Ten athletes from AFL Barwon’s region have been selected in Netball Victoria’s 2026 Talent Academy program – a development opportunity in the high-performance pathway for emerging athletes aged 14 – 16 years old.

With six academies across the state, the program ensures regional and metro athletes have access to coaching and resources that can assist in their progression towards state and national representation.

Headed up by Netball Victoria’s appointed pathway coaches, Talent Academy helps athletes to further their tactical and technical skills, and begin to fully grasp wellbeing and physical preparation, key components required to transition to elite pathway opportunities.

Athletes are talent identified at Netball Victoria’s major competitions, the Association Championships and State Titles, and invited to trial for their region’s academy.

From there, they train together as a region, preparing for the Inter-Academy tournament in August which is where they can be selected into the top 50 for the Victorian state team trials.

Congratulations to the following athletes:

Scarlotte Benney - Bellarine Football Netball League

Scarlett Clarke - Bellarine Football Netball League

Maya Corrigan - Geelong Football Netball League

Macey Dow - Barwon Netball Region

Arelya Hillier - Bellarine Football Netball League

Sienna McGinness - Bellarine Football Netball League

Zoe Nwankwo - Geelong Football Netball League

Lucy Nwankwo - Geelong Football Netball League

Ruby Slimmon - Geelong Football Netball League

Willow Stephenson - Bellarine Football Netball League

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

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.

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.