AFL Barwon are pleased to announce that the 17th-19th February 2025, will represent a revamped pre-season “GamePlan” engagement, now the “Club Education Week”. 

The evenings of February 17-19 will include webinars hosted by AFL Barwon on the following topics:

• Junior Football Coordinator (M&F) Webinar
• Club Development Webinar
• Football Umpiring Info Webinar
• Football Player Payments & Salary Cap (M&F) Webinar
• Netball Player Points & Salary Cap Webinar
• Football Match Day Operations & Rules/By-Laws Webinar
• Netball Panel Umpire & Development Mentor Webinar
• Play HQ Information Webinar (Football & Netball)

Please visit the Club Education Hub for more information on the Webinars, noting registration for each webinar is important. 

A reminder to please complete your Club Contacts for the upcoming season. 

Clubs are asked to remind all players to complete their Play HQ registrations as a priority. 

In particular, senior players need to be registered for the current season for AFLB to update or enter their PPVs (Player Points Values).

Player transfer requests may be lodged between Feb 1st and June 30th.

Standard Player Declarations need to be completed and signed by both parties (player and club official) and uploaded to the Club’s Player Payment Portal by the designated club representative.

Requests will be forwarded to clubs in the coming weeks, seeking team entries for all under age competitions. It is important that when this is sought, clubs provide prompt and accurate information to allow initial grading and fixturing to be completed. Minimum player numbers are to be met when considering multiple team entries. 

An email was sent on 29/1/25 by Simon Riddoch to Football Presidents, Football Coordinators/Managers & 2025 Colts U/18 contacts.

Please find in this email information regarding:

• Grading matches start dates below.  
• COLTS U/18 2025 grading starting point for AFL Barwon
• AFL Barwon BYLAW - 14 Under 18s Competitions teams registration

Team Registration Google Form Link

COLTS U/18 2025 Team Registration - Click to complete form

Player Transfer Information Link

"Submitting a transfer request" - Click to view information

For any questions or concerns, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

AFL Barwon are seeking expressions of interest for team entries for the Female U18 Competition for 2025.

If all clubs could please complete the below form expressing your interest to enter for 2025 by Monday 24^th February 2025.

https://forms.gle/bTwFkKqMv3SM3QXz7

Please ensure all administrative information has been sent through to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for team contacts in relation to this age group.

If you have players moving to the AFL Barwon region to participate, these players will require a transfer to be approved.  This is required to be submitted through PlayHq upon the registration of the player.

Please refer to the below process when transferring clubs:

1. The player begins the registration process with their new club for 2025.
2. Transfer will be automated on PlayHq with notification sent to previous club for approval to be sought.  This is to be found un ‘TRANSFERS’ on PlayHq.
3. Once the previous club has approved the transfer, the new club will need to also approve the transfer.
4. Process is completed and the player has successfully been registered with their new club for 2025.

For further information relating to transfers please refer to the below button.

If you have any further questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to reach out to Lisa Patterson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Details:

Date: Monday 17^th February
Time: 4:30- 5:30pm
Location: Belmont Common

Auskick 5-7 years - REGISTER
Superkick 7-12 years - REGISTER

Competitive Option:

Event Information:

• Day: Monday
• Start Date: 17^th February
• Time: Games starting at 6pm
• Venue: Belmont Common, Geelong
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Entry Fee: $350 per team (upfront cost; no participant or weekly fees)
• Divisions Available: Men’s and Women’s

Social Option:

This competition style is more social and targeted towards players who aren’t currently playing community footy but would love to have the opportunity to play footy with their friends in a more social environment.

A great opportunity to utilise AFL Nines as an opportunity for physical activity and catching up with friends and family. Details for this competition are below

Event Information:

• Day: Monday
• Start Date: 17^th February
• Time: Games starting at 6pm
• Venue: Belmont Common, Geelong
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Entry Fee: $350 per team (upfront cost; no participant or weekly fees)
• Divisions Available: Men’s, Women’s and Mixed

To register your team for the competition, please complete the registration form here - Register | PlayHQ

More information about AFL Nines:

Age Requirement: This event is for participants aged 18 and over.

Rules & AFL Nines Game Play Information: AFL Nines - Play AFL

Exciting Extras: DJ, Food Trucks and lots of entertainment so there’s plenty of motivation to compete and have fun!

