Photos included were taken at various matches during the 2023 OEFNL season.
Broadford Football Netball Club’s, BFNC, football department will go into recess in 2024 while the club explores options for its netball teams to enter a metropolitan-based winter competition.
Financial members unanimously voted at a special general meeting on Wednesday for the football to go into recess, following rejection of Broadford’s application to join the Kyabram District Football Netball League, KDFNL.
AFL Victoria advised an appeal of the decision was not available due to the BFNC wanting to move from a metropolitan-based league to a country-based league.
BFNC president Bonnie Welch said it was a ‘very carefully considered decision to do a reset’.
“It’s a really sad time for all of us. I’ve been at the club for 20 years, along with my dear friends and family, and we’ve worked extremely hard to achieve what we’ve achieved. It was a really hard but carefully considered decision,” she said.
“We’re going to work hard and make sure everything continues so we’re back up in 2025.
“We’re remaining positive. Things happen for a reason and we’re hoping this leads to something bigger and better not only for our club but the Broadford football and netball community.”
BFNC sought to leave the Outer East Football Netball League, OEFNL, when it emerged outcomes from the league’s structural review would results in a larger salary cap and further travel.
BFNC opted for the KDFNL over the Northern Football Netball League, NFNL, because netball and football are played on the same day unlike the NFNL where netball is separate on Friday nights.
“Going through their structural review, it was really clear for us early on that things were going to move into a totally different direction, which was going to stretch our resources and our players even further,” Ms Welch said.
OEFNL chief executive Brett Connell said the league thanked the club for ‘their time with us’.
“We appreciate that this decision is a crucial one for the club’s sustainability and wish them well. Broadford Football Netball Club have been a model club and go with our best wishes,” he said.
“[OEFNL] have worked closely with the club since it came to light that their long-term sustainability lay in another competition. We assisted with letters of support and advocacy throughout.
“OEFNL will continue to support Broadford in their pursuit of a home for their netball in 2024 and in the reset and resurgence of their football program for 2025.
“It is a shame that football processes blocked the club’s move to the KDFNL. The club has built a strong foundation and have a positive plan moving forward.
“BFNC are a wonderful community club that provides community sport for footballers, netballers and the community at large.
“It is with great positivity that we look forward to seeing the club reset and bound back strongly in 2025. The club has great plans and great people and there is no reason that we can see that the club cannot return to the field in 2025 bigger and stronger.”
Ms Welch thanked the OEFNL board, Mr Connell and OEFNL division two clubs for their support over the past four years and wish them every success into the future.
Following BFNC’s KDFNL rejection, all other options were considered with the club also engaging in discussions with AFL Victoria.
“There is a clear need for an overall AFL Victoria structure review to ensure that viable clubs aren’t forced into an untenable situation. We are not the first club and certainly won’t be the last to be put in this position,” she said.
Ms Welch said the NFNL indicated that accepting BFNC’s football teams in 2024 was unachievable, but could be explored for 2025.
“With the netball, the NFNL have got a little bit more flexibility in 2024. We’ve got plenty of players and we’re absolutely committed to finding somewhere suitable for us to keep going,” she said.
“I just want to be very clear it’s not a done deal or anything but NFNL is the front runner for us, given they have standalone netball but we will continue to explore everything and keep everyone informed.”
Ms Welch wanted to make it clear the club hadn’t folded and would continue being active in 2024.
“We’re all engaged in this football reset but we’ve got an ongoing commitment to our netball program as well as the annual club events next year so we’re very much still here and operating,” she said.
“We’ve built a really solid relationship in recent time with our juniors so we’re talking about clinics together and community-based events.”
A NFNL spokesperson confirmed BFNC had enquired about affiliation of netball teams for the 2024 NFNL winter netball competition.
“The NFNL intends to meet with the club in early 2024 to discuss the matter further,” he said.
AFL Victoria did not respond to the Review’s request for comment before yesterday’s deadline.