Local sporting clubs are calling for the AFL to have more consideration for community leagues when they schedule major matches.
It comes after the AFL announced its hotly anticipated finals opener between Geelong and Collingwood would be played at 4:30pm on the first Saturday of September.
The Ovens and Murray Football Netball League (O&M) in north-east Victoria starts its finals season on the same day.
The league has objected to the AFL game being scheduled at that time in the afternoon, saying regional people would have to leave early in the day to make it to the game, and others would be glued to their televisions.
Members believed this would cannibalise spectators, volunteers and even players from local games.
"There is no doubt it will have a tangible impact on our finals," chairman David Sinclair said.
"It's a real kick in the teeth to community football."
Yarrawonga Football Netball Club president Ross Mulquiney said it was a sign of a bigger conflict between struggling community sporting clubs and major leagues with their eye on peak broadcast times.
"Essentially they're killing the goose that laid the golden egg, by not allowing them to prosper," he said.
Calls for 'blackout' broadcasting rules
In 1961, the Sports Broadcasting Act was passed in the USA in response to a court decision about the NFL's method of negotiating television broadcasting rights.
Mr Mulquiney said part of this act meant professional football games were "blacked out" from being broadcast locally on Friday evenings and Saturdays, when high school and college football games were played.
"It's in recognition that those sports need their market in order to be able to participate and compete," he said.
He believed something similar was needed in Australia to ensure community sport could thrive.
"We're competing with subscriptions for $10 a month where you can watch football whenever you like ... [against] live sport on a Saturday afternoon when we're hopeful to get people either to come down and watch, or come down and participate," he said.
He said it was a relatively new issue, but one that was occurring more frequently.
"We are fighting a losing battle," he said.
"It's a question as to what does our community want?
"How much do we value people being out, active and healthy and socialising, versus a few more dollars to some professional sports people to play a game?"
Bouncing back after COVID-19
The O&M league, like most community sporting leagues around the country, has had a rough couple of years.
The entire 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19, and statewide restrictions and lockdowns saw the 2021 season called off in August, before finals could begin.
"For most of us it's been three years since we've played any finals," Mr Sinclair said.
"This is our opportunity now to raise some revenue, and we're trying to do it against the backdrop of one of the biggest blockbuster finals in the AFL in recent years.
"It's just a massive distraction that community football doesn't need."
Mr Mulquiney said the issue was impacting leagues across the state, but many did not feel comfortable speaking out.
"It certainly appears that [by] sticking your head up to make this point ... it may get cut off, so to speak, because you're making criticism of your employer," he said.
But Mr Sinclair was still hopeful the AFL would hear their concerns.
"Hopefully through making some noise, going forward there is some consideration as to what the scheduling does to community football and the impact that it does have," he said.
The AFL has declined to comment on this matter.
