General Updates
New Updates
BFNL
Senior Football
25/5/25 - Drysdale vs Torquay - 2:10pm
A Grade Netball
25/5/25 - Geelong Amateur vs Ocean Grove - 1:50pm
GFNL
Senior Football
25/5/25 - South Barwon vs Leopold - 2:10pm
CDFNL
Senior Football
24/5/25 - Birregurra vs Apollo Bay - 2:15pm
As we gear up for another exciting season of football and netball in the AFL Barwon region, I wanted to take a moment to highlight an important issue affecting our players, coaches, and sporting communities: mental health and wellbeing.
Why Mental Health Must Be a Priority in Our Clubs
- 1 in 7 people globally experience a mental health disorder, and half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14.
- In Australia, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24.
- One in five Australian adults experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety being the most common conditions.
- Suicide is a leading cause of death among adults, particularly men aged 18-44, who are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
- In sporting environments, players, coaches, and volunteers often struggle in silence due to stigma, despite sport being an ideal setting for early intervention and peer support.
Programs That Make a Difference
Your club plays a crucial role in fostering not just athletic ability but also mentally strong and resilient communities. Programs like Read the Play, Tackle Your Feelings, and Ahead of the Game integrate mental health education into sporting environments, giving players, parents, and coaches the tools to support each other:
- Read the Play delivers interactive sessions to junior players and umpires aged 12-18, helping them recognise signs of mental ill-health and know where to seek help to support themselves and teammates.
- Tackle Your Feelings aims to provide senior players, coaches, committee members, support staff and umpires with the tools to Understand, Recognise and Respond to signs of mental ill-health.
- Ahead of the Game teaches players, parents, coaches, umpires and volunteers to understand mental health, build mental fitness and strengthen resilience.
How Your Club Can Get Involved
We encourage all clubs to prioritise these free and evidence-based programs in their 2025 season planning. By embedding mental health awareness into your club culture, we can collectively reduce stigma, support players and adults at risk, and create a safer, more connected sporting community.
To book a program or learn more, please refer to the attached document outlining all available mental health and wellbeing programs.
Together, we can make mental health a priority in AFL Barwon football and netball clubs.
AFL VIC & WorkSafe have been working on the rollout of fresh signage rollout to replace old and damaged signs that stretch back to 2002.
As WorkSafe's status as Premier Partner, each club venue is required to display the WorkSafe sign.
They have provided the dimensions and details of the signage below.
WorkSafe signage specs
- 900 mm (high) x 2000 mm (wide)
- 3 mm aluminum sheet
- Laminated vinyl
If there are any clubs in need of new WorkSafe signs, please fill in the following survey.
Reminders
AFL Barwon Clubs – Rising Star Nominations Now Open!
Do you have a rising star lighting up the field or the court?
AFL Barwon, in partnership with the Geelong Times, is now calling for club nominations for the Football and Netball Rising Star Award – recognising the brightest young talent in our region.
This prestigious award celebrates standout players under the age of 21 (as of January 1) from the Bellarine and Geelong Football Netball Leagues and Female Football Competitions, who show exceptional promise and performance on the field or court.
Each month, a Rising Star nominee will be featured in the Geelong Times, with all monthly nominees remaining eligible for the overall Rising Star Award, to be presented at the end of the season. Therefore, you only need to submit the application once for the season.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be under 21 years of age as of January 1
- Must have played no more than 10 Senior Football and A Grade games prior to the start of the current season
Clubs are invited to submit a nomination that includes a short write-up outlining the player’s achievements and why they deserve recognition.
Nominate Here: https://forms.gle/38tcL8rEhRawV41B6
Indigenous Round will be held 19-25th of May, highlighting the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to the games of football and netball. The round celebrates the relationship between local sports and Indigenous Australia by connecting football and netball players and spectators to Indigenous culture.
Download the Toolkit below to understand how your club can get involved, as well as what AFL Barwon is doing to celebrate the round.
The 2025 Female Festival of Sport Week will be held from the June 30th - July 6th, with the annual Breakfast event held on the 4th of July.
