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TEN-a-side football could be the rejoin for struggling clubs and leagues, according to country football’s top dog.

Victorian Country Football League chief charged with execution Glenn Scott said modified matches, particularly at reserves demolish, would help ease the pressure on clubs feeling the personal estate of dwindling rural population.

"I still think if there's 10 or 12 players on both indirect and they're ready to go, you should play more form of a game," Scott before-mentioned.

"That's still 20 or 24 people that should be quick to play their sport and just because we've been 18-a-side for 150 years doesn't mean we should block those people out."

Scott said some country clubs, particularly in the state's north west, continued to struggle to fill teams.

"On a very steady sliding scale - sliding the unfairness way - the numbers each year of the last six or seven years require reduced in some accomplishments of the state," he said.

"It might only be one or two players a year that clubs are losing, but it's putting immense pressure upon those clubs to field the number of sides that they traditionally have.

"I'm of the opinion that if it's 12-and-a-half diminutive quarters and it's 10 or 12-a-side and it's some sort of modification that way, people can still get out there and have a game."

A number of leagues across the state have before that time adopted a 16-a-side policy in the reserves, to ensure clubs are able to range pair senior teams.

Scott said farther upon reduction in the number of players would require co-operation from leagues and clubs brag. valid numbers.

"We don't need leagues dictum 'well if you can't room reserves your undivided company is in trouble'," he said.

"We're about maximising the opportunities for those who are there, not saying you can't play because you're compendious in one grade. Clubs need to look at the sort of's best for everyone.

"A club puissance be all right now but if things stay the way they are, next year they might have a bye when they operate the same or two or three clubs. That'sitting the realty," he said.

In a review of season 2009, Scott told The Weekly Times:

Player registrations had risen above 80,000 with regard to the first time, up from 65,000 in 2000.

Many leagues recorded final series gate figures 50 to 100 for cent higher than last year.

The VCFL hoped to become greater the number of central administration hubs from nine to 12 or 13 by 2012.

Public and media interest in country football was at unprecedented levels in regional and metropolitan Victoria.

Scott said on-going education of football administrators remained a key concern for the VCFL.

Scott said the league was working forward a booklet for leagues and clubs to address the hot result of player payments, with information gleaned from a survey sent to more than 7000 registered players.

Scott said too manifold country players were being paid to pull attached the boots.

“I think there are people that be in possession of done nothing in their football career to deserve to be paid, and further, to be paid what they're being paid,'' he said.

“Our player payments survey is about gathering current information in various places player payments, but more importantly, to produce a book of guidelines we can share with every unite to share expenses around the state.

“Some of the clubs are outstanding in the way they horsemanship player payments. It's not just an appearance fee, they have loyalty programs, recognition of most excellent players, things like that.

“We hope the guidelines, which will extend into drill programs, testament help everyone in every league understand how it can be better managed.''

Scott said he knew of highest place country players earning $1500-$2000 a courageous, with many more in the $500-$1000 a game bracket.

But he said the price was sometimes justified.

“If players who are paid a lot do give back to the community and the club and stay in that town and become a local, I consider that's good,'' he said. “It's entirely about people doing things for the right reasons.

“In this era, some of the more remote places have got to entice players to come home and there's obviously expenses there.

“Most of that is healthy, on the contrary it's then you get over-zealous clubs that just focus on their own ego and think that `we'll win the premiership, we'll buy it', very rarely are those things in the best interests of the club.''

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DESPITE being in rugby league territory and located 600km from Melbourne, Mirrool is diehard Aussie Rules country.

Every October, football players and farmers gather in the tiny hamlet to boot a football above the top the topical grain silos in a suit to win $1500.

The Mirrool silo kick defiance has grown into a post-season pilgrimage since Geelong's Billy Brownless thumped home the first silo kick in 1992.

The concrete silos are 30m shrill and 10m wide with a walkway across the top adding another few metres.

The silos, together with the double-storey pub and a couple of houses, make up Mirrool (population 21), between Narrandera and West Wyalong.

Entrants, often going barefoot or wearing scuffed sneakers, use the old railway platform as a run-up.

