A local sporting star has made the jump to the elite level.

Author: Ben Andonoudis | Photo: Elisa Caldwell (Newtown & Chilwell FNC)

From the courts of Elderslie Reserve to the Super Netball stage, Ruby Pekin-Schlicht’s dream has become reality.

The Newtown & Chilwell defender stepped onto court alongside some of Australian Netball’s biggest names when she made her Melbourne Vixens debut in round 10 against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

The talented youngster held her own on the court as she became just the 69^th player to play for the Vixens.

For Newtown & Chilwell head coach Jason Woolley, Ruby’s debut was particularly rewarding.

“She's worked towards it for a long time and I’m really proud of her having been able to see her put a lot of work and time into it,” Woolley said.

Woolley is very well placed to comment on Pekin-Schlicht’s journey having spent over a decade with her at Newtown & Chilwell.

Woolley first met Pekin-Schlicht following her move from Camperdown in the state’s south-west.

According to Woolley, she still had plenty of development ahead of her, but the signs were obvious.

“She came in as a sort of very gangly, skinny kid who was still growing into her body, but she always had a level of natural ability,” Woolley said.

That has certainly shone through as Pekin-Schlicht has gone on to become a mainstay of the Newtown & Chilwell defence in her time at the club.

Her defensive attributes were obvious to her coach as she moved up the ranks.

“She just always seemed to naturally have that defensive ability,” Woolley said.

Ruby’s performances on the netball court have caught the eye of many.

Her 2025 season saw her cement her status as one of the competition’s premier defenders as she claimed both the Julia Woolley Medal (GFNL A-grade best and fairest) and the Newtown & Chilwell A-grade best and fairest in just 15 games.

For Woolley, the awards were a just reward for her outstanding season.

“It was great to see her get that recognition,” Woolley said.

Pekin-Schlicht’s success hasn’t just been confined to netball.

She has also impressed in the world of athletics, earning a United States college scholarship in track and field.

While her talent has opened doors, having as busy a schedule as Ruby does has required plenty of support from those around her.

Newtown & Chilwell have always been committed to supporting her ambitions, even when they extended beyond netball.

“We've always tried to help her manage through all those competing priorities,” Woolley said.

While Newtown & Chilwell provided a lot of support, Pekin-Schlicht’s parents played a crucial role.

“Her parents are fantastic at helping keep her coordinated and even when she was young making sure she was where she needed to be,” Woolley said.

With her success over the years, you could be forgiven for thinking that Pekin-Schlicht may not return to Newtown & Chilwell soon.

However, Pekin-Schlicht’s connection to home remains as strong as ever.

“We fully expect that she'll be back into the Newtown kit later this year,” Woolley said.

Her dedication to Newtown & Chilwell is proof that not all stars lose touch with where they came from.

No matter where she goes from here, for Pekin-Schlicht home remains exactly where it started: Elderslie Reserve.

AFL Barwon and Forty Winks Geelong are proud to announce a new partnership for the next two seasons.

Forty Winks Geelong’s partnership with AFL Barwon reinforces their commitment to supporting local sport and the communities that make the region such a great place to live and play.

As a locally owned and operated business, Forty Winks Geelong understands the important role community football and netball play in bringing people together. The partnership will see Forty Winks Geelong support AFL Barwon while promoting the importance of quality sleep, recovery and overall wellbeing.

Mick Shannon, Operations Manager at Forty Winks Geelong, said the partnership is a natural fit.

"We're excited to partner with AFL Barwon and support the thousands of players, volunteers, coaches and families involved in local sport. Community clubs are at the heart of our region, and we're proud to be involved with an organisation that has such a positive impact across Geelong and surrounding areas."

Jo Atten, Store Manager at Forty Winks Geelong, said quality sleep plays a vital role in everyday performance. "We're passionate about helping people improve their sleep and recovery so they can perform at their best. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent or simply looking to improve your wellbeing, quality sleep is one of the most important foundations for success."

AFL Barwon CEO Kate Patterson said, “AFL Barwon is proud to partner with a locally owned business that genuinely understands the role community sport plays in our region. Forty Winks Geelong’s commitment to promoting the importance of sleep and recovery aligns strongly with our focus on wellbeing across football and netball. We’re thrilled to welcome them into the AFL Barwon family.”

The partnership reflects Forty Winks Geelong's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities while helping people understand the important connection between sleep, recovery and performance.

Visit Forty Winks Geelong and try "bedMATCH" exclusive to Forty Winks to receive your personalised sleep solution.

