Ocean Grove knocked again betting sponsorship for native footy

The provide, which might have included funds to Ocean Grove each time somebody related to the membership opened an account and bonuses for bets positioned by way of every account, was shortly denied by the membership earlier than the present season.

The playing sponsorship alternative got here as AFL Barwon regional common supervisor Edward Wilson pledged the native soccer and netball governing physique had “no curiosity” in permitting betting on native sport.

Ocean Grove soccer supervisor Cam McGregor mentioned his membership prided itself on being community-first and by no means critically contemplated taking the money from the playing web site.

“They approached us to sponsor the membership and whoever opens an account we’d get a specific amount (of cash) and any turnover we additionally get a specific amount,” he mentioned.

“It was introduced up at committee stage as ‘right here is a chance, will we wish to take a look at it?’ and it was mainly thrown out earlier than we mentioned it any additional.

“It most likely proves that we’re fairly critical about taking part in for the suitable causes and supporting our gamers in the suitable manner fairly than simply saying it and performing totally different behind the scenes.

“It’s only a downwards spiral and it’s not one thing we wish to assist … we thought it was not value it. We’d a lot desire to say we don’t have anyone with a playing downside as a result of we haven’t promoted these things, fairly than having just a few additional {dollars} within the account.”

McGregor mentioned he didn’t have the precise figures of the provide however mentioned the bottom sponsorship would have been value between $5000 and $10,000.

The Grubbers are a part of the Victorian Accountable Playing Basis’s Learn the Play program, which goals to cut back the publicity of betting to younger folks.

Wilson selected to not remark particularly on Ocean Grove’s provide however he mentioned AFL Barwon would “be sure that something we expose our gamers to at a junior or senior stage, it’s completed so with their finest pursuits at coronary heart”.

Betting was out there on premiership winners in native leagues final decade however Wilson mentioned AFL Barwon didn’t need it to return.

“Definitely we’re conscious that there are choices on the market available in the market at a neighborhood sport stage in different sports activities and different competitions throughout the nation,” he mentioned.

“For us at AFL Barwon, now we have little interest in collaborating in these choices as we imagine, particularly for the gamers within the childhood, we wish to finest assist their training and their transition from being youngsters to adults … if meaning turning our again on monetary incentives then completely we are going to as a result of now we have to offer what’s finest for our neighborhood.”

josh.barnes1@information.com.au

Initially revealed as Ocean Grove reveals it knocked again betting sponsorship