19&U Division 2 Team Entries OPEN 

Team entries for the NEW 19&U Division 2 winter competition is NOW OPEN. 

Confirm your Team Entries HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/GqdRwQL21q  

Please confirm these team entries as SOON AS POSSIBLE so that we can gauge team numbers. 

AFL Barwon & CDFNL Team Entries. 

Saturday Team Entries: https://forms.office.com/r/88u31qVDss DUE FRIDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2025 

Midweek Team Entries: https://forms.office.com/r/1rugikN02y DUE MONDAY 24TH MARCH 2025 

CDFNL Team Entries: https://forms.office.com/r/kcxSSVPx9x DUE FRIDAY 28th MARCH 2025 

Please do not create your teams on PlayHQ directly; we will do this to ensure the naming conventions are correct. 

Registrations, Admin and Accreditations

AFL Barwon have created a ‘step-by-step’ guide for Netball Coordinators to ensure they are on track for the season! 

Inside you will find PlayHQ and Netball Connect Registration instructions, Team Allocation and Selection Sections, and Player Clearance & Accreditation Information. 

This will be your ‘go-to’ document over the next three months. 

VIEW PRE-SEASON HANDBOOK

Total Team Points and Player Payment Limits 

All clubs will have received an email from Sophie, detailing their previous squad lists, with any reductions applied. Please review these lists and provide an update to Sophie once your squads (A and B) are stable. 

All players who intend to take the court in A Grade must sign EITHER: 

• ‘Standard Player Declaration’ (if receiving payment) 

• ‘Non-Declared Player Statement’ (if not receiving payment) 

All payment figures must be recorded and reflected in your club’s netball budget, which must be submitted via the ‘ACTUALS/BUDGET’ spreadsheet template.   

All reporting documentation can be found HERE. 

An information session on Player Payments and Points will be held during CLUB EDUCATION WEEK. If you require support in this space, we would encourage you to register for this session. 

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any queries. 

Beginner Umpire Training Session 

These training sessions are to provide individuals with the opportunity to take part in an education component discussing the basic netball rules then getting out on court to have a go at umpiring in a non-competitive environment with court side support from our mentors in the program.  

Participating in one of these sessions is one of the pre-requisites for all umpires prior to starting their umpiring journey within AFL Barwon competitions.  

Tuesday 11th March 
4:30pm 
Kardinia Park

SIGN UP HERE

2025 AFL Barwon Netball Umpire Development Program 

The Umpire Development Program will return in 2025 continuing the opportunity for umpires to be guided and learn from High Performance umpires and accredited mentors from the Barwon Region.  
 
This program aims to develop and support umpires through meetings and regular mentoring across 10 sessions between March – August to progress them towards their B Badge. 

At no cost to individuals, we encourage those with current C Badge who are interested an committed to their development apply for this opportunity.  

SIGN UP HERE

Practice Match - Umpire Requests 

Please complete the below form should you be seeking umpires for any upcoming practice matches. 

REQUEST FORM

Umpiring Uniform Purchase  

Umpire Jackets – LINK TO PURCHASE 

The jackets will be available every order window 1-7th of each month from October – June of each year. 

A reminder that bike shorts are not permitted umpire uniform. Sports shorts, leggings (knee length) or skirts are permitted in navy or white.  

Next order window is 5pm January 30th – February 7th 5pm

11&U Certificates 

All 11&U participants will receive a participation certificate for the completion of the summer season. To save on paper and printing certificates of uncollected certificates, please let me know via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 7th February if your team would like certificates so I can order these in time for the end of the season. 

Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Summer Competition Information 

As we return to midweek netball this week, please be reminded of the Summer Competition Handbook, which applies in conjunction with the AFL Barwon Handbook. 

This includes finals qualifications, heat policy and other information. 

Wednesday 12^th Feb
6-7pm, Lake Oval Colac
Free sausage sizzle!

Join us for an information night and find out how to get involved in the CDFNL as an AFL Umpire.

Anyone interested above the age of 12 is welcome to attend, inclduing Field, Boundary and Goal Umpires. Club aligned umpires are also encouraged to attend.

Get Paid, and be part of the game in YOUR COMMUNITY. 

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

AFL Barwon – Geelong, Umpire training starts Monday 3rd Feb. at Geelong Cricket Ground. And each Monday and Wednesday throughout the season. 