Details of breakfast:
- Date - Friday July 4th
- Location - Geelong West Town Hall
- Time - 6:45am Arrival, 7:00am Start
- Host - Madi Browne
- Panellists - Coming soon
Tickets will be released on June 2.
Through collaboration with the AFL and Geelong Cats, we are excited to be able to offer to clubs a free optional Vilification and Discrimination Module for administrators, players, and members.
We have been very strong in our internal directives that Indigenous Round has a significant cultural meaning to our region that we are respectfully recognising.
This opportunity is something that is exclusive to the AFL Barwon region and we hope that the clubs see some great value in this.
We are pleased to inform Clubs that we will again be playing with Indigenous designed
match footballs and netballs for the Senior Male, Senior Female and A-Grade Netball
matches to play with that round.
The artwork on the Netball’s and Football’s was created by local Indigenous artist and
footballer from our Region, Yalanda Neal.
Following the match, we are asking clubs to come together for the presentation of the match
ball to the player determined as the best on ground/court.
The match balls will be available to be picked up from the AFL Barwon Office from Friday
May 16th.
Football
Junior Football
The Barwon Region Showcase is a representative program delivered by the Geelong Falcons with AFL Barwon to provide an opportunity for talented players in the Barwon region to compete against each other in a day of games.
The games also serve as selection trials for the 2025 V/Line Cup and provide opportunities for coaches in the community to have a taste of higher-level representative football.
88 Boys. 44 Girls. 6 Coaches.
Teams named after Geelong Falcons Legends:
- Team Dangerfield
- Team Hodge
- Team Howley
- Team Morrison
- Team Walsh
- Team Ablett
Eligibility:
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Players must be born in 2010 to be eligible for selection.
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Players do not need to be registered to a club, but must reside in one of the following municipalities: Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, Queenscliff, or Surf Coast.
How to Nominate:
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Players, parents, and coaches may submit nominations directly.
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Each club is entitled to submit four club-voted nominations.
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Clubs may also submit additional nominations for consideration by emailing the Geelong Falcons directly.
Key Dates:
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Nominations close: Monday, 2 June
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Player selection notifications: Monday, 30 June
Coaching Opportunities:
Community coaches are invited to nominate for involvement in the Showcase. A head coach will be appointed for each of the six participating teams.
Pathway to V/Line Cup:
Participation in the Barwon Region Showcase will be one of the evaluation opportunities for selection in the 2025 V/Line Cup squads. However, Showcase participation is not a prerequisite for selection. Final squads will be based on a combination of school and community football performance, and club feedback.
Registration Fee:
A $30 player registration fee applies, with full fee subsidies available in certain circumstances.
The full-season fixtures have now been entered into PlayHQ for both competitive and non-competitive female competitions.
THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES RELEASED
Due to the urgency of confirming upcoming matches, only this weekend’s games have been released at this stage. The process of scheduling across six divisions is complex and will continue in the background over the coming days. The full fixture release is expected Monday, 26 May.
FIXTURE REQUESTS – FINAL SUBMISSIONS
Clubs with any specific fixture changes or preferences are asked to email
NON-COMPETITIVE COMPETITIONS
Fixtures for all non-competitive female grades have now been finalised. These competitions will be monitored throughout the season and reviewed as required. Please note that no changes will be made during the initial four-week period.
U16 FEMALE FIXTURE RELEASE
Fixtures for the U16 Female division will be released by lunchtime on Friday, 23 May. This delay is due to a number of last-minute changes and adjustments needed to ensure accurate team placement. AFL Barwon appreciates your understanding.
We appreciate the patience as the grading period has progressed, if there are any questions or notice that needs attention, please ensure the correct procedure is followed with communication to AFL Barwon to come through Club Coordinators or Club Presidents.
