From the Weekly Times
THE Millewa Football League has been bolstered by the return of its seventh club, Meringur, after a year in recess.
League president Peter Hartmann said last season had become "a bit of a chore for some clubs" because of the drawn-out fixture."There were some rounds where there was only one game and we had club byes and competition byes so it was very stop-start," Hartmann said.
"We had to drag out the season just to get the grand final into September, because with one less club it was headed for August."
While the Millewa league boasts one more club than both the Upper Murray and Omeo and District competitions, it contains far fewer footballers.
It is the only country Victorian league with just one grade of football.
"It's pretty unique," Hartmann said.
"When new players come to the area, it's funny for them to come to the footy and have no reserves playing, no under-18s.
"It's a difficult concept for some people to grasp but ... the nature of the league is that most clubs target blokes aged in their early 30s and their families.
"In the Millewa, you've got a bye every seven rounds plus you've got long weekends off.
"That's attractive to an old, broken-down footballer - you can still have a kick without killing yourself doing it."
The league's spiritual base is at Lake Cullulleraine, 55km west of Mildura. It remains home to two clubs, Meringur and Werrimull, after Bambill moved its matches to Mildura and Karween-Karawinna shut up shop in 1998.
Despite Werrimull claiming last year's premiership, Gol Gol and Bambill remain the powerhouses of the competition, winning seven of the past 10 flags between them.
Hartmann said the league had celebrated 50 years of its netball competition last year, conceding that the sport had been "the big saviour for a lot of the clubs".
"We've got three grades of seniors across most clubs and a junior competition," he said.
"That's about 30 netballers - more netballers than footballers - but whether the league will ever get reserves and junior football, well, I doubt that very much."
Hartmann said the return of Cardross Football Club to its home ground following devastating floods in 2011 was also creating excitement in the lead-up to the season.
The Lions were able to train on their oval last season, but ongoing works have prevented matches being held there.
"With the new facilities, they'll do a million meals on a Thursday night - it'll be like the Cardross pub," Hartmann said.
"When Cardross get organised, God help the league because they'll be as good as Gol Gol and Bambill."
