AFL REVIEW INTO FOOTBALL IN COUNTRY VICTORIA

Last Wednesday night, the Terms of Reference for the AFL Review into Football in Country Victoria were delivered by AFL Victoria Chairman, Peter Jackson to a packed room of country football administrators.

Jackson delivered a comprehensive background and description of the terms of reference of the review and detailed the processes to be followed over the life of the review.

Jackson stated that the purpose of the review was to examine all levels of football in country Victoria including AFL Development (including AFL Auskick), TAC Cup, VCFL and affiliate structure and chiefly "how they collaborate to achieve the express desires of the seven key AFL development objectives."

Details on government support, key demographic information and marketplace competitors will also inform the review.

A schedule of face to face meetings will be organised from next week with VCFL Leagues and key stakeholders. The VCFL will prepare its own submission for the review. A written submission template will also be issued for those individuals and leagues who may not have the opportunity for a face to face meeting.

The report is due to be handed to the AFL on August 31st, with a final report to be delivered to stakeholders on September 30.

WorkSafe VCFL President Nicholas Rolfe, along with all VCFL Directors and staff attended the session,

"The VCFL welcomes the review and we encourage our affiliates to participate in the review to the fullness of their ability.

"We look forward to working in collaboration with AFL Victoria during the review process to achieve positive outcomes for country football."

MORE VCFL INTERLEAGUE ACTION THIS WEEK

This weekend sees two interleague fixtures take place over the Queen's Birthday Weekend.

The Loddon Valley Football League will play the Maryborough Castlemaine District
Football League at Bacchus Oval in Golden Square on Saturday in both football and netball.

Both leagues are coming off wins last year (against Ovens & King and Lexton respectively) and will be looking to consolidate a higher ranking in the 2012 WorkSafe Country Championships Program. Both leagues have some real country guns in the mix, and both want to stamp their credentials as highly skilled District Leagues in the VCFL.

In the other match, the Tallangatta League will play the Hume League (NSW) on Friday night under lights at Lavington Sports Ground. There has been a number of high profile recruit moving to the Hume league from the O&M this season. Tallangatta will feature the goalkicking double act of Cook and Pierri - should be worth the price of admission in itself.

VCFL State Selectors will be attending both matches to put the finishing touches on their training squads for 2011.

VCFL STATE TEAMS - SQUADS ANNOUNCED LATER THIS WEEK

All three VCFL State squads (Under 19, Vic1 and Vic2) will be playing the VAFA on July 9th at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.

State team selectors have been meeting in Melbourne this week and will announce initial training squads over the next few days. I will inform you all of training schedules and leadership roles as the information becomes available.

GRAINCORP JUNIOR FOOTBALL CARNIVALS THIS WEEKEND

All Weekend - Dandenong Junior Carnival - Under 11's - Under 16's.
Fri 10th (night) - Ararat vs. Stawell (Pickering / Turner Cup)
Sat 11th - Kyneton District Junior Football League vs. Castlemaine District Junior Football League - Kyneton Shpwgrounds.
Sun 12th - Sunraysia Junior Carnival .

AROUND THE GROUNDS
· Albury Tigers beaten on the weekend by Yarrawonga ending their 26 match winning streak.

· Gatorade announces Warrnambool footy project with Dave Hughes in a Premiership comeback!

· Women's Round this weekend in the AFL and the VCFL would like to thank the many thousands of women who are the backbone of country footy. Why not head out bush this weekend and get a story form a lady involved in football ?? - they are involved at every level from President down to boot studder and everything in between.

· The V/Line Life Training Program is appearing at the South Barwon Footy
Club tonight.

By Jock Allan