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Gladman takes an early lead in coaches votes | Round 3 - 6 BFNL Netball Geelong Advertiser Coaches Votes

Reigning Bellarine Football Netball League Medallist, Kaitlin Gladman and Newcomb's Carly Sanders have taken the early lead in the inaugural Geelong Advertiser Coaches Player of the Year Award.

The Geelong Advertiser Coaches Player of the Year is an award voted by each A-Grade netball coach on a 3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

There are individual awards for the Bellarine FNL A-Grade & Geelong FNL A-Grade Netball competitions. 

The votes have been tallied from Round 3 onwards as the award was established following Round 3. 

*Votes from Round 6 onwards will be completed upon all club coaches submitting votes. 

Round 3

Barwon Heads v Newcomb

4 Carly Sanders (Newcomb)

3 Brittany Collier (Newcomb)

3 Maddie Okely (Barwon Heads)

2 Krystal Baker (Barwon Heads)

Drysdale v Anglesea

6 Bree Caldwell (Anglesea)

4 Bree Walters (Anglesea)

1 Paige McGrath (Drysdale)

1 Ella Puttyfoot (Drysdale)

Geelong Amateur v Portarlington

6 Keisha Guilmartin (Geelong Amateur)

3 Kaitlyn Sheringham (Geelong Amateur)

2 Ruby Watson (Geelong Amateur)

1 Elyse Boyer (Geelong Amateur)

Modewarre v Queenscliff

6 Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff)

2 Sarah Langley (Queenscliff)

2 Keeley Cox (Modewarre)

2 Keely Kinsey (Queenscliff)

Torquay v Ocean Grove

5 Rhian Moresi (Torquay) 

4 Zanna Woods (Ocean Grove)

2 Sophie Critchon (Torquay)

1 Emily Moroney (Ocean Grove)

Round 4

Ocean Grove v Barwon Heads

3 Georgia Ryan (Ocean Grove)

3 Zanna Woods (Ocean Grove)

2 Issey Armstrong (Barwon Heads)

2 Georgia Berry (Ocean Grove)

1 Perri Jones (Barwon Heads)

1 Racquel Scott (Barwon Heads)

Geelong Amateur v Torquay

6 Romy Harwood (Geelong Amateur)

2 Ruby Watson (Geelong Amateur)

2 Georgia Duncan (Geelong Amateur)

1 Rhian Moresi (Torquay)

1 Sophie Critchon (Torquay)

Portarlington v Modewarre

6 Kathryn Vickers (Modewarre)

2 Keeley Cox (Modewarre)

2 Morgan Van Leerdam (Portarlington)

1 Lauren Wood (Portarlington)

1 Laura Robinson (Portarlington)

Anglesea v Queenscliff

5 Laura Cayzer (Queenscliff)

4 Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff)

2 Bree Walters (Anglesea)

1 Rhiannon Butler (Anglesea)

Newcomb v Drysdale

6 Carly Sanders (Newcomb)

2 Aleisha Walters (Drysdale)

2 Jessica Duke (Newcomb)

1 Lily Mills (Drysdale)

1 Ebony Side (Newcomb)

Round 5

Portarlington v Drysdale

5 Chloe Hobbs (Drysdale)

3 Candice Bull (Portarlington)

2 Mikayla Mevissen (Portarlington)

1 Aleisha Walters (Drysdale)

1 Madison Robbins Hart (Portarlington)

Anglesea v Torquay

6 Rhian Moresi (Torquay)

2 Torquay (Taylor Mitveski )

2 Kirralee Collins (Torquay)

1 Bree Caldwell (Anglesea)

1 Breda O'Kane (Anglesea)

Barwon Heads v Geelong Amateur

4 Darcy McFarlane (Geelong Amateur)

3 Sharon Ford (Geelong Amateur)

2 Issey Armstrong (Barwon Heads)

2 Zoey Shaw (Geelong Amateur)

1 Romy Harwood (Geelong Amateur)

Ocean Grove v Modewarre

5 Zanna Woods (Ocean Grove)

3 Clodagh Newton (Modewarre)

3 Kathryn Vickers (Modewarre)

1 Emily Moroney (Ocean Grove)

Queenscliff v Newcomb 

6 Jessica Duke (Newcomb)

4 Amelia Bakker (Queenscliff)

1 Carly Sanders (Newcomb)

1 Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff)

