The Barwon Bulletin
THE BARWON BULLETIN
The official noticeboard for AFL Barwon Club Officials & Volunteers.
To receive email notifications of the Barwon Bulletin, please contact
EDITION 70
March 18, 2026
(LAST UPDATED - March 18, 2026)
General Updates
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The Athlete’s Foot x adidas bring community netball experience to Court Clash ’26
Netball will take centre stage at Kardinia Park on 22nd March as The Athlete’s Foot and adidas host a free event alongside the highly anticipated Court Clash ’26 tournament, hosted by AFL Barwon.
Taking place on Sunday, 22 March 2026, the courtside event will invite players, families and fans to step onto the court themselves, experiencing the speed, movement and athleticism of modern netball.
Running throughout the day while top A & B grade teams compete in Court Clash ’26, the experience is designed for children aged six and above through to adults, creating an opportunity for the wider community to connect with the sport in a fun and accessible way.
Participants will rotate through high-energy drill stations inspired by the core movements of modern netball, designed to test speed, coordination and on-court confidence in a fun and dynamic environment.
The event will also give players the chance to test adidas’ latest netball innovation, the NETCOURT range, including NETCOURT Elite, Pro and Kids. Purpose-built for the speed and agility of modern netball, the shoes will be available to trial on court throughout the day’s training challenges.
FREE COURT CLASH ACTIVITIES
Alongside the training sessions, attendees can enjoy a range of courtside experiences including:- Trial the new adidas NETCOURT netball shoes at adidas The Clubhouse
- Hero photo moments capturing players in action on court
- Game-day hair braiding for players and fans
- Footwear personalisation station
- Free ice cream and beverages
- Recharge zone to refuel between games
- Spot prizes and giveaways throughout the day
Top performers from each training session will also be recognised with prizes from adidas and The Athlete’s Foot.
The event celebrates the strength of grassroots netball, giving the next generation of players the chance to build skills, test themselves on court and experience the energy of a competitive tournament environment.EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
Adidas Sessions: 9:30am – 2:15pm
Location: Kardinia Park, 370 Moorabool Street, South Geelong VIC 3220
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/adidas-x-the-athlete-s-foot-or-court-clash-26-community-event -
Player Recruitment Advertisements
AFL Barwon is pleased to support clubs in promoting recruitment opportunities for players and volunteers ahead of the upcoming season. To assist us in sharing your content effectively, please follow the preferred process outlined below:
Social Media (Stories)
Please tag AFL Barwon in your post, and we will share it to our Facebook and Instagram stories.Website (Club Noticeboard)
For website advertisements, please provide a landscape image (16:9) along with the accompanying text toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and we will publish it on the Club Noticeboard.Recruitment Day – Social Media Takeover
On Friday, 27 March, AFL Barwon will host a dedicated social media takeover day focused on club recruitment. Further details on how to be involved will be shared with clubs in the coming days. -
2026 Bellarine FNL & Geelong FNL Number 1 Ticket Holder Nominations
The AFL Barwon Commission are seeking nominations for the 2026 BFNL and GFNL Number 1 Ticket Holder(s).
The Number 1 Ticket Holder is a prestigious honour that is bestowed upon an individual who exemplifies outstanding support, dedication, and passion for their respective league.
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2026 AFL Barwon Season Launch
Clubs have been invited to the 2026 AFL Barwon Season Launch via email. This event is invite only with the details as follows:
Event Details
Date: Sunday, March 29
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Venue: St Mary’s Sporting Club Social Rooms, Latrobe Terrace, Newtown VIC 3220
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City of Greater Geelong Sporting Club Information Night - TONIGHT
The City of Greater Geelong are inviting clubs to Sporting Club Information Night.
This event offers a great opportunity for new and existing club officials to get up to speed on everything you need to know when operating and booking facilities on council-managed land.
Event Details:
When: Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm AEDT
Format: Hybrid— online (link sent 2 days before)
Designed for:
- Club officials and committee members
- Anyone managing bookings, facilities, or council operations
- Sporting associations
Agenda- Sports lighting maintenance
- Fees and charges
- Council Vs Club responsibilities
- Parks level of service
- Facilities maintenance
- Keys & security
- Works on council land/buildings
- New booking system
- Key contacts
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Trainers Course EOI
AFL Barwon is seeking expressions of interest from clubs interested in participating in a Trainers Course ahead of the upcoming season.
