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Victorian football clubs rewarded for road safety leadership

AFL Victoria is proud to announce that more than 300 grassroots football and netball clubs have shared in a total of $700,000 thanks to the 2025 Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Club Rewards program.

AFL Goldfields Regional Manager Jason Muldoon joined TAC at Sebastopol Football Netball Club to announce that 320 football and netball clubs across the state have received rewards of up to $10,000 through the program, which encourages clubs to engage with players, members and their communities on key road safety issues and to promote safe behaviours on the road.

AFL Victoria-affiliated football and netball clubs from across the state were invited to apply for the program and show how they supported road safety throughout the year, including taking part in the TAC’s Road Safety Round, and promoting the ‘Be the Difference’ message. Rewards were allocated based on the demonstrated efforts of the clubs.

Sebastopol FNC was one of three clubs, alongside Garfield Football Netball Club and Cheltenham Football Club, to receive the maximum $10,000, recognising an outstanding level of commitment to embed a culture of road safety in their clubs. In addition to supporting the annual Road Safety Round, Sebastopol hosted a presentation from Central Highlands Roadsafe Group and promoted road safety within their community.

Around 44% per cent of successful applications have come from regional Victoria where serious road trauma risk is highest. Players, officials and supporters from regional clubs often travel long distances on high-speed roads to get to training and games, and their leadership is critical to preventing road trauma.

Successful clubs can use the money for a range of initiatives including education programs, club transport initiatives, new equipment and uniforms. Rewards were allocated based on the demonstrated efforts of the clubs.

Find more information and a full list of 2025 TAC Club Rewards program recipients.

Quotes attributable to Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan:

“Grassroots football clubs are often the heart of local communities, meaning they are a great platform to promote behaviour change and awareness

“Particularly for our regional communities, footballers cover hundreds of kilometres on the road each season, travelling to and from games and training, so road safety needs to be front of mind for us all.

“Throughout this football season, many of our clubs have demonstrated a significant commitment to promoting road safety and education, and on behalf of AFL Victoria I am thrilled to see those clubs rewarded for their efforts through the TAC Club Rewards Program."

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter:

“Footballers and netballers often travel long distances for games and training. By making road safety a priority, these clubs are protecting their members and setting a powerful example.”

“The TAC Club Rewards Program is part of the TAC’s 33-year partnership with AFL Victoria, which aims to empower clubs to develop a culture where all players and members are expected to be safe on the roads.”

Barwon Region Clubs Represeted

Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club

Colac Football Netball Club

Grovedale Tigers Football Netball Club

South Barwon FNC

St Albans Football Netball Club

Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club

Western Eagles Football & Netball Club

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AFL Barwon November Football Transfer List

The November Football transfer window has officially closed.

Below is a full list of player transfers for the 2026 season, with the next football transfer window to open on 1 February 2026.

Please note that only players over the age of 18 are listed.

