AFL Barwon is excited to announce the appointment of Edward Wilson as its new Region Manager

effective Monday 20 June 2022.

Edward comes with a wealth of experience in sports management and has held positions as

Executive Officer at Athletics ACT and General Manager – Franchises, Business Development & Events at Touch Rugby League Australia in recent years.

AFL Barwon Chair Craig Keating said Wilson had been impressive in demonstrating his sports

management skills and leadership attributes during the interview process and discussions with AFL

Victoria and the Commission.

“We are really excited to have Edward join our team. He has been very impressive during the

interview process, and we think that he’ll be a fantastic fit in this Region.

“Edward has the skills and experience to help us navigate out of what has been a pretty difficult two

and a half years. We know there is work to do and we want to get started right now.”

Wilson, recently relocated from Canberra and is very excited by the opportunity to lead football and netball in the Region.

“The opportunity to lead AFL Barwon during this period of pivotal change and immense opportunity, is incredibly humbling and is a region I am proud to be a part of”.

“AFL Barwon has a significant standing within the wider AFL community, both in Victoria and across Australia. This is due to the tireless commitment and drive for success the region has always demonstrated, especially in the last two years”. 

“The support and guidance throughout the onboarding period from the AFL Barwon Commission & AFL Victoria, gives me great confidence to execute our strategic vision for the future and to work collaboratively with all stakeholders, in the years to come”.

END

All enquiries should be directed to:

Craig Keating

0409 424 986

More than 150 grassroots football and netball clubs across Victoria will share in more than $1 million as a reward for helping prevent death and serious injury on our roads.  

Successful clubs will receive up to $10,000 from the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) Club Rewards Program aimed at rewarding clubs that have promoted road safety throughout the season.  

The rewards are a welcome boost to grassroots football following the second season in a row severely impacted by the COVID pandemic, which has meant clubs have had fewer opportunities than normal to raise funds.  

The program is part of the TAC’s 30-year partnership with AFL Victoria and provides a platform to speak directly to Victorians travelling hundreds of kilometres on the state’s roads every year for training and games. 

Brad Scott, Head of AFL Victoria, thanked TAC for its commitment to community football.  

“TAC has been an incredible supporter of community football in Victoria over many years and the Club Rewards Program is yet another major show of support. 

“Clubs, participants and volunteers will benefit tremendously, with the financial boost made all-the-more important given the challenges so many clubs and communities have faced in the past 18 months.” 

Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the challenges and the loss of key fundraising events. 

“This program is an opportunity to support clubs and reward them for their dedication to promoting road safety and keeping their members and the community safe on our roads.” Carroll said.  

Clubs will use the money initiatives including safety improvements; launching a women’s team; updating equipment and facilities; upskilling members, coaches and providing medical training; and providing information sessions on topics such as mental health. 

AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs from across the state were able to apply for the program by showing their support to road safety throughout the season, including taking part in the TAC’s Band Together campaign.

Successful clubs from AFL Barwon 

11 clubs from AFL Barwon are among the TAC Club Rewards Program recipients. These clubs are: 

• North Shore Football Club
• Corio Community Sports Club 
• Geelong West Giants 
• East Geelong Football and Netball Club
• Leopold Football and Netball Club 
• St Mary’s Sporting Club 
• South Colac Sports Club 
• Colac Football and Netball Club 
• Armstrong Creek Football and Netball Club 
• Drysdale Football and Netball Club 
• Torquay Football and Netball Club

We are excited to announce the appointment of Paris Rowe in the position of AFL Barwon Female Football Coordinator.

Paris comes to AFL Barwon having career employment experiences working in a variety of sporting roles across both Football and Cricket in South Australia.

After successfully completing her Bachelor Sport Health and Physical Activity at Flinders University, Paris commenced an internship at SANFL Club South Adelaide where she eventually moved into a full-time role in the high-performance department. Following this, Paris worked for the South Australia Cricket Association in both participation and events roles.

Paris will take a lead role in the current Female Football Review, and we are excited to have her experiences and ideas to lead female football into the future.

Rachael Kirtley, previously in the role will move into a full-time position as Netball Umpiring Coordinator. We congratulate Rachael on the fantastic job she did in the in the role over the past 12 months and the platform she has laid for the future.

AFL Barwon has announced the introduction of an innovative White Card Policy aimed at enhancing the match day experience for all stakeholders. This comprehensive policy, developed in alignment with Rule 8 "Coaches" and 17.3 "Officials" of the AFL Barwon Handbook, is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering a safer, more inclusive, and positive environment within the sport.

The primary objective of the AFL Barwon White Card Policy is to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone involved in the game through the implementation of a structured approach to address unacceptable behaviour directed at umpires from the coaching box area.

At the heart of the policy lies a three-phase system designed to address instances of unacceptable behaviour promptly and effectively. This system provides field umpires with the necessary tools to intervene in real-time, with warnings (white cards) issued to offending coaches during the first two phases and escalating penalties for repeated infractions. The ultimate sanction, a red card resulting in ejection from the match, underscores the seriousness of any breaches of conduct.

Field umpires are empowered to implement the appropriate phase of the policy upon observing or hearing unacceptable behaviour from the coaching box area. Importantly, the process is characterised by clarity and decisiveness, with umpires instructed not to engage in conversation or debate during card issuance. By adhering to these procedures, AFL Barwon aims to maintain order and always uphold the integrity of the game.

Instances of white and red card issuance are recorded by timekeepers and documented in umpire match reports for further review if necessary. Cases involving breaches of the policy are subject to scrutiny by the Match Review Panel (MRP), ensuring that any disciplinary action taken is fair and consistent with the values of the organisation.

The AFL Barwon White Card Policy represents a significant step forward in promoting a culture of respect toward players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and spectators of community football. In addition to addressing behaviour within the coaching box area, the policy also emphasises the responsibility of clubs to address spectator conduct. By holding clubs accountable for the actions of their supporters, AFL Barwon seeks to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all attendees.

As AFL Barwon prepares to roll out the policy for the 2024 season and beyond, stakeholders can anticipate a renewed focus on ensuring that every match is conducted in a manner that reflects the values of fairness, integrity, and camaraderie that define the sport.