Round 6

Drysdale v Queenscliff

4 Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff)

3 Tess Orvis (Queenscliff)

3 Laura Cayzer (Queenscliff)

2 Amelia Bakker (Queenscliff)

Barwon Heads v Portarlington

3 Erica Schippers (Barwon Heads)

3 Laura Robinson (Portarlington)

3 Zoe Magnusson (Barwon Heads)

2 Mikayla Mevissen (Portarlington)

1 Issey Armstrong (Barwon Heads)

Geelong Amateur v Ocean Grove

6 Darcy McFarlane (Geelong Amateur)

4 Keisha Guilmartin (Geelong Amateur)

1 Georgia Ryan (Ocean Grove)

1 Kim Hart (Ocean Grove)

Newcomb v Anglesea

6 Jessica Duke (Newcomb)

4 Carly Sanders (Newcomb)

1 Amelia Jarvis (Anglesea)

1 Brittany Collier (Newcomb)

Torquay v Modewarre

3 Tully Bethune (Torquay)

3 Sophie Critchon (Torquay)

2 Laney McFadyen (Modewarre)

2 Katherine Fanning  (Torquay)

1 Monique Sefton (Modewarre)

1 Lauren Berridge (Torquay)

Round 6 Leaderboard

15 Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff)

15 Carly Sanders (Newcomb)

14 Jessica Duke (Newcomb)

12 Zanna Woods (Ocean Grove)

12 Rhian Moresi (Torquay)

10 Keisha Guilmartin (Geelong Amateurs)

10 Darcy McFarlane (Geelong Amateurs)

9 Kathryn Vickers (Modewarre)

Latest News

Grand Final rematch shifted days with start time adjusted for local derby

The much anticipated Grand Final rematch in the Dow Bellarine Football Netball League between Anglesea and Torquay has been moved to Saturday April 26th following consultation between both clubs.

Matches are scheduled to commence at the standard start times for all competitions.

There has been an amendment to the start times of the Blood Toyota Geelong Football Netball League matches in the Round 0 game between Newtown & Chilwell and St Joseph's. The Senior Men's Football Match will now start at 1:40pm.

The full 2025 fixtures can be found at aflbarwon.com.au

 

Latest News

Kempe Junior Netball Representative Program

Registrations are now open for both GFNL and BFNL Kempe Junior Representative Netball Teams.

Trials will be held as below:

13/U: Tuesday October 18th & 25th – 5:00pm – 6:30pm

15/U: Tuesday October 18th & 25th – 6:30pm – 8:00pm

17/U: Wednesday October 19th & 26th – 5:00pm – 6:30pm

 

Trials will be held at St Joseph's Netball Courts.

 

Dress Code: White T-Shirts and dark shorts/skirt are to be worn for all trials (Any player in club or representative uniform will be asked to go home and change)

  • Please ensure lower leg is not covered so that a number may be written for selection

 

Those successful will represent their respective league at the Central West Region Association Championships Day on Sunday 21 & 28 May and 4 June 2023 (one day only – date TBC).

 

If successful at the Central West day, teams will then take part in the Association Championships Finals Day in July 2023 (date TBC).

 

Representative teams may also participate in the return of Barwon Junior Netball Championships. This is a weekly tournament between other league and association representative teams and would run as a 6-10 week competition in February – May 2023.

 

TALENT IDENTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

  • Players in the 13 & Under group are observed by the Victorian Regional Academy of Sport (VRAS), in partnership with Netball Victoria, to link Regional Academies of sport with high performance pathways.
  • Players in the 15 & Under group are observed by Netball Victoria Talent scouts for potential TID invitation to selection for the Zone academy and 17 & Under state teams for the next year.
  • Players in the 17 & under group are observed by Netball Victoria Talent scouts for potential invitation to state selection in the 17 & Under or 19 & Under for the next year.

 

To register your interest, please complete the registration form, Click Here: 

Further player information can be found here: 

Registrations close Monday 10th of October 2022.

Kempe Junior Netball Representative Program Coaching Applications

Applications are now open for our 2023 Kempe Junior Representative Coaching Positions.

