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New chief for MVFNL

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Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

Maintaining momentum – after a solid first two years of existence – is the goal of the new president of the region’s second largest football league.

Former Brown’s Well Football Club president Andrew Schultz has been announced Murray Valley Football Netball League (MVFNL) president, taking over from inaugural chair – and former long-serving Riverland Football League chief – Neil Martinson.

MVFNL

Murrayville, 2024 football premiers of the Murray Valley Football and Netball League, which has a new president. File photo.

Mr Schultz said a favourable personal schedule would allow him to prioritise the role and guide the league, formerly known as the RFL Independents.

“Neil indicated late last year he would like to step back,” Schultz said.

“Initially I didn’t put my hand up because I wasn’t sure how much time it would take.

“To get the league started we thought it would be best to have someone who had done it before… and make sure we got everything going in the right direction.

“Now we’ve got momentum with the league… (and) I know more about my time commitments, so it seemed like a good time to step back in.”

Mr Schultz said the addition of Victorian club Murrayville to the MVNFL, following he demise of the Mallee Football League at the end of season 2022, had benefited the competition, with the Blues taking out the 2024 football flag.

“Sedan Cambrai were pretty dominant for a few years, and all the clubs try to lift to get to that level,” he said.

“It’s a bit of an aspiration to try and topple them.

“You get extra clubs in like Murrayville who come from a different league… they’ve pooled their resources and they’ve been really competitive. They’ve been a really good asset to the league.”

Mr Schultz expected the fixture for the 2025 season to be finalised within the next week.

“Having a seven-club competition is one of the hardest draws you’ve ever got to work on,” he said.

“We’ve worked pretty hard to get a structure going now where we get that extra three rounds in for the year.”

Schultz said continuing to build on the Schultz league’s positive momentum was a goal for the upcoming season.

“I’m just hoping for good, competitive football again,” he said.

“(We’ll) see what direction we need to go. Between the executive group and the clubs, we’ll work together to keep things going, and where we can make little improvements, we will.

“We want to give Neil Martinson a big thank you – on behalf of the clubs and the league – for his efforts in establishing the MVFNL.”

Murray Pioneer 8 January 2025

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 8 January 2025.

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