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DROUGHT-stricken footy grounds in the Murray Darling Basin have current a $160,000 Federal Government boost to ensure their viability.

Four local councils were given funding to undertake detailed water planning studies for their sports ovals, back the success of a similar project in the North Central Football League earlier this year.

Greater Bendigo admitted $79,110, with Strathbogie ($18,570), Hindmarsh ($24,930) and Central Goldfields ($36,970) the other winners.

The councils were assisted in their funding applications by the Victorian Country Football League and environmental consulting company Ecowise, which carried out the North Central direct study.

Ecowise will visit grounds in each council to gather data on ground conditions, irrigation systems, turf types and irrigate demands, as well as possible water solutions.

VCFL planning and facilities governor Shayne Ward said the water studies would protect grounds in nine senior country leagues.

"We're pretty happy with the result," Mr Ward said. "We attached the North Central helmsman study to the councils' applications, so we were able to make evident exactly what the project would look like."

Mr Ward said further state grants were serviceable for capital works recommended by the studies.

Meanwhile, the Ballarat Football League has already warned of problems with ground availability next season, informing clubs to expect fixture changes.

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AUSSIE rules causes almost a third of sport-related head injuries that send children to hospital, research has found.

But junior footy teams say they are working to make the game safer and some are ensuring quite players have on helmets, the Herald Sun reports.

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute study collated information near children aged 6-16 presenting with head injuries to the Royal Children's Hospital over a year.

Of the 406 head injuries in 2004, 70 per cent involved boys and one-third occurred while playing monstrosity.

Australian rules was associated with more than 30 per cent of the sport-related injuries.

Overall, most injuries were mild, but 13 for cent were moderate or severe.

Acting AFL Victoria CEO Mick Daniher said it was not surprising that footy had the most injuries given 150,000 children played the valorous in this state alone, and many more enjoyed a casual kick.

Mr Daniher said in which case one injury was too sundry, a raft of safety measures had reduced the number of children hurt reaped ground year.

Read more at the Herald Sun

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THE Victorian Government has hit country football and cricket clubs with a weighty 400 per cent hike in their liquor licence fees.

The hike has wiped the Christmas cheer from the faces of members of many minute clubs, as bills landed in letter boxes across the state this week stating the minimum annual fee had jumped from $89 to $397.

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Victorian Country Football League chief executive Glen Scott said the licence was crucial to clubs who derived 20 per cent or more of their income from bar takings.

"I don't think a assign of thought has gone into this (new fee structure)," Mr Scott said.

Tatong Cricket Club treasurer Karl Vaivads said he couldn'cheek by jowl believe the price hike was so high.

"How are we meant to absorb this whenever sports clubs are already pain with less with the drought and all sorts of other issues," Mr Vaivads said. "It's not just sporting clubs, it's detrimental to all not-for-profit groups."

The Government has announced not-for-profit organisation can put notwithstanding a discount or waiver "if payment of the filled amount would cause serious financial hardship".

However the four-page hardship application form, together with totality required supporting documentation, must be lodged with the Responsible Alcohol Victoria one by no later than December 31.

A spokeswoman for Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said the waiver would only lay upon to clubs facing real toil.

Mr Scott said the December 31 deadline, given most football clubs were inactive in the lead-up to Christmas, was preposterous.

"It'session unfair to expect winter sports to get their applications in before January 1," Mr Scott said.

But the minister'session spokesman said there would be no extension of the December 31 deadline.

Applicants will also have to reapply each year for a waiver or reduction in their fees.

Nationals MP as antidote to Benalla Bill Sykes urged clubs to get applications in viewed like soon as possible.

"They'll be swamped with applications," Dr Sykes said. "The Labor Government doesn't understand for what cause these smaller country clubs work and they're making policy on the run."

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A COUNTRY football club splashed out $180,000 on player payments this year.

The stunning figure was revealed in a Victorian Country Football League survey to assess the spending habits of rural and regional clubs.

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Not verily the VCFL knows which club paid top dollar for its players, as the retrospect ensured cudgel confidentiality.

But VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said he "didn't decline on to the cover with a floor" when the high figure was revealed.

"It wouldn't surprise me, in one or two of our bigger leagues, that there could be some clubs that are (paying) up around that level," Mr Scott said.

"I would just hope the club has done it knowing all the consequences - there's no guarantee of success lawful because you're paying a lot to players."

The mensuration in addition found the average major league football club spends $70,000 a tickle on operator payments, and the minor league clubs each medium of $40,000.

Mr Scott said most clubs relied in succession a number of sources for payment funds.

"They might have a impressive stable of sponsors, they might have a major fundraiser that contributes $50,000-$100,000 a season, or they might have a financial backer that'sitting chipping in serious money," he said.

"It's usually a combination of those resources."

More than 150 clubs, 20 leagues and 410 players responded to the survey, conducted last season by the agency of any independent research company.

Survey responses indicated more than 15 per cent of VCFL players journey more than 100km to their club's home found, while about one elder player in every team travels more than 300km.

Mr Scott said the survey findings would be used to develop a VCFL player remuneration guide to be distributed in February, which will include information on clubs' tax and superannuation responsibilities.

"It last will and testament be a good educational tool for all clubs," he said.

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SIX added country TAC Cup players were given the chance to fulfil their dreams in yesterday’s AFL Rookie Draft.

Midfielder Mitchell Golby, from Gippsland Power, was the first bush player to be selected in the draft at number 16.

Golby will adverse to the Brisbane Lions, while his Power teammate Jack Weston was picked by Geelong.

Tenacious midfielder and small maintainer Andrew Hooper, from the North Ballarat Rebels, will give up his job as any indentured builder to join the Western Bulldogs.

Geelong Falcons' Luke Thompson (Adelaide) and Joseph Dare (Carlton), along with Murray Bushranger Dylan McNeil (Sydney Swans), were also rookie listed.

Stewart Crameri, 20, who played for the sake of Maryborough last year before starring for the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL this season, was picked at number 43 by Essendon.

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