Written by staff on 09 May 2024. Posted in News.

Jones marks Milestone with 500 game achievement

There wouldn’t be many Saturday afternoons in football season that you wouldn’t see the presence of Chris Jones on a ground somewhere in the Barwon Region. Chris recently clocked up the remarkable effort of officiating 500 matches of football locally over roughly a 10-year period.

He decided to grab the whistle after a playing career at local clubs Inverleigh, Grovedale, and Geelong Amateur, where he retired from the game in the middle of the 2006. Unfortunately, 3 head knocks over a short period led Chris to hang up the playing boots. This eventually become a blessing for the local umpiring fraternity.

Umpiring certainly wasn’t front of mind or something that Chris had planned to do after footy, although he was missing the game, and was wanting to get active, so he took up the whistle.

Over his distinguished umpiring career, he modestly described his ability to continue to perform at the highest level through staying fit and undertaking recovery accordingly. “People who know me, know I love running which might be a weird thing to say”. Thios running base, staying healthy and recovery sessions following up to 4 games accross a weekend. “I do a lot of recovery in the sea water at Eastern Beach accross a Sunday. I am pretty sore on a Sunday night” Jones explained.

Despite umpiring his own matches accross the weekend, he also shares his learnings to the young umpires. “The biggest thrill I get at the moment is seeing the up-and-coming junior umpires progress through. I have been lucky enough to have been umpiring for a lot of their senior debuts, which is really awesome. It’s something I take great pride in with coaching the junior development field umpires as well. Seeing them progress to Senior ranks is really rewarding.” Jones stated.

Chris described umpiring as the “best seat in the house” especially being able to watch Mathieson Medallists, Matt McMahon and Harry Benson up close. These were two players who he described as some of the best he has umpired over recent times.

AFL Barwon Director of Football Umpiring, Jock Hillgrove described Chris as an ‘absolute gem’ in the umpire fraternity.

“He is always available to do multiple games if needed, and clearly having reached 500 games so quickly, it is a testament to Chris’s commitment. He has also been our Field Development Coach over the last 5 years and is very supportive of all those that have taken up field umpiring. He is a great mentor for everyone around him”.

Hillgrove regards Jones as a ‘very genuine well-liked person’ and emphasised how highly respected he is across our AFL Barwon Region.

“I’m so pleased for Chris on his milestone knowing that he has so much more to contribute to his journey as an umpire and umpire coach, I have great respect for his passion and commitment to umpiring “, said Hillgrove.

Jones doesn’t plan to hang up the whistle anytime soon with him, “I have still got the passion in me to continue going”.

The AFL Barwon community congratulates Chris on wonderful achievement and look forward to seeing him continue to set the standards for those emerging umpires.

This week is a celebration of Community Umpiring across the AFL, if you are looking to get involved umpiring, simply go to https://play.afl/umpire

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Written by staff on 08 May 2024. Posted in News.

Smith, Dowling and Fennell secure maximum votes | BFNL Round 6 Coaches Votes

There were three perfect games according to the Bellarine coaches this week with Lachlan Smith, Ben Fennell and Patrick Dowling also securing 10 votes.

Dowling's 10 votes keeps him at the top of the leader board as a third of the season passes in the BFNL.

Check out all the coaches votes from Round 6 the Bellarine Football Netball League.

Barwon Heads v Portarlington

5 Tom Swift (Barwon Heads)

5 Luke Davis (Barwon Heads)

4 Ryley Stuhldreier (Barwon Heads)

4 Teia Miles (Portarlington)

3 Reid Adams (Barwon Heads)

3 James Syddall (Barwon Heads)

2 Charlie Perks (Barwon Heads)

2 Dylan O’Brien (Portarlington)

1 Archie Hildebrandt (Barwon Heads)

1 Charlie Hurst (Barwon Heads)

Drysdale v Queenscliff

10 Ben Fennell (Drysdale)

8 Luke Preece (Drysdale)

4 Flynn Chirgwin (Drysdale)

4 Jack Preece (Drysdale)

3 Jordan McGivor Clark (Queenscliff)

1 Caleb Whitley (Queenscliff)

Geelong Amateur v Ocean Grove

10 Patrick Dowling (Geelong Amateur)

8 Riley Ferguson (Geelong Amateur)

3 Max Sutton (Ocean Grove)

3 Tom Zeitz (Geelong Amateur)

3 Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur)

