Ovens and Murray snub a 'missed opportunity' for football in North East region

The AFL North East Border chief said the league missed a golden opportunity to grow the game when it opted for Sean Barrett to replace Aaron McGlynn as general manager.

O’Donohue and AFL Victoria country manager Jim Cail made a presentation to the Ovens and Murray board on July 11 about it joining the Tallangatta, Ovens and King, Upper Murray and Wangaratta junior competitions in being managed by AFL NEB.

Rather than have one general manager, the Ovens and Murray would have had commercial, operational and communications managers looking after it within AFL NEB.

But O’Donohue believes the proposal was never genuinely considered and said it may be years before the opportunity arises again.

“It’s extremely disappointing. It’s an absolute missed opportunity for footy in this region,” he said.

“Our proposal was pretty comprehensive and provided an opportunity to work through whatever challenges they thought it presented.

“But it didn’t get that far.

“They gave us a hearing but I think their minds were made up prior to that.

“They advertised before they spoke to us, we read about the advertisement in the paper before they spoke to us so I don’t think it was given the consideration that such a significant proposal should’ve been given.

“We had 30 minutes in front of them, asked a few questions and then to not have the opportunity to follow that up and find out a bit more detail about it is disappointing.”

Ovens and Murray chairman Graeme Patterson declined to comment on O’Donohue’s accusations but said on Wednesday Barrett’s skills in sports development, marketing, sponsorship and event management made him a standout candidate.

He said a cost-benefit analysis, including the fact the league owned its premises in Fallon St, were behind the decision to appoint Barrett as general manager rather than come under AFL NEB’s management.

An AFL Victoria spokesperson said the administration model had worked well elsewhere in the state, including the Goulburn Valley.

“AFL Victoria is disappointed to hear the Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League has decided not to engage AFL North East Border commission to undertake the football administrative activities of the league,” the spokesperson said.

“In partnership with all our region commissions, one of AFL Victoria’s strategic objectives has been the creation of administration centres to enhance the levels of collaboration in relation to the administration and management of football within a region.

“Having seen the administrative proposal put forward to the O and M board by AFL North East Border, AFL Victoria believe the concept to see an integrated administration model was in the best interest of football for the region.

“AFL Victoria will continue to look for ways to ensure greater levels of strategies alignment and cooperation between leagues and Region Commissions moving forward.”