The Barwon Region Showcase is a representative program delivered by the Geelong Falcons with AFL Barwon to provide an opportunity for talented players in the Barwon region to compete against each other in a day of games.

The games also serve as selection trials for the 2025 V/Line Cup and provide opportunities for coaches in the community to have a taste of higher-level representative football.

88 Boys. 44 Girls. 6 Coaches.

Teams named after Geelong Falcons Legends:

• Team Dangerfield
• Team Hodge
• Team Howley
• Team Morrison
• Team Walsh
• Team Ablett

Eligibility:

• Players must be born in 2010 to be eligible for selection.

• Players do not need to be registered to a club, but must reside in one of the following municipalities: Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, Queenscliff, or Surf Coast.

How to Nominate:

• Players, parents, and coaches may submit nominations directly.

• Each club is entitled to submit four club-voted nominations.

• Clubs may also submit additional nominations for consideration by emailing the Geelong Falcons directly.

Key Dates:

• Nominations close: Monday, 2 June

• Player selection notifications: Monday, 30 June

Coaching Opportunities:
Community coaches are invited to nominate for involvement in the Showcase. A head coach will be appointed for each of the six participating teams.

Pathway to V/Line Cup:
Participation in the Barwon Region Showcase will be one of the evaluation opportunities for selection in the 2025 V/Line Cup squads. However, Showcase participation is not a prerequisite for selection. Final squads will be based on a combination of school and community football performance, and club feedback.

Registration Fee:
A $30 player registration fee applies, with full fee subsidies available in certain circumstances.

Player Nomination Form

Club Nomination Form

Coach Expression of Interest Form

Another important step in strengthening football umpiring across the AFL Barwon region has been taken with the launch of a new satellite training venue at the Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club, set to begin on Tuesday, May 6th. This initiative not only reduces travel barriers for umpires living on the Surf Coast and in surrounding areas by offering greater accessibility and convenience but also presents a valuable opportunity to grow umpire numbers in one of the region’s highly populated communities.

This Surf Coast location becomes the second satellite umpire training venue established in the past 12 months, following the successful launch of the Drysdale hub in 2024. It will provide a valuable boost for current umpires, offering a convenient, locally based facility that supports their ongoing development and weekly training needs. By reducing travel time and bringing sessions closer to home, the venue is set to encourage greater participation, create stronger community ties, and enhance overall engagement within the umpiring network.

The Surf Coast Suns venue has been strategically chosen to not only support the ongoing development of current umpires, but also to help drive recruitment and retention of new officials in one of the fastest-growing corridors in the region. With the Surf Coast and Armstrong Creek areas experiencing significant population growth — with Armstrong Creek alone projected to exceed 22,000 residents by 2026 — the number of local football teams and matches continues to rise. This increase in participation has created a pressing need for more umpires and establishing accessible training options like this is essential to meeting that demand and supporting the future of the game.

AFL Barwon Regional General Manager Lisa Patterson highlighted the importance of the new facility,

“This new satellite umpire training base is a crucial step in our ongoing work to grow umpiring in the region. It strengthens our ability to support, develop and retain umpires by making training more accessible and aligned with the needs of our expanding community across the Surf Coast region.”

We thank the Surf Coast Suns for their progressive and open-minded support of this important initiative. We encourage anyone aged 13 and above to get involved — there’s never been a better time to pick up the whistle.”

AFL Barwon is always looking to welcome new umpires, find out how to get involved by going to https://www.aflbarwon.com.au/umpire

AFL Victoria, in collaboration with metropolitan football leagues and country football regions, has amended the process for club and team transfers and the subsequent appeals process ahead of the 2026 application period, following an assessment of recent cases across metropolitan Melbourne and country Victoria.

The amendments come after it was recognised that the current Victorian State Affiliate Regulation which administer this process, and the introduction or amendment of any underage competition was not adequate in managing the significance of such changes.

The amended regulations have been designed to best provide a collaborative and strategic approach amongst community football bodies in Victoria to prioritise positive outcomes for the game. By providing early intent notifications to relevant parties and maintaining transparent communications throughout the process, the revised process to assess a proposed transfer will allow more informed and efficient decision making. 
 