Clubs keen to take part should email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register their interest.
Commercial Partnerships
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Win a Year's Supply of Sherrin Footballs
Sherrin is giving one lucky person the chance to win $2,999 (RRP) worth of Sherrin footballs for their local football club!
Enter the competition via the link below for your chance to win.
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AFL Barwon Member Offer: 50% OFF / $200 subsidy on PROTEQT™ head impact tracking.
Netball
General Netball
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Preseason Handbook
Please find linked below, the 2026 Preseason Handbook – a resource created to step you through some of the required administrative tasks at a club level. This resource includes video links and pictures, to help you navigate through items you may be unsure about.
Similarly, a match day operations document will be finalised and shared with clubs in the coming months, to support game day operations.
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What is it? - Geelong Barwon Netball – WINTER - Monday Women's
Continuing on from the term 4 and term 1 competitions, the partnership between AFL Barwon and Geelong United Basketball will continue, with a brand-new 15 rounds WINTER season commencing.
This competition is set up under the "Geelong Barwon Netball" banner.
- Teams are entered independently (don't need to be entered under the club admin accounts/be club aligned - social teams also welcome)
- Participants who play Saturday are not excluded from this competition and may also enter should they wish.
- Teams are paid for at the point of registration via the link above.
- Players will then pay a $13.92 weekly fee.
- Netball Connect links will be provided for this competition
Geelong Barwon Netball - Winter Season Dates
Game Date
Round
Monday, 13 April 2026
Round 1
Monday, 20 April 2026
Round 2
Monday, 27 April 2026
Round 3
Monday, 4 May 2026
Round 4
Monday, 11 May 2026
Round 5
Monday, 18 May 2026
Round 6
Monday, 25 May 2026
Round 7
Monday, 1 June 2026
Round 8
Monday, 8 June 2026
BYE (King's B'day)
Monday, 15 June 2026
Round 9
Monday, 22 June 2026
Round 10
Monday, 29 June 2026
Round 11
Monday, 6 July 2026
BYE (League bye)
Monday, 13 July 2026
Round 12
Monday, 20 July 2026
Round 13
Monday, 27 July 2026
Round 14
Monday, 3 August 2026
Round 15
Monday, 10 August 2026
SF
Monday, 17 August 2026
PF
Monday, 24 August 2026
GF
Please feel free to reach out if you have any queries or interest in this competition
Junior / Midweek Netball
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Midweek Netball Update
Midweek Netball Update
We are excited to announce the introduction of a 9&U competition for the 2026 Mid-Week Season!
The 9 & Under competition is designed to prioritise participation, enjoyment, and the development of fundamental skills. Our goal is to create a positive, low-pressure environment where young athletes can build confidence, learn the basics of the game, and foster a genuine love for playing. By emphasizing growth and fun over competition, we aim to support each participants development while ensuring an engaging and enjoyable experience for all.
Please find below the Season Dates:
Team entry link: DUE MARCH 25
https://forms.gle/v9QAzbJxrpgXTSvW6
Please reach out if you have any questions.
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2026 Winter Season Dates
Please see below the season dates for the 2026 Midweek Winter Competition
**Please note 9U is only the first 10 weeks of competition.
Netball Umpiring
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Mentoring Opportunities (Monday's, Tuesday's, Friday's & Saturday's)
We are looking for umpire mentors to assist with the development of umpires through our competitions. If you have experience in umpiring and are keen to share your knowledge to others then it would be great to hear from you.
Click the link below and scroll to the mentoring section. -
Want to start umpiring netball or sign up to umpiring midweek winter competitions
Click the link below to see the pre-requisites required to start your umpiring journey.
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Netball Umpiring Training Session
These training sessions are to provide individuals with the opportunity to take part in an education component discussing the basic netball rules then getting out on court to have a go at umpiring in a non-competitive environment with court side support from our mentors in the program.
Participating in two of these sessions is one of the pre-requisites for all umpires prior to starting their umpiring journey within AFL Barwon competitions.
Tuesday 31 March 4:30pm-6pm, Kardinia Park Netball Complex
Tuesday 21 April 4:30pm-6pm, Kardinia Park Netball Complex
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AFL Barwon Panel Umpire EOI
We are seeking qualified and experienced individuals to officiate A and B grade matches in the Geelong and Bellarine FNL competitions. Games are generally played on Saturdays between April - September.