AFL Barwon provides governance and strategy development for Football and Netball across the Barwon region.

We are excited to welcome work experience participants into our team and provide a valuable learning and development experience. Our program is designed to give students or recent graduates real-world exposure to the operations of a dynamic organisation, hands-on opportunities to contribute, and the ability to explore different areas of our business.

What We Offer

As part of your time with us, you’ll gain hands-on experience working alongside a passionate and experienced team, allowing you to contribute meaningfully to our day-to-day operations. You’ll also gain insight into all areas of the business, including (but not limited to)

• Operations and Administration
• Events and Competitions
• Community Engagement
• Governance and Compliance

You will receive mentorship and guidance from team members across the Football and/or Netball department, helping you build both knowledge and confidence in your work. You'll also have the opportunity to attend meetings, events, and planning sessions to gain a broader understanding of how the organisation operates. Throughout your placement, we aim to provide an environment that aligns with your individual goals, while supporting the needs of the organisation.

Available Positions & Descriptions

Football Operations - Position Description

Netball Operations - Position Description

The work experience roles are voluntary and require availability for the duration of the 2026 Football & Netball season. 

To apply, please send your resume and a brief explanation of your interest in this opportunity to:

Head of Football - Sarah Naylor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Head of Netball - Sophie Allison (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

Applications will be monitored and actioned as they are received.

A club that didn’t exist a decade ago is now one of the fastest growing clubs in the region.

By Ben Andonoudis

Every weekend, hundreds of young footballers and netballers don the Armstrong Creek colours in a remarkable transformation for a club that didn’t exist a decade ago.

And their rapid rise is only just getting started.

Founded in 2019 by local parents, the club has grown from two teams to now having close to 20 teams across football and netball.

Now, it has set its sights on expanding even further.

For Co-President Chad Dunscombe that includes a goal of entering sides into senior grades within the next five years.

“In five years, we see ourselves as a fully competitive senior club, with strong pathways from our junior programs through to senior football and netball,” Dunscombe said.

Discussions with AFL Barwon have helped the club to identify a viable date to enter senior competitions.

“We'd love to lock in a year soon, with 2029 looking like a realistic and exciting target,” Dunscombe said.

Although the club has long-term ambitions to field senior teams, the rise the club has experienced is built on several factors.

While participant numbers tell part of the story, the environment the club has created is a source of pride for its leaders.

“What's been most pleasing isn't just the growth in numbers, but the culture we've built,” Dunscombe said.

Key pillars of inclusivity, development and a family-oriented approach are what Dunscombe feels sets the club apart from others in the area.

“Our biggest point of difference is our culture,” Dunscombe said.

That has been built off the back of hard work from many locals.

These locals have given the club a level of community support that they say has been incredible.

“From families to local businesses, people have really embraced the club.”

“That support, along with our valued sponsors, is a big reason why we've been able to grow so quickly,” Dunscombe said.

This support has been felt across the club.

And it’s enabled the club to develop multiple arms of its operations.

The netball program has surged, going from two teams in 2022 to 12 teams this year, creating opportunities for dozens more young athletes.

That has only been possible due to the help of local volunteers at the club.

A core group of families have been central to the success of the program from the start according to Junior netball coordinator Jaqui Padget.

“We've got 10 or 12 families that have been there since the start, and these parents are so entrenched in our club, they're at every training session and come to the committee meetings,” Padget said.

While the club has grown exponentially in recent years, it hasn’t always been like this.

When Padget joined the club in 2021, the netball program looked very different to what it is today.

“We started with a group of kids at NetSetGO, and that was probably 20 kids, and now we're at 12 teams,” Padget said.

That first season in 2021 saw the fledgling club in a very different position to now on a number of fronts.

And it wasn’t just the on-field numbers.

“It was hard to get volunteers, but I think with so many more kids involved, there's a lot more parents working from home, so probably some more time up their sleeve, and people more willing to give up time yet to support our young  players,” Padget said. 

It means that youngsters now fill the courts at trainings and on gamedays.

And they do under the watchful eye of their devoted coaches and volunteers, all working to ensure that the girls have the best experience possible.

For Padget this is something the club values highly.

“You want the girls to come to training and feel like they can come and be themselves,” Padget said.

Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club has a bright future ahead of it.

Seven years after its formation by a group of local parents, Armstrong Creek is already planning for its next chapter.

As participation continues to climb and a push for senior football and netball firmly on the horizon, the Sharks’ story is only just beginning.