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.
Victorian football and netball clubs will share in more than $600,000 for their efforts in campaigning to eliminate road trauma in their communities.
The Victorian Government and Transport Accident Commission have announced this year’s recipients of the TAC Club Rewards program, incentivising grassroots clubs across the state for showing a commitment to promoting road safety during the 2023 season.
Delivered in partnership with AFL Victoria, 251 clubs will receive rewards of up to $10,000 through the program, the highest number of recipients in the program’s five years.
The program encourages clubs to engage with players, members and their communities on key road safety issues and promote safe behaviours, with the dangers of distracted driving a key focus of this year’s campaign.
Successful clubs are able to use the money for a range of initiatives including education programs, club transport initiatives, new equipment and uniforms and facility upgrades and improvements.
So far this year, 236 people have died on Victoria’s roads and more than half of those deaths have happened on in regional areas, where tens of thousands of local footballers and netballers travel for games and training.
Distracted driving is one of the major causes of fatal and serious injury crashes on Victoria’s roads and is particularly concerning on regional roads where people are travelling at higher speeds.
AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs from across the state were able to apply for the program by showing how they supported road safety throughout the year, including taking part in the TAC’s Road Safety Round ‘Band Together’ campaign.
The TAC Club Rewards Program is part of the TAC’s 31-year partnership with AFL Victoria, which aims to empower clubs to develop a culture where all players and members are expected to be safe on the roads.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said: “Victoria’s grassroots football and netball clubs are influential in their communities so it is wonderful to be able incentivise them to roll out critical initiatives that promote safer driving.”
Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter, said: “Road trauma has a significant ripple effect and there’s no denying the power of peer-to-peer support and education at sporting club level – these clubs should be proud of their efforts to create a culture that prioritises road safety.”
AFL VIC Community Football Manager, John O'Donohue, said: "The TAC Club Rewards Program is one of the biggest and most important programs impacting community football, promoting the importance of road safety and supporting local clubs and their communities.”
Corio Bay Health Group will continue its partnership with AFL Barwon after signing a 2-year extension. The extension will see the partnership move into its 40th year, with the initial agreement made between Corio Bay Health Group founding partner Jeff Oxley and the late Don Mathieson.
The new agreement has a generous benefit for all AFL Barwon registered Football and Netball players who will receive a 10% saving in the 2024 season on their initial treatment consultation fee upon proof of their current playing registration.
Corio Bay Health Group will continue to carry the logo branding on all AFL Barwon Competition Netballs, and on all Men’s Seniors, Reserves and Under 18’s playing shorts. The Corio Bay health Group logo will also be present on all on-field Trainer, Physio and Primary carer vests for the next 2 years.
Corio Bay Health Group will continue to provide support to local clubs and their sports training staff, including the delivery of its AFL approved Sports Trainers Course and other educational activities in injury prevention and management.
Adam Walters, Regional Partner of Corio Bay Health Group, expressed the organization's enthusiasm for their extended partnership with AFL Barwon. He stated, “Corio Bay Health Group is thrilled to announce a further 2-year extension of its partnership with AFL Barwon.”
Through this ongoing collaboration, Corio Bay Health Group will offer both financial and in-kind support to bolster local Football and Netball competitions. Leveraging their extensive experience in physiotherapy, along with additional services like Sports Medicine, Myotherapy, and Dietetics.
Walters explains that “Corio Bay Health Group is committed to helping local AFL Barwon footballers and netballers stay fit and healthy while achieving their best on game day."
AFL Barwon Regional General Manager, Edward Wilson has expressed excitement about the partnership extension. “AFL Barwon is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Corio Bay Health Group. CBHG has a unique passion and commitment to supporting our local Football Netball community and this commitment we’re proud to support for another three years. Sincere thanks to Adam Walters and his entire team for their ongoing support of AFL Barwon and all affiliated Clubs”. “
We are delighted to announce that AFL Barwon and Loco Sportswear have penned a long-term commitment, agreeing to a partnership extension through to 2026.
The partnership between AFL Barwon and Loco Sportswear will move into its 5th year in 2024 after commencing a formal commitment in 2019.
Loco Sportwear will continue as the exclusive preferred apparel supplier for the AFL Barwon region with ranges of custom on-field and off-field options for both Football and Netball.
All on-field official’s uniforms and requirements are available via the AFL Barwon store on the Loco Sportswear website providing ease of purchase for the clubs and stakeholders.
"AFL Barwon Regional General Manager, Edward Wilson, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, stating, “AFL Barwon is proud to continue our collaborative and resourced partnership with Loco Sportswear for another three years. The standard of customer service, the attention to detail, and the options for our Clubs were key factors to a renewed partnership.”
He also extended his gratitude to Gary March, saying, “We thank Gary March for his continued support of AFL Barwon and all affiliated Clubs, and we look forward to working towards greater outcomes for our Clubs in the years ahead.”
Loco Sportswear's Gary March expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership extension with AFL Barwon, saying, "Loco Sportswear is delighted to extend our partnership with AFL Barwon for another 3 years. Over the past 4 seasons, we have built a strong platform to support the uniform needs of both football and netball clubs in the AFL Barwon region."
He further emphasized their contributions by stating, "In addition to supplying on-field playing uniforms, the past 2 years have seen us host more than 12 clubs' online stores and the AFL Barwon officials' uniforms."
Finally, March expressed his gratitude and anticipation for the future, noting, "I'd like to thank Edward Wilson and Sean Atkinson for their continued support of Loco Sportswear, and we look forward to building on the strong relationships we have developed throughout the region over the past 4 years."
