The move further enhances the independence and operational strength of the league, following its decision to split from regional administrator AFL Goldfields late in 2020.

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BFNL general manager Shane Anwyl said the decision to form the BFNL Independent Tribunal was made after a review of the judicial process, triggered by feedback from the league's clubs.

"We've taken on a lot of feedback over the past 12-18 months about procedural matters and some inconsistencies and concerns that we felt needed to be looked at," he told The Courier.

"It's important all organisations review their processes and this is an opportunity for us to put in best practices for our judicial process.

"There is always going to be a party that doesn't think the right decision is being reached - that's the nature of the process.

"But, what we want and what we need is a tribunal that clubs can have confidence in.

"Consistency is a major factor of what clubs are looking for. There's nothing worse than on the face of it similar cases where one person might get one week, and another three.

"What we want to provide is more openness and transparency as well around the decisions."

The AFL Goldfields Independent Tribunal previously oversaw disciplinary matters for the senior and junior competitions of the Ballarat Football Netball League and Central Highlands Football League, as well as the Maryborough Castlemaine and Riddell District football netball leagues.

The BFNL's new tribunal will draw upon the league's resources and its match review panel, but all discplinary decisions will be made by an independent panel co-chaired by new appointees Roger LeGrand and Peter Brady.

LeGrand is well-known in football circles for his service as an umpire and umpire coach at a local and state level.

Brady is a current AFL Goldfields Independent Tribunal panel member and a highly-esteemed sports administrator, most notably in the cricket community.

"We're really excited to have the knowledge and experience of Roger and Peter," Anwyl said.

"We, as a league, will provide operational support to the tribunal - in terms of planning, gathering evidence, paperwork and so forth that allows the chair and the panel members to make a decision. The panel members will be independent from clubs. They'd have been away from the game for a couple of years but not too long so that they're not current with the game and community expectations."

The BFNL is also encouraging women to sit on the tribunal.

"We want the tribunal to reflect society's expecations," Anwyl said. "

We're encouraging women to get involved because we have the BFLW now as well. It's important to have a decision made that comes from a number of angles."

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