Resource Links
Football Umpiring
To support the ongoing education and development of umpires across Australia, the AFL provides an The AFL Umpire Pathway Framework provides the platform for the education and development of umpires and annual education module for umpires and umpire coaches to complete as part of umpire & umpire coach participation for the 2025 season. umpire coaches. The Umpire Pathway Framework comprises two components;
• Umpire FTEM
• Umpire Accreditation
Following on from the introduction of Umpire Education Modules last season, umpires and umpire coaches will need to complete the 2025 Umpire Education Module ahead of the 2025 season. The Umpire Education Modelled on the Australian Institute of Sport FTEM Framework, the AFL has developed a bespoke framework that Module topic is Vilification & Discrimination and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Netball
Netball Victoria
Applications for the 2025 Country Football and Netball Program are now open
The Country Football and Netball Program helps upgrade and improve regional and outer metro football and netball clubs and associations.
Grants of up to $250,000 are available to deliver infrastructure projects that include the redevelopment and construction of courts, installation of lighting, and construction of new and redevelopment of existing pavilions, including genderneutral change rooms.
If your club, association or league is interested in facility enhancements through this program you should reach out to your local Council representatives or Netball Victoria’s facilities team. Noting that all applications must be submitted via a local government authority.
The 2025 Country Football and Netball Program applications close on 7 July 2025.
All netball Associations, Leagues and Clubs to MUST appoint a Child Safety Officer (CSO) and Complaints Manager. These appointments are a mandatory requirement under the Netball Affiliation Policy.
What is this about?
Each netball Association, League and club is required to appoint and record a Child Safety Officer (CSO) and Complaints Manager in Netball Connect by the 30th of June. This role is dedicated to supporting child safety and wellbeing at all levels of participation. The Complaints Mangers role is designed to support the management of complaints in accordance with Netball Victorias Policy Framework for Dispute Resolution.
The CSO will:
- Act as the first point of contact for any child safety concerns or reports,
- Support the implementation of our child safeguarding policies and procedures,
- Help embed a culture of child safety in accordance with the Child Safety Standards in their netball community.
- Lead/Assist the Child Safety review and action plan.
The Complaints Manager will:
- Receive complaints and act as the first point of contact for individuals wishing to raise a concern or complaint.
- Advise complainants on their rights, processes, and possible resolutions.
- Offer support and explain the complaint procedure clearly and fairly to all parties.
- Where appropriate, facilitate informal resolution or mediation between parties.
- Work toward timely and fair resolution of disputes.
- Maintain confidential and accurate records of all complaints and actions taken.
Why is this important?
As a sport that involves thousands of young players, coaches, and volunteers, netball must be proactive in protecting children from harm. By appointing a CSO and Complaint Manager, you will:
- Ensure compliance with national and state-based child protection laws,
- Promote a safe environment for junior players to thrive,
- Demonstrate leadership and accountability in child safeguarding within netball.
How do you implement this?
- Nominate a CSO & Complaint Manager - Identify a suitable individual within your Association, League or Club—ideally someone with experience working with young people and a strong understanding of the Child Safe Standards. This could be an existing committee member, coach, or volunteer. The teachers, police officers, childcare workers etc in your community are excellent candidates for this role. Complaint Manger candidates may include police officers, social workers and social service workers.
- Enter CSO & Complaint Manger in Netball Connect - It is a mandatory requirement that Child Safety Officers and Complaint Managers are nominated and
recorded in Netball Connect. Click the link for the process - Our Organisation - Contacts - Complete Required Training - Appointed CSOs are required to complete the Vicsport Child Safety in Sport online training modules as part of their induction. The training is a free and interactive way to understand and comply with the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards. Featuring one module per Standard, users are able to delve into the content while working through practical, sport-based strategies and scenarios to help with their
understanding. The modules feature the ability to save as you go, meaning you can work through the program at your own pace. Click Here to access the training. Complaints Mangers will have dedicated netball online training modules in July which will be communicated, - Stay Connected - CSOs and Complaint Managers will be part of a network who receive regular updates, resources, and support through the likes of monthly online training sessions and collaboration in the Engage NV platform. This will help ensure consistency and confidence in creating child safe cultures in our netball communities and managing complaints.
