Rumors are Bendigo will not be in the V F L next year. Money gone,Passion gone.
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Well I think the VFL would help fund it regardless as part of the AFL pathway setup. The Pioneers need a senior club in that area. I can't see the Diggers/Bombers going out of existence just yet.
I have heard some rumors but would be senseless for Essendon to be stand alone. Bendigo Pioneers need a Bendigo team in the VFL. I like the concept and at least it gives something for a rural area. Essendon as a stand alone and called Essendon playing all games at Windy Hill would be a waste of space. The AFL/VFL are keen for the Under 18s and the VFL for a closer link.
Plus don't forget the Murray Bushrangers. And your perfectly right vfa.
Plus don't forget the Murray Bushrangers. And your perfectly right vfa.[/quote]
Essendon... to align with Coburg... please???
Pete.
Maybe it will be Coburg with Essendon called Coburg Lions again.
Richmond called Craigieburn Tigers.
Bendigo called Bendigo Diggers again and having strong links with the Pioneers. Merging both Football departments.
?? Who knows what's in store for 2009
I would love this to be the case! I live in Bendigo and I can tell you that the locals up here just dont care about the Bendigo Bombers. The crowds are better at the Bendigo Football League games.
I personally think that without Essendon that the club would not be in the VFL the last few years but there really is no passion. If they were the Diggers again then I think they could slowly build again and really form a club atmosphere.
The club is currently reviewing the reserves (which basically means that they are obviously not working and Bendigo are hoping not to have them next season. I dont know what the answers are but as a supporter of football in Bendigo I get alot more enjoyment watching Kangaroo Flat Football Club bust their guts and display pride in their jumper compared to the passionless VFL.
I just hope that over the next few years things turn around as I do still follow the VFL and hope it can regain some passion!
As has been mentionaed, i don't think the VFL will let the Diggers/Bombers/Whatever they may be next season fold, the structure that AFL victoria is trying to implement will need some exposure and pathway in this region.
Will be interesting to see. But, as with all things these days the bottom line will be money...
I agree and I dont think the club will fold but the Bendigo locals have not taken to the Bendigo Bombers and financially they will always struggle.
A VFL team is needed in this region and maybe with the alignment to the pioneers maybe they can enter into a new era.
It's all good and well for teams like essendon, richmond and hawthorn to come and help vfl clubs, they really have helped them financially, but to limit local support with the Essendon jumper and logo, the hawks and tigers emblems too, it just means that unless you are an essendon supporter living in bendigo, the "club" would mean nothing. That's a select market. Tell me a collingwood supporter in bendigo would get behind essendon players, in essendon jumpers, for a team called the bombers.
Now, the diggers weren't doing much better, possibly worse, but at least bendigo had a club. Should a strong bendigo club have been admitted like north ballarat? Jury's probably still out there too.
I did think it laughable that the bendigo v nth ballarat game was played out at essendon, when will the vfl realise the potential it has with a league comprising the 3 big vic country cities, geelong, ballarat and bendigo? And Casey? Country/suburb, they're a bit confused out there.
Traralgon should have stuck with the vfl.
Since going back to the GLVFL they have struggled big time.
They would have had a strong link with the Gippsland Power.
I know that most of the local clubs hated Traralgon but who knows what success they would have had if they stuck with the vfl.
Bendigo will be around next year but the jury is out whether the Diggers/Pioneers will be merged into the one team and then Essendon would align themselves with Coburg. Richmond then can go and set themsleves up in Craigieburn. Would that make more sense ?
With the way the vfl wants to set the Under 18s path to the vfl the Bendigo team will be there one way or another.