The Colac and District Football Netball League wishes to congratulate the following players who have been selected in the Interleague Squads to play against Central Highlands Football League this Sunday.
The Interleague matches will be held at Elliminyt Recreation Reserve, (South Colac FNC) with the starting times for the Football matches as follows:
The AFL Barwon's Pride Round is just around the corner, bringing vibrant rainbow colours and a powerful message of inclusivity to community grounds throughout the Barwon region. This significant event in the AFL Barwon calendar is dedicated to honouring and recognising the contributions of the LGBTIQA+ community within sporting leagues. AFL Barwon met with players from various clubs that will be donning pride-themed uniforms this weekend.
Geelong Amateurs female football player, Lucy Were, expresses her excitement for the Pride Round as an opportunity for the club to demonstrate their support and foster a culture of inclusivity. She believes that this celebration is a stepping stone towards achieving Geelong Amateurs’ goal of a united and welcoming environment. She states, "It's an awesome opportunity to show support and work towards the club culture that we strive for, and this is just a small snippet of achieving that." The design process of the Geelong Amateurs Pride jumpers aimed to encompass inclusivity by incorporating pride in a progressive way. Were explains that they took a comprehensive approach to inclusion, including the representative transgender colours on the side to ensure that all aspects of equality were represented.
Jessie Morrow, a leader of the playing group at Drysdale Football Netball Club, also highlights the significance of the Pride Round. She emphasises that the round celebrates individual differences and unites everyone in supporting a worthy cause. Morrow says, "Pride Round is knowing that it doesn't matter who or what we are as a club, we are all there for the same purpose. It is just about being able to be who you are."
Similarly, Hannah Collins, a netballer from the Geelong West Giants, emphasizes their club's commitment to inclusivity. She believes that although they have always strived for inclusivity among players, families, and supporters, highlighting inclusivity in a themed round is a significant step towards making everyone feel important and fostering a true sense of community within clubs and the wider league.
Lauren French, a female football representative of Grovedale Tigers, recognises the significance of female matches taking place after the senior men's games during the Pride Round. She acknowledges the positive atmosphere that comes with a larger crowd and expresses that many girls appreciate the inclusiveness of such an arrangement. French believes it is important for the club since it is not common for all teams to play on the same day, and she finds it wonderful to bring everyone together.
Edward Wilson, AFL Barwon's Regional Manager, expresses immense satisfaction in leading the Pride Round across the Barwon Region’s football and netball leagues. Wilson states, "AFL Barwon is proud to lead the Pride Round across all regional community football and netball competitions and leagues, in 2023. We're incredibly proud of everyone who makes up our local community and strive to provide support and integrated equitable opportunities for all. Pride Round supports this vision significantly, and we're proud to work with Clubs, partners, and stakeholders locally, who support our diversity and inclusion values and objectives."
The annual AFL Barwon Pride Round is a testament to the league's commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Refer to league fixtures for more information on playing times over the weekend.
New change rooms, new lighting and upgraded ovals are on their way to boost more country football and netball clubs across Victoria.
The Victorian Government has announced 11 new projects that will share in more than $2.5 million from the 2022-23 Country Football and Netball Program.
The Country Football Netball Program provides funding of up to $250,000 to assist country football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations to improve facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations.
The program is a partnership between the Victorian Government, the AFL and Netball Victoria. Since 2005, more than $37.5 million has been invested in more than 560 projects across the state.
Head of AFL Victoria, Ben Kavenagh, said: “With grassroots football growing and many facilities either not being up to standard or needing to expand to cater for more players, coaches, umpires and the general needs of clubs and communities, the Country Football and Netball Program continues to play an important role in helping clubs and communities across Victoria develop new and upgraded facilities.
“Local football brings communities together and clubs are often the heartbeat of towns across the state, so facilities need to be welcoming, inclusive and a place of pride for those who use them. The program delivers direct outcomes through funding projects such as lighting upgrades, modernising changerooms and expanding the availability of use for more people to play community football and netball.
“The Victorian Government's ongoing support of grassroots sport and the positive impact this has on so many communities is something AFL Victoria and local football clubs are extremely grateful for. This is a prime example of AFL Victoria and the Victorian Government working in partnership for the benefit of community football.”
2023 successful projects:
Towong Shire Council – Female-friendly facilities at Bullioh – Wyeeboo Recreation Reserve supporting the Bullioh FNC
Latrobe City Council - Gaskin Park Oval 2 surface upgrade benefitting the Churchill FNC and Churchill JFC
Hepburn Shire Council – Newlyn Recreation Reserve sports lighting development supporting the Newlyn FNC
Rural City of Wangaratta – New life for Whorouly Netball Courts supporting the Whorouly Lions FNC
Mitchell Shire Council - LB Davern Reserve – Oval drainage upgrade benefitting the Wandong JFC
Wodonga City Council - Les Cheesley Oval Sports Lighting supporting the Wodonga JFC
Mansfield Shire Council - Lords Reserve drainage improvement project benefitting the Mansfield JFC
East Gippsland Shire Council Lindenow South Recreation Reserve Oval lighting project supporting the Lindenow South FNC
Moyne Shire Council – Port Fairy sports lighting project supporting the Port Fairy FNC
Golden Plains Shire Council - Don Wallace Reserve Teesdale oval upgrade supporting the Teesdale JFC
Mount Alexander Shire Council - Campbells Creek netball court upgrade benefiting the Campbells Creek FNC
The Australian Football League has launched a national campaign to highlight the importance of showing respect for umpires at all levels, from community football through to the elite game.
There are more than 15,000 umpires in community football nationwide – across the three disciplines of field, boundary and goal – and more are needed to cater for the game’s growth.
Without umpires there is no game and too often umpires are subjected to abuse on the field and from the other side of the fence. The ‘Umpire Respect’ campaign shines a light on the impact of abuse and the role everyone in football has to play in changing the match day experience to a more supportive and positive environment for all.
At the centre of the campaign is emerging 20-year-old umpire Jeremy Zhou, who has experienced abuse in the game. The campaign follows Jeremy’s story from developing a love of football as a kid through to getting into umpiring and the impact his first experience of abuse had on him.
Jeremy, who currently umpires at VFL and community level, was nearly lost to the game.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Jeremy has shown tremendous resilience and is a great example of a young umpire coming through the ranks via the pathway system, who is destined for greater things.
AFL Executive General Manager Game Development, Rob Auld, said: “No matter the role you play in football – player, coach, volunteer, administrator, supporter or umpire – everyone has the right to feel safe and valued at the footy.
“Those who abuse umpires in football are not just disrespecting the individual who is the target of the abuse, they are disrespecting the game, their club and the community they represent.
“Current and prospective umpires should know that stamping out abuse is a major priority for the game across the country. Umpire abuse needs to stop now, it is not a part of our game and we all need to own and drive it out of footy.
“Umpires are vitally important to the game and it is a fantastic time to get into umpiring, with enhanced support and pathway systems in place.”
The campaign highlights the human element of umpires and focuses on the benefits involved in being an umpire, including playing an important role in the game, fitness, getting paid and being part of a community.
The AFL encourages community football clubs across the country to promote the campaign to their players, coaches and volunteers to assist in condemning and stamping out umpire abuse.
Anyone considering giving umpiring a go can visit play.afl/umpire to learn more.
WATCH JEREMY'S STORY -https://www.afl.com.au/news/940546/?fbclid=IwAR3VmqVr47a0P8vEv0PnT_Msf9LqBZNRd6Ym2_tNMJ738LuhJmo6SEHOa2w
