The AFL Barwon Commission has decided at Monday evening’s meeting that a form of recognition will be
awarded to the highest ranked team at the point the season was cancelled.

This will be for all competitions that were cancelled due to the Victorian Government’s Roadmap to deliver the
National Plan.

This recognition will be presented to clubs at the 2021 presentation dinner. The date of this event remains to
be confirmed due to the current restrictions on patrons at indoor venues.

Notes:
List of cancelled competitions

• All Geelong Football Netball League Competitions
• All Bellarine Football Netball League Competitions
• All Senior and Junior Female Football Competitions
• All AFL Barwon Under 19 Football Competitions
• All AFL Barwon Junior Football Competitions
• All AFL Barwon Junior Netball Competition

The Geelong Football Netball League season will kick off on the weekend of April 2nd in a jam packed weekend of football and netball.

The league will take a bye on July 2nd, and the finals series will commence at yet to be confirmed venues on August 20th. The Grand Finals will be held on Saturday, September 10th.

Some fixture highlights are:

• Weekly K rock broadcast games!
• Pride Cup clash between Newtown & Chilwell and Leopold at Elderslie Reserve on Sunday April 10th
• Anzac Day weekend – Anzac Eve match between Lara and Grovedale and Anzac Day match between St Joseph’s and South Barwon

Read the full fixture in the link below.

The Bellarine Football Netball League season will kick off on the weekend of April 2nd in a bumper weekend of football and netball with two twilight matches between Geelong Amateur v Portarlington and Modewarre v Anglesea. The league will take a bye on July 2nd, and the finals series will commence at yet to be confirmed venues on August 13. The Grand Finals will be held on Saturday, September 3.

Other fixture highlights are:

• Easter Friday matches – Portarlington v Torquay at Port and Geelong Amateur v Modewarre at KFC Oval for a twilight match.
• Easter Saturday sees a twilight match at Ocean Grove against Newcomb.
• The annual Anzac Day clash between Drysdale and Portarlington, will be contested at Portarlington in 2021.
• Two ‘Battle of the Bridge’ matches between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove in Round 9 and 17.

Read the full fixture in the link below!

Applications are now open for our 2022 Junior Representative Coaching Positions.

Positions Available:

BFNL 13/U, 15/U & 17/U

GFNL 13/U, 15/U & 17/U

Successful applicants will be responsible for a minimum 6 weeks of training sessions, followed by the Central West Association Championships Day on Sunday 22^nd May 2022.

If successful at the Central West day, teams will then take part in the Association Championships Finals Day on Sunday 24^th of July 2022.

Applicants must be available to assist with selection on Sunday February 6^th and 13^th.

Requirements and responsibilities of the role are as follows:

1. Participate as a member of the team Selection Panel for your appointed team.
2. Adhere to all league policies and guidelines.
3. Develop the team training program including skill development sessions, in line with player workloads and availability
4. Provide coaching instruction to team members in the areas of technique, specialist positional skills and team skills.
5. Identify and maximise underlying potential to deliver long term growth in individual athletes.
6. Evaluate and assess individual and team performance, ensuring individuals are appropriately challenged, and provided with constructive feedback.
7. Take appropriate action to ensure that underperformance is effectively dealt with.
8. Develop, implement, and adapt match play strategies.
9. Team coaches will supervise and mentor assistant coaches in both the training and competition environment.
10. Communicate clearly, concisely and with a high level of integrity to both the player and parent group.
11. Current Working with Children’s Check required.
12. Minimum Foundation Level coaching accreditation required.

Please submit your application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. detailing your experience, coaching ideology, and anything else you think we should know, along with a nomination of which age groups/league you would be willing to coach:

i.e. BFNL  15/U or 17/U

Coaches will receive an honorarium for their contribution.

Applications close Monday 31^st of January.

AFL Barwon wishes to advise the Total Team Points (TPP) for the 2022 Senior Football and Netball seasons. This encompasses Senior Male Football, Senior Female Football and A Grade Netball across the Blood Toyota Geelong Football Netball League, DOW Bellarine Football Netball League, Colac and District Football Netball League, Geelong and District Football League and Epworth Senior Female Competitions.

The AFL Barwon Player Points System Policy (PPSP) local by-laws document is reviewed annually, in conjunction with the Community Club Sustainability Program (CCSP) working party and AFL Victoria.

