Often the social hub of rural communities, footy clubs play a critical role in connecting people and engaging them in sports. Now, Golden Rivers Football League Clubs Face an uncertain future following the release of recommendations from the Northern Futures Project (NFP).

Following extensive consultation with clubs from both the Central Murray Football Netball League (CMFNL) and the Golden Rivers Football Netball League (GRFNL), the NFP Steering Committee has presented eight key recommendations designed to address declining participation and operational challenges across both leagues.

These recommendations included concluding the GRFNL in 2025, encouraging GRFNL clubs to pursue transfers to appropriate leagues, explore amalgamation with neighbouring clubs, expanding the CMFNL by accepting capable and competitive clubs from GRFNL and exploring flexible competition models.

“These recommendations aim to preserve the spirit of local footy and netball while ensuring we’re building something viable and exciting for generations to come. Change is never easy, however the time has come where decisive action must be taken,” stated Northern Futures Project Committee Chair Stuart King.

The committee also noted that if no viable restructuring is confirmed for 2026, the GRFNL may continue with a transitional minimum four-club competition for 2026 only.

Moulamein Football Club held a meeting on Tuesday night to consider options for their future. Around 60 people gathered and expressed a strong desire to keep the club running in its own right.

“It was a very disappointing report from Moulamein’s point of view. It offered us absolutely nothing, and virtually said, you either sink, or you try swimming upstream for a while and see if you get there. Basically, let’s just cannibalise Golden Rivers for the good of Central Murray.” said Moulamein FNC Club President Neville Willox.

“From our meeting, Moulamein is quite passionate about keeping their club going,”

“We want to go and find a way forward for ourselves. There was good support from the community, and the community are mostly people who have children in the under twelves and under fifteens and are very supportive of keeping the club going forward.”

“It’s just a matter of which way to go now.”

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 19 June 2025.