Name Source Club Source Competition Destination Club Status
James Callaway Altona Western Football Netball League (WFNL) Barwon Heads APPROVED
Samuel Christensen St Marys (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL Barwon Heads APPROVED
Jace Collins Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL Barwon Heads APPROVED
Charley Donohue Nirranda Football Netball Club Warrnambool & District Football Netball League Barwon Heads APPROVED
Mitch Jensen Wedderburn Redbacks North Central Football League Barwon Heads APPROVED
Harrison Prout Whitehorse Pioneers (Eastern Football Netball League) Eastern Football Netball League Barwon Heads APPROVED
Kye Smith St Josephs (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL Barwon Heads APPROVED
Skip Wilfred North Geelong Juniors and Womens AFL Barwon FNL Bell Park APPROVED
John Brewer Wang College Football Club Insite Real Estate Wangaratta & District Junior Football League Grovedale Tigers APPROVED
Caiden Gardiner Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs AFL Cairns Men Grovedale Tigers APPROVED
Jack Kelly Greta Football & Netball Club BankWAW Ovens & King Football Netball League Grovedale Tigers APPROVED
Cailah McPhail-Jans Lara AFL Barwon FNL Grovedale Tigers APPROVED
Cooper Langan Noosa AFC AFL Queensland Lara APPROVED
Archie Eichler Buninyong Football & Netball Club Central Highlands Football League Leopold APPROVED
Adam Enever Tatura Football Netball Club Goulburn Valley League Leopold APPROVED
Patrick Gilbert Lake Wendouree Football Netball Club Ballarat Football Netball League Leopold APPROVED
Jed Henderson South Warrnambool Football Netball Club Hampden Football Netball League Leopold APPROVED
Logan Hockley Portarlington AFL Barwon FNL Leopold APPROVED
Harrison Dolley Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL Newtown & Chilwell APPROVED
Cameron Fowler Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL Newtown & Chilwell APPROVED
Nicholas Jephson Kyabram Football & Netball Club Goulburn Valley League Newtown & Chilwell APPROVED
Daniel Lowther Lara AFL Barwon FNL Newtown & Chilwell APPROVED
Taj McMillan North Ballarat Football Netball Club Ballarat Football Netball League Newtown & Chilwell APPROVED
Jack McQuitty Lara AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) APPROVED
Tye Newitt Lara AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) APPROVED
Dylan Bennett Newtown & Chilwell AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) REGISTERED
Brodie Clifford Geelong Amateur AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) REGISTERED
Nic Creighton University of Queensland AFC AFL Queensland North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) REGISTERED
Xavier McGowan Torquay AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) REGISTERED
Harrison Whatnall St Albans (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL North Shore (AFL Barwon FNL) REGISTERED
Max Askew St Albans (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL Ocean Grove APPROVED
Azer Onekawa Newtown & Chilwell AFL Barwon FNL Ocean Grove APPROVED
Lenny Allen St Josephs (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL Ocean Grove REGISTERED
Ryan Bongart Ballan Football Netball Club Central Highlands Football League Ocean Grove REGISTERED
Luke Jarrad Strathmore (EDFL) Essendon District Football League (EDFL) Ocean Grove REGISTERED
Lorne Waldron Northcote Park Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) Ocean Grove REGISTERED
Kye Annand Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL South Barwon APPROVED
Jamison Hallam Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL South Barwon APPROVED
Rory Phillips Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL South Barwon APPROVED
Jess Riches Drysdale AFL Barwon FNL South Barwon APPROVED
Hamish Sinnott Camperdown Football Netball Club Inc Hampden Football Netball League South Barwon APPROVED
Tyler Barker Newtown & Chilwell AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Dillyn Fedley Irrewarra-Beeac Colac & District Football & Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Will Gibb Torquay AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Joss Howlett Irrewarra-Beeac Colac & District Football & Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Jeremy Learmonth Dunnstown Football Netball Club Central Highlands Football League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Adam Magro Elmore Football Club Heathcote District Football Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Brodie Marston South Coast AFL Masters Football Club AFL Masters VIC Country Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Will Martin South Barwon AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Dale Menzies Irrewarra-Beeac Colac & District Football & Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Tom Milentijevic West Brunswick AFC Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Phil Smith Elmore Football Club Heathcote District Football Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Levi Williams Wangaratta Football & Netball Club Inc Ovens & Murray Football League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club APPROVED
Marcus Bumbers St Josephs (AFL Barwon FNL) AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club REGISTERED
Mitch Gaunt Irrewarra-Beeac Colac & District Football & Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club REGISTERED
Harry Gravener South Barwon AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club REGISTERED
Oscar Miller Pyramid Hill Football Club Loddon Valley Football Netball League Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club REGISTERED
Joe Pierce Ocean Grove AFL Barwon FNL Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club REGISTERED

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Life Membership Honours and Board Appointments Across AFL Barwon Leagues

AFL Barwon is proud to recognise newly appointed life members and recently confirmed board representatives across the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) and Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL), following their respective Annual General Meetings.

The BFNL Board has welcomed former Drysdales president Peter Preece and Barwon Heads’ Damian Clark, who have been appointed to two-year terms. Continuing board members Mike Walmsley, Damian Mahoney, and chair Michael Fitzgerald will remain for a further 12 months.

The GFNL board has also expanded, with the appointment of two former club presidents — St Joseph’s Todd Devine and Colac’s Nick Lang — bringing valuable leadership and experience to the league.

The Bellarine Football Netball League has confirmed three new life members in recognition of their long-standing commitment to their clubs and the broader competition. Former Modewarre chair Paul Grossman, Portarlington stalwart Rod Smith, and Geelong Amateur treasurer Neville Hunter have all been awarded life membership.

At the GFNL AGM, four respected leaders were recognised for their outstanding service. Colac president Matt Gibson, long-serving netball chair Andrea Graham, and treasurer Tyson Hay were formally awarded life membership, while Lara netball chair Di van Doren was also inducted.

