AFL Barwon Senior Male Football & Senior Netball Proposal - Statement
Over recent years, AFL Barwon have received a clear message from Clubs that there was a need to evolve the current model to ensure sustainability and equitable competitions. We are in a fortunate position in the Barwon region to be seeing growth in our football and netball programs, however we recognise that as the Geelong region evolves we must stay ahead of the curve. We need a model that will ensure that we continue to foster participation and relevance of our great games into the future.
AFL Barwon has presented Clubs with a proposed model for the future of Senior Male Football & Senior Netball within the Barwon region. The proposal was presented at AFL Barwon’s third face-to-face consultation session with clubs on its Future of Football & Netball Project. The proposed model includes a vision for a divisional competition structure, enabling the top-placed Club in a division to move up a division and the bottom-placed Club in a division to move down a division, every three years.
The launch of the Future of Football & Netball Project came after earlier consultations with Clubs identified necessary changes to elevate our regional Senior leagues and address structural elements hampering club growth and sustainability. It has seen open and transparent discussions held across multiple sessions with affiliated Bellarine, Geelong, Geelong District and Junior-only Clubs, with the aim of enhancing Club sustainability and harnessing regional opportunities into the future across our Female & Male, Junior & Senior, Football & Netball competitions.
AFL Barwon has actively engaged with clubs throughout the consultation period, including at Club Forums, one-on-one consultations and in smaller feedback groups. We have used the feedback provided to work from several initial concepts to the proposal presented on Tuesday, 5 December.
AFL Barwon Chair, Michelle Gerdtz, thanked clubs for their involvement throughout this process.
“Last night wrapped up our official consultation process with clubs on the future of senior football and netball project. The process has allowed the Commission to refine and adjust the model based on Club and individual feedback. The engagement we have had with clubs has been positive and we thank all our stakeholders for allowing us to work with them during this process”.
“One major highlight of the model is to ensure that results from senior football AND netball are considered when looking at the movement of clubs between divisions, every three years. Netball is a vital component in our region and this model ensures a whole club approach when assessing performance and participation”.
“We are in a fortunate position in the Barwon region to be seeing growth in our football and netball programs and this model will ensure that we continue to foster this growth into the future”.
To review the entire proposal, please visit the link below:
