SIX weeks before the 2002 season actually got underway the BFL's top two officials stood aside.
Long-serving league official Kevin McNaughton officially severed his 23-year association with the league 13 seasons back, on March 8th 2002.
Mr. McNaughton's decision to quit as the BFL's key admininstrator came in the wake of the announcement only days earlier that chairman Garry Whitfort was also pulling the pin.
Interviewed by the Advertiser's footy writers of the time, BFL interim chairman Jock Clark denied that Mr. McNaughton's resignation couldn't have come at a worse time for the BFL.
The league had only just resolved an ongoing dispute with the Bendigo Umpires' Association.
"We are sad to lose Kevin and incredibly grateful for the 23 years of service he gave to the league. But at the same time things must go on and I believe it's better that we have these changes all at once," Mr. Clark said.
"With Kevin and also Garry moving on it gives us a chance to pump some new blood into the place. And we'll get those people settled in before the season proper kicks off on April 20th.
"It promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent years," he said.
Mr. McNaughton had served as the BFL's executive officer since 1990. He told the Advertiser his decision to move on after 12 years at the helm had nothing to do with Mr. Whitfort's resignation or the acrimonious spat between the BFL and the BUA.
"My quitting has nothing to do with the events of the past week or two.
"I'm 61 now and after being involved with the league for 23 years I just decided enough was enough. It's just unfortunate that these two unrelated matters have co-incided," Mr. McNaughton, who'd also been a long-time BFL treasurer, pointed out.
He added he'd considered stepping aside at the beginning of 2001 but delayed the decision for personal reasons.
THE McNaughtons had arranged for a three-week holiday to New Zealand which meant they were flying out in late March.
"So now is the right time to relinquish my position," the outgoing CEO added.
"To clear things up, I don't have any problem with Jock Clark or anyone else on the board," Mr. McNaughton stressed.
"The entire board enjoys my full support and I'm sure they'll do an excellent job running the league in 2002."
League vice-chairman Frank Ward was to fill the vacant executive officer position in the interim.
"Frank will hold the fort until the league clarifies the position of executive officer once a forthcoming election to fill the current vacancy for a board member has been finalized," Mr. Clark explained.
The interim chairman said he'd spoken to four of the five remaining board members and each had voiced unwavering commitment to the BFL.
"Just like any footy team, positional changes occur from time to time and I would like all local footy followers to know that the Bendigo Football League board remains as a very strong team."
Mr. Clark emphasized that the BFL owed Mr. McNaughton and Mr. Whitfort a huge debt of gratitude given the extraordinary amount of time they'd dedicated to the running of the league.
MEANWHILE three years later a problem of a different kind had engulfed the league.
In April 2005 the BFL board was considering the introduction of a temporary player exchange as a likely answer to Maryborough's severe and ongoing player shortage.
The Princes Park Magpies had only 30 footballers on its open-age list and had been forced to forfeit its early round reserves game against Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve.
The player shortage was a major concern for the BFL board. It had already met to discuss possible solutions to Maryborough's dilemma.
There were two possible fixes discussed at board level:-
1). A temporary player exchange permit allowing players from the BFL club with the bye to make up the numbers for Maryborough, or;
2). Clubs with an overflow of senior players not needed for the Ones to suit up for the Magpies.
While both proposals were still in their infancies, permits could also allow players from district leagues --- particularly the Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League --- to make up numbers for the Pies, if required.
There were two hurdles to be cleared first. Whichever proposal was adopted support was needed not only from fellow BFL clubs, but also overall from the Victorian Country Football League.
League chairman of the time, Damian Drum, was fully sympathetic to Maryborough's plight.
"We're going to be extremely supportive of Maryborough and the league needs to explore every possible avenue of helping them," Mr. Drum said.
"One possibility, as mentioned, could be to create a temporary player exchange programme.
"Still, the preferred option would be for Maryborough to work hard to obtain its own players and would not go down the paths [outlined above] until the absolute and total last resort," Mr. Drum said.
THE BFL chairman emphasized that when a major league club plumbed the depths of player availability, such as Maryborough was experiencing, the "warning bells go off right across central Victoria."
"We have to do all we can to help them.
"The board believes Maryborough is in for a tough and hard 12 months, but we have to give credit where credit is due.
"The club, we feel, has the strong backing of the community, the full support of the [Goldfields Shire] council plus it has a vibrant and dynamic board," Mr. Drum said.
Maryborough was hoping to have an agreement signed off by the beginning of May 2005 which would allow players from the MCDFL to assist the Magpies in making up their numbers.
Magpies' president Mick Reid said his club was working hard on the deal.
"We're trying to establish a link with the MCDFL and its clubs whereby we can take players from the club with the bye, plus any overflow of players, and when we have a bye in the BFL or an excess number of players, we can do the same," he explained.
Mr. Reid said the "ball had started rolling" with Maryborough officials and the MCDFL president already involved in talks.
"Hopefully we'll get something on paper to present to our member BFL clubs and the VCFL. But clearly we can't make people play for us --- we can only ask them to help us out."
MCDFL secretary, the late Max Martin, stressed his league was happy to enter into discussions with Maryborough, once the club had made a formal written application in line with VCFL rules and stipulations.
"We're receptive to the agreement mentioned by Mr. Reid but bear this in mind. I would say it's essential any agreement is established with Castlemaine as well as Maryborough," Mr. Martin said.
"It would be unfair if we [the MCDFL] came to an agreement with Maryborough and left Castlemaine out.
"We as a league along with Maryborough need to sit down together, but we feel the application should come from them because they want it.
"We wish Maryborough well because, after all, we're all in the same game --- the same sport," Mr. Martin said.
TWELVE months back there were also dire predictions circulating about how Maryborough would fare in the 2014 BFNL season.
But the Magpies under the direction of joint coaches Jamie Bond and Glenn Chadwick snared five senior wins and finished eighth in the 10-club competition.
In round 15 the Magpies downed five-time premiers Golden Square by 13 points: 17.11 (113) to 15.10 (100). It was their most significant victory for 2014.
AND the A grade netballers made the finals in their division, bowing out in the elimination final.
Richard tips for Round 4, Anzac Day: Eaglehawk by 15 (v Flat), Golden Square by 26 (v Gisborne), Storm by 56 (v Maine), Sandhurst by 79 (v Maryborough) and Kyneton by 37 (v South, QEO, night fixture).
2015 season total to date: 13.
By Richard Jones