Newly created resources to capture evidence relevant to a proposition and amended timeframe requirements will ensure a more thorough assessment of applications by all involved stakeholders. Effective collaboration to reach agreement on these applications is important due to the weight of influence that such decisions can have on the future direction of the game in Victoria. 

The AFL Victoria Affiliate Regulations which contain the Transfer of Clubs and Teams guidelines are effective April 23rd 2025 and apply for all relevant applications for the 2026 season onwards.

Key amendments to Transfer of Clubs and Teams regulations are:

• Dates to lodge applications have been brought forward with Club Transfer application required to be submitted by June 30th, previously October 31st.
• The introduction of forms to make a transfer application, including the requirement for more specific evidence to support the application. 
• Requirement for clubs to meet with their existing league to discuss the application once the Intention to Transfer Form has been lodged. 
• The two relevant leagues must meet to discuss the proposed transfer and the consequences, both positive and negative with a view to resolving the application in a way that is most beneficial to all involved parties.

Whilst a collaborative and strategic approach amongst community football is necessary, it is possible that an agreement on a transfer proposition may not be reached and therefore an objection process (appeal) has been retained. The appeal is to be submitted to AFL Victoria with all parties having full disclosure of the evidence in support and defence throughout the entire process, not just in the final stages.  

In summary, the amended processes (both application and appeal) require the evidence in support of the proposed transfer to be identified at the earliest possible stage of the process, as opposed to the latest under previous regulations. This allows all interested parties to be fully informed and for an accurate and thorough assessment of the proposed transfers strategic benefit to the game immediately and longer term. 

Peter Nash is a proud Portarlington local who has spent the majority of his life in the coastal town. It’s where he raised his children, worked locally shearing sheep, and took up work as a fencing contractor. He’s never had much reason to leave, and to this day, still calls Portarlington home. 

However, in 1965, Peter did leave for a very different reason. He was called up for National Service and served in Vietnam for two years. Like many young Australians of his generation, Peter answered the call to serve his country during a turbulent period in history.

While Peter acknowledges that chapter of his life, he prefers to focus on the mateship that emerged from it, the lifelong friends he made, and sadly, the ones he lost. Many of his fellow servicemen now live interstate, with Peter being the only member of his battalion still residing in Victoria. Their regular reunions have become harder to organise as the group grows older, so phone calls have become their main way of staying in touch.

ANZAC Day, for Peter, is a time to remember, not only what happened, but also what never did. Like many who served, it took time for him to embrace the significance of the day. For Peter, it wasn’t until recent years that Anzac Day played a pivotal role in his life. He stayed in his “cocoon” for a fair few years, and didn't want to get involved in the day’s events. This changed around 15 years ago where Peter come out of his shell, and started to get involved, marching each year with family and others in the community. 

Peter is no stranger to the football field. A proud Portarlington Demon, he debuted in the Seniors in 1961 as a ruckman. Though he jokes that with today’s taller players, he’d probably have to line up as a half-forward flanker instead. He played for eight or nine years, though he lost two seasons to his National Service. While he never played football on Anzac Day himself, Peter has always supported matches held on the day. He believes football has played an important role in raising awareness of Anzac Day, particularly among younger generations. He credits clubs for the respectful way they honour the day, participating for the right reasons and helping raise funds for veterans who need support. 

The rivalry between Portarlington and Drysdale is one Peter knows well – it’s a long-standing one that stretches back generations. In fact, even in his own family, the rivalry ran deep: his mother was born in Portarlington and his father in Drysdale. Despite this, Peter never considered playing for anyone other than Portarlington – and certainly not pulling on the brown and gold.

To Peter, the Anzac spirit and football share common values—protecting your teammates and the camaraderie of standing together. But he’s quick to point out that football is not war and should never be compared to it. What he and his mates endured during their service is something he hopes no modern player will ever have to experience. His hope is for younger generations to enjoy the freedom to play the game without ever needing to know the hardship of war.

This Anzac Day, Drysdale will host Portarlington at Drysdale Recreation Reserve. The on-field Anzac Day Ceremony will commence at 1:40pm, followed by the Senior Men’s football match at 2:30pm and A Grade Netball at 2:45pm.

Author: Sean Atkinson