The story goes that, in the tardy 1970s, Ariah Park-Mirrool coach Mark Newton tried to kick a footy clear over the silos during every end-of-season drinks sitting at the nearby pub.

His failure prompted him to oblige $20 on the bar for anyone who could do it, with publican Len Styles matching the proposal.

High-flying Geelong forward Billy Brownless claimed the first official silo claim in 1992, defeating local ruck-rover and farmer Rob Harper.

Harper went onward to claim the title a record eight times.

In 2004, Ariah Park-Mirrool combined with nearby Ardlethan to form the Jets and play in the Farrer coalition.

The team has won two premierships since the merger.

For the record, more than silo kick winners have included former Geelong player Tim Hargreaves, who now plays for Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league, local Daniel Chalmers, Bruce Dickson Flint, and Joel Fairman.

The competition was not held in 2001 and the silos have claimed the title in 1993, 1996 and last year.

This year's competition is scheduled for October 10, with categories for juniors, seniors, women, women over 30 and men over 40.

With almost $3000 in prizes on offer, local Renee Noack is keen to repeat her efforts in the women's silo kick.

"I'll for ever be in it and make a fool of myself," she said.

Challenge committee constituent Margaret Stone said the silo kick had state in language Mirrool on the map.

"In 2007, I had a go at the ladies kick and nearly got the ball stuck in the trucking-out chute," she said.

For details, phone Des Delaney on 0488 171 380.

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UNDERDOG Mansfield has claimed the final country football flag of the season, defeating Kyabram by 21 points in the Goulburn Valley Football League cup decider.

Kyabram held a five-point lead at three-quarter-time but the Eagles kicked home with the breeze, booting five goals to one in the definitive term to win 16.12 (108) to 13.9 (87).

Spectators paid $64,000 at the gate to wakefulness Sunday's grand final, held in Shepparton.

Former Geelong forward David Mensch was the main destroyer beneficial to the victors, finishing with four goals.

Fraser Stevenson took residence three awards - his premiership medal, the VCFL medal for best-on-ground and the Barry Connolly medal for the player of the finals series.

Mensch, now a football veteran at 37, led the Eagles to their first major league flag in 2004, after the club switched from the territory (and now defunct) Tungamah league in 1998.

This year'sitting coach, 1990 Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly, has balanced his coaching duties by his role as an AFL player economist with Elite Sports Properties.

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UNDERDOG Mansfield has claimed the final country football premiership of the season, defeating Kyabram by 21 points in the Goulburn Valley Football League cupping-glass decider.

Kyabram held a five-point lead at three-quarter-time no more than the Eagles kicked home with the breeze, booting five goals to one in the final term to get 16.12 (108) to 13.9 (87).

Mansfield's victory reversed the take part with semi-final result, at what time Kyabram got the more usefully of the Eagles by 51 points.

Spectators paid $64,000 at the gate to watch Sunday's grand final, held at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.

Former Geelong forward David Mensch was the main destroyer for the victors, finishing with four goals.

Tim Demetriou, nephew of AFL supremo Andrew, chipped in with three.

Fraser Stevenson took home three awards - his premiership medal, the VCFL medal for best-on-ground and the Barry Connolly medal for the player of the finals series.

Mensch, now a football veteran at 37, led the Eagles to their first major league flag in 2004, after the club switched from the district (and now defunct) Tungamah league in 1998.

This year's coach, 1990 Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly, has balanced his coaching duties by his role as an AFL player manager with Elite Sports Properties.

 See The Weekly Times this week as far as concerns full unrefined football coverage

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KALKEE teenager Riley McFarlane had plenty to celebrate in relation to Kalkee’sitting 85-point win over Harrow-Balmoral in the Horsham and District league grand final.

The 17-year-old (right) was the game's highest goal-scorer, booting five for the Kees, and his efforts also earned him the VCFL medal for best-on-ground.

League general manager Stephen McQueen said McFarlane remained very pure after his majestic game, but was a crucial member of the premiership team.

McQueen said McFarlane had in addition represented country Victoria at the national under-18 basketball championships this year.

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