 

Positions Available:

BFNL - 15/U reserves

GFNL - 15/U reserves & 17/U

 

Successful applicants will be responsible for the following commitments:

  • Weekly training starting no later than February 2023
  • Barwon Junior Champs: 5 or 10 week competition (plus finals) on Monday nights starting in February
  • Central West Association Champs: Sunday 4 June 2023 (Altona Netball Association)
  • Association Champs Finals Day (if successful): Sunday 18 June (State Netball Centre)

 

Requirements and responsibilities of the role are as follows:

  1. Adhere to all league policies and guidelines.
  2. Develop the team training program including skill development sessions, in line with player workloads and availability
  3. Provide coaching instruction to team members in the areas of technique, specialist positional skills and team skills.
  4. Identify and maximise underlying potential to deliver long term growth in individual athletes.
  5. Evaluate and assess individual and team performance, ensuring individuals are appropriately challenged, and provided with constructive feedback.
  6. Take appropriate action to ensure that underperformance is effectively dealt with.
  7. Develop, implement, and adapt match play strategies.
  8. Team coaches will supervise and mentor assistant coaches in both the training and competition environment.
  9. Communicate clearly, concisely and with a high level of integrity to both the player and parent group.
  10. Current Working with Children’s Check required.
  11. Minimum Development Level coaching accreditation required (must be obtained prior to June 2023). 

 

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 

Coaches will receive an honorarium for their contribution.

Click here for the full position description

Match Review Findings | April 28 2025

The Match Review Panel's findings are in for the weekend's matches. 

Please note the following tribunal details for April 30th:

6.30pm -Rhyce Prismall  (Werribee Centrals)

Can't view the MRP findings?

View Here

Latest News

Match Review Findings | May 12 2025

The Match Review Panel's findings are in for the weekend's matches. 

Please note the following tribunal details for May 14th:

7.00pm -Josh Dwyer (Geelong West)

The tribunal cases will be held at the AFL Barwon Offices in Highton.

Can't view the MRP findings?

View Here

Latest News

Match Review Findings | May 5 2025

The Match Review Panel's findings are in for the weekend's matches. 

Please note the following tribunal details for May 7th:

7.00pm -Brock Cervenka (Corio)

8:00pm - Jarrod Love (Inverleigh)

 

The tribunal cases will be held at the AFL Barwon Offices in Highton.

Can't view the MRP findings?

View Here

Latest News

MEDIA RELEASE - 2023 Dow Bellarine Football Netball League Fixture Released

AFL Barwon is excited to announce the Dow Bellarine Football Netball League fixture for the 2023 season.

The 2023 season kicks off on April 1st with repeats of both last season’s A-Grade and Senior Football Preliminary Finals. Torquay host Ocean Grove in the twilight timeslot, while Drysdale takes on Barwon Heads at Mortimer Reserve.

The Round 2 Easter fixtures has two games on Good Friday with Queenscliff heading to Torquay and Modewarre hosting Geelong Amateurs.

Other key fixture highlights include:

  • Round 4 – Traditional ANZAC Day fixture between Drysdale & Portarlington.
  • Round 4 – Ocean Grove host Geelong Amateurs in a repeat of the 2022 A-Grade Grand Finalists.
  • Round 5 - Torquay take on 2022 Senior Premiers Barwon Heads.
  • Round 6 – First edition of the “Battle of the Bridge” for 2023 with Round 13 hosting the return fixture.

The full 2023 Dow Bellarine Football Netball League season fixture can be found HERE.

The 2023 Blood Toyota Geelong Football Netball League and Colac & District Football Netball League fixtures will be released over the next two weeks.

Modewarre champion reaches 300 matches

Born and bred in Moriac, Modewarre champion Josh Finch first began playing for the club when he was just seven years old. He went on to play senior football at the premature age of 17 and was made vice-captain of the team 5 years later, where in which he had an eight-year reign.

Despite plans to make the jump to the victorious South Barwon in 2014 during a time when Modewarre were looking to finish low on the ladder, Finch is forever grateful that his loyalty won when a friend encouraged him not to “jump on a train that is already full steam ahead” and to stay at Modewarre and really make a difference. Finch and his team went on to win a premiership only a few years later. Now aged 36, he has remained a one-club player for his entire football career, celebrating his 300th game this weekend.

