AFL Goldfields boss Rod Ward says there is currently no timetable in place for a review into senior football across the region following confirmation of a massive shake-up to the game in and around Geelong.
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But Ward admits AFL Victoria has flagged the desire for all its commissions to carry out detailed analysis of their leagues.
Ward spoke to The Courier following news that AFL Barwon will bring in a promotion/relegation system across four leagues by 2019.
The revamp is to come into place for the Geelong, Bellarine and Geelong and District competitions, with the latter to be split into two divisions.
Promotion is set to be awarded to the premiership team and also require the club meets certain standards for its new competition.
“I think if the structures are right and the key stakeholders are going to support it, I think it's quite exciting,” Ward said of a promotion/relegation system.
"Promotion/relegation will not work unless you have the right structures and it is supported by the key stakeholders."
The Geelong Advertiser is reporting that the new system at AFL Barwon will see football and netball arms of clubs remain together under the promotion/relegation method.
Relegation is set to be determined by finishing ladder position or due to a club’s failure to meet minimum league criteria.
Feedback is being called for by clubs and leagues until February 29, but has already been met with anger from some circles.
“I'm interested in looking at the response by the leagues and the clubs and then, I suppose, taking any leanings out of that," Ward said.
Ward said AFL Victoria wants commissions to complete competition reviews in the “medium term”.
“...they want all commissions to do a review of their structure of their junior and senior competitions,” Ward said.
“The challenge for us and the goal for each commission is to come up with a structure that ensures each club has a viable future.
"It has been discussed by the AFL Goldfields commission, but certainly there has been no timetable set about when a review of football in our region may take place and certainly there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before that.”
Ward said there certainly isn’t any plans for reviews to take place during 2016.
Regardless of any reviews, he believes every league in Victoria will look significantly different in 10 years than it does now.
Ward added that the points system and salary cap is being introduced across the state.
“It is hoped that that will form part of our equalisation strategies as well,” he said.
Ward said that the region had recently completed a junior review and that the focus is now on putting together the structures for a new AFL Goldfields under-16.5 football competition.
This league is set to be established in season 2017, combining teams from Ballarat and Riddell District league clubs.
Like Ballarat and Riddell District, the Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine District competitions are part of the AFL Goldfields region.