• Development Field – 4.30pm 

• Senior Field – 5.45pm 

• Boundary – 5.00pm 

• Goal – 5.30pm 

All welcome, free sausage sizzle! 

AFL Barwon - Colac, Umpire training starts Wednesday 5th Feb. at Lake Oval and then each Wednesday throughout the season. 

• All Umpires – 5.30pm 

All Welcome, free sausage sizzle! 

*AFL Barwon Umpires do not train on any Public Holiday!  

Please send all Umpire Practice Match Bookings to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. asap 

The form can be found on the AFL Barwon Website using this link. 

You can select – Under Umpire Forms section.  

• Senior, Reserve, U18 Boys request form 

• Female Football request Form 

• Junior Football request form 

We will do our best to appoint requested umpires to all practice matches, however this is subject to availability umpire numbers through this period. Any 6 period Practice Match must request the full contingent of umpire’s discipline selected. 

Host Club will be responsible for umpire fees invoice and any shared arrangement in cost is up to that host club to follow up. No quarter or period is to exceed 25min’s.

All regular Club Aligned Umpires in AFL Barwon, will need to register and complete the AFL 2025 Umpire Education Module.  

Use this link to sign up as “new” or returning umpire on the Play.afl/umpire web page. 

ALL 2024 registered umpires have been receiving emails about re-registration and module completion process since November 2024! 

Please also inform This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of your club umpire list for 2025 when known with permitted contact details, level of grade and division they intend to be officiating, to assist you with follow up and support assistance to these umpires. 

You can use the same link to send to anyone wanting to be a League Umpire in your networks as a general recruiting tool. 

All Umpires aged 18 or over MUST have a current and valid Victorian WWC (volunteer) and list AFL Barwon as an organization when applying or updating their details. 

The web page provides a lot of general information about umpiring and how to get started. 

Once registered in OHQ they will receive further “how to” information as we move forward in the pre-season. 

All Club aligned umpires are welcome to attend any AFL Barwon Umpire training venue at any time. 

These can be purchased from Project Clothig 

Geelong – purchase here 

Colac – purchase here 

Reserve Grade field umpires – shirt, shorts and socks, red/yellow/white cards 

All other grades – shirt, other shorts and socks are optional, but if used presents a more professional look to the individual. 

AFL Victoria are leading the annual Regional Satisfaction Survey and we invite all Clubs to submit a response of feedback to enable AFL Barwon & AFL Victoria to adequately prepare for 2025. 

Your time and comments are greatly appreciated, and you can complete the Survey via the link below

On the 06/12/2024 a AFL Barwon child Safeguarding email update which included a survey was sent to Presidents & Secretaries of all Clubs asking where you see your club at in relation to Child Safeguarding obligations & compliance.

Just a gentle reminder that we require a response by the 31/01/2025. Thank you.

Come and learn how to use Prep-to-Play and prevent injuries this season.  

A practical workshop to give you the confidence and skills to use new warm-up, tackling and ground ball drills at your next training. This will include a structured, evidence-based football specific warm-up and cool down, as well as how to teach and introduce contact skills (tackling/being tackled/ground ball focus) safely and effectively. 

When and where: 6.00pm -7.30pm Tuesday March 25th, 2025, Location in Geelong TBA. 

Who can attend: Coaches, players, parents, trainers, health/exercise professionals. Prep-to-Play can be used in female and male teams, and all age groups.  

Coaches will earn 50 CPD points via AFL Learn. 

Please contact Tim Secombe (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and/or the Prep-to-Play team (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with any questions regarding the above information. 

Ahead of the Game is a free program for players (12 years-18 years), their parents and coaches. Funded by Movember and partnering with the AFL, Ahead of the Game has delivered 1000+ sessions and reached 18,000+ young players nationally in 2024.

Ahead of the Game provides young players with the tools to deal with life’s challenges, and the confidence to support their mates through tough times, whilst also empowering them to look after their own mental wellbeing. The program has been designed to have localised Delivery Partners come to community clubs to deliver at a time that suits during the season.

In 2025 Ahead of the game will have capacity to deliver up to 40 workshops in the Geelong & Colac regions.

Further information and to register your interest can be found here - https://play.afl/movember-ahead-game 

Watch video about Ahead of the Game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azNYnVgXL6s