02/06/2026
The future of one of Victoria's oldest football clubs is once again on the line after the Maryborough Football Netball Club officially confirmed it has lodged an application to join the MCDFNL from 2027.
The announcement, which many across the region had been expecting, was accompanied by a seven-slide presentation outlining the club's reasons for seeking admission.
The Magpies cited long-term sustainability, rebuilding senior football and netball, strengthening junior pathways, supporting Princes Park and creating benefits for the wider community.
In its statement, the club urged members, supporters and the broader community to remain kind, considerate and respectful throughout the process.
Interestingly, comments were disabled on the club's announcement, while comments were also switched off on coverage of the story by the Maryborough District Advertiser, limiting public discussion on a significant sporting decision.
The application comes just three months after club president Glen Bardsley warned the Magpies were effectively one vote away from extinction. At the time, Glen said the club would likely be forced to close if another bid to join the MCDFNL was unsuccessful.
The warning followed the withdrawal of the club's senior football side after years of heavy defeats and ongoing struggles to attract enough players to compete in the Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Magpies believe a move to the district competition would provide a more sustainable future. Their proposal highlights existing junior numbers, community support, more than 130 Platinum Club members and over 150 years of sporting history.
Few would argue that Maryborough lacks history. The club has produced AFL talent including John Nicholls, Stewart Crameri and Kai Lohmann, while Princes Park remains one of regional Victoria's most iconic sporting venues.
The challenge is convincing enough existing clubs to support the move.
While many locals see the Magpies' admission as vital to preserving football and netball in Maryborough, concerns remain among some clubs about player numbers and the impact another senior club could have on an already stretched talent pool.
There is also a long history behind the debate.
For decades, Maryborough sat above many surrounding clubs in the football pecking order, regularly attracting some of the best footballers and netballers from district clubs to Princes Park.
While that was simply the reality of country football, it inevitably created resentment in some quarters.
Fairly or unfairly, some clubs and supporters still remember losing players to the Magpies over the years, while others have long viewed the club as carrying a “big club” attitude.
Whether those feelings still influence opinions today is hard to say, but they form part of the backdrop to a debate that extends well beyond football.
What happens next will be closely watched across the district.
For the MCDFNL, the decision will help shape the future of football and netball across the region. For Maryborough, many believe it could determine whether one of Victoria's oldest football clubs has a future at all.
