Two standout players from Bell Park FNC have earned the honour of representing Victoria in the prestigious 2025 Toyota AFL Open – Inclusion division.

Kai Eade and Zachary Ireland, both participants in the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust All Abilities Football Netball League, have been selected in the state representative side, highlighting their exceptional talent and commitment to the game.

The Toyota AFL Open Inclusion division is an annual representative competition for players aged 16 and over with an intellectual disability. It provides a platform for Australia’s top footballers to showcase their skills while promoting inclusion and raising awareness of the abilities of these athletes. Each State and Territory fields a team, bringing together participants from across the country.

In 2024, Victoria entered two teams - Metro and Country with Victoria Country claiming the Division 2 title. For 2025, these sides have combined to form a unified Victoria team, aiming to defend their title under the guidance of co-coaches Rob Klem and Anthony Scolyer.

The selection of Eade and Ireland from Bell Park FNC is a proud moment for the club and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust All Abilities competition, demonstrating the pathway for talented players to reach elite representative levels. Their inclusion in Team Victoria reinforces the strength of AFL Barwon’s inclusive football and netball programs.

Team Victoria – Inclusion
Co-Coaches: Rob Klem and Anthony Scolyer

AFL Barwon’s umpiring community had a remarkable year in 2025, demonstrating dedication, professionalism, and growth across the region. The season it delivered an impressive 11,567 umpire appointments an 18% increase on 2024 which is a clear testament to the resilience and commitment of the region’s umpires. 

Recruitment and development initiatives strengthened the umpiring base throughout the year. A total of 559 umpires were registered as an AFL Barwon umpire, with aligned field umpire numbers increasing by 17, ensuring depth at higher competition levels. Female participation grew by 16%, reflecting AFL Barwon’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Standardising umpire pay across competitions also improved discipline and retention, with some competitions seeing increases of up to 33%.

Supporting development and pathways for umpires continued to be a priority. Club appointed umpires were registered in Officials HQ, enabling targeted coaching, mentoring, and performance support to strengthen skills and confidence. Maintaining high standards remained a core focus, with 88% of registered umpires completing the AFL’s mandatory online modules, ensuring professionalism and integrity across all competitions. Female umpires received particular attention, with two AFL Victoria Female Umpiring Hubs hosted in Geelong, providing mentoring, networking, and skill development opportunities that are helping to grow the next generation of officials. 

Participation in AFL Victoria’s CUAP program offered talented umpires exposure to competitions such as the Coates Talent League, VFLW, and V/Line Cup, opening doors to state-level appointments and enhancing career pathways. The expanded use of HUDL video coaching further supported skill development, giving umpires immediate feedback from coaches and contributing to improved match-day performance. 

Technology also played an important role in 2025. The transition of junior football competitions to online umpire match reports and voting improved data accuracy and reduced administrative burdens, allowing AFL Barwon to focus on supporting umpires and maintaining high-quality appointments across all competitions.

Even with some challenges in availability, particularly among boundary and club aligned umpires, the region ensured every match was officiated to a high standard. By emphasising mentoring, development, and engagement, AFL Barwon ensured umpires were well supported and that participants experienced fair and professional competition across every league. 

The achievements of 2025 reflect the dedication of AFL Barwon’s umpiring community and the organisation’s commitment to nurturing a sustainable, high-performing cohort of officials. Through ongoing innovation, pathways, and development, the region is well positioned to continue supporting and growing umpiring talent while delivering outstanding officiating for players, coaches, and the wider community in the years ahead.

The annual AFL Victoria Community Football Awards were held on Friday night at IKON Park, to celebrate the end of another season of local footy across the state.

Australian Rules Football is driven by volunteers, coaches, umpires and administrators who are the heartbeat of the local game. Tens of thousands of people in Victoria dedicate significant time and effort towards ensuring the success of their clubs and communities.

Chris Jones and Luke McNamara were amongst the award winners for their contributions to Umpiring and Participation within the AFL Barwon region.

AFL Victoria Male Development Umpire Coach of the Year

Christopher Jones (AFL Barwon)

Christopher Jones was honoured with the prestigious title of AFL Victoria Development Field Umpire Coach of the Year.

As the AFL Barwon Field Development Coach based in Geelong, Chris has been a driving force in developing community umpiring through his inclusive leadership and commitment to innovation.

Chris has played a pivotal role in creating a positive, supportive environment, particularly for younger umpires. His engaging, game-based training sessions are designed to build skills, confidence, and team cohesion, while promoting the inclusion of umpires of all genders.

Chris mentors umpires on match days across the region and continues to perform at a high level in senior-grade umpiring himself. He also facilitates the AFL Barwon Drysdale Satellite venue, ensuring wider access to quality development opportunities. By guiding emerging assistant coaches and fostering leadership within the group, Chris has built a strong, connected umpiring culture. His dedication, vision, and influence mark him as a standout community leader.

AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award

Luke McNamara (Armstrong Creek, AFL Barwon)

Luke has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving the success of the Armstrong Creek Superkick program.

Starting with just five participants in 2024, his dedication and initiative have grown the program to 37 in 2025, including one of only two all-girls Superkick groups in Victoria. Luke played a pivotal role in the Centre of the Future program and was instrumental in his centre winning the Superkick Blitz for the highest number of registrations in the North West region.

In addition to running a thriving Auskick program with over 200 participants, Luke expertly manages two Superkick fields on a single oval - widely regarded as one of the best setups in the area. His strong organisational skills, commitment to inclusion, and ability to inspire and engage volunteers have all contributed to his success.

In recognition of these achievements, Luke was awarded the AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award.