Leagues’ futures remain in limbo

The sacking of the AFL Gippsland Commission last Tuesday night by AFL Victoria has left some significant issues in limbo.

Most immediate is resolution of the appeal to the regional commission by six Alberton Football League clubs against the Ellinbank and District Football League to accept their requests to join next year.

Under AFL Victoria rules the commission had until June 3 to make a decision.

Last Tuesday’s action by AFL Victoria came at a normal scheduled meeting of the AFL Gippsland Commission at Morwell also attended by AFL VicCountry officers headed by community football development manager Stephen O’Donohue, thought to be there to provide an “update”.

Instead the five commissioners in attendance were asked to sign pre-prepared letters of resignations that were presented to them.

One AFL Gippsland commissioner Paul Buckley was not there.

Those that were at the meeting were chairman John Schelling, Cayte Hoppner, John Brookes, Greg Maidment and John White.

In a telephone conversation with The Gazette last Thursday Mr O’Donohue declined to address several questions put to him that had also been forwarded to his office by email the previous day.

Those included the now status of, and deadline for, dealing with the Alberton league clubs’ appeals.

Mr O’Donohue said a memorandum he sent to AFL regional commission chairs and regional general managers throughout Victoria on Tuesday night was the extent of what AFL Victoria was prepared to say.

It did not refer to the clubs’ appeals or other matters being progressed by AFL Gippsland including consideration of a possible “conference” structure of Gippsland League, that would likely impact more than the 10 clubs that comprise it at present, and a planned investigation into under-age football at senior league levels where there are significant issues with team and player numbers.

Nor was Mr O’Donohue prepared to elaborate about who would comprise an “interim commission” that would be established to replace the sacked commissioners.

The memorandum does not give any reason for the “resignations” of the commissioners.

Nor does it, or the brief telephone conversation between Mr O’Donohue and The Gazette, explain the “fresh approach to the region” it stated was required or why “the time was right to revitalise the commission”.