Country footy in crisis mode

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has been asked to intervene in a campaign to safeguard the future of country footy amid claims the grassroots game is struggling.

Country footy chiefs have urged AFL House to listen to concerns about management of the code outside Melbourne, fearing AFL Victoria is running community football into the ground.

Mr McLachlan received a letter from former AFL Gippsland commissioner John White last week calling for his support in an “independent review of the relationship between your organisation and regional/community football’’.

“Club land is hurting and I think you know that; hence our call to do something about it,’’ the letter said.

An online petition launched at www.change.org, urging Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula to sign off on the probe, has gathered hundreds of signatures.