2023 Kempe Junior Football Finals Venues Revealed

AFL Barwon is excited to announce that the 2023 Kempe AFL Barwon Junior Grand Finals will take place at the Lara Recreation Reserve, utilizing both of its ovals. The selection of the hosting venues was made by the AFL Barwon Staff and Commission after all AFL Barwon clubs had the chance to submit applications to host.

To accommodate ground availabilities and support the dedicated club volunteers, the Under 14 and Under 16 games will be spread across Saturday’s and Sunday’s during the final’s series.

Lara Recreation Reserve has a successful history of hosting major finals events, including the Kempe Junior Finals in 2018 and the Epworth Female Football Finals in 2019.

Chris Spence, Chair of the Lara Sports Club Football Section, expressed gratitude to AFL Barwon for entrusting their club with hosting the junior grand finals. He mentioned that the event would showcase the exceptional talent of Under 14 and Under 16 boys' football in the Barwon region. Planning for the weekend is already underway, and the Lara Football Netball Club eagerly anticipates welcoming players, families, and supporters for an action-packed program of matches.

AFL Barwon's Region General Manager, Edward Wilson, extended his thanks to Lara FNC for their support in hosting the 2023 Kempe AFL Barwon Junior Male Football Finals Series. Acknowledging the scale of these competitions, he emphasized that the two days would be memorable both on and off the field. The diligence and proactive efforts of all host Clubs - Geelong Amateur FNC, Lara FNC, North Geelong FNC, Ocean Grove Cobras FC, Ocean Grove FNC, & Surf Coast Suns FNC during the three weeks of finals was greatly appreciated.

The full schedule for the Kempe AFL Barwon Junior Football Finals Series is as follows:

Kempe AFL Barwon Junior Football Finals Series

Week 1 - Semi Finals

Saturday August 19th & Sunday August 20

Queens Park Reserve - KFC Oval and Shaw Oval (Geelong Amateurs FNC)                                 

Ray Menzies Oval – (Ocean Grove FNC)        

Collendina Reserve – (Ocean Grove Cobras FC)                        

Osborne Park – (North Geelong FNC)

Week 2 - Preliminary Finals

Saturday August 26th & Sunday August 27^th

Banyul Warri Fields - Polwarth Oval & Grenville Oval (Surf Coast Suns FNC)                 

Week 3 - Grand Finals

Saturday September 2^nd & Sunday September 3^rd

Lara Recreation Reserve - Bisinella Oval and Lara Recreation Reserve Oval 2 (Lara Football Netball Club)