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Coronavirus puts future of VFL and clubs in doubt
With no date set for the return of football and clubs shedding costs to stay alive, what does it mean for the VFL? One administrator wants the AFL to step in and guarantee its future.
The football administrator who famously blew the whistle on the proposed Footscray-Fitzroy merger is now sounding alarm bells about the future of the VFL.
AFL Victoria life member and former Bulldogs chief executive Dennis Galimberti wants the AFL to guarantee the future of the state league and its clubs.
He said the VFL remained an outstanding pathway for young footballers and should be strengthened.
Galimberti, the secretary of Sandringham, spoke out after the demise last Thursday of Northern Blues after Carlton withdrew from their alignment.
The Blues, established as Preston 138 years ago, said they didn’t have the money to press on as a stand-alone club.
As the Northern Bullants they had linked with Carlton at the end of 2003.
Two other clubs with alignments, Sandy (St Kilda) and Box Hill Hawks (Hawthorn), are resigned to being without AFL players when the VFL season gets underway.
The start has been pushed back to June but clubs fear it won’t go ahead.
The closure of the Blues and the need for AFL clubs to rein in costs have stirred up speculation the AFL will go back to running a reserves competition next year, putting uncertainty over the future of stand-alone VFL clubs Port Melbourne, Williamstown, Coburg, Werribee and Frankston, as well as Sandringham, Box Hill and Melbourne-aligned Casey.
One VFL club official said there was also the long-talked about prospect of the VFL reverting to an under-21 competition and linking with the NAB League under-18s.
“If I knew how it was going to look I wouldn’t be having so many sleepless nights,’’ he said.
VFL clubs have stood down staff as they cut costs in the absence of memberships, social functions, gate receipts, and food and drink sales.
Reluctant to dip into its cash reserves, Sandringham sent away six full-time employees, including CEO David Cannizzo.
Its Sandy by the Bay function centre has been closed until at least until April 13.
Galimberti said VFL clubs were facing “extreme difficulty’’ and uncertainty.
He said unless there was proper planning by the AFL and the support of the State Government “they may never reopen’’.
“The rich fabric of storeyed clubs will be lost … these are state treasures that have great historical and community significance, and they need to be returned and restored to their competitions,’’ he said.
“It’s very important they be part of any resuming competition.
“If the AFL is going to reduce costs significantly, my fear is they may even do away with a state league competition.
“We need a commitment from them that it will be continuing.’’
Galimberti said junior and community football, the NAB League and the VFL “underpin the development of our game’’ and “produce the players who are ultimately showcased on the AFL arena’’.
He said the Victorian state league continued to give opportunities to mature-age players and produce draftees.
Galimberti said Sandringham past players and supporters had rallied around the club and were ready to “jump in and help’’ when the time came.
“Some have offered to man the office, others have offered to renew their membership in 2021 in advance,’’ he said.
All sponsors have stood by the club.
Galimberti said he was confident the alignment with St Kilda would continue because it would cost the Saints more to set up their own VFL operation rather than part ways with Sandy.
It’s believed St Kilda contributes about $200,000 to the alignment each year.
Meanwhile Box Hill Hawks say they are ready to field a “strong’’ stand-alone team this year after Hawthorn withdrew their players over the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said the club “intended to return to the alignment bigger and better than ever when possible’’ after a “short break’’ in 2020.
Box Hill Hawks and Hawthorn reserves came together when the VFL was revamped in 2000.
The AFL declined to comment.
VFL teams in 2000: Sandringham, North Ballarat, Carlton VFL, St Kilda VFL, Geelong VFL, Williamstown, Box Hill, Springvale, Werribee, Essendon VFL, Collingwood VFL, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Murray Kangaroos, Coburg-Fitzroy, Northern Bullants, Richmond VFL, Bendigo.
VFL teams in 2020: Richmond, Footscray, Williamstown, Essendon, Werribee, Geelong, Port Melbourne, Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons, Northern Blues *, Collingwood, Sandringham, North Melbourne, Coburg, Frankston
With no date set for the return of football and clubs shedding costs to stay alive, what does it mean for the VFL? One administrator wants the AFL to step in and guarantee its future.