2 Tom Gribble (Geelong Amateur)

1 Brady Pritchard (Ocean Grove)

Newcomb v Anglesea

10 Lachlan Smith (Anglesea)

7 Jordan Keras (Anglesea)

4 Jack Rice (Anglesea)

4 James Carr (Anglesea)

3 Ryan Jackman (Newcomb)

2 Peter Gordon (Newcomb)

Torquay v Modewarre

8 Sheldon Ham (Torquay)

7 Oscar Lewis (Torquay)

5 Matt Farrelly (Modewarre)

4 Matt Boag (Torquay)

2 Baxter Anderson (Modewarre)

2 Weylin Doyle (Torquay)

1 Tom Grace (Torquay)

1 Baxter Mensch (Torquay)

Round 6 Leaderboard

37 Patrick Dowling (Geelong Amateur)

32 Riley Ferguson (Geelong Amateur)

31 Luke Preece (Drysdale)

27 Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur)

26 Matthew Boag (Torquay)

20 Ryley Stuhldreier (Barwon Heads)

The Geelong Advertiser Coaches Player of the Year is an award voted by each Senior coach on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

There are individual awards for the Bellarine FNL Seniors, Geelong FNL Seniors, and the Division 1 Senior Female Football competitions.

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Written by staff on 07 May 2024. Posted in News.

Clubs kick off Respect Starts Here Program for 2024

AFL Barwon in partnership with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre have commenced the third iteration of the Respect Starts Here Program, a program that supports Football and Netball clubs across the Barwon region to progress gender equality and promote respect within Clubs and Communities. All clubs who participate in the program are working towards a shared goal of creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive club that supports all its members to thrive in their sport and their communities.

Respect Starts Here originally commenced as a pilot program with Geelong West Giants Football Netball Club in 2022, reaching 233 players and coaches. Program participant and Giants Chair, Sarah Naylor, is a strong advocate for Respect Starts Here and has said that that any club in the Barwon region would “benefit immensely from taking part in the program”. Naylor has found the program to be beneficial for her club, positively impacting the behaviour and attitudes players and members.

The program has evolved since the initial pilot, with AFL Barwon clubs are now offered a choice between two streams. The introductory stream, Getting Started, supports clubs who are in the foundational stages of exploring what gender equality means for them. The second stream, All In, is suited for clubs that are ready and have capacity to go all-in. Both streams help clubs to identify goals and actions to support gender equality and build on the capacity of members to stand up for equality and respect within the club.

Ocean Grove Football Netball Club (OGFNC) undertook All In over the 2023 season resulting in several positive actions, such as the appointment of a Club Culture & Wellbeing team. The program had a powerful impact on the Club Action Group, whose members expressed feeling more “switched on” at the club when it came to recognising how things could be improved and done more inclusively.

Highlighting the importance of gender equality and education for sports, an OGFNC club participant who attended the Active Bystander Workshop emphasised that “it matters in every setting, and by making a stance and educating people, we can work towards building a society that respects everyone.”

The Respect Starts Here Program has reached over 420 club participants over the first two years which is set to expand in 2024, thanks to the support of the Geelong Community Foundation. The 2024 version of the program launched last night at Geelong West Football Netball Club where it was announced that six AFL Barwon clubs will begin participating in one of the two streams of the program this year. Geelong West Giants, Drysdale and Newcomb will undertake the All In program, with Portarlington, Bell Park, and St Albans taking part in the Getting Started stream. AFL Barwon staff will also be taking part in the Respect Starts Here Program this season.

Michelle Gerdtz, the first Female Chair of AFL Barwon, congratulated the clubs involved in the program and expressed that “The Respect Starts Here program is of vital importance, now more than ever before. We simply cannot accept the rates of violence against women.” Gerdtz also highlighted that sporting clubs are seen as a safe space and are “an ideal setting to foster wellbeing, connectedness, and openness”. Gerdtz encourages everyone to “remember that preventing violence against women is everyone's responsibility”.

