North Shore

AFL Barwon has recently received the resignation notice of long-term Commissioner Richard Underwood. Richard has been an AFL Barwon Commissioner for over 10 years serving the maximum three terms under AFL Victoria’s constitution.
On presenting his resignation Richard stated “I am proud of the achievements that I have been involved in over the journey, both individually but more importantly with the co-operation of our commissioners and our wonderful AFL Barwon staff. We are indeed very fortunate to have such a strong and stable organisation looking after football and netball in the area ably lead by the commission.
I would like to thank all the clubs that have always made me welcome and their willingness to be open about there concerns and directions and a willingness to accept our All-Abilities umpires team at junior games.” AFL Barwon Commission Chair Craig Keating was also very proud of Richard’s contribution and long commitment to the organisation. Craig stated “Richard has been a committed Commissioner for his full three terms, with his passion for the local community always at the forefront. His work behind the scenes and with all the AFL Barwon clubs has been hugely appreciated.”
AFL Barwon Regional Manager Bruce Harwood also stated “Richard has been a long-time supporter of local community sport, particularly with his beloved Portarlington Football & Netball Club. And he extended this commitment to being a long-term AFL Barwon Commissioner taking on a number of
important roles. Richard was always available to help with all aspects of the operations of AFL Barwon and we sincerely thank him for his substantial contribution.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, both meetings will be held electronically with the meeting login codes detailed below.

Bellarine Football Netball League Annual General Meeting – Inc A0008493U

Wednesday November 24^th at 6.30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89034259294?pwd=M0NMN2JYR1hsSkN4SlFMdk5velVMdz09

Meeting ID: 890 3425 9294
Passcode: 325781

Geelong Football Netball League Annual General Meeting – Inc A0006014H

Wednesday November 24^th at 6.30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84432642496?pwd=aENvZlJVK0xpK09rUXE1VGlKajhlZz09

Meeting ID: 844 3264 2496

Passcode: 586525

AFL Barwon Annual General Meeting – A.C.N 160 417 845

Wednesday November 24^th at 7.00pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81563457706?pwd=cTZDK2NodWhnMGZpb3pIWXR2UDRyZz09

Meeting ID: 815 6345 7706

Passcode: 047854

This weekend will see Indigenous Culture celebrated across the region.

By Ben Andonoudis

Indigenous artwork, cultural storytelling and community connection will be front and centre across the region this weekend as AFL Barwon celebrates Indigenous Round.

Initiatives by clubs such as specially designed guernseys, Welcome to Country ceremonies and youth scholarships will all use football as a platform to honour First Nations culture and strengthen connections across our community.

Ocean Grove Football Netball Club will be donning a guernsey designed by seniors footballer and proud Wemba Wamba and Yorta Yorta man, Jye Walker.

The design incorporates symbols connected to the Ocean Grove region and the club’s identity through striking Indigenous artwork.

For Walker, the stylistic choices of the guernsey were clear.

“The intention behind the jumper design was to spark curiosity and encourage people to ask questions about Aboriginal culture within our own region,” Walker said.

The round is also a time to reflect on what local sporting clubs can do to promote inclusivity of our First Nations people.

This theme of encouraging learning and discussion was integral to the design of the guernsey.

“It aims to prompt reflection on how we can become a more inclusive organisation for all young Aboriginal people in the area,” Walker said.

As part of the occasion, Ocean Grove Football Netball Club will be hosting a Welcome to Country Ceremony at 1:40pm prior to the senior men’s football match.

The ceremony will be facilitated by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Ocean Grove is one of several clubs using the occasion as an opportunity to spark discussion around inclusion and cultural recognition.

At North Shore, a long-running partnership  with Northern Bay College is helping empower First Nations students through artwork and the language of storytelling.

As part of the partnership- which has been running since 2021, First Nations students are encouraged to create a design to be incorporated into club game day apparel.

The successful design receives a $1000 art scholarship.

This scholarship was struck in honour of North Shore life member and proud First Nations man, the late Hansen “Rocky” Couzens.

For North Shore Life Member Mick Kramer, the initiative allows students to display their ancestry.

“I think there's an opportunity to showcase their talents, particularly in a First Nations sense,” Kramer said.

“To actually draw on their heritage and put a design together that allows them to showcase their connections to their First Nations community."

Beyond this occasion, Kramer feels that local sporting clubs have an important role to play to ensure that First Nations people continue to be involved and feel welcomed in community sport.

“I just think that people need to embrace the potential to engage with the First Nations communities, whether it's directly in the neighbourhood of their clubs or more broadly in the wider Geelong region,” Kramer said.

Beyond the football itself, this round serves as a reminder of the role local clubs can play in fostering connection, understanding and cultural recognition.

Across the region this weekend, Indigenous Round will not only celebrate Indigenous culture, but will also invite communities to walk together, listen and move forward as one.

AFL Barwon has honoured local football champion Frank Fopiani, with the player adjudged best-on-ground in the Geelong Football League Grand Final to receive the Frank Fopiani Medal.

The inaugural medal will be awarded at the conclusion of Friday’s Grand Final between Leopold and South Barwon.

Fopiani, who passed away in August, played in seven premierships at North Shore and one at St Mary’s.

He was named best-on-ground in a record three GFL Grand Finals in 1993, 1995 and 2004, the latter coming in the same year he coached St Mary’s to the premiership.

AFL Barwon chair, Michelle Gerdtz, said Fopiani’s record stood alone among a host of players, coaches and officials who have contributed to the history of the GFL competition across 45 years.

“Everyone in local football was shocked and saddened by Frank’s recent passing,” Gerdtz said.

“Frank was an amazing footballer but more importantly he was a wonderful person, and his standing in the football community across our region speaks for itself.

“His record as a player in GFL Grand Finals is unrivalled and it is fitting that we recognise the enormous contribution Frank made to our competition.”

In addition to his record in grand finals, Fopiani won five best-and-fairest awards at North Shore through its era of dominance in the 1990s and early 2000s and was a GFL interleague representative player on multiple occasions.

In 2015 he was named by the Geelong Advertiser as the best Geelong Football League player of all time.

Fopiani’s wife, Sylvia, said her husband would have been humbled by the honour.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the thoughts, messages and prayers of everyone in the Geelong football community since Frank passed,” Sylvia said.

“He was a loving husband, father and friend, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

“This award speaks to the legacy Frank leaves behind, and we thank AFL Barwon for the gesture. You can’t stop the Fop.”

The inaugural Frank Fopiani Medal will be presented by Frank's son, Connor.

AFL Barwon wishes to advise that, following an agreement between the clubs, all football and netball matches for North Shore versus Newtown & Chilwell, originally scheduled for Sunday, 26 April, will now be played on Friday, 24 April at Windsor Park.

The Reserves match will kick off at 6:00pm, followed by the Senior Football game at 8:10pm, while Netball times are yet to be confirmed.