Celebrate the people who make community sport thrive by nominating an outstanding volunteer, coach, administrator or umpire for the 2026 AFL Barwon Community Awards.

The awards recognise the individuals and clubs whose passion, leadership and commitment have shaped football and netball across the Barwon region throughout the season.

This year's awards proudly feature some of AFL Barwon's most prestigious honours, including the Joy Grubb Senior Netball Coach of the Year, Ian McTaggart Club of the Year, John Edsall  Senior Football Administrator of the Year, and Leon Schram Junior Football Administrator of the Year, alongside a range of coaching, umpiring, club and community recognition awards.

Nominating is simple. Complete the questions relevant to your chosen award category and help recognise those who go above and beyond for our game.

Nominations are open to all members of the community and eligible individuals and clubs affiliated with AFL Barwon, including the Geelong FNL, Bellarine FNL, Colac & District FNL, Geelong & District FNL, Senior Female Football, Junior Football & Netball, and the All Abilities FNL.

Nominations close 5pm on Friday August 21st.

Tens of thousands of footballers and netballers across Victoria will pull on blue armbands this weekend – backing safer driving and honouring the lives lost on our roads.

AFL Victoria, in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), today launched Road Safety Round at the MCG.

Hawthorn forward and campaign ambassador Nick Watson was in attendance, with Hawthorn to wear blue armbands in their clash against Essendon this weekend.

The launch was held against a sombre backdrop of 291 blacked-out stadium seats, representing the number of people who died on Victorian roads last year.
 
This year's campaign focuses on the dangers of speeding, which remains one of the major contributors to road trauma in Victoria – a factor in around 30 per cent of fatal crashes and 25 per cent of serious injuries.

Now in its eighth year, Road Safety Round brings road safety conversations directly into more than 1,000 grassroots clubs.

Road Safety Round is a major initiative of the TAC and AFL Victoria’s more than 30-year partnership.

Grassroots clubs can earn up to $10,000 through the $700,000 Club Rewards Program, for being road safety leaders.

So far this year, 140 lives have been lost on Victoria's roads – a 20 per cent reduction on the same time last year, but a reminder that more still needs to be done to keep our roads safe.

Quote attributable to Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan

“Road Safety Round has become a key pillar on the Victorian footy calendar – and a reminder that, on the field and on the road, we're stronger when we unite behind a common goal.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ros Spence

“Every life lost on our roads is one too many.”

“Footy and netball clubs reach people of all ages, on and off the field – and that makes them powerful voices for safer roads.”

Quotes attributable to TAC CEO Tracey Slatter

“Speeding continues to be one of the biggest contributors to deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

“By starting conversations in clubs, changerooms and on the sidelines, we're encouraging Victorians to look out for one another and make safer choices whenever they travel.”

Success starved St Mary’s look to continue their rise as September gets closer.

By Ben Andonoudis

After years watching September from the sidelines, St Mary’s has emerged as a genuine contender in the last two seasons.

A maiden A-grade premiership still eludes the Saints, but this season has seen them continue to rack up wins.

This follows a return to finals last year after a drought spanning a number of years outside the top section of the ladder, and 2026 has seen the Saints once again sit among the ladder leaders.

A six-goal win over fellow contenders South Barwon in round 13 has them now placed fourth on the A-grade netball table with a healthy percentage of 122%.

It has them believing they can build towards being there in a grand final.

St Mary’s A-grade coach Kathryn Vickers feels that belief has been evident among the playing group.

“I think every team goes in believing that they'll win the premiership and this year they absolutely have the belief and so they're showing that on the court,” Vickers said.

The team’s improved confidence this season has come off the back of increased connection as they develop further as players.

But that chemistry has taken years to build.

“They've played together for a long time, and the majority of the group have come up from juniors,” Vickers said.

It is that long-standing relationship between the players that Vickers believes can make a successful team.

“Success is built from a group of people staying together and knowing each other really well and how they move on the court,” Vickers said.

Last season marked an important step forward for the Saints on the road to becoming premiers.

Despite falling to Geelong West last year in an elimination final that doubled as their finals comeback, it was decided they did not need major changes.

“We had small areas to improve on,” Vickers said.

Rather than reinvent themselves, the Saints focused on improving the mental side of their game.

“It was the trusting your teammate and having them back you up,” Vickers said.

This season has seen the Saints doing just that and has led to an even spread of contributors during games.

That collective mindset has become of St Mary’s biggest strengths this season.

When asked to name a standout player for this season Vickers simply could not single out a standout performer.

“I mean, I'd say my whole team,” Vickers said.

Looking forward to the future, the Saints will be looking to keep their playing group together and to contend for some time to come.

“I would hope that the core group sticks around together.”

“They're all really good friends, and when you've got your friends, you don't really want to leave,” Vickers said.

Whether this year becomes the year St Mary’s claims it’s first A-grade netball premiership remains to be seen.

But after years spent building the foundations of the club along with a genuine connection and trust among their playing group, the Saints have reason to believe that this might be a group capable of bringing the ultimate prize to Kardinia Park.

A historic occasion for females in umpiring will take place this weekend in the Barwon region.

The senior football match between South Colac and Birregurra on Saturday July 18^th will feature an all-female umpiring contingent.

This is believed to be only the second time in the history of the Colac and District Football Netball League (CDFNL) that such an event has occurred.  

The match is a significant milestone that recognises the outstanding contribution that female umpires make across the Barwon region.

Saturday’s match falls against the backdrop of AFL Barwon’s Female Festival of Sport Month.

Female umpires play an important role not only in the growth and sustainability of our umpiring ranks but also in the continued growth of Australian Rules football across the Barwon region.

Their pioneering of female umpiring shows that it is an inclusive, rewarding and respected way to be a part of the game.

AFL Barwon, AFL Barwon Umpiring, Colac Umpires, Geelong Umpires, CDFNL congratulate the umpires selected for this significant occasion.

The umpires selected for this match are:

Field Umpires

• Linda Knight (Colac)
• Ahnika Lennie (Geelong)
• Jess Heath (Geelong)

Boundary Umpires

• Marissa Whitehead (Colac)
• Charlotte Wilson (Geelong)
• Charlotte McKinnon (Geelong)

Goal Umpires

• Anna Rowland (Colac)
• Penny Serle (Colac)