AFL Barwon Region General Manager, Edward Wilson pointed out the importance of AFL Barwon’s partnership with The SAFV Centre. Wilson expressed that “AFL Barwon is proud to share a long-term community partnership with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre), who are an important community leader in driving needed change. The Respect Starts Here program is a significant community engagement every year, to ensure members of our affiliated Football Netball Clubs, are respectful members of the community, who can also drive this needed change”.

The SAFV Centre and AFL Barwon encourage any additional clubs who are looking to participate in the Respect Starts Here Program to register their interest here.

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Written by staff on 03 May 2024. Posted in News.

Indigenous Round

19-25 May 2025

Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its contribution to our games during the AFL Barwon Indigenous Round.

Indigenous Round Club Toolkit

Indigenous Round

13-19 May 2024

Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its contribution to our games during the AFL Barwon Indigenous Round.

2025 Indigenous Round Launch

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong

In a heartfelt ceremony during AFL Barwon’s Indigenous Round Launch last week, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong proudly unveiled a powerful new Indigenous mural within one of its premium suites, now renamed “Echoes of Country.”

This initiative marks the beginning of a deeper commitment to honouring First Nations cultures and fostering meaningful connections between corporate and Country.

Located on Wadawurrung Country, the suite formerly known as Room 909 has been transformed in collaboration with Sista Studios’ Kasey and Jess, two talented Indigenous artists whose contemporary mural now takes pride of place in the space. The artwork is bold and vibrant, layered with meaning and deeply personal storytelling. While it does not speak on behalf of the Wadawurrung people or Country, it stands as a respectful tribute to Indigenous creativity, resilience, and cultural expression.

“At the heart of the room is a mural painted not just with colour, but with care,” said Tegan Adamson, Marketing Manager, during the unveiling.

“Every symbol, every layer carries intention, inviting our guests to slow down, reflect, and connect.”

“This is just one small step in a much larger journey,” said Tegan.

“Our aim is not to speak for Indigenous communities, but to elevate their voices, create space, and listen with respect. Echoes of Country represents our commitment to that path.”

This initiative is supported by collaborators including AFL Barwon, Sista Studios, and local partners such as the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, all of whom share a vision for greater cultural respect, representation, and reconciliation.

As part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong acknowledges its platform’s potential to influence and inspire, and accepts the responsibility to do so with integrity, humility, and care.

“We’re learning. We know there’s more to do. But this suite is a beginning, a space of reflection, respect, and renewal for all who enter.”

Vilification and Discrimination Module

AFL is a game for everyone!

It is important to play the game in the right spirit and to respect your opponents.

Whether it’s on or off the field, the AFL rules ban comments that insult or abuse someone about how they look or where they’re from.

We’ve teamed up with the Geelong Cats to help deliver the AFL’s short online course to help you understand the harm caused by racism and other forms of vilification.

The course also has tips on how to make your club more welcoming and connected to your community.

Vilification and Discrimination Module

Indigenous Umpire Uniforms

Designed and created by proud Noongar Wandandi Boodja first nations man Joshua James, the artwork is called Yongka Kaaleepga which means “Kangaroo Homeland” in Noongar language.

Read The Story
Indigenous Ball Artwork

Yalanda Neal, a local Indigenous artist and Belmont Lions FNC Footballer has created a design called the "Wadawurrung Indigenous Story" that has been printed on Football and Netballs for the Indigenous Round.

Read the story

Indigenous Club Uniforms

Anglesea Female Football

Artist - Donna Conley @Sallouart Wadawurrung Country

The artwork represents the Anglesea Football Club. It is painted with gratitude and love in celebration of Indigenous round 2023. The artwork acknowledges the traditional custodians, Gadubanud of the Eastern Maar and Wadawurrung people.

The concentric circles represent community meeting places and connection to each other. The surrounding U shapes symbolize coming together to sit, yarn and share in learning from each other. Together we are strong and feel safe. The Club was club was established in 1963 and is known as the Kangaroos.