The recognition is particularly significant for women in the sport, with Graham and van Doren becoming the first to be honoured specifically for their contributions to netball.

AFL Barwon congratulates all life members and board representatives on their appointments and thanks them for their ongoing commitment to community football and netball across the region.

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2026 Dow Bellarine FNL Fixture Released — Season Opens With Historic Surf Coast Derby

The 2026 Dow Bellarine Football Netball League fixture has officially been released, and the season is set to launch with headline clashes, key rivalries and historic firsts across Easter weekend.

The action begins with a Good Friday showcase on 3 April, when Geelong Amateur host Modewarre at Queens Park Reserve in a blockbuster to open the new campaign.

Easter Saturday follows with a full schedule, highlighted by the first-ever Bellarine FNL Senior clash between the Surf Coast Suns and Torquay at Banyul-Warri Fields. The Suns will make their long-awaited debut in the competition and there could be no bigger introduction than taking on their neighbouring rivals. The local derby is expected to draw one of the largest Round 1 crowds of the season.

Other Easter Saturday matchups include:

  • Barwon Heads vs Portarlington – Howard Harmer Oval

  • Ocean Grove vs Anglesea – Shell Rd Rec Reserve

  • Queenscliff vs Drysdale – Queenscliff Rec Reserve

Fixture Highlights

Beyond an action-packed opening weekend, the fixture features several major drawcards throughout the season:

  • Grand Final rematches, Senior Football Anglesea vs Geelong Amateur (Round 9) and A Grade Netball Geelong Amateur vs Ocean Grove (Round 6)

  • ANZAC Round across 25–26 April, with traditional blockbusters including Portarlington vs Drysdale and Newcomb and Anglesea vs Ocean Grove.

The 2026 finals series begins on 29 August, culminating in Grand Final Day on 19 September.

The full fixture can be found below.

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Four Players get an AFL Opportunity

AFL Barwon was thrilled to see four players heralding from the region join AFL lists at the recent 2025 Telstra AFL National and Rookie Drafts.

Read our full recap below.

Josh Lindsay – Pick 19 – West Coast Eagles

The Geelong Falcons and Vic Country captain, and Newtown & Chilwell junior joins the West Coast Eagles.

The left-footer's kicking is his standout attribute, and he can influence the game by spotting up a target, seeing an option out of the corner of his eye or simply just executing the obvious and getting the game moving his team's way. He averaged 22 disposals during Vic Country's championships. 

Position: medium defender
Height: 183 cm
Clubs:
Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Vic Country, Newtown & Chilwell

Tobyn Murray – Pick 40 – Fremantle

A dynamic 20-year-old small forward from Colac who had a break-out VFL campaign.

He kicked 22 goals and averaged 15 disposals across 17 VFL games for Geelong. Murray is tough in the contest with speed and power and also covers the ground well with good endurance.

He played 10 games for Colac during the 2024 GFNL season averaging 18 disposals, eight score involvements and nearly two goals per game.

Position: Small Forward
Height: 179 cm
Clubs: Geelong Cats (VFL), Colac

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Hugo Mikunda – Pick 48 – North Melbourne

A forward who can go through the midfield, Mikunda uses his running power as a real weapon to gain separation from his opponents in his high half forward role. He is also a strong player one-on-one, particularly with his aerial ability.

Was a livewire for Victoria Country at the National Championships, featuring among their best players against South Australia and Victoria Metro and averaging 13.3 disposals over the four matches. He was one of the Geelong Falcons’ best performers in ten Coates Talent League appearances, in which he averaged 17.3 disposals which included a season-high 30 disposals against eventual premiers the Eastern Ranges in Round 11. A hamstring strain stopped him from testing at the Draft Combine.

Position: Midfielder
Height: 180 cm
Clubs:
Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Bell Park

 

Jesse Mellor – Category B Rookie – Geelong

Mellor has been a part of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy for several years, while also dominating for the Geelong Falcons and gaining valuable exposure with the Cats VFL program recently.

Described as an exciting midfielder who can also play forward, Mellor emerged as a standout prospect this year with plenty of power, versatility and an incredible goal sense.

In his top-age Under 16 season, Mellor featured for the Falcons and represented Vic Country in the Diversity All Stars match, before making his senior debut for Geelong West Giants in 2024.

Position: Forward-Midfielder
Height: 185 cm
Clubs:
Geelong Falcons (Coates Talent League), Vic Country, Geelong West Giants

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