Call for independent inquiry
A former AFL Gippsland commissioner has gone to the State Minister for Sport asking him to set up an independent inquiry into the relationship between AFL Victoria and community football in the state.
John White, one of the six commissioners forced to “resign” on May 14, said an independent inquiry was needed to negate bias if conducted by AFL Victoria or involved people with a conflict of interest.
Still upset and “devastated” by the events of a fortnight ago, Mr White has written to the Minister Martin Pakula spelling out his reasons why he should intervene. They include that AFL Victoria:Is not in tune with community expectations, Fails to provide leadership and direction to community clubs,
Creates financial hurdles that many cannot meet,
Fails to recognise the community role football/netball clubs play,
Has created a “Master-Servant” relationship that denies communities’ independence, and Fails to adequately fund community football. Mr White said his approach to the Minister was not about “sour grapes”.
It is about an organisation (the AFL) that made a $50.4 million profit in 2018 needing to support its “grass roots” and AFL Victoria acknowledging its shortcomings, he said.
Mr White also suggested that the Minister seek opinions from people that “labour every day to hold together their communities and clubs”.
Referencing the Jackson Report into country football in 2011, Mr White described it in his letter as a watershed moment in recognising the importance of the game in country areas.
It led to the formation of several regional commissions across the State, comprised of unpaid volunteers noted for their knowledge and passion for football.
Mr White added that it was generally accepted that report’s recommendations have not been fully implemented or, where they have been adopted, failed to deliver positive outcomes.
He said many at a recent conference of AFL regional commissioners from across the State believed the environment has changed dramatically since 2011 and a new approach was needed (by AFL Victoria) to deliver more forward-looking strategies to support community football.
Recent research indicated 74 per cent of football/netball clubs were in “struggle mode” and not financially viable, Mr White said.
The AFL Gippsland Commission was asked to resign in block by AFL Victoria that claimed outstanding debt, estimated to range from $100,000 to $200,000, would lead to it trading while insolvent.
A brief AFL Victoria statement on the night the commissioners resigned said an interim commission would be established to oversee Gippsland football until a new commission was appointed.
As late as last week AFL Victoria has refused to elaborate.
“We won’t be making any further comments at this stage” communications manager Reyyan Atmaca stated in an email response to The Gazette.
It denied requests for information about the composition of the interim commission or hearing of appeals by six Alberton league clubs against the refusal by Ellinbank and District league to grant their applications to join that league next year.
Under AFL Victoria rules the Gippsland commission was to have made decisions on the appeals by next Monday.
While AFL Victoria remains tight-lipped about its plans for the Gippsland region a fortnight after the Commission was pushed out plenty of possible scenarios and opinions, generally with little substance, continue to abound in local football circles.