The updated AFL Victoria Player Points System Policy, AFL Barwon Senior Female Football Player Points System Policy, AFL Barwon Netball Player Points System Policy, and local by-laws document will be circulated to clubs over the coming weeks.

AFL Barwon is excited to announce the full 4 weeks of grading fixtures for the 2024 Epworth Senior Female Football Competition.

Following the day of play changes to the female football competitions, there will be opportunities for showcase matches throughout the entirety of the weekend.

Grading fixtures have been devised carefully to ensure each game contributes towards a grading period that supports the accurate assignment of teams into divisions, at the end of the four weeks. 

Fixtures have been created with the support and discretion from the AFL Barwon Grading Panel.

Please note that due to the nature of grading, the published fixture is subject to change.

The four-week Epworth Grading fixture can be found here.

Be part of an AFL accredited course offering coaches of Women & Girl footballers an exciting opportunity to gain high level coaching insights and experience within an AFt high performance environment.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, both meetings will be held electronically with the meeting login codes detailed below.

Colac & District Football Netball League Annual General Meeting – Inc A0008171S

Wednesday November 17^th at 7.00pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81887108046?pwd=V1JpQXB5QkpQSXlrQ3UraXFGRmpaZz09

Meeting ID: 818 8710 8046
Passcode: 468179

AFL Barwon Annual General Meeting – A.C.N 160 417 845

Wednesday November 24^th at 7.00pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81563457706?pwd=cTZDK2NodWhnMGZpb3pIWXR2UDRyZz09

Meeting ID: 815 6345 7706

Passcode: 047854

After unparalleled service to the AFL Barwon Commission and the region at a whole Ian McTaggart resigned from the commission last week. McTaggart was an inaugural AFL Barwon Commission member when it was formed in 2012. His service reigns back to the Football Geelong Commission in 2000, he continued his service as the name changed to Football and Netball Geelong Commission and then AFL Barwon Commission.

The AFL Barwon constitution allows for a commissioner to serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms, having served three terms on the AFL Barwon Commission McTaggart resigned his position leaving a casual vacancy.

McTaggart is a life member of the Ocean Grove Football & Netball Club and the Bellarine Football and Netball League, filling numerous roles within the club for over 25 years.

He has been involved in significant projects during his 21 years tenure, notably strategic plan development, policy development, financial benchmarking for clubs, VCFL and AFL Victoria reference groups and played a key role in development and management of football and netball databases. Another invaluable legacy is his mentorship of current and past AFL Barwon staff members.

AFL Barwon Region General Manager Bruce Harwood congratulated Ian for his service.

“Ian McTaggart has been a stalwart within the local Geelong football and netball community for many years. His service and dedication have been unsurpassed as he has been involved in the many changes and developments of the AFL Barwon organisation we see today. His willingness to help and mentor around his beloved Ocean Grove FNC and at AFL Barwon has been of immense benefit to all.” Harwood said.

AFL Barwon Chairman Craig Keating thanked Ian on behalf of the AFL Barwon Commissioners.

“Ian has provided great guidance to me as Chairman of AFL Barwon over the past 10 years for which I am very grateful. He understands the role of the Commission and has made a significant contribution to Community Football and Netball in the Barwon region. I am sure his wise counsel and friendship will continue to be welcomed by all stakeholders.” Keating said.

AFL Barwon has recently received the resignation notice of long-term Commissioner Richard Underwood. Richard has been an AFL Barwon Commissioner for over 10 years serving the maximum three terms under AFL Victoria’s constitution.
On presenting his resignation Richard stated “I am proud of the achievements that I have been involved in over the journey, both individually but more importantly with the co-operation of our commissioners and our wonderful AFL Barwon staff. We are indeed very fortunate to have such a strong and stable organisation looking after football and netball in the area ably lead by the commission.
I would like to thank all the clubs that have always made me welcome and their willingness to be open about there concerns and directions and a willingness to accept our All-Abilities umpires team at junior games.” AFL Barwon Commission Chair Craig Keating was also very proud of Richard’s contribution and long commitment to the organisation. Craig stated “Richard has been a committed Commissioner for his full three terms, with his passion for the local community always at the forefront. His work behind the scenes and with all the AFL Barwon clubs has been hugely appreciated.”
AFL Barwon Regional Manager Bruce Harwood also stated “Richard has been a long-time supporter of local community sport, particularly with his beloved Portarlington Football & Netball Club. And he extended this commitment to being a long-term AFL Barwon Commissioner taking on a number of
important roles. Richard was always available to help with all aspects of the operations of AFL Barwon and we sincerely thank him for his substantial contribution.”

