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THE Victorian Country Football League plans to develop an online database of country footballers to prevent clubs from spending top dollar on undeserving players.

The database would detail the playing history of every VCFL-registered footballer, from Auskick through to retirement.

VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said the database would provide information on a player's age, past clubs, number of games played, awards won, tribunal appearances and injuries sustained.

It could likewise include a player's height, pith and employment history.

Clubs could add advice on a idler's on-field ability and off-field character.

Scott said every footballer would then have existence given a ranking from 1-100, and the VCFL would provide a suggested payment range beneficial to each bracket of five or 10 on the ranking dish.

"The idea would be to give clubs enough knowledge about players so they could make better decisions ready payments," Scott said.

"Setting it up is a big exercise and it main take three or four years to get it done. Even sooner or later, it's not an exact science.

"But if every club could save just $2000 a year on player payments, that would mean $1 million saved in country footy every year."

The pattern for the database was formed as a result of the VCFL'sitting player payments survey, conducted late last year. Results of the survey are explored in the VCFL Player Remuneration Guide, released to clubs endure week.

The steer reveals:

• An average club spends 34.6 per cent of its annual turnover steady player payments.
• Several players have received up to $1500 per game at some stage of their career.
• Almost 10 per cent of clubs conduct no recruitment checks before signing a new player to their team.
• An medial sum major league club has 10 contracted players, though an average district confederation company has six.
• Players valuation employment opportunities and playing at a higher standard as the major factors while deciding to move to another club or league.
• League administrators viewed pecuniary incentives as the key reason players transferred clubs or leagues.

More than 150 clubs, 410 players and 20 leagues responded to the confidential survey.

Scott said the resulting Player Remuneration Guide would be particularly helpful to incoming club committees, newly come presidents and coaches.

He said the guide had any educational focus and provided best-case examples of player-incentive schemes, club budgeting and tax and insurance considerations.

"I'll be staggered if anyone reads it and doesn't find ways to improve their club," Scott said.

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THE Victorian Country Football League has vowed to keep a close watch upon the health of reserves football in country competitions, individually in the state’s 16 major leagues.

VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said football administrators statewide were monitoring the movement of major league reserves players to district competitions, where they might play in the senior team and be paid for their efforts.

"It'session an interesting scenario and it'session starting to fit the 'what's next' in country footy profile," Scott said.

"You don't desire a major league having a non-event reserves rivalship where it's just about making up numbers to fill your side."

Goulburn Valley Football League chairman Keith Wellman said the future of reserves football in major country leagues was "in jeopardy".

"Players can go out into a district league and make fun altogether their games in close proximity of their home club, pick up a small in number dollars, and not have that same intensity of training," Wellman declared.

"You can understand blokes doing that, especially ones with not old families or mortgages.

"It's in our chairman's mind and our plank's mind as to how we carry toward that issue."

Scott said many district league clubs also continued to struggle for players in the reserves.

He said the VCFL was likely to be with one or two leagues in underpopulated areas to trial modified stage-player numbers and competition times in the reserves in coming seasons.

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A SURVEY of clubs has revealed a mixed reaction to the Lexton Plains league’s proposal to merge its competition with the Maryborough Castlemaine District league.

Some clubs rely upon a merger could secure the future of the clubs in the eight-team Lexton Plains form a league, while other clubs say they would be unhappy in various places travelling further for games.

The proposal, unveiled in The Weekly Times last week, aims to establish a 19-club "super league" by means of the banner of the Goldfields Football League.

Drafted by the Lexton Plains board with help from the Ballarat Central Administration Hub, the Goldfields league could subsist established as early as next year, provided it had support from both leagues and the VCFL.

But Dunolly Football Club president Stan McNamee said he would be surprised if any clubs in the Maryborough Castlemaine league would be in favour of the proposal.

Dunolly would subsist the northernmost club in the proposed league, 150km from the southernmost act in concert, Rokewood-Corindhap.

"What they're doing is not unreasonable, but when you cogitate about clubs who would exist travelling end another band in the middle (Central Highlands), it doesn'cheek by jowl make sense," McNamee related.

"The most viable way of looking at it (is to) include the Central Highlands league (in the proposal)."

Talbot president Reiny Gunther said he would oppose any merger between the leagues for the same reason as McNamee.

"It's too much travel," Gunther declared.

Gunther said the struggles of the Lexton Plains league were due to inferior choices by the board.

"They've lost unite to share expenses after club," he said.

"You make your own bed, you've got to sleep in it.

"We would subsist happy for Natte-Bealiba or Lexton (Football Club) to join, but the other clubs could cross to the Mininera and District three miles.

"It's just commonsense."

While Natte-Bealiba has already indicated an interest in moving to the Maryborough league, Lexton is unlikely to follow suit.

President Mal Sargent said Lexton would be against the merger due to the "term consumed travelling".

Carngham-Linton and Skipton are supporting the proposal on the grounds that the merger may save the Lexton Plains league.

Illabarook president Stephen Clark agreed that regardless of in what way clubs feel about the Goldfields proposal, they had to be "prepared for change".

"Most people I've spoken to are open to the idea of the merger," Clark aforesaid.

"We'll do what's best in opposition to the club and best for the league."

The Goldfields league proposal elect have being considered by the involved clubs and leagues as part of the Victorian Country Football League's review of football in the region, due to begin nearest month.

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ONLINE bookmaker Sportsbet will not offer line betting in continuance Geelong Football League matches this year.

