After 153 years, the fate of Maryborough Magpies Football Netball Club comes down to one crucial vote
They withdrew from the Bendigo Football Netball League because they were subjected to 30-goal “whiplashes” and were constantly struggling for points. They could only compete with 14 players in their last match.
But they believe they can regroup and be competitive in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League; This league is a second division competition consisting of 13 clubs, seven of which are within 30 minutes of Maryborough.
The picturesque Prince’s Park Oval is home to the Maryborough Football Cub.
But so far their attempts have been rejected.
For Maryborough to enter the Castlemaine District Football Netball League, an application is put to a vote by the league’s 13 clubs and seven board members.
The applicant needs a 75 percent majority, or 15 out of 20 people. Bardsley believes they fell one or two short of the offer they made in July last year.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “There are only a few clubs that don’t like Maryborough. They just want our players.”
“I would say 90 percent of the community wants this to happen. But because of the way it’s voted, the minority trigger wins.”
Bardsley said the Magpies had no right to appeal.
He said they had spoken to AFL Victoria but the organization claimed it had no power to take action. AFL Victoria has been contacted for comment.
“We went to everyone we could think of,” Bardsley said. “The AFL really doesn’t want to know.”
The Maryborough Magpies plan to submit another application to join the MCDFNL in the coming weeks.
Dual Brisbane Lions’ leading forward Kai Lohmann began his career as a youth player playing football for the Maryborough Magpies.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Their fate will once again be placed in the hands of potential rivals; the competition’s nearby towns and counties that benefit from the same dwindling talent pool.
“We’re hoping to get this done before the season starts because a lot of people have put in so much time and effort and they’re mentally exhausted from it all,” Bardsley said.
“If it’s ‘no’, then I guess we’ll close the doors. It’ll be pretty sad for the town.”
MCDFNL president Paul Wicks said last year’s vote was kept secret so no one knew where the numbers fell.
“It was a secret vote, we did not disclose the vote numbers or who voted for what.” [way]” said Wicks.
The league chairman said he has been involved in football in the Maryborough area for more than 30 years but is not affiliated with a club.
He acknowledged that many board members are affiliated with individual clubs, but was adamant that the MCDFNL board votes in the best interest of the league.
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“All clubs vote in the interests of the clubs, and board members vote in the interests of the league,” he said.
“I would love them (Maryborough) to be in the league if the league votes for them. Maryborough know my opinion on that but they also understand I’m one of 20 votes.”
Wicks said there was a bitter side effect of last year’s ‘no’ vote, which led to personal online attacks.
“When they missed that opportunity, their Facebook page went crazy and all these people were calling out the names of all the board members,” he said.
“You wouldn’t believe how much policing we do.”
Natte Bealiba Football Netball Club is located on a crossroads 30 kilometers from Maryborough, on an oval and club rooms surrounded by farmland.
Originally from Maryborough FNC, Stewart Crameri played at AFL level for Essendon, Western Bulldogs and Geelong between 2010 and 2018.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
He traded players with Maryborough for decades; Young players looking to ply their trade in a major league or mature players looking to take a step back and make some extra money.
Sometimes viewed as poaching raids, the trades were not always amicable.
But Natte chairman Ben Williams said they would consider any new application on its merits.
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He said if Maryborough re-apply to join their league he would take it back to the Natte membership base and they would vote on what was in the best interests of their club.
Adam Balzan is chairman of the Maryborough Giants, a product of the 2023 merger of Maryborough Rovers and the town’s Royal Park Tigers.
Balzan said his club was in talks with Maryborough Football Club three years ago to be part of a three-way merger, but the Magpies backed out.
He said there were barely enough footballers and netballers around, with seven nearby teams (Maryborough Giants, Carisbrook, Talbot, Dunolly, Lexton, Avoca and Natte Bealiba) already competing for the same players.
“I’m not sure where they will get their players, but I wish them good luck,” Balzan said.
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