2024 Female Festival of Sport Breakfast

Connie Bolger

Geelong United Basketball

What is the Female Festival of Sport?

The First Female Festival of Sport

The Female Club Champion Award is introduced

AFL Barwon today renewed its commitment to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s Love the Game program, which aims to disrupt the normalisation of sports betting in our community.

AFL Barwon has been a Love the Game partner since (2016), which means saying no to sports betting sponsorships and raising awareness about the risks associated with gambling, especially among young people, who are exposed to gambling ads at saturation levels.

AFL Barwon have over 18,000 registered football and netball players, with 70% of those players being under the age of 18

‘We play AFL for the joy it brings us. At AFL Barwon we build friendships and nurture personal growth, leadership skills and other positive attributes. AFL Barwon respects that gambling is a legal form of entertainment but it is not one we believe should be encouraged or promoted” said Bruce Harwood, (AFL Barwon, Region Manager).

‘The Love the Game program supports us by providing information about how gambling works and the potential for negative consequences. It also helps our young players to develop their critical thinking skills before they are legally allowed to place a bet, so they understand the risks.

‘By doing our bit, we help young people in our community understand that sports and betting do not have to go together.’

Foundation CEO Shane Lucas said that the Love the Game program united sporting clubs at all levels, with 600+ partners signed up across numerous codes throughout the state.

‘Our research shows that young men aged 18–24 make up one-third of sports bettors in Victoria, and participation in young women is rising,’ he said.

‘AFL Barwon play an important role in showing young people that they don’t have to place a bet to have skin in the game or to make it more enjoyable.

‘Sport is about loving the game, not the odds.’

Anyone negatively affected by their own or someone else’s gambling can access confidential free advice, support and referral 24/7 on 1800 858 858.

The AFL Barwon Commission wishes to advise the following changes to the structures of the Senior Female Football competitions for the upcoming 2025 season.

AFL Barwon have been in detailed consultation with female clubs over the previous 24 months with a desired outcome to provide greater inclusivity, exposure and connection within the club.

Throughout the consultative collaboration with clubs, AFL Barwon have had the desired outcome to make changes for the long-term sustainability of clubs.

The changes for 2025 include:

• Competition Structure and Divisions
• Upward and Downward Movement
• Day of Play

2025 Competition Structure and Divisions 

There will be two Senior Female Football divisions for the 2025 season, which will see an even number of teams across both divisions. 

The two-division structure provides greater consistency in all our senior football competitions and creates greater alignment to the current structures of the Geelong and Bellarine Football Netball Leagues.

The proposed divisions and teams based off the 2024 ladders are as follows:

Upward and Downward Movement

The implementation of Upward and Downward Movement will come into effect at the end of the 2025 Season standings.  Then first season of movement will be in the 2026 competition. The implementation of movement creates further competitiveness within clubs and works towards an even competition across both divisions to allow further growth within Female Football in the region.

Day Of Play

After seeking feedback across all clubs within the competition, consensus and support to implement Saturday as the primary Day of Play will be implemented for the 2025 season.  AFL Barwon acknowledges that there are still further details needing to be finalised to assist clubs with managing games on the primary day of play. We are committed to collaborating with the clubs to ensure we can implement this successfully. 

We are strongly looking at facilitating multiple “Gala Female Football Day’s” to maximise the exposure and showcase the best of our competitions across the community.

Furthermore, the changes to the day of play align to The Fair Access Policy Roadmap that aims to develop a foundation for gender equitable access to, and use of, community sports infrastructure for women and girls, to support participation in community sport.

The AFL Barwon Football Operations team are currently working through the 2025 Epworth Senior Female Football fixtures for a proposed public release prior to December 20^th.

AFL Barwon Group Manager of Operations, Lisa Patterson, shared her excitement about the upcoming competition structures:

“The changes being introduced for the 2025 season are incredibly exciting and highlight our region's commitment to supporting and evolving with the growth of the game for female players.

“Aligning with our male competitions by moving the day of play to Saturday, it allows for a greater showcase of female football in our region that will ultimately strengthen club unity.

“It’s a significant step forward in promoting inclusiveness, enhancing club culture, and aligning with the continued evolution of female football.”

AFL Barwon is dedicated to continually consult and collaborate with clubs regarding these changes and will hold a club workshop in January to allow clubs the opportunity to discuss.

