AFL Victoria establishes Barwon Regional Council

AFL Victoria has today announced the formal implementation of the Barwon Regional Council, which will provide strategic leadership and advice to support community football in the Barwon region.

The formation of the Barwon Regional Council follows the announcement of governance reform made by AFLVictoria last November and represents an important milestone in the evolution of community football governance.

The Council has been established to provide strategic advice and regional leadership, ensuring decisions are informed by local knowledge while aligning with AFL Victoria's broader strategic direction.

Regional Administration Centres (RACs) were first introduced in response to the 2011 Peter Jackson Report, which recommended consolidating local league administration, umpiring, and game development into unified regional models.

It is a move which has allowed AFL Victoria and its regions to hone its efforts on participation growth, game development, and increased community engagement, as well as assist clubs and leagues in delivering increasingly complex football and netball operations and locally focused strategic initiatives.

This implementation of the Barwon Regional Council will provide greater clarity of roles, strengthen connections with local leagues, and maintain a strong regional focus to support the continued growth of football and netball

The Barwon Regional Council will focus on the long-term sustainability of football across the Barwon region by providing advice on matters including:

• Participation growth
• Club sustainability
• Competition structures
• Governance standards
• Infrastructure priorities
• Inclusion and diversity initiatives
• Volunteer and workforce development

These priorities are aligned with AFL Victoria's commitment to building stronger and more sustainable community clubs and competitions.

The Barwon Region Council provides an important mechanism for local clubs and stakeholders to havetheir voices represented in regional strategic planning. By bringing together respected leaders from across the football community, the Council will help ensure regional priorities continue to inform AFL Victoria's decision-making and investment.

AFL Victoria Regional Manager (Barwon), Lisa Patterson said the Council is an important step in ensuring the sustainability of football across the region.

"The establishment of the Barwon Regional Council marks an exciting new chapter for community football in our region,” Patterson said.

“By bringing together experienced leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds, we are creating a strategicadvisory group that will help shape the future of football and ensure our clubs remain strong, sustainable and connected to the communities they serve.

“Their collective expertise will provide invaluable guidance as we continue to grow participation and strengthen the game across Barwon."

The following five administrators will sit on the Barwon Regional Council.

Craig Keating

Craig Keating is a highly respected community leader and administrator with an extensive history in Australian football governance and regional community service. The inaugural Chair of the AFL Barwon Commission, he served for 10 years, earning Life Membership in 2023. Beyond AFL Barwon, Keating has enjoyed a distinguished career as a pharmacist and has held numerous leadership positions, including President of the Heywood Football Netball Club, Chairman of the Western Border Football League and director roles across community health and banking organisations.

Kent Hannam

Kent Hannam is a highly experienced sport integrity and investigations professional with extensive expertise across Australian and international sport, including AFL Victoria, Cricket Australia and the International Cricket Council (ICC). His reputation for impartiality, procedural fairness and meticulous investigative practice has made him a trusted advisor across the sporting sector.

Gerard Evans

Gerard Evans is a highly regarded community football administrator, holding senior roles at both Lara and Grovedale Football Netball Clubs, helping drive strategic planning, club development and sustainable growth while fostering strong community connections and volunteer engagement.

Gerard was awarded the John Edsall Award for Service to Football by AFL Barwon, and has Life Membership at Lara Football Netball Club, with His collaborative leadership style, governance expertise and unwavering commitment to volunteers and participants making him a highly respected figure within the Barwon football and netball community.

Aaron Verlin

Aaron Verlin is a respected community leader with extensive experience in governance, strategic leadership and community engagement through both sport and the disability sector. Serving as President of the Leopold Football Netball Club, alongside his professional career within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), reflects his passion for creating inclusive, sustainable and people-focused organisations.

Nicole Baceley

Nicole Baceley is a passionate and respected leader in community football, recognised for her outstanding contribution to the growth and development of female football at the Barwon Heads Football Netball Club. Nicole has been a driving force behind the club's female football pathway, working closely with players, coaches, volunteers and families to create a positive and supportive environment where participants can