OVENS and Murray Football-Netball League clubs are fearful one or more of their rivals will fall over at any stage with admissions some are struggling financially.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The concerning assessments are contained in a highly-anticipated independent review of the competition being circulated to clubs in recent days and obtained by The Border Mail.
The review was prompted by the O and M board mid-way through last season which culminated with a disastrous finals series financially and poor attendances at the grand final and other finals matches.
The O and M revealed late last year the review was being conducted by Terry Dillon Community Solutions which presented its findings to the board in early February, but have only just been released to clubs.
Mr Dillon concluded: "With several clubs under financial pressure, there is a general view that the time is right for intervention and or support.
"What happens if the OMFNL loses a club? Is there a strategy in place? The answer I believe currently is no.
"The strongest and most consistent theme of club interviews is that competitive imbalance is at a concerning level.
"There is overwhelming agreement that there is a need for more than just a player points system to provide equalisation.
"Rigid enforcement of the salary cap and third party employment agreements will play an important role in achieving a level of equality for all."
The O and M has remained a 10-team competition for more than two decades since the departure of Benalla to the Goulburn Valley league.
The most vulnerable club presently is Corowa-Rutherglen which is experiencing player number issues which could lead to its reserves team forfeiting at some point.
Another damning conclusion was declining supporter interest in the competition.
"The club numbers are showing they are walking away," the report stated.
"Especially in the case of football, the game is losing relevance in the community."
The O and M's relationship with AFL North-East Border has also been highlighted as an area which needs urgent attention.
It is one of the few competitions left in Victoria being "standalone" in handling its own administration.
The latest overtures to join the AFL NEB shared administration model were rejected last year.
AFL NEB general manager John O'Donohue was interviewed as part of Dillon Report.
"The clubs understand that the relationship between OMFNL and the AFLNEB needs improvement," the report stated.
"This situation (needs) to be remedied as a priority."
