AFL Barwon is proud to recognise newly appointed life members and recently confirmed board representatives across the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) and Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL), following their respective Annual General Meetings.

The BFNL Board has welcomed former Drysdales president Peter Preece and Barwon Heads’ Damian Clark, who have been appointed to two-year terms. Continuing board members Mike Walmsley, Damian Mahoney, and chair Michael Fitzgerald will remain for a further 12 months.

The GFNL board has also expanded, with the appointment of two former club presidents — St Joseph’s Todd Devine and Colac’s Nick Lang — bringing valuable leadership and experience to the league.

The Bellarine Football Netball League has confirmed three new life members in recognition of their long-standing commitment to their clubs and the broader competition. Former Modewarre chair Paul Grossman, Portarlington stalwart Rod Smith, and Geelong Amateur treasurer Neville Hunter have all been awarded life membership.

At the GFNL AGM, four respected leaders were recognised for their outstanding service. Colac president Matt Gibson, long-serving netball chair Andrea Graham, and treasurer Tyson Hay were formally awarded life membership, while Lara netball chair Di van Doren was also inducted.

The recognition is particularly significant for women in the sport, with Graham and van Doren becoming the first to be honoured specifically for their contributions to netball.

AFL Barwon congratulates all life members and board representatives on their appointments and thanks them for their ongoing commitment to community football and netball across the region.

The 2026 Dow Bellarine Football Netball League fixture has officially been released, and the season is set to launch with headline clashes, key rivalries and historic firsts across Easter weekend.

The action begins with a Good Friday showcase on 3 April, when Geelong Amateur host Modewarre at Queens Park Reserve in a blockbuster to open the new campaign.

Easter Saturday follows with a full schedule, highlighted by the first-ever Bellarine FNL Senior clash between the Surf Coast Suns and Torquay at Banyul-Warri Fields. The Suns will make their long-awaited debut in the competition and there could be no bigger introduction than taking on their neighbouring rivals. The local derby is expected to draw one of the largest Round 1 crowds of the season.

Other Easter Saturday matchups include:

• Barwon Heads vs Portarlington – Howard Harmer Oval

• Ocean Grove vs Anglesea – Shell Rd Rec Reserve

• Queenscliff vs Drysdale – Queenscliff Rec Reserve

Fixture Highlights

Beyond an action-packed opening weekend, the fixture features several major drawcards throughout the season:

• Grand Final rematches, Senior Football Anglesea vs Geelong Amateur (Round 9) and A Grade Netball Geelong Amateur vs Ocean Grove (Round 6)

• ANZAC Round across 25–26 April, with traditional blockbusters including Portarlington vs Drysdale and Newcomb and Anglesea vs Ocean Grove.

The 2026 finals series begins on 29 August, culminating in Grand Final Day on 19 September.

The full fixture can be found below.

The 2026 Geelong Football Netball League season is already gaining momentum with the release of the full home-and-away fixture today, revealing a schedule packed with blockbuster matchups and traditional rivalry clashes.

The season launches in spectacular fashion on Friday 3 April, with Leopold and St Joseph’s meeting in Lorne for a repeat of last season's standalone feature matches. The coastal setting is expected to draw a big crowd as two of the league’s powerhouse clubs set the tone for the year ahead.

The following weekend marks the official first Saturday of action, and it doesn’t take long for the rivalries to heat up. South Barwon will host Grovedale on 11 April, ensuring Round 1 begins with a fierce contest that always attracts plenty of attention.

ANZAC Day football and netball once again hold a special place in the GFNL calendar, with South Barwon vs St Joseph’s and Grovedale vs Lara locked in for April 25. The remaining fixtures for this weekend will be played on Sunday April 26.

Grand Final rematches will add extra spice early in the season. The senior football decider replay between St Mary’s and St Joseph’s on 9 May is expected to reignite one of the league’s fiercest modern rivalries, while netball supporters won’t have to wait long for their repeat of last year’s A Grade classic — Newtown & Chilwell and St Joseph’s go head-to-head on 18 April in Round 1.

The 2026 Bllod Toyota GFNL full fixture can be found below.

AFL Barwon was thrilled to see four players heralding from the region join AFL lists at the recent 2025 Telstra AFL National and Rookie Drafts.

Read our full recap below.

Josh Lindsay – Pick 19 – West Coast Eagles

The Geelong Falcons and Vic Country captain, and Newtown & Chilwell junior joins the West Coast Eagles.

The left-footer's kicking is his standout attribute, and he can influence the game by spotting up a target, seeing an option out of the corner of his eye or simply just executing the obvious and getting the game moving his team's way. He averaged 22 disposals during Vic Country's championships. 

Position: medium defender
Height: 183 cm
Clubs: Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Vic Country, Newtown & Chilwell

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Tobyn Murray – Pick 40 – Fremantle

A dynamic 20-year-old small forward from Colac who had a break-out VFL campaign.

He kicked 22 goals and averaged 15 disposals across 17 VFL games for Geelong. Murray is tough in the contest with speed and power and also covers the ground well with good endurance.

He played 10 games for Colac during the 2024 GFNL season averaging 18 disposals, eight score involvements and nearly two goals per game.

Position: Small Forward
Height: 179 cm
Clubs: Geelong Cats (VFL), Colac

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Hugo Mikunda – Pick 48 – North Melbourne

A forward who can go through the midfield, Mikunda uses his running power as a real weapon to gain separation from his opponents in his high half forward role. He is also a strong player one-on-one, particularly with his aerial ability.

Was a livewire for Victoria Country at the National Championships, featuring among their best players against South Australia and Victoria Metro and averaging 13.3 disposals over the four matches. He was one of the Geelong Falcons’ best performers in ten Coates Talent League appearances, in which he averaged 17.3 disposals which included a season-high 30 disposals against eventual premiers the Eastern Ranges in Round 11. A hamstring strain stopped him from testing at the Draft Combine.

Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Clubs: Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Bell Park

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Jesse Mellor – Category B Rookie – Geelong

Mellor has been a part of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy for several years, while also dominating for the Geelong Falcons and gaining valuable exposure with the Cats VFL program recently.

Described as an exciting midfielder who can also play forward, Mellor emerged as a standout prospect this year with plenty of power, versatility and an incredible goal sense.

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In his top-age Under 16 season, Mellor featured for the Falcons and represented Vic Country in the Diversity All Stars match, before making his senior debut for Geelong West Giants in 2024.

Position: Forward-Midfielder
Height: 185 cm
Clubs: Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Vic Country, Geelong West Giants