- END -

2022 AFL Barwon Umpire Coach Vacancies.

• AFL Barwon Head Umpuire Coach - Colac
• AFL Barwon Senior Assistant Feild Umpire Coach - Geelong X 2

AFL Barwon are seeking EOI in the above positions for the 2022 season.

All positions come with an honorarium based payment.

For a PD of each role please contact Jock Hillgrove This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EOI will be closing on the 19th November 2021 at 5pm.

• A valid Victoria WWC check is manditory.
• ALF Umpire Coach Accreditation of willing to participate in AFL Upmire Coach Accreditation requirements are manditory.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, both meetings will be held electronically with the meeting login codes detailed below.

Bellarine Football Netball League Annual General Meeting – Inc A0008493U

Wednesday November 24^th at 6.30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89034259294?pwd=M0NMN2JYR1hsSkN4SlFMdk5velVMdz09

Meeting ID: 890 3425 9294
Passcode: 325781

Geelong Football Netball League Annual General Meeting – Inc A0006014H

Wednesday November 24^th at 6.30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84432642496?pwd=aENvZlJVK0xpK09rUXE1VGlKajhlZz09

Meeting ID: 844 3264 2496

Passcode: 586525

AFL Barwon Annual General Meeting – A.C.N 160 417 845

Wednesday November 24^th at 7.00pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81563457706?pwd=cTZDK2NodWhnMGZpb3pIWXR2UDRyZz09

Meeting ID: 815 6345 7706

Passcode: 047854

The AFL has announced a major $8 million extra investment to help bring community football back and ensure the grassroots game thrives, following two years disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community football is the foundation of the game and the AFL has made supporting community leagues, clubs, players, umpires, coaches, volunteers and administrators across the country a priority in 2022.

The package significantly increases the AFL’s commitment to community football and game development compared to the COVID-affected years of 2020 and 2021.

While the past two years have seen financial pressure placed on many parts of the game, the funding commitment directs funds to where they’re most needed and has been made in acknowledgement of the importance of community football and the people involved. The package will go towards getting kids active in schools, helping households return to their community clubs and bolstering support for volunteers, coaches and umpires.

Additionally, four-time Hawthorn Football Club premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will be a community coaching ambassador, giving coaches at all levels access to insights from one of the game’s all-time greats.

“There is no greater priority for our game in 2022 than ensuring community football bounces back and thrives,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.

“Footy means so much to so many people, towns and communities right across the country and we have an important role to play in helping everyone come back together, reconnecting families and friends and getting everyone back, engaged and active.

“Many have done it tough, and we don’t take for granted that community football has been affected. In some markets, particularly Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, the community game has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to support the thousands of volunteers around the country who keep community clubs going and play our role in reconnecting communities, particularly where so much footy has been missed.

“It’s fantastic that someone of Alastair Clarkson’s calibre and experience has come on board to help community coaches across the country. Alastair is passionate about working with those involved at grassroots level and I’m sure the community football coaching network will benefit from what he has to offer.”

Below are some of the key components of the AFL’s $8 million extra support package for community football nationally:

• $1.6 million towards volunteer support – more resources on the ground in all markets to benefit volunteers
• $1.5 million investment into schools – consolidate AFL schools program offerings nationally and help schools/teachers get kids active
• $1.4 million to remove coaching and umpiring registration fees across Australia
• $1 million COVID fighting fund to benefit Victoria and New South Wales
• $800,000 commitment to Victorian clubs for the 2022 season, such as covering certain administrative and insurance costs
• Four-time Hawthorn Football Club premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will come on board as a community football coaching ambassador

AFL Executive General Manager Game Development, Rob Auld, said: “Despite the challenges and disruptions community sport has faced, our game rebounded strongly this year with grassroots participation back around record levels from 2019. More than 820,000 people were registered to participate in the game from NAB AFL Auskick through to junior and senior club football, women’s and men’s.

“But there have been considerable added responsibilities placed on volunteers and coaches to manage clubs and teams through uncertain periods. We must continue to provide opportunities and remove barriers for everyone involved in the game.

“Covid-related protocols and breaks in seasons have placed a significant burden on those leading and administering the community game, while many players and coaches have missed large chunks of football. Volunteers are a massive part of community football and they need greater support.

“This is why the AFL is prioritising support for community football in 2022 and making this extra investment, to bring people, clubs and communities back and get the game going in the way that makes it such an important and special part of so many lives.”

Further details about the AFL’s commitment to investing in community football in 2022 will follow.