Former long-serving Modewarre Club President Michael Fitzgerald describes Finch as a player that is “a true student of the game” and has always been driven to improve. Explaining that he prepares, plays, and recovers more professionally than any country league player that he has come across, Fitzgerald says that there has “never been a lightbulb moment that transformed Josh, he just simply has worked tirelessly to better himself”.

Finch has not only been a captain and a coach during his time at Modewarre but has also always shown interest in the junior selection of the club, including the last 3 years as Auskick coach. To go with his four Les Ash Medal and nine club Best and Fairest awards, Finch has represented Vic Country three times and was part of the BFNL Interleague program on seven occasions. Fitzgerald believes that Finch’s glowing record “speaks for itself, he is simply the best. He has been the most loyal player of not only Modewarre, but of the league in its history.” Solidifying himself as arguably one of the best players to have competed in the BFNL, Finch was also ranked fourth in the 2021 Geelong Advertiser’s “Best 50 Players in the 50 Years of the Bellarine FNL”.

After winning the 2016 Les Ash Medal, Finch acknowledged the achievement as something he will “look back on once his footy career is finished”. He expressed that “there are so many great players in this competition [the BFNL]” and that some of them will never even win an Ash Medal. This emphasises Finch’s understanding of the significance of these awards when it comes to individual success as a community footballer. 

Finch’s long-time friend and teammate, John Meesen, provided AFL Barwon with an insight into Finch’s early days as a Bellarine footballer. Meesen and Finch played all their junior football together but went their separate ways during senior football, where Meesen spent time in the AFL system. When discussing Finch’s early career, Meesen noted that his rise as a Bellarine FNL star only started in his late teens. Explaining that “he wasn’t an elite junior or anything”, Meesen marked Finch's turning point as when he “decided to get super fit around 17-18" and “really began excelling”. This method of hard work combined with desire that Finch began to develop in his late teens became a trademark of his career success. Meesen believes that “what separates him is that desire to get the very best of himself” and that Finch would be the “first to say he got where he is now through hard work and determination rather than God-given talent”.

Meesen ultimately coached Modewarre to Senior Football success when they won the 2018 Bellarine FNL Premiership. Despite always remaining incredibly humble, Meesen expressed that team success has always remained at the forefront for Finch and that the achievement in 2018 was “pretty special for everyone, but none more than him”.

Although Finch’s success is attributed to his immense hard work determination, it also couldn’t have been done without the unwavering support of his children and wife Emma, who also happens to be a talented netballer at Modewarre that Finch met in his teens. The success of the Finch family at Modewarre is something that may not ever be seen again in community sport and is widely admired by the Bellarine FNL community.

Congratulations Josh Finch on an outstanding 300 games!

 

No photo description available.

 

Authors: Cam Sheehan & Sean Atkinson

Sources:

Michael Fitzgerald, Modewarre Football Netball Former Club President (Interview)

John Meesen, Modewarre Football Netball Club Former Player & Coach (Interview)

Ratcliffe, D. (2019) BFL 2019: Modewarre champ Josh Finch looks back on stellar career, Geelong Advertiser.

Netball Victoria Umpire Workshops and Development Opportunities

Please see below the list of upcoming umpire workshops and development opportunities that Netball Victoria are running in our region.

 

MENTOR WORKSHOP

Focuses on the mentor/mentee relationship and responsibilities, constructive feedback skills, the do’s and don’ts of mentoring, and expectations of beginner umpires.

Sunday 29 January

Kardinia Park, Geelong

5:00pm-7:00pm

Register here https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

YOUR DECISION COUNTS

Covers topics such as Contact vs Contest, Obstruction and Advantage, bio-mechanics, and how positioning and vision effect decision making.

Friday 3 February

5:15pm-7:15pm

Kardinia Park, Geelong

Register here https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

INTRODUCTION TO UMPIRING

Learn the basic characteristics of becoming an umpire, using your whistle and hand signals effectively, infringements and sanctions, and positioning on the court.

Wednesday 1 March

4:45pm-6:45pm

Kardinia Park, Geelong

Register here https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

MENTOR WORKSHOP

Focuses on the mentor/mentee relationship and responsibilities, constructive feedback skills, the do’s and don’ts of mentoring, and expectations of beginner umpires.

