AFL Barwon in collaboration with Leisure Networks are thrilled to announce the first-ever Inclusion Round, set to take place on the 2nd – 4th of August. This historic event aims to raise awareness and celebrate inclusion within our football and netball community. Inclusion Round highlights the importance of supporting individuals to feel connected and valued.

A vibrant display of yellow, representing energy, warmth, and positivity, will be seen throughout the weekend. The Senior Football Teams and A Grade Netball Teams from St Joseph’s Football & Netball Club and Geelong West Giants, both leaders in fostering inclusive club environments, will participate in a special match, wearing yellow socks and ribbons to symbolise their commitment to inclusion.

The sea of yellow will be continued throughout the weekend at the Joeys and Giants Senior female football match, netball matches and the four all-abilities football and netball matches. This powerful visual statement underscores our community’s dedication to inclusivity.

Leisure Networks chief executive officer David Meade welcomes the AFL Barwon’s commitment to inclusion and to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.

“Inclusion should be at the heart of every sports organisation, as they bring people together and break down barriers,” he said. “By creating a safe and inclusive environment for all we foster a sense of belonging and respect for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.”

“AFL Barwon is proud to launch the 2024 Inclusion Round in partnership with Leisure Networks, to elevate the importance that inclusive environments can positively attribute to sporting Clubs and all members within their respective communities. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who contributes to inclusive environments, no matter how defined the impact is” AFL Barwon Regional Manager Edward Wilson”

AFL Barwon in collaboration and support of our community partner the Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SAFV) Centre, will be leading a ceremony to raise awareness and show solidarity, during the Newtown & Chilwell FNC vs Grovedale FNC match day on Sunday, August 4^th.

AFL Barwon have been in partnership with the SAFV Centre since 2022, providing affiliated Clubs the opportunity to participate in the Respect Starts Here Program, which is designed to raise awareness in preventing family violence.

The program supports Football and Netball clubs across the Barwon region to progress gender equality and promote respect within Clubs and Communities. Seven AFL Barwon clubs are participating in one of the two program streams in 2024.

Newtown & Chilwell FNC and Grovedale FNC Senior Male Footballers, A-Grade Netballers, Club Officials and AFL Barwon representatives will take part in a ceremony and moment of silence to acknowledge this community issue.

There will be adjustments in game times for the following matches:

• Newtown & Chilwell FNC vs Grovedale FNC Blood Toyota Geelong FNL Seniors will now commence at 2:20pm.
• Newtown & Chilwell FNC vs Grovedale FNC Blood Toyota Geelong FNL A Grade Netball will now commence at 2:20pm.

Game times for all matches across the day can be found below.

NETBALL

FOOTBALL

We welcome any AFL Barwon Club and community members to attend the ceremony as we raise awareness and show solidarity for this significant community issue.

For further media comment, please contact AFL Barwon Regional General Manager, Edward Wilson via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

AFL Barwon has thrown its support behind Commercial Partnerships and Communications Manager, Sean Atkinson in his fight with Parkinson's Disease.

To support Sean's journey, he is hosting a Parkinson's Disease Fundraising Gala Luncheon on Friday, August 9th. This fundraising event will see all proceeds donated to Shake It Up Foundation, an organisation that supports research and treatments to slow, stop, and cure Parkinson’s Disease.

The Gala Luncheon will be held at GMHBA Stadium in the Captains Room from 12pm.

The event will feature special guest speakers in Shake It Up CEO Vicki Miller, Former Minister of Sport, Tourism and Major Events The Honourable John Eren, and  elite Equestrian Athlete Kylie Christian, plus a special video interview from one of Australia's most successful Female Athletes, and Parkinson disease advocates Ellyse Perry.

Stand-up comedian, actor, and Shake It Up Ambassador Dilruk Jayasinha will MC the event with talented local singer-songwriter Camryn Fitzgerald to also take the stage to support the event.

There will also be exciting raffles and auction items, offering a chance to secure some incredible prizes while supporting a great cause.  

To purchase tickets to this event, simply go to https://www.intix.com/event/parkinsons-fundraising-gala-luncheon 

The TAC Club Rewards Program gives Victorian grassroots Football and Netball Clubs the opportunity to earn a share of $600,000 in funding, by participating in their mission; to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

With road safety round this week, AFL Barwon is looking back at one of the local AFL Barwon Clubs that received funding from the program in 2022 and 2023.

Drysdale Football Netball Club will be submitting an application to the program again this year with the aim to ‘play their role’ as a Community Club, to keep encouraging safe driving on our roads.

The 2024 TAC Club Rewards Program focuses on the key issue of speeding. Around 236 Victorians are killed on the road each year, with excessive or inappropriate speed a contributing factor in many crashes.

Kerry Bell from Drysdale FNC highlighted the importance of road safety to them as a community, and the reasoning behind their ongoing support for the initiative. “We’ve got a lot of members impacted by road trauma. And it is important that we stop players, coaches, and officials from rushing to and from training and games.”

In March 2010, the club lost one of their junior members, 19-year-old Luke Robinson in a tragic car accident on Anakie Road. Bell described Luke as “Very responsible, he would always offer his teammates lifts home, it was just very unfortunate. His story shows how things can change in a moment, but the really impactful part is the ripple effect not just on the individual but on their families, friends, and their clubs as a whole.”

The tragic Luke Robinson example is just one of Drysdale FNC’s stories that fuels their passion for the cause and highlights this year’s focusses of speeding and cautious driving on all roads.

In previous years, Drysdale FNC has put the funding they have received towards two key issues which are of great importance to their club.

The funding from the 2022 successful application allowed them to launch their “community inclusive” junior umpire academy, providing opportunities for local youth to learn about and experience umpiring “In a fully supported environment.” The funding provided the participants with brand new whistles, uniforms, and even the opportunity to be paid to take part in the program.

In 2023, the focus for the club turned to mental health and wellbeing in their community and ensuring that their members are looked after. The grant provided funding for new wellbeing support and tools. Drysdale FNC worked with Mindful Aus, who provide guest speakers and workshops all around the country, centred around youth mental health and empowerment. “The benefits have been amazing; we really want to continue doing these things for our youth” Kerrie expressed.

The club’s key messaging to their junior members around road safety, is based on three common causes of road accidents: Distracted driving, drink driving, and speeding. For the last few years, the club has made it compulsory for youth ages to attend all education sessions on road safety. Their outlook being “Even if it saves one 18-year-old, it's worth it.”

This year, if successful, the club would love to put the money towards a new digital database which players and club staff can use to log and track player’s injuries. A job which the club has previously been doing on paper, Kerrie described database as a way to ease the burden on club trainers and team managers by allowing them to log, follow up and track the history and progress of a player’s injury.

Heading into TAC Road Safety Round, Drysdale FNC has invited all of its Club’s Life Members to attend and be involved with the club’s key messaging around safe driving. “The messaging is to jump onboard, and get behind the cause, tell us your stories, they are very on board with it.”