The Artwork has an original depiction of a Kangaroo at its Centre to honor the Clubs history and icon. Land, sea and sky are depicted to represent Country.
Anglesea Netball

Artist – Maddy Allardyce & Corrina Eccles (Wadawurrung Country)

The Gathering circles in our first wave represent the Wadawurrung people. The Wadawurrung people lived and gathered in Anglesea including along the sea and the saltwater river which was known as Kuarka Dorta- the place to catch mullet.
Barwon Heads Football

Artist - Rhys Jeffs - Yeerra Ngitj Wadawurrung

This artwork tells the story of the Barwon River, flowing through the stunning landscape of Wadawurrung Country. The river-where fresh water meets the sea-holds great strength, beauty and significance for the Barwon Heads community. For thousands of years the Barwon River has been a vital source of food, connection, healing and cultural significance. It continues to nourish the land and its people, offering both physical and emotional wellbeing. During conversations about this design, the BHFNC community continually reflected on the river's deep connection and local importance. The artwork represents the river's journey, its many meeting places, and our shared responsibility to care for it, now and for many years to come.
Belmont Lions Female Football
Drysdale Football

The hawk represents the clubs logo. The boomerangs shows the strength of the club from the junior levels through to the senior playing groups. The cycles and lines are for everyone involved at the club and connection they have with one another, creating a safety net for each other.
Geelong Amateur Female Football

Artist - Hayley Bohme (Yorta Yorta)

The figure in the middle of the jumper with ochre markings represents warriors. The U shape that starts at the cheek and goes across the nose onto the other cheek represents warrior, and the five dots on the forehead represents the Kulin Nations, the middle being Wadawarrung Country.

Under the warrior is a meeting place, sitting at the heart of the warrior. This represents Ammo's club community.

On one side of the jumper you can see the animal prints (kangaroo and possum), showcasing the now shared history of the sport. Marngrook has been played by our people for over 60,000 years, and the ball was made of possum skin. The kangaroo tracks represent the Kangaroo of the current Sherrin footballs.

One the other side you can see a river with waterholes. This represents the Barwon River that surrounds the Ammos home at Queens Park. Queens Park is also located next to Buckley Falls.

On the back of the jumper we have an outline of Bunjil, the spiritual creator and protector of Wadawurrung Country, the land we play on. The stars surrounding Bunjil represent people that have come before us and have paved the way for us to play the sport we love. This could be our Elders, our families. This also represents the people who we saw begin the journey of women's footy at Geelong Amateurs.
Geelong West Football

ARTIST – ETHAN LIDDLE – ARRENTE COUNTRY

The symbols on this design represents the artist’s journey. The front of the design represents travelling from Apmere Atynhe to where they are today, and symbolises them leaving home and moving down to Wadurrung country.

The 6 countries on the back of the jumper capture where the artist is from and symbolise the family they have there. This includes the Artekerre community in Arrernte Country, the Ltyentye Apurte Community in Eastern Arrernte Country, the Artekerre community in Alyawarr Country, the Arrengaye Apmere community in Alyawarr Country, the Mpartnwe community in Central Arrernte Country, and finally Waduwurrung Country where they live today.
Geelong West Female Football

Artist – Ethan Liddle – Arrente Country

For Geelong West Giants, one of our major trademarks in our club is being united. In the middle of the G are symbols that represent the players who play for Geelong West Giants. These symbols also represent the Geelong West community, the coaches, managers, members and those who volunteer their time to the club. running water for players, canteen duties, physios and the player sponsors all who are a part of the club. In the G we also have the Aherre (Kangaroo) and Arleye (Emu) Impatye (tracks). These track symbols are the tracks to success. They are the tracks that past players left for us to follow that pathway to moving forward. Current players at Geelong west are now paving the way to being successful, and setting good examples for the next generation of players coming through and following our pathway as well. The back of the jumper displays male and female symbols alongside lands significant to Liddle's ancestry and history, specifically his birthplace in Alice Springs (Arrernte Country) and his residence in Geelong (Wadawurrung Country).
Geelong West Netball

Artist – Ethan Liddle – Arrente Country

For Geelong West Giants, one of our major trademarks in our club is being united. In the middle of the G are symbols that represent the players who play for Geelong West Giants. These symbols also represent the Geelong West community, the coaches, managers, members and those who volunteer their time to the club. running water for players, canteen duties, physios and the player sponsors all who are a part of the club. In the G we also have the Aherre (Kangaroo) and Arleye (Emu) Impatye (tracks). These track symbols are the tracks to success. They are the tracks that past players left for us to follow that pathway to moving forward. Current players at Geelong west are now paving the way to being successful, and setting good examples for the next generation of players coming through and following our pathway as well. The back of the jumper displays male and female symbols alongside lands significant to Liddle's ancestry and history, specifically his birthplace in Alice Springs (Arrernte Country) and his residence in Geelong (Wadawurrung Country).
Newtown & Chilwell Football

