By sports editor Russell Bennett
Ben Joske, the Region General Manager of AFL Gippsland, has been given his marching orders – effective immediately – much to the dismay of the clubs in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.
Chris Ross, the president of the powerhouse Phillip Island Football Netball Club – which has won back-to-back senior premierships, and this year won flags in the fourths, thirds, and seniors – made it clear just how irate he is at the decision to let Joske go, with his position officially being made redundant.
“It’s a disgrace,” Ross said of the decision.
“Ben was unbelievably approachable and he had the clubs’ best interests at heart.
“I’m gutted, to be honest.”
When asked if he thought Joske had been made a scapegoat for the turmoil in the Gippsland region in recent times, Ross said: “100 per cent”.
Nar Nar Goon Football Club president Dene Missen also spoke about the shocking development, from the perspective of his own club – one of the biggest in West Gippsland.
“The Nar Nar Goon Football Club felt that Ben Joske – as head of AFL Gippsland – was making a concerted effort to listen to the clubs and their concerns moving forward,” he said.
“We are angry and bewildered with Ben’s sacking without any consultation with the clubs and are anxious about the future direction of football in Gippsland.”
John White was one of the six AFL Gippsland commissioners sacked with immediate effect at the commission’s May monthly meeting earlier this year.
He, like Ross, was gobsmacked at news of Joske’s departure.
“I’ve been a true supporter of Ben Joske,” he said.
“I thought he brought to the region a level of management skill that this region required, and he was delivering on that.
“I’m absolutely appalled at this decision.
“All clubs ought to be aware that they are now under the control of AFL Docklands and therefore need to be very wary as all decisions made at Docklands are not in the best interests of Gippsland clubs.”
Earlier today, an internal AFL Victoria memo titled ‘AFL Gippsland – changes’ outlined the move on Joske.
“Over the past few months an internal assessment has been taking place into the needs of the AFL Gippsland RAC and structures to offer AFL Gippsland football the best and most sustainable model of service for the future,” the memo read.
“As such, a decision has been made by the AFL Gippsland commission to make the AFL Gippsland RGM position redundant, effective as of Monday 23rd of September.
“We would like to thank Ben Joske for his contribution to the broader Gippsland football community and the AFL Gippsland RAC and Commission.
“We wish Ben all the best for the future.”
After the sacking in May of White and the other five AFL Gippsland commissioners, they were replaced by AFL employees in an interim capacity.
Joske was only announced to the RGM position mid-last year after spending three years as Commercial Development Manager at the Richmond Football Club, before serving as Manager of Regional Tourism and Strategy at Visit Victoria.
He also spent time as Commercial Development Manager at A League club Melbourne City, and held various roles within the racing industry.
His time at AFL Gippsland coincided with a significant period of turmoil within the region, but he’s thought to have impressed many throughout the WGFNC in his short time at the helm.
The move came as the WGFNC clubs opted to stay put – under the administration of the AFL Gippsland Regional Administration Centre led, until today, by Joske.
There had been some talk that the 12 clubs, combined, would look to explore a governance structure of their own with a view to being able to better control their own destiny.
But, instead, the Gazette understands they went to AFL Gippsland with a number of significant requests to modify their current relationship.
The most significant of those was requiring a 75 per cent majority vote from the member clubs on all major WGFNC decisions affecting them.
That would include matters such as applications to join from new clubs; fee changes; and finals dates and venues – particularly if those venues are home to clubs outside the WGFNC.
Crucially, the clubs wanted to scrap the appeals process for outside clubs that don’t get the 75 per cent majority vote needed to join the competition.
The clubs made it clear they would also like to strengthen their relationship with the WGFNC Advisory Committee, and have a seat at the table when it comes to the selection of any new members to that panel.
The Gazette understands the clubs want these changes to occur in time for the 2020 season, and to be reassessed at the end of that season.
If, at that stage, the clubs are unsatisfied with their future direction as a whole, they may look to consider a new constitution and service agreement.
But they made it abundantly clear they were happy to continue to operate under Joske and WGFNC operations manager Stuart Goddard.
The competitiveness of the competition, its future viability through its healthy junior ranks, and the strong working relationship that exists amongst its clubs, are considered key factors behind why there’s so much outside interest in West Gippsland football and netball at the current stage.