In a statement released this aurora, Football Geelong chief charged with execution Lee Hartman said the controversial plan had been shelved.

“After several discussions between Sportsbet, AFL, AFL Victoria, VCFL and Football Geelong, it has been decided to withdraw the Sportsbet line betting for GFL games in quest of 2010,'' the release said.

“The premiership betting will continue as per previous years.''

The Weekly Times revealed last week Hartman felt backed into a corner by Sportsbet's decision to offer line betting adhering all Geelong league matches.

“Our preferred option is not to have (line betting) but we've taken the approach that it will happen anyway, so it's best for us to be involved,'' Hartman said.

The VCFL had claimed line betting would threaten the integrity of the sport, and had called on the AFL to help stop up Sportsbet'sitting move.

“There's no upside to betting on rude footy matches, but there's potentially disatrous downsides.''

Sportsbet chief executive Matt Tripp told The Weekly Times last week rope betting would have existence “great for country football''.

“We thought about it long-spun and hard, but it'session not a huge revenue spinner.

“(The purpose) is to get into areas we wouldn't have been able to reach, providing a service nay one else does.''

Sportsbet has already opened its premiership market on the Geelong Football League, offering $3.60 for reigning prime minister South Barwon to go back-to-back.

Rival St Mary'session is furthermore at $3.60.

At the other end of the scale, North Shore has the longest flag odds at $101.

• Read more in The Weekly Times on April 7.

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HERE is the full Victorian Country Football Easter weekend fixture.

Country footy fans are in for an Easter feast this weekend, with a host of matches being played in VCFL leagues round the state.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday, April 2

Golden Square v South Bendigo at Country Vet Oval, Golden Square, 2.20pm

Saturday, April 3

Castlemaine v Kyneton, Camp Reserve, Castlemaine, 2.20pm

Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye, Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk, 2.20pm

Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat, Gardiner Reserve, Gisborne, 2.20pm

Sandhurst v Maryborough, Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo, 6.30pm

HEATHCOTE DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday, April 2

Colbinabbin v Mount Pleasant, MJ Morgan Reserve, Colbinabbin, 6.15pm

Saturday, April 3

North Bendigo v White Hills, North Bendigo Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Leitchville-Gunbower v Elmore, Gunbower Recreation Reserve 2.15pm

LBU v Heathcote, Lockington Reserve, 2.15pm

SUNRAYSIA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday, April 2

Irymple v South Mildura, Henshilwood Oval, Irymple, 2.15pm

Red Cliffs v Wentworth, Quandong Park, Red Cliffs, 7pm

Saturday, April 3

Mildura v Merbein, No.1 Oval, Mildura, 2.15pm

Robinvale v Imperials, Riverside Park, Robinvale, 2.15pm

WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Old Collegians v Merrivale, Davidson Oval, Warrnambool, 2:20pm

Dennington v Panmure, Dennington Recreation Reserve, 2.20pm

East Warrnambool v Deakin University, Reid Oval, Warrnambool, 2.20pm

Russell’sitting Creek v Allansford, Mack Oval 2.20pm

Kolora-Noorat v Timboon Demons, Noorat Recreation Reserve, 2.20pm

South Rovers v Nirranda, Walter Oval, Warrnambool, 2.20pm

GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday, April 2

Shepparton v Shepparton Swans, Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, 7pm

Kyabram v Rochester, Kyabram Recreation Reserve, 7pm

Saturday, April 3

Mansfield v Shepparton United, Mansfield Recreation Reserve, 2pm

Mooroopna v Euroa, Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, 2pm

Echuca v Seymour, Victoria Park, Echuca, 2pm

Benalla v Tatura, Benalla Showgrounds, 7pm

MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday, April 2

Barooga v Cobram, Barooga Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Echuca United v Moama, Echuca South Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Nathalia v Tongala, Nathalia Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Tocumwal v Congupna, Tocumwal Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Saturday, April 3

Finley v Deniliquin Rams, Finley Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Mulwala v Numurkah, Lonsdale Reserve, Mulwala, 2.10pm

OVENS & KING FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Bright v Greta, Bright Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Benalla All Blacks v North Wangaratta, Friendlies Oval, Benalla, 2.15pm

Glenrowan v Whorouly, Glenrowan Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Milawa v Tarrawingee, Milawa Recreation Reserve 2.15pm

Moyhu v Swanpool, Moyhu Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

King Valley v Tatong, Whitfield Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Sunday, April 4

Bonnie Doon v Goorambat, Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Wangaratta v Wodonga, Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta, 2.10pm

Wodonga Raiders v Lavington, Birallee Park, Wodonga, 2.10pm

Corowa-Rutherglen v North Albury, John Foord Oval, Corowa, 2.10pm

Sunday, April 4

Yarrawonga v Albury, Lonsdale Reserve, Mulwala, 2.10pm

Myrtleford v Wangaratta Rovers, McNamara Reserve, Myrtleford, 2.10pm

ALBERTON FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Phillip Island v Kilcunda-Bass, Cowes Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Inverloch-Kongwak v Korumburra-Bena, Inverloch Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

Sunday, April 4

Yarram v DWWWW, Yarram Recreation Reserve, 2.15pm

GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Wonthaggi v Leongatha, Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, 2.20pm

BELLARINE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, April 3

Anglesea v Barwon Heads, Dave Harding Oval, Anglesea, 2.10pm

Ocean Grove v Drysdale, Ocean Grove Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Portarlington v Newcomb Power, Portarlington Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Queenscliff v Geelong Amateur, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Torquay v Modewarre, Spring Creek Reserve, Torquay, 2.10pm

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