AFL Barwon U18 Div1 Grand Final - South Barwon vs Ocean Grove
- Video Round Info: Grand Final
- Dacast Video Thumbnail: https://img.youtube.com/vi/AA8MTveRh-Y/maxresdefault.jpg
The AFL mid-season rookie draft once again proved the Barwon region is a breeding ground for AFL potential.
By Ben Andonoudis
Last night’s AFL mid-season rookie draft saw 18 players realise their AFL dreams, and the Barwon region was well represented with two new AFL listed players from the region selected.
Kye Annand, a Geelong VFL player with links to South Barwon, Ocean Grove, Geelong West and Queenscliff found himself selected by Richmond with the 2nd pick in the draft.
Annand, a 22-year-old 200cm key defender has impressed this season following a move to a key position post.
He's played 25 VFL games for the Cats, named in the best five times.
Annand's VFL teammate Marcus Herbert, a former Leopold player, was scooped up by West Coast with the 13th pick in the draft.
Herbert is a 23-year-old 183cm defender/midfielder who has found himself in the view of AFL scouts with his composed and consistent style.
His time in the GFNL saw him play 14 games with Leopold including being part of the Lions teams that made a run to the 2022 grand final, where he racked up 20 disposals and was named their best player in the defeat to St Mary's.
A Geelong VFL Best and Fairest winner in 2025, this season Herbert has continued to dominate averaging 27.6 disposals in the VFL.
AFL Barwon wishes to advise of several fixture changes for the 2025 season across both Bellarine & Geelong Football and Netball competitions.
Please see all the updated match times and dates below:
Twilight Matches for Colac in Round 0 and Round 3
Colac vs Bell Park (Round 0) will feature a twilight Senior Football match kicking off at 5:30pm, while A Grade Netball will commence at 3:50pm
Colac vs South Barwon (Round 3) will also be played under twilight conditions, with Senior Football starting at 5:30pm and A Grade Netball at 3:50pm.
ANZAC Day Night Clash: Newcomb vs Ocean Grove
Newcomb vs Ocean Grove clash has been rescheduled to an ANZAC Day night fixture, adding to the significance of the day in the Bellarine FNL. Both Senior Football and A Grade Netball will now take place under lights, with first bounce and first centre pass at 6:30pm.
This change marks a shift from the traditional scheduling and enhances the ANZAC Day proceedings in the region, complementing the existing Portarlington vs Drysdale fixture earlier in the day.
South Barwon vs Leopold moved back to Saturday
The highly anticipated Grand Final rematch between South Barwon and Leopold has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 24th, reverting to traditional time slots after originally set for Sunday May 25th.
Leopold vs St Joseph’s Netball Venue Change
The Leopold vs St Joseph’s A Grade Netball match, originally scheduled to be played in Lorne, will now be played at Leopold on Saturday, April 12th due to court issues.
For the latest fixture updates and matchday information, stay tuned to the AFL Barwon website and social media channels.