Artist – Jack Brogden – Noongar, Bardi and Karajarri Man

The Newtown and Chilwell 2022 Indigenous celebration guernsey represents a story of community coming together through sport celebrating our first nation heritage
Newtown & Chilwell Netball

Artist – Jack Brogden – Noongar, Bardi and Karajarri Man

The Newtown and Chilwell 2022 Indigenous celebration guernsey represents a story of community coming together through sport celebrating our first nation heritage
North Shore Netball

Artist - Netball Dress l Kailee Kennedy, Wadawurrung

The artwork tells a story of the turtle’s journey by water to the sands of traditional lands of the first nations people.
Portarlington Football

Artist – Chris Delamont

The story starts with Bunjil the Wedge tailed Eagle and his place as the creator sprit for the local Wudawurrung people. Bunjil is looking over the Portarlington Football Netball club and its work in creating an inclusive, welcoming club. The center circle represents the club and its efforts in creating a meeting place and inviting all to join them, no matter where you are from or the journey you have taken, all will be welcome.
Portarlington Netball

Artist – Chris Delamont

The story starts with Bunjil the Wedge tailed Eagle and his place as the creator sprit for the local Wudawurrung people. Bunjil is looking over the Portarlington Football Netball club and its work in creating an inclusive, welcoming club. The center circle represents the club and its efforts in creating a meeting place and inviting all to join them, no matter where you are from or the journey you have taken, all will be welcome.
South Barwon Football

Artist – Billy-Jay O’Toole – Wadawurrung Country

The design was centered around the clubs traditional colors, incorporating the light blue to share the history of the clubs colors, worn by Barwon football club before transferring to South Barwon. Using the colors, important features were incorporated in the landscape around the football club, with the designs representing Coastal country, Freshwater Country, hill/mountain Country and including eucalyptus leaves as a sign of cleansing and welcoming all onto Wadawurrung Country.
South Barwon Netball

Artist – Billy-Jay O’Toole – Wadawurrung Country

The design was centred around the clubs traditional colours and also incorporating the light blue to share the history of the club's colours, worn by Barwon Football Club before transferring to South Barwon. Using the colours, I incorporated important features in the landscape around where the football club is, and was, located. Those designs are representing Coastal Country, Freshwater Country, Hill/Mountain Country and including eucalyptus leaves as a sign of cleansing and welcoming you all onto Wadawurrung Country.
St Mary's Female Football

Artist - Designed by the Knox family in recognition of their son Abe Knox a past St Mary’s player.

Bunjil the Eagle on the front of the jumper is who Abe identified with (spirit animal) The painting on Bunjil is how Abe painted himself when he did indigenous dance.

The wings were designed by Abe’s sisters to represent Abe wrapping his arms around his mates as they play. The circle artwork is a copy of something Abe did in Grade 6 and he had written that the circles represented bringing people together. The hand is Abe pushing the boys forward but also a symbol of when the boys hug in a circle before and after a game
Torquay Female Football

Artists - Remi Sliwa, Elleischa Sizer & Mia Murphy - All Aboriginal girls born in Australia, who play footy for Torquay

Front - The large circle in the middle of the jumper is the meeting place, the place where Torquay women’s football teams call home, Spring Creek Recreational Reserve. It is surrounded by the two bodies of water nearby, spring creek and also represents the ocean as Wari Dja in Wadawurrung language means ‘Sea Country’. The symbol in the middle of the meeting place is the Aboriginal symbol for women. The footsteps represent walking together, the junior players following in the footsteps of the senior women’s football players.

Side - The eucalyptus leaves on the side represent the bushland that lines the creek and surrounds the football oval. The crosshatching design is traditionally a Victorian style of Aboriginal art.

Back - The smaller circles on the back represent the girls in the Torquay Tigers 9 junior football sides which feed into the women’s team on the front. The circles represent the friendship, teamwork and connection between the young girls. The kangaroo tracks in the middle represent moving forward together, kangaroos can only jump forwards, they can’t go backwards, and they have soft paws which means they tread softly on the earth that sustains them.