Barooga’s recent move from the MFL to the Picola District Football Netball League, a non-AFL-affiliated competition, has seen AFLGM and AFL Victoria forfeit all AFL-affiliated competition benefits for the Hawks.
The joint statement released last Thursday established the consequences Barooga faced by exiting the MFL, and the AFL-affiliated program.
“AFLV, AFL, AFLGM and the MFL have met with the Barooga Football Netball Club to outline the implications for a non-affiliated club,” it read.
“This included the impact on their Senior Women’s, Youth Girls and junior participation within Goulburn Murray competitions.
“These meetings were held to ensure the club had a clear and accurate understanding of the associated risks and consequences of non-affiliation.
“It is confirmed that Barooga Football Netball Club will not be eligible to access AFL supported programs including participation in any affiliated competitions for men and women, facility funding, junior competition and talent pathway programs, representative opportunities such as the V/Line Cup and Talent Leagues, the National Protection Program, Child Protection Cover, and the protections offered under national rules, regulations and transfer policies.”
Barooga president Darren Bowden delivered an apology to the women’s and girls’ sides and vented his frustration with AFLGM via the club’s Facebook, as the Hawks had fought to retain their female program despite the PDL move.
“Devastated. There [are] no other words and I’m deeply sorry to all our women’s and youth players and families,” Bowden said.
“We listed our intentions to start a new entity ages ago, we were even sent an extract of the AFL rules about asking for special circumstances because it’s after October 31, which is the deadline in the AFL rules for a new team, so we did email AFL and stated our intentions of applying under that section 4.2(c).
“We have done the paperwork and paid the fees, we told them that, but we have had the cold shoulder in communication ... I’m devastated for everyone who has worked so hard for the last two years building our women’s football, I’m so sorry that I have let you all down, I was hoping the AFL Goulburn Murray could have been more helpful and supportive since it was us who built this great thing, not them or the club they have jumped to.”
On Thursday, Cobram confirmed it had gained a certificate of recognition acknowledging its commitment to the AFL’s Women and Girls Football Charter.
It means the Tigers are dedicated to fielding a youth girls’ and women’s side next year to play in the Goulburn Murray Women and Girls League in replacement of Barooga, which scored seven and two wins in the girls’ and women’s competitions respectively in 2025.
The club stated more information would be released after the Christmas break.
