Premium Wednesdays | Picola District has a good interleague format. Maybe the GVL could follow suit?

That said, there remains good reason to pay attention to the way the Picola District Football Netball League goes about business.

Obviously, it’s been divisive; clubs will always have their own views on where they belong and how they fit there.

Its non-affiliated status with AFL Victoria has looked bold and noble in the eyes of some, arrogant in the view of others.

Regardless of differences in opinion on the big picture, though, the Picola District’s interleague format presents a unique circumstance — and, for another competition, maybe a unique solution.

Being unaffiliated naturally makes it a different case when it comes to finding a dance partner for an annual interleague carnival — although if you ask the Gippsland league, maybe location and travel are bigger issues.

Picola District had a quandary on its hands a couple of months ago amid discussions of splitting back into two geographical divisions, as the competition was pre-pandemic.

Though the member clubs voted not to do so, the league nonetheless runs interleague at junior level as if the split existed, with PDL North and PDL South the competing sides.

In a 15-team competition — apparently with plenty of outside interest, based on the league’s statement confirming the no-split vote — this isn’t terribly hard to do, though you assume one side has a slightly deeper pool to pick from than the other.

As for the 12-team Goulburn Valley League? This would be no issue.

Amid rampant speculation at Deakin Reserve in the aftermath of a memorable GVL victory over the visiting Ovens and Murray, speculation that the current interleague arrangement may not be long for this world, there’s some thinking to do.

Clashes between leagues which share the same governing body — AFL Goulburn Murray, in this case — are rare for obvious reasons, so the O&M served as a handy geographical partner most of the time.

If the powers that be are contemplating change, however, you risk falling into a bit of a trap when it comes to setting up regular interleague games elsewhere.

There’s only one VAFA to go around and it just got done mixing it up with a league from ... Perth. What’s that about?

Not that it was entirely in either league’s hands as far as injuries and other availabilities, but let’s face it — neither the GVL nor the O&M brought anything close to their top line-ups on paper in the May clash.

So then, what happens if the Goulburn Valley teams were to follow Picola District’s lead in terms of, rather than an interleague meeting, more of an ‘intra-league’ philosophy pitting one end of the region against the other?

Geographically, it’s a touch awkward having three Shepparton sides, granted.

It made the most sense on paper to make Princess Park the cut off point for Team North-West, leaving Deakin Reserve co-tenants United and the Bears to band together as part of Team South-East.

Other than that minor blip, there was little serious thought required to put these together.

Now, one thing needs to be made clear in the midst of this exercise: there is no need for the GVL to actually move towards geographical partitions for the league season, as Picola District debated doing.

There is, as one can plainly see from the above squads, more than enough talent to go around right here within the 12 clubs of our premier league.

Of course, you have to acknowledge certain people are going to have their other priorities in line — a handful would be just as likely to pull out for a VFL commitment as they were in real life against the O&M.

Besides that inevitable factor, though, this could serve as arguably the competition’s greatest single showcase of talent outside of grand final day.

There’s still a sense of local pride on offer given how wide-ranging the league stretches, with clubs bunched in the north, centre and south of the Goulburn Murray district.

Let’s not forget where the netballers fit into the puzzle, either, in forming just as big a part of why the interleague concept was once held in such high regard.

Splitting the A-graders down the same dividing line should throw up some tantalising match-ups, imagining what combinations heavyweights like Echuca and Tatura could throw together to combat the joined forces of elite sides like Euroa and Seymour.

Perhaps the difference in the netball side of things is the familiarity many of the league’s best girls have developed with one another by crossing paths in the VNL, and maybe that would make things feel slightly less like a spectacle.

Maybe those in the know will decide there’s still a fit purpose for the current interleague system. Maybe the GVL won’t be in the lurch without a rival league to collide with.

If that happens, great.

Obviously, the more people who get around it, the more incentive people will have to want to turn up.

If that eventuates, though, this could still be a great pre-season exhibition showcase to warm up for the year ahead, right?