There was a terrific atmosphere at Yarrawonga’s Grove Oval on Saturday.
In ideal winter conditions, supporters enjoyed an entertaining afternoon of football, while the Murray River Electrical redevelopment continues to prove an outstanding investment for both the club and the wider community.
But one thing was missing: a bigger crowd.
It is time for the Ovens & Murray Football Netball League to take a hard look at the unintended consequences of its live-streaming policy.
Live streaming undoubtedly serves an important purpose for supporters who genuinely cannot attend. However, it is also becoming an easy alternative for people who could be at the ground but instead choose the comfort of the couch.
Country football was never meant to be consumed like Netflix.
Every person who stays home is one fewer paying at the gate, buying a meal from the canteen, having a drink at the bar or purchasing a raffle ticket. It also means one fewer person contributing to the lively club environment that sponsors expect to see.
Those lost dollars matter. They help clubs meet rising operating costs, maintain facilities, support junior programs and continue functioning in an era when volunteers are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
The league may celebrate viewing figures, but views do not pay the bills. Clubs survive because people turn up.
More importantly, country football is about far more than the game itself. It is about children kicking the footy behind the goals and during half-time. It is about grandparents catching up with lifelong friends, volunteers serving meals, sponsors entertaining clients and communities connecting face-to-face.
None of that happens through a screen.
Every empty space around the ground should concern every club in the competition.
Across country Victoria and New South Wales, community clubs are already battling declining volunteer numbers, rising costs and changing lifestyles. We should not be making it easier for people to stay away.
Every decision the league makes should be guided by one simple question: will this encourage more people to come to the football?
If the answer is no, it may be time to rethink the approach.
No one is suggesting streaming should disappear altogether. It remains a valuable service for elderly supporters, former locals, travelling fans and families who genuinely cannot attend.
But does every game need to be shown live?
Could delayed broadcasts provide the same service without discouraging attendance? These are questions worth asking before another generation decides the best seat at the football is the one on the couch.
Country football has always been built on people gathering around their local oval. Once that habit is lost, it will be incredibly difficult to rebuild.
The game belongs at the ground, not on the lounge.
Name withheld
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