AFL Barwon is pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Patterson as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer, commencing in early 2026.

Kate brings more than 25 years’ experience across the sport, government and community sectors, including over a decade in senior and executive leadership roles. She joins AFL Barwon with a strong track record in strategic planning, governance reform, commercial development and stakeholder engagement, underpinned by a deep commitment to community sport and participation.

AFL Barwon Chair Michelle Gerdtz said the appointment reflects the organisation’s next phase of growth and reform.

“Kate brings an exceptional depth of experience in leading teams and transformative projects in sport. Her proven leadership in governance reform, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement makes her ideally placed to guide AFL Barwon through its next phase. We are confident her values-driven, community-focused approach will strengthen our organisation and support the long-term sustainability of football and netball across the region.”

“Along with other recent changes to bolster our football and netball operations, including the new pending appointments of Geelong and Bellarine League Presidents onto the Commission and the recent appointment of Sarah Naylor as the Head of Football, we believe we are now well setup to deliver important sports reform, improved operations and governance and continue to strengthen the largest community football and netball operations in the state.”

Based on the Surf Coast, Kate has led and contributed to several major national sport initiatives. Most notably, she played a key leadership role in the establishment of Netball Australia’s national league, Super Netball, overseeing league structure, team procurement, commercial frameworks, stakeholder engagement and the launch strategy.

She currently holds a senior executive role with AusCycling, joining the Executive Leadership Team following the amalgamation of three national and 16 state cycling bodies — one of the most significant governance reforms in Australian sport. In this role, she has led the brand strategy and driven strong commercial growth across the organisation, and contributed to the organisation’s four-year strategic plan.

Across her career, Kate has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusive participation and community access. From grassroots initiatives through to elite sport, her work has consistently focused on creating welcoming environments and broadening opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Kate said she was excited to be joining AFL Barwon at a pivotal time for the organisation.

“I’m incredibly honoured to be appointed CEO of AFL Barwon and excited to lead an organisation that plays such an important role in creating community and connection through the power of sport.

“Footy and netball are such a central part of the identity of our region. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to work alongside the Commission, staff, clubs, officials, players and all who contribute to making our competitions such a vital part of our community. I can’t wait to get started!”

AFL Barwon looks forward to welcoming Kate and sharing further updates as she prepares to commence in the role on Monday 2 February 2026.

AFL Barwon has today confirmed the key season dates for its 2026 football and netball competitions, providing clarity for players, families, clubs and supporters as planning begins for the year ahead.

The 2026 season will again deliver a full and diverse program across senior, junior and All Abilities competitions, with fixtures structured to support participation, development and community engagement across the Barwon region.

Below is an overview of the confirmed season dates for each competition.

Senior Female Football

• Season Start: 17–19 April
• Byes: 3–5 July
• Grand Final: 30 August
  *Note: Exact start dates are determined by day of play and are subject to change.

All Abilities Netball

• Season Start: 21 April
• Byes: 9 June & 7 July
• Grand Final: 18 August
  *Note: Matches will be played on Tuesday evenings in 2026.

Under 18 Male Football

• Season Start: 25–26 April
• Bye: 4 July
• Grand Finals:
• Division 3 & 4 – 12 September
• Division 2 – 19 September
• Division 1 – 25 September
  *Note: Grand Final dates align with the GFNL (Division 1), BFNL (Division 2) and GDFNL (Division 3 & 4).

Under 14 & Under 17 Junior Female Football

• Season Start: 26 April
• Bye: 5 July
• Grand Final: 30 August
  *Note: Dates are based on Sunday matches for 2026.

Under 14 & Under 16 Junior Male Football

• Season Start: 25–26 April
• Byes: 4–5 July
• Grand Finals: 5–6 September
  *Note: Under 16 matches will be played on Saturdays and Under 14 matches on Sundays in 2026. ANZAC Day fixtures will commence after 10.00am.

13 & Under, 15 & Under and 17 & Under Friday Night Netball

• Season Start: 24 April
• Byes: 12 June & 3 July
• Grand Final: 11 September
  *Note: Matches will be played on Friday evenings in 2026.