- Next Steps - Please submit the name and contact details of your appointed CSO and Complaints Manager by June 30,2025 via Netball Connect. Dedicated training and support details will be communicated and commence in July.
We thank you in advance for taking this essential step to ensure netball remains a safe, inclusive, and trusted sport for all young participants.
For questions or support during the process, contact the Member Services Team at
Please update all details in Netball Connect under User > Administrators > Our Organisation.
Most importantly, please ensure all committee members are listed as a contact, even if they do not use Netball Connect in an administrative capacity. You can select 'No Admin Access'. Please also ensure all contacts have at least one role listed.
BFNL & GFNL Netball
Best Players - We have noticed that there are a few matches coming in without ‘best players’ on PlayHQ being selected.
Please ensure that at the conclusion of all games, you are advising the home club of your best players for media purposes (those entered on PlayHQ). These are printed in the papers, and many players do go online to see these records.
This can be communicated via alternate slips of paper, as 3-2-1 on the scoresheet, or team managers/club admins can actually enter this themselves within 24 hours of the game concluding on their relevant PlayHQ portal (even if the away club).
A Grade Player Positions – Please ensure when entering the results that player positions are entered for ALL A GRADE GAMES.
**Please note that next week, the option to enter positions for B Grade during score entry will appear as PlayHQ are visiting and will be e-scoring some our games to gain a greater understanding of our needs as leagues within their software, meaning the setting will be on. This is not required for clubs.
Live scoring – Live scoring has been completed really well this season, so a huge thanks to you all for your buy in.
If you’re ever having trouble with e-scoring, some trouble shooting steps include:
- Ensuring you’re using the correct scoring link
- Logging out and back in
- Clearing your browser cache
Keep up the great work. J
Thank you to all clubs for your understanding while one of the VEO cameras underwent repairs. We have been advised we should have the camera back soon, and will hopefully be ready to go for games on May 31st.
The University of South Australia is conducting on online research study into ankle injury.
Our aim is to better understand what might contribute to feelings of ankle instability in adolescents (12-19 years old*). This information will help us to create new treatments to reduce these feelings of instability and help promote return to activity. This study will require adolescents to complete an online survey, which will take around 30 minutes.
We are looking for adolescents who have sprained their ankle before, AND adolescents who have never sprained their ankle.
*If you are less than 16 years of age, please have a parent or guardian present while completing the survey.
Eligibility Requirements
We are looking for people worldwide who are:
- Age 12-19
- Proficient in written English
- No diagnosed connective tissue disorder (e.g. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), arthropathy (e.g. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) or neurological disorder (e.g. Cerebral Palsy)
- No recent severe ankle injury requiring surgical intervention.
- No severe mobility impairment necessitating dependence on mobility aids (e.g., wheelchair, walking stick, wheeled frame walker)
CDFNL Netball
Please be reminded that for Colac & District SENIOR netball grades (A-D), umpires are not to wear leggings/tights. Permitted uniform options are outlined in the competition rules, being skirts or shorts (included below).
Any breaches to this will result in fines being issued by the CDFNL Board.
Best Players - We have noticed that there are a few matches coming in without ‘best players’ on PlayHQ being selected.
Please ensure that at the conclusion of all games, you are advising the home club of your best players for media purposes (those entered on PlayHQ). These are printed in the papers, and many players do go online to see these records.
This can be communicated via alternate slips of paper, as 3-2-1 on the scoresheet, or team managers/club admins can actually enter this themselves within 24 hours of the game concluding on their relevant PlayHQ portal (even if the away club).
A Grade Player Positions – Please ensure when entering the results that player positions are entered for ALL A GRADE GAMES.
Please be advised that if a player has had an exemption for alternate uniform in previous seasons (i.e. compression tights), this must be advised to the league annually and does not roll over.
While a new certificate won’t be required, correspondence to the league annually is required to ensure it can be recorded for the current season, permission granted, and appropriate steps followed.
Junior Netball
Barwon Junior Netball Championships
Grand Final Results
- 13&U: Geelong Central NA (42) def Bellarine FNL (32)
- 15&U: Geelong FNL (49) def Bellarine FNL (48)
- 17&U: Geelong FNL (54) def Colac & District FNL (39)
Geelong Central Netball Association
- 13&U Geelong FNL vs 13&U Bellarine FNL 7:00pm KP court 3
- 15&U Geelong FNL vs Monarch Crystals 7:55pm KP court 1
- 15&U Bellarine FNL vs Foxes 7:00pm KP court 5
Association Championships
This weekend the Bellarine FNL, Geelong FNL and Colac & District FNL 15&U and 17&U Representative Netball Teams compete at the Central West Association Championships. We wish them luck and look forward to seeing them play!
When: Sunday 25th May
Where: Darebin Netball Association (Narrandjeri Stadium 281 Darebin Rd, Thornbury VIC 3071)
With grading finishing this week for our midweek teams, we are working hard at finalising divisions and completing the fixture for the remainder of the season. The Tuesday Round 5 (27th May) fixture will be released by Friday and the Friday Round 5 (30th May) fixture will be released by Tuesday.
Resource Links
Netball Umpiring
Clubs are required to email through their umpire rosters by the conclusion of each round to
Respect the players.
Respect the umpires.
Respect the volunteers.
Respect the game.
That’s how we keep community football and netball strong
Club Development
New Updates
Do you know an amazing community club volunteer? Nominate them for the 2025 National Volunteer Awards and recognise them for their incredible contribution and dedication each season. Category prizes include a money can’t buy 2025 Toyota Grand Final experience and keys to a brand-new Toyota.
Reminders
‘If in doubt sit them out’
The AFL has launched a new concussion hub. One centralised location where our community coaches, umpires, volunteers, players and parents can brush up on their concussion smarts.
Check out the more than 150 educational assets on the new hub
We want to hear about your club!
AFL Barwon and AFL Victoria want to better understand your clubs’ structures,
challenges and priorities so we can better support, not only your club, but club volunteers across the state for 2025 and beyond.
The best ways to complete the survey are to:
- Complete as a whole committee at your next committee meeting; or
- Get a few members of your committee to complete the survey separately in their own time.
No matter how the survey is completed, we appreciate your time and insight regarding your clubs’ structures, challenges, and priorities.
Overall, we have had approximately 44% of clubs in Victoria respond to the 2025 Club Health Check.
With a goal of 60%, a new opportunity for clubs who complete the Club Health Check has launched.
Clubs who complete the survey before 11:59pm June 9 go in the draw to win a prize worth $4,100 ex GST ($2k cash + 12 footys)!
N.B.: All responses submitted during the competition period (before 09/06/’25) go in the draw to win the prize, so all previous responses since late last year will be eligible. N.B.: Each club would only be entered once for one or more surveys complete.
Local footy clubs across the country can apply for Telstra Footy Country Grants, a partnership between the AFL and Telstra that will deliver $2m per year for a four-year period to community football. Round 3 closes 25/05/25.
Local football clubs across the state will be supported to raise funds and become more sustainable through a new partnership between AFL Victoria and Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic). CDS Vic provides the opportunity for Victorians to return eligible drink containers for a 10-cent refund.
The Toyota Good for Footy Raffle is back for 2025! If a club has never engaged with the program, they can now register for free via the link below.
Clubs who have previously registered are automatically re-registered and can start fundraising Immediately.
A nation-wide search to find, recognise, and reward local community legends who fire up the BBQ every weekend, serving up snags in bread to raise much-needed funds for their clubs. for more information.
Nominations are open now! Closing: 24 August 2025.
The 2025 City of Greater Geelong Sport and Recreation Census is now live and we would love to hear from your club.
The aim of the Sport and Recreations Census is to
- Understand the constraints on pavilions and reserves
- Identify gaps, opportunities and address challenges
- Understand sport and recreation trends
- Understand who, when and how our people are using council assets
- Obtain data to support our strategic planning for our future.