RURAL AND REGIONAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Final Report Inquiry into Country Football ORDERED TO BE PRINTED December 2004 By Authority Government Printer for the State of Victoria No. 95 Session 2003-04 Parliament of Victoria Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee Inquiry into Country Football ISBN 0-9757058-0-6 Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee Members Mr Ben Hardman MP, Seymour (Chair) Mr Craig Ingram MP, Gippsland East (Deputy Chair) Mr Michael Crutchfield MP, South Barwon Hon John McQuilten MLC, Ballarat Province Hon Robert Mitchell MLC, Central Highlands Province Hon Dr Denis Napthine MP, South-West Coast Mr Peter Walsh MP, Swan Hill Staff Ms Kristen Murray, Executive Officer Dr Vaughn Koops, Research Officer Ms Kate Murray, Office Manager Level 8, 35 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000 Telephone: 1300 787 202 (Victoria only) (03) 9651 3580 Facsimile: (03) 9651 3691 [email protected] www.parliament.vic.gov.au i ii Terms of Reference PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES ACT 1968* REFERRAL OF INQUIRY TO THE RURAL AND REGIONAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT INQUIRY INTO COUNTRY FOOTBALL That pursuant to the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968, the Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee is required to inquire into, consider and report on the following: The impact on life in rural and regional Victoria of Australian Rules Football and, in conducting the Inquiry, the Committee is to: (a) assess the current strength and long-term viability of Australian Football competitions and clubs in regional and rural Victoria; (b) assess the role Australian Football plays in building community identity, social interaction and pride in rural towns. (This should be considered in conjunction with complementary long-term existing relationships with netball and cricket competitions.); (c) investigate how demographic shifts, changes in sport and entertainment preferences and other social changes are impacting on participation in country based football; (d) identify the effects that the decline in the number of rural Australian Football clubs is having on country towns including whether other sport and recreation clubs/activities are meeting community social needs in towns where the Australian Football clubs have ceased to function; * The Parliamentary Committees Act 1968 was repealed and replaced by the Parliamentary Committees Acts 2003 which became operative in December 2003. iii (e) identify the impact that specific costs are having on rural Australian Football associations and clubs. The costs to be investigated (but not necessarily restricted to) include insurance, local government charges and pricing policies, player payments and water availability and cost; (f) recommend actions that peak football organisations (administrators, leagues and clubs) might consider undertaking to support the future success of country football and participation in sport in regional and rural Victoria. The Committee is required to report to Parliament by 30 September 2004. Received from the Legislative Assembly 3 June 2003 Amended 31 March 2004 (reporting date extended) iv Contents Membership of the Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee....i Terms of reference……………………..………………...………………………….iii Chair’s foreword........................................................................................................vii Recommendations.......................................................................................................ix List of tables................................................................................................................xv List of figures.............................................................................................................xvi Acronyms..................................................................................................................xvii Introduction..................................................................................................................1 Background to the Inquiry .........................................................................................1 The evidence gathering process.................................................................................1 Scope of the Inquiry...................................................................................................3 Report structure..........................................................................................................4 Australian rules football in a historical context........................................................5 Introduction................................................................................................................5 A brief overview of the origins of Australian rules football......................................5 Early football’s governing bodies............................................................................11 The spread of football throughout Victoria .............................................................14 From past to present.................................................................................................16 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................23 Chapter One The place of football in country communities.................................25 Introduction..............................................................................................................25 Community identity and pride .................................................................................26 Social interaction .....................................................................................................30 Economic impact .....................................................................................................43 Relationship with netball, cricket and other sports..................................................48 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................50 Chapter Two An overview of country football in Victoria ...................................51 Introduction..............................................................................................................51 The organisation of country football........................................................................51 Government support for country football ................................................................64 Participation .............................................................................................................66 Amalgamation, recess and disbandment..................................................................75 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................78 Chapter Three The effect of wider social change on country football.................79 Introduction..............................................................................................................79 Population and demographic changes......................................................................80 Structural change .....................................................................................................88 Societal changes.......................................................................................................90 Conclusion .............................................................................................................102 Chapter Four Financial challenges for country football operations..................105 Introduction............................................................................................................105 Australian Football League....................................................................................107 Football Victoria ....................................................................................................113 Victorian Country Football League .......................................................................115 Economic profile of Victorian country football.....................................................118 Club and league income and expenditure ..............................................................120 Specific costs and revenue sources for country football........................................122 v Conclusion .............................................................................................................133 Chapter Five Issues for consideration: club and league personnel....................135 Introduction............................................................................................................135 Volunteers..............................................................................................................135 Players....................................................................................................................141 Club and league histories.......................................................................................151 Umpires..................................................................................................................152 Coaches..................................................................................................................156 Trainers ..................................................................................................................161 Administration tasks ..............................................................................................163