Wednesday 8 March

6:00pm-8:00pm

Kardinia Park, Geelong

Register here https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

MENTOR WORKSHOP

Focuses on the mentor/mentee relationship and responsibilities, constructive feedback skills, the do’s and don’ts of mentoring, and expectations of beginner umpires.

Friday 31 March

6:00pm-8:00pm

Kardinia Park, Geelong

Register here: https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

INTRODUCTION TO UMPIRING

Learn the basic characteristics of becoming an umpire, using your whistle and hand signals effectively, infringements and sanctions, and positioning on the court.

Wednesday 5 April

4:45pm-6:45pm

Kardinia Park, Geelong

Register here https://vic.netball.com.au/events#149

 

Save the dates – confirmation and registration links available soon.

Game and Match Management - Geelong, Friday 5 May

Game and Match Management - Colac, Tuesday 9 May

Netball Victoria Upcoming Development Coaching Course

Please see below upcoming date for Development Coaching Course being ran in our region. 

DEVELOPMENT COACHING ACCREDITATION COURSE – Practical Component

Saturday 18 February

Wurdi Baierr Stadium, Torquay
12:30pm-5pm

Register here: https://vic.netball.com.au/events#148

 

This course has pre-requisites and more detail can be found https://vic.netball.com.au/how-become-coach-accreditation

Use this link to assist in finding the course to register: https://support.netball.com.au/hc/en-au/articles/4408375692825-Enrolling-in-a-Course-or-Accreditation

Pickard scores perfect game | Round 11 BFNL Geelong Advertiser Coaches Votes

Portarlington's Kelly Pickard continued his outstanding form this season with a 10-vote game in the Demon's third win. The yoyo at the top between Geelong Amateurs teammates, Riley Ferguson & Patrick Dowling continued with Ferguson moving back to the top of the leaderboard.

The votes from Round 11 and the overall leaderboard can be found below.

Round 11

Anglesea v Barwon Heads

8 Jack Rice (Anglesea)

7 Noah Collins (Anglesea)

4 Noah McGregor-Dawson (Anglesea)

4 Kallum Hinchcliffe (Barwon Heads)

3 Ryley Stuhldreier (Barwon Heads)

2 James Syddall (Barwon Heads)

2 Will Batson (Anglesea)

Drysdale v Torquay

9 Oscar Lewis (Torquay)

8 Ben McNamara (Torquay)

4 Jack Thompson (Torquay)

3 Jesse Dawson (Torquay)

3 Sheldon Ham (Torquay)

2 Jack Jenkins (Drysdale)

1 Charlie Ham (Torquay)

Geelong Amateur v Modewarre

9 Riley Ferguson (Geelong Amateur)

5 Michael Harper (Modewarre)

4 Oscar Cooke (Modewarre)

4 Samuel Bain (Geelong Amateur)

3 Harry Kershaw (Geelong Amateur)

3 Matt Farrelly (Modewarre)

1 Tom Zeitz (Geelong Amateur)

1 Tom Hornsey (Modewarre) 

Newcomb v Portarlington

10 Kelly Pickard (Portarlington)

4 Mitchell Turbull (Portarlington)

4 Max Ruiter (Portarlington)

3 Jude Poyser (Newcomb)

3 Jack Duke (Newcomb)

2 Jarrad Stafford (Newcomb)

2 Daniel Riosa (Portarlington)

1 Teia Miles (Portarlington)

1 Dylan O’Brien (Portarlington)

Queenscliff v Ocean Grove

7 Zac Henderson (Queenscliff)

6 Benjamin Bennett (Ocean Grove)

5 Brady Pritchard (Ocean Grove)

4 Max Sutton (Ocean Grove)

3 Glenn Campbell (Ocean Grove)

2 Lachie Kidd (Queenscliff)

2 Che Durran (Queenscliff)

1 Jye Walker (Ocean Grove)

 Round 11 Leaderboard

57 Riley Ferguson (Geelong Amateur)

50 Patrick Dowling (Geelong Amateur)

41 Matthew Boag (Torquay)

41 Ryley Stuhldreier (Barwon Heads)

40 Luke Preece (Drysdale)

40 Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur)

39 Kelly Pickard (Portarlington)

The Geelong Advertiser Coaches Player of the Year is an award voted by each Senior coach on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

There are individual awards for the Bellarine FNL Seniors, Geelong FNL Seniors, and the Division 1 Senior Female Football competitions.

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