Under 9, Under 10 & Under 12 Junior Male & Mixed Football

• Season Start: 24–25 April
• Byes: 3–4 July
• Last Round: 14–15 August
  *Note: Matches will be played across Friday nights and Saturday mornings in 2026.

Under 9, Under 10 & Under 12 Junior Female Football

• Season Start: 26 April
• Bye: 5 July
• Last Round: 16 August
  *Note: Dates are based on Sunday matches for 2026.

9 & Under and 11 & Under Tuesday Night Netball

• Season Start: 21 April
• Byes: 9 June & 7 July
• Party Round: 23 August
  *Note: Matches will be played on Tuesday evenings in 2026. Party Round applies to 11 & Under only.

AFL Barwon looks forward to another exciting season of football and netball in 2026 and thanks the community for its continued support. Further fixture details will be released closer to the season.

AFL Barwon has confirmed an update to the Female Football age group structure across the Barwon region, which will take effect from the commencement of the 2026 season.

From 2026, the current Under 16 Girls and Under 18 Girls competitions will transition to a single Under 17 Girls age group within AFL Barwon competitions.

The change aligns with AFL Victoria participation pathways and is intended to support appropriate player development, improve retention through key teenage years, and ensure competitive balance and player safety as girls progress through junior football. The adjustment also reflects feedback received through AFL Barwon’s recent Female Football consultation, which identified ongoing challenges within the older junior age groups.

This will be the only junior girls age group change implemented for the 2026 season. All other junior football age groups within AFL Barwon will remain unchanged.

AFL Barwon will continue to work with affiliated leagues and clubs to determine appropriate competition structures based on participation numbers and regional considerations.

Further information regarding player eligibility and competition formats will be communicated closer to the 2026 season in accordance with AFL Victoria regulations.

From 10 December 2025, new Australian regulations require major social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from opening or maintaining accounts. These changes apply to popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Threads, Twitch and others.

While these rules are directed at the platforms themselves, they will have flow-on effects for how community sporting organisations — including AFL Barwon clubs — communicate with junior players and families.

What’s Changing?

Under the new laws introduced by the Australian Government, social media companies will be responsible for ensuring children under 16 do not have active accounts. Importantly:

• Clubs, coaches, volunteers, parents or carers will not be penalised if a young person has previously held or used an account.

• Young people under 16 will still be able to view public content on most platforms, even without logging in.

• These changes do not alter existing child safeguarding or communication policies required by sporting organisations.

Why It Matters for AFL Barwon Clubs

Many clubs rely on social media as a primary communication tool for updates, events, team announcements, training changes and general club news. With some junior players no longer able to access platforms directly, clubs may need to reconsider how key information is delivered.

The new regulations may impact:

• Junior communication channels, especially where teams have relied on Facebook or Instagram groups.

• How clubs distribute news and event information to ensure all families, including those with children under 16, remain informed.

• Volunteer-run accounts, which must continue to be managed by individuals aged 16 and over.

Clubs may need to consider supplementary communication methods such as email newsletters, member portals, SMS tools, or parent-managed messaging groups.

What Clubs Can Do Now

AFL Barwon encourages all clubs to take proactive steps as the changes come into effect:

• Review how your club currently communicates with junior players and families.

• Identify any teams or age groups likely to be affected.

• Ensure all club information remains accessible through channels that do not require under-16s to log in.

• Update internal policies and team-manager guidance to reflect the new environment.

• Clearly communicate any changes to parents, carers, coaches and volunteers to ensure smooth transitions.

• Share links to resources provided by the eSafety Commissioner to help families understand the changes and manage their child’s online activity.

Supporting Safe and Inclusive Participation

These new rules are designed to provide greater protection for young people online, helping minimise exposure to harmful content, online abuse or unsafe interactions. For AFL Barwon, they also reinforce our commitment to fostering safe, child-friendly and inclusive environments across all clubs in our region.

AFL Barwon will continue working with clubs to ensure communication remains clear, accessible and compliant with emerging digital-safety standards.

Read more around the changes from the eSafetyCommissioner