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The AFL has announced a major $8 million extra investment to help bring community football back and ensure the grassroots game thrives, following two years disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community football is the foundation of the game and the AFL has made supporting community leagues, clubs, players, umpires, coaches, volunteers and administrators across the country a priority in 2022.

The package significantly increases the AFL’s commitment to community football and game development compared to the COVID-affected years of 2020 and 2021.

While the past two years have seen financial pressure placed on many parts of the game, the funding commitment directs funds to where they’re most needed and has been made in acknowledgement of the importance of community football and the people involved. The package will go towards getting kids active in schools, helping households return to their community clubs and bolstering support for volunteers, coaches and umpires.

Additionally, four-time Hawthorn Football Club premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will be a community coaching ambassador, giving coaches at all levels access to insights from one of the game’s all-time greats.

“There is no greater priority for our game in 2022 than ensuring community football bounces back and thrives,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.

“Footy means so much to so many people, towns and communities right across the country and we have an important role to play in helping everyone come back together, reconnecting families and friends and getting everyone back, engaged and active.

“Many have done it tough, and we don’t take for granted that community football has been affected. In some markets, particularly Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, the community game has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to support the thousands of volunteers around the country who keep community clubs going and play our role in reconnecting communities, particularly where so much footy has been missed.

“It’s fantastic that someone of Alastair Clarkson’s calibre and experience has come on board to help community coaches across the country. Alastair is passionate about working with those involved at grassroots level and I’m sure the community football coaching network will benefit from what he has to offer.”

Below are some of the key components of the AFL’s $8 million extra support package for community football nationally:

• $1.6 million towards volunteer support – more resources on the ground in all markets to benefit volunteers
• $1.5 million investment into schools – consolidate AFL schools program offerings nationally and help schools/teachers get kids active
• $1.4 million to remove coaching and umpiring registration fees across Australia
• $1 million COVID fighting fund to benefit Victoria and New South Wales
• $800,000 commitment to Victorian clubs for the 2022 season, such as covering certain administrative and insurance costs
• Four-time Hawthorn Football Club premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will come on board as a community football coaching ambassador

AFL Executive General Manager Game Development, Rob Auld, said: “Despite the challenges and disruptions community sport has faced, our game rebounded strongly this year with grassroots participation back around record levels from 2019. More than 820,000 people were registered to participate in the game from NAB AFL Auskick through to junior and senior club football, women’s and men’s.

“But there have been considerable added responsibilities placed on volunteers and coaches to manage clubs and teams through uncertain periods. We must continue to provide opportunities and remove barriers for everyone involved in the game.

“Covid-related protocols and breaks in seasons have placed a significant burden on those leading and administering the community game, while many players and coaches have missed large chunks of football. Volunteers are a massive part of community football and they need greater support.

“This is why the AFL is prioritising support for community football in 2022 and making this extra investment, to bring people, clubs and communities back and get the game going in the way that makes it such an important and special part of so many lives.”

Further details about the AFL’s commitment to investing in community football in 2022 will follow.

The Toyota Good For Footy Gear Grant program is back for the third-season running, with 100 female football teams around the country to benefit from funding to supply brand new, specially designed uniforms.

Applications are now open and will be closing in late January, so clubs are urged to get their applications in for the $1,600 grant by explaining ‘why their team is worthy of kit that fits’ at https://www.toyota.com.au/community/partnerships/afl-aflw/gear.

Women and girls football participation has exploded in the last five years since the inception of AFLW. In 2016, there were 983 community teams for women and girls playing Australian football. Today, there are more than 2500 community teams for women and girls.

The 2022 edition of the gear grants, which is part of Toyota’s continued support for the game through the Good for Footy program, will take the number of clubs to have benefited from the funding to 300. Clubs have shared in $320,000 of funding from Toyota over the past two years.

Toyota Good for Footy Round will be held again in both the NAB AFLW competition (Round Six) and the Toyota AFL Premiership seasons in 2022.

John Pappas, Chief Marketing Officer, Toyota Australia said: “Toyota Australia has been a long-time supporter of community football and for the third season running, the Good for Footy Gear Grants Program will help women and girls around Australia get the right gear to play the game they love.

“Every year female participation is becoming more popular at the community level, but it’s not always possible for female teams to play in their own kit. For clubs, having access to initiatives like Toyota’s Good for Footy Gear Grant program encourages teams to play at their best.

“We’re looking forward to seeing this season’s entries from community clubs across Australia, giving female teams a chance to qualify for a $1,600 gear grant and make footy better for all.”

In 2021, the following clubs from Victoria were recipients of the Toyota Good For Footy Gear Grant program:

• Barwon Heads Football and Netball Club
• Bayswater Junior Football Club
• Bentleigh Football Netball Club
• Clayton Football and Netball Club
• Coburg Districts Football Club
• Edithvale Aspendale Football Club
• Frankston Dolphins Football Netball Club
• Frankston Football Club
• Kerang Football and Netball Club
• Kilmore Junior Football Club
• Lancefield Junior Football Netball Club
• Lemnos Football and Netball Club
• Manor Lakes Football Club
• Mazenod Panthers Football Club
• Mitcham Football Club
• Moe Football and Netball Club
• Monash University Blues Football Club
• Mt Evelyn Football Netball Club.
• Newtown & Chilwell Football Club
• North Sunshine Football Club
• Northcote Junior Football Club
• Northern Saints Football Club
• Preston Bullants Amateur Football Club
• Sale Football Netball Club.
• South Croydon Football Club
• South Yarra Football Club.
• St Josephs Football Club Geelong
• St Mary’s Salesian Amateur Football Club
• Tatura Football Netball Club
• Taylors Lakes Sporting Club
• Tyabb Football Club
• Upwey Tecoma Football and Netball Club
• Whitehorse Colts
• Yarraville Seddon Eagles

The Geelong Football Netball League season will kick off on the weekend of April 2nd in a jam packed weekend of football and netball.

The league will take a bye on July 2nd, and the finals series will commence at yet to be confirmed venues on August 20th. The Grand Finals will be held on Saturday, September 10th.

Some fixture highlights are:

• Weekly K rock broadcast games!
• Pride Cup clash between Newtown & Chilwell and Leopold at Elderslie Reserve on Sunday April 10th
• Anzac Day weekend – Anzac Eve match between Lara and Grovedale and Anzac Day match between St Joseph’s and South Barwon

Read the full fixture in the link below.

The Bellarine Football Netball League season will kick off on the weekend of April 2nd in a bumper weekend of football and netball with two twilight matches between Geelong Amateur v Portarlington and Modewarre v Anglesea. The league will take a bye on July 2nd, and the finals series will commence at yet to be confirmed venues on August 13. The Grand Finals will be held on Saturday, September 3.

Other fixture highlights are:

• Easter Friday matches – Portarlington v Torquay at Port and Geelong Amateur v Modewarre at KFC Oval for a twilight match.
• Easter Saturday sees a twilight match at Ocean Grove against Newcomb.
• The annual Anzac Day clash between Drysdale and Portarlington, will be contested at Portarlington in 2021.
• Two ‘Battle of the Bridge’ matches between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove in Round 9 and 17.

Read the full fixture in the link below!