LOCAL FOOTY NEVER SLEEPS
AFL Barwon region manager WILL McGREGOR joined the Geelong Advertiser’s Benchwarmers podcast to discuss all the big issues in local footy. Here are some of the key points McGregor made during the wide-ranging chat.
McGREGOR on AFL Barwon’s stance on interleague football and its future going forward for the GFL ...
“From our point of view, it (the end of the community championships) has allowed us to sit back a little bit and work out what we want to do. But in saying that, the other leagues have had some initial conversations already. That’s left us in a bit of a tricky situation. As an example, Ovens & Murray and Goulburn Valley, we (the GFL) were scheduled to play Goulburn Valley in the 3 v 4 ranking. But now (Goulburn Valley) have seen it as an opportunity to say, ‘We haven’t been able to play Ovens & Murray for a number of years due to the way the rankings have fallen, so let’s have that local derby up there’. That’s taken away basically two potential opposition for the GFNL. Ballarat and Bendigo have had discussions already. Then you look at some of our metro competitions — Essendon & District and Eastern have pulled out in recent years, we played Northern last year. Without the ranking system now, it actually limits our ability to play a game. Hampden have made some initial contact with us about potentially playing a match. But I always go back to ‘What is the purpose?’. If we’re going to do something … I think we need to have some forward planning around it. History has shown, I believe, that they are a little bit below the GFNL and I honestly feel that we need to be providing our league, playing group and coaches, a real, real challenge. That’s when you get the player buy-in and I’m not sure if we would get that if we play the Hampden, with all respect to that competition.”
On the BFL’s grand final clashing with the GDFL grand final again in 2020 and whether the BFL decider could be played on a Sunday...
“There hasn’t been a solution at this point. From our perspective, if you looked at the grand final at the Bellarine this year, we had a record gate, it was an unbelievable grand final, we had huge crowds. We are not necessarily looking to move away from a Saturday concept. We have spoken to presidents initially and they don’t necessarily want to be playing a Sunday grand final. So our preference would be to play Saturday. We are always open to negotiation, we are not steadfast. My approach is, I am not hard and fast on things such as that. It’s not just my decision, either. We’d be open to those conversations, but first and foremost our Saturday timeslot is our preference.”
On whether AFL Barwon is keen to continue playing the GFL Grand Final at GMHBA Stadium after its contract expires next year ...
“We are very fortunate to play on GMHBA Stadium, which is the best regional stadium potentially in Australia. But that does come with some challenges. Logistically, it is a challenge for us and clubs to manage inside such a big stadium. On Geelong West, the massive investment (and development of the ground) starts about March. The stage one is the off-field facility. In time that’s going to be a great facility, no doubt. I think it won’t be an actual regional facility until potentially the bike track isn’t there. Hopefully in a stage-two process, the bike track is removed, the oval becomes slightly bigger. As an example, you might be able to play some initial finals at Geelong West and then maybe move the grand final to the stadium. We have one (AFL Victoria regional facility) in Colac, we have one in Torquay but we don’t have one in the City of Greater Geelong. So we go from a 36,000-seat stadium to what’s next? That’s actually a real challenge. Until we have that regional-type facility locally, we may not be able to move (the GFL Grand Final).”
On the 2020 salary caps ...
“It’s evident that if we were to make any sorts of changes, we need to give clubs times to adjust. There’s been no change to salary caps for 2020. So they’ll remain — GNFNL at $145,000, BFNL $110,000, the GDFL at $90,000 and the CDFL at $80,000. But the year after that, 2021, there will be some small adjustments. The GFNL will come down to $140,000 and the CDFNL will come down to $75,000.”
On GFL wooden-spooner North Shore’s future in the competition and what the league is doing to help ...
“It’s a challenge for a club such as North Shore, where they are situated. I think we have to keep in mind, if you looked back a couple of years ago, North Shore was starting to improve. There was a coaching move that probably has hurt them initially and they’re taking a little bit of time to come back from that coaching move. They were pushed back a fair few steps. We might judge a club like a North Shore over the next couple of years, rather than just recently. In saying that, they’re the first to admit it’s a real challenge for them. We will try and support them through additional total team points and the like. But there’s also some stuff we can do in and around schools to support them. It’s a continual monitoring (of North Shore). We wouldn’t be making any hasty decisions on that (the club’s future in the GFL). I have a great relationship with (president) Dale Purcell. (Coach) Mark McDowell is doing some great stuff there already. We have constant conversations and meetings on many things. It’s not like we will get to the end of the year and be like, ‘This is how it’s going to be moving forward’.
On AFL Barwon’s league restructure and the future of promotion-relegation ...
“There’s definitely merit in it. I came into the role — been in the role 14 months now — and definitely wanted to sit back a little and observe the way that was. I’ve got no doubt the clubs, and a lot of people in the region, felt that that sort of model was probably forced on them a little bit without some in-depth consultation. If there was going to be any change, there would be plenty of time for clubs to prepare for that change and be involved in what that change looked like.
On the first season of the GFL’s TAC Stats Tracker ...
“It was Australia-first at a community level. It was brilliant. I was only saying to someone that I know of a WAFL club interested in a particular player and monitored those stats and potentially was trying to recruit a player off watching that stuff.
For the full chat with AFL Barwon’s Will McGregor, listen to The Benchwarmers podcast, online now at geelongadvertiser.com.au