The football administrator who famously blew the whistle on the proposed Footscray-Fitzroy merger is now sounding alarm bells about the future of the VFL.
AFL Victoria life member and former Bulldogs chief executive Dennis Galimberti wants the AFL to guarantee the future of the state league and its clubs.
He said the VFL remained an outstanding pathway for young footballers and should be strengthened.
Galimberti, the secretary of Sandringham, spoke out after the demise last Thursday of Northern Blues after Carlton withdrew from their alignment.
The Blues, established as Preston 138 years ago, said they didn’t have the money to press on as a stand-alone club.
As the Northern Bullants they had linked with Carlton at the end of 2003.
Two other clubs with alignments, Sandy (St Kilda) and Box Hill Hawks (Hawthorn), are resigned to being without AFL players when the VFL season gets underway.
The start has been pushed back to June but clubs fear it won’t go ahead.
The closure of the Blues and the need for AFL clubs to rein in costs have stirred up speculation the AFL will go back to running a reserves competition next year, putting uncertainty over the future of stand-alone VFL clubs Port Melbourne, Williamstown, Coburg, Werribee and Frankston, as well as Sandringham, Box Hill and Melbourne-aligned Casey.
One VFL club official said there was also the long-talked about prospect of the VFL reverting to an under-21 competition and linking with the NAB League under-18s.
“If I knew how it was going to look I wouldn’t be having so many sleepless nights,’’ he said.
VFL clubs have stood down staff as they cut costs in the absence of memberships, social functions, gate receipts, and food and drink sales.
Reluctant to dip into its cash reserves, Sandringham sent away six full-time employees, including CEO David Cannizzo.
Its Sandy by the Bay function centre has been closed until at least until April 13.
Galimberti said VFL clubs were facing “extreme difficulty’’ and uncertainty.
He said unless there was proper planning by the AFL and the support of the State Government “they may never reopen’’.
“The rich fabric of storeyed clubs will be lost … these are state treasures that have great historical and community significance, and they need to be returned and restored to their competitions,’’ he said.
“It’s very important they be part of any resuming competition.
“If the AFL is going to reduce costs significantly, my fear is they may even do away with a state league competition.
“We need a commitment from them that it will be continuing.’’
Galimberti said junior and community football, the NAB League and the VFL “underpin the development of our game’’ and “produce the players who are ultimately showcased on the AFL arena’’.
He said the Victorian state league continued to give opportunities to mature-age players and produce draftees.
Galimberti said Sandringham past players and supporters had rallied around the club and were ready to “jump in and help’’ when the time came.
“Some have offered to man the office, others have offered to renew their membership in 2021 in advance,’’ he said.
All sponsors have stood by the club.
Galimberti said he was confident the alignment with St Kilda would continue because it would cost the Saints more to set up their own VFL operation rather than part ways with Sandy.
It’s believed St Kilda contributes about $200,000 to the alignment each year.
Meanwhile Box Hill Hawks say they are ready to field a “strong’’ stand-alone team this year after Hawthorn withdrew their players over the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said the club “intended to return to the alignment bigger and better than ever when possible’’ after a “short break’’ in 2020.
Box Hill Hawks and Hawthorn reserves came together when the VFL was revamped in 2000.
The AFL declined to comment.
VFL teams in 2000: Sandringham, North Ballarat, Carlton VFL, St Kilda VFL, Geelong VFL, Williamstown, Box Hill, Springvale, Werribee, Essendon VFL, Collingwood VFL, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Murray Kangaroos, Coburg-Fitzroy, Northern Bullants, Richmond VFL, Bendigo.
VFL teams in 2020: Richmond, Footscray, Williamstown, Essendon, Werribee, Geelong, Port Melbourne, Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons, Northern Blues *, Collingwood, Sandringham, North Melbourne, Coburg, Frankston
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