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Has there ever been a bigger stuff up than Football Victoria's early crow about the Bendigo final? Bendigo have since slipped to probably fourth place, and are going to play a home final on a Friday night against a more superior side - and a side who simply should not have to travel to play a night football match.
The VFL is not a night competition, nor is it one that regularly plays on Friday nights. To have a final under these conditions is wrong and unfair to the unfortunate opponent. If the opponent is Werribee, then the match in Bendigo clashes with the Bulldogs only Friday night game of this season - and one which could well determine their finals chances. So the inconvenience of a Friday night game in Bendigo coupled with the Bulldogs factor is probably likely to deter 80% of their supporters from making the trip to Bendigo. Hardly fair for a side who finishes top.
This would not be an issue if Football Victoria made clear finals criteria, it would not be an issue if they held back and didnt jump the gun with their announcement and it would not be an issue if the VFL weren't not trying to push certain clubs and fill their own coffers at the same time.
Hopefully the man in charge realises that the competition isn't really thriving (Port have had a blue with the Roos, Coburg are probably gone) and to be honest decisions like this Bendigo final might help a few theatregoers in Bendigo, but destroy the image of this competition and the goodwill this competition wants to create among fans of ALL clubs. Maybe Gannon should catch up with a few of us dedicated fans one day for a chat and we could let him know just what the fans in the outer think.
It is quite likely that tomorrow we will hear Werribee v Coburg will be moved to Saturday next weekend, as Football Victoria once again try to scramble out of the mess they have generated and paste a bandaid over what has become an unfair and rediculous decision.