Reporting to the League Umpire Coordinator, you will be responsible for officiating A and B Grade matches in the Geelong Football Netball League and Bellarine Football Netball League.
Requirements:- Minimum C Badge required, with experience umpiring seniors
- Ability to umpire A and B Grade BFNL and GFNL games
- Willingness to take on feedback from AFL Barwon Development Mentors
- Ability to deal with conflict and high-pressure situations
Resource Links
Netball Victoria
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Grassroots Membership
Netball Victoria affiliated clubs, associations and leagues have the opportunity to align with the Melbourne Vixens for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season with our Grassroots membership.
We're excited to invite all Netball Victoria affiliated clubs, associations and leagues to join us as Melbourne Vixens members for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season with our Grassroots membership offer, thanks to Love the Game. -
WorkSafe- Mental Health & Wellbeing Competition
Sign up for a free WorkSafe Mental Health and Wellbeing workshop for your chance to win a meet and greet with Emily Mannix at your club, association or league
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2025–26 Volunteer Grants Round
The 2025–26 Volunteer Grants program, delivered by the Australian Government through the Department of Social Services, supports community organisations that rely on volunteers by helping remove barriers to participation and promoting volunteering opportunities.
Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to eligible not-for-profit organisations that depend on volunteers to deliver their work.
Applications are made through contacting your local Federal Members of Parliament (MPs). You may be invited to complete a formal application in May 2026.
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Property Insurance Change – 1st April 2026
Following thr letter and FAQ’s from Andrea Pearman outlining proposed changes to the property insurance component of our affiliate insurance coverage that will come into effect from 1st April 2026.
The proposed changes bring us in to line with Netball Australia, includes an assessment of benefits verses cost and ensures we can keep insurance premiums down for our members. All other policies remain in place and Public Liability and Personal insurance cover remain unchanged.
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Monthly Education Sessions are back!
We know the season is underway for many of our associations and the leagues will be ramping up for season start.
To support all our netball administrators, Netball Victoria is hosting short Netball Connect drop-in sessions for clubs, associations and leagues. These sessions will run on:
- Mon 23rdMarch:
- Tues 31stMarch
- Club Drop-In 6.00-6.45pm. Register and submit your questions here
We will walk through pre-season checks in Netball Connect and provide an opportunity an opportunity to ask questions or clarify anything you may be unsure about.
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Netball Connect Update – rescheduled for 31st March 2026
The Netball Connect update that was scheduled for the 16th March has been delayed and will now occur on 31st March 2026. There have been no changes in Netball Connect. We will provide details of the changes closer to the date.
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Endorsed Umpire Tester List - March 2026
Click the link for the current 2026 Endorsed Umpire Tester list
All umpire testers are required to attend a meeting and register as a tester on Netball Connect.
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State Titles 2026 Results – Congratulations to our All Abilities Team!
Congratulation to all players, coaches, team managers, bench officials and umpires involved in 2026 Netball Victoria State Titles on the March long weekend. It was an incredible weekend and the strength of the netball across all competition levels is a testament to the amazing work that you all do in preparing our netballers for events such as these. Congratulations to our region winners and runners up:
- All Abilities Mixed: Winners:Barwon
- Open Female -Winners: Elmer
- 17U Female -Winners: Chisholm
- 17U Male -Winners: Two Bays
- 15U Female - Winners: Two Bays
AFL Victoria
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VicHealth’s Set the Standard campaign
The Set the Standard campaign has recently launched thanks to years of work by VicHealth to prevent racism and strengthen community sport. It gives coaches and club leaders practical, evidence-informed tools to create safer, more welcoming clubs.
Set the Standard offers free tools, templates and other resources to support clubs and FREE 1 hour in person workshops until November 2026 for clubs.
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AFL Community Football Charter Support Workshops
The Women & Girls Experience Team are hosting a Women & Girls Charter workshop from 6:30 - 7:30pm on Monday 23rd March.
The workshop will will go through the standard Charter and renewal process.
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Lead your way program returns for 2026
AFL Victoria is pleased to announce the chosen applicants for the annual Lead Your Way leadership program for women and gender diverse leaders in community football clubs.
For the 2026 program, a diverse pool of 60 community football club leaders have been selected, with representation from every AFL Victoria country region and metropolitan league, including 18 junior clubs, 40 senior clubs and two umpiring groups.
Congratulations to the 6 partipants selected from our region.
