Echuca to meet with GVL club delegates as BFNL move gains momentum

Echuca has just held an information night on a possible shift in leagues and would need the support of members by a possible June 30 deadline if it is to pursue a move from the Goulburn Valley League.

Echuca club president Justin Hatfield said his club would issue a survey to its supporters to explain the benefits and non benefits of a possible move.

‘‘We don’t want to be going about it the wrong way,’’ Hatfield said.

Hatfield made mention that one of the Bendigo league clubs, Gisborne, was blocked from leaving the Bendigo league by the AFL Appeals Board because it deemed it would have a negative impact on the Bendigo league which has lost Kyneton, which has switched to the Ballarat league, and Maryborough, which has gone into recess, in the past two years.

GVL president Peter Foott said his league would be fighting to keep Echuca.

Foott said the main beef Echuca had with the GVL was its players points system, the use of ‘home’ umpires in its reserves competition and a reputed loss of professionalism in its administration.

In his defence of the GVL, Foott said AFL Victoria administered the points system and clubs seeking umpires to officiate in the reserves competition could apply to the GVL Umpires Association for its umpires to handle any requests.

Echuca rejoined the GVL in 1974 after having initially joining it in 1909.

It also played in the Bendigo Football League from 1925 until 1939, then from 1949 to 1974.

Echuca played in the Echuca Football League from 1946 to 1948, winning three consecutive premierships, before returning to Bendigo Football League.

In a significant move, the Bendigo league has had a change of eligibility of ‘homegrown’ players to play in finals.

Players who now play with VFL clubs will now have to play only four games with their home club during the season to be eligible to return to play with their original club in finals.

But non-local VFL-listed players will need to still play six games to qualify.