gave the panel clear guidance in relation to the acceptance of each preliminary recommendation.

CEO of the WorkSafe VCFL, Steven Reaper, said that the process of the Southern Border Review was extensive and collaborative.

"The final recommendations includes further release of demographic detail and data relevant to the decision making process of the VCFL and SACFL. We have also included the terms of reference for the SACFL working party as it relates to the structures of football on the South Australian side and the guidelines to the makeup of the South West Regional Commission and Regional Administration Centre."

"This review has made recommendations as to the optimum junior age groups and competition structures in the whole region, umpiring groups, facility development required to support competitions, administration structures, and a future vision for senior football. No stone has been left unturned as we look to sustain the sport and the pathways in the region for the medium to long term."

"The panel has recommended that change is necessary for football to continue to grow and stay relevant and attractive to our communities in Victoria and South Australia"

Key recommendations in the document include the desire for there to be a single club in Hamilton competing in the Hampden FNL, and for the Portland Football Netball Club to also affiliate with the Hampden FNL immediately.

"We are pleased to see that these clubs have already started work on this process. We saw it as important in this region that the football structure follows the community relationships and the broader aspects of community life. Most people in the Western districts shop, go to school, conduct business and recreate in the South West and it makes sense for them to play their sport in the same region.", said Reaper.

A working party for the South West Regional Commission has been established and will begin work from next week on the establishment of a Regional Commission in the South West of the state,

"We see this document as being a key roadmap for the South West Regional Commission in their early days," said Reaper.

Normal club transfers will apply as per VCFL or SACFL rules and timelines regardless of whether they are mentioned within final recommendations or not. Transfer applications will be looked upon favourably by both the VCFL and SACFL if consistent with the review recommendations.

The VCFL and SACFL are confident that the following recommendations will provide long-term, sustainable football structures for the benefit of AFL in the region.

Article first appeared www.vcfl.com.au Tuesday, September 25, 2012