Confirmation Torquay FNC will not move to Geelong FNL in 2026

AFL Barwon can confirm that the Torquay Football Netball Club has officially advised it will not be taking up the option to move into the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) for the 2026 season.

Under AFL Barwon’s Future of Football and Netball Project, a two-year Club Championship ladder cycle was introduced, providing the top two teams in the Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL) with the opportunity for promotion to the GFNL. With the Geelong Amateur FNC also recently declining this offer, it means there will be no movement via this model in this cycle. The efforts undertaken by both clubs to review and make an important decision on their futures is greatly appreciated.

AFL Barwon remains committed to a model that provides movement opportunities for clubs to be competitive on a regular basis, it is a key step in supporting equalisation and ensuring competitiveness across both senior football and netball competitions. Movement between leagues is critical to improving competitiveness and sustainability of clubs given demographic shifts across the Geelong and Bellarine regions, however consistent buy-in from clubs and leagues is required for the model to be fully effective.

In declining the promotion offer, we note that the competitiveness of the GFNL was cited as a reason in both responses. It's important to note that the GFNL continues to demonstrate its strength as one of the highest quality country football and netball leagues in Victoria. The 2025 season has showcased this balance, with seven senior football teams still in contention for a finals berth heading into the final two rounds and no top five positions confirmed with one round to play. The GFNL Premier Netball competitions will feature seven different clubs competing in finals across the top two grades. The BFNL has also seen a competitive season with average margins down from previous years.

Promotion and Relegation is a way of allowing teams consistently at the top, as has been seen in recent years in the BFNL, and teams consistently at the bottom which is the case in the GFNL, the opportunities to either extend their clubs or provide opportunities to rebuild and grow participation and junior programs without the pressure and weight of consistent senior losses. Movement between the leagues is a key to unlocking greater competitiveness. The junior structure already allows this movement and provides clubs the opportunity to play competitive junior football, noting that 8 Bellarine clubs have teams in the top two junior u/18 divisions.

Over the past 18 months, AFL Barwon has worked closely with clubs to encourage alignment between league structures and club competitiveness. The introduction of promotion and relegation opportunities, alongside the establishment of new clubs, changes to player points and salary cap systems provides a clear pathway to improving equalisation across all senior competitions. Without movement between leagues, gaps in competitiveness will remain. Greater fluidity enables clubs to play at the level most suited to their strength, sustainability, and future growth.

AFL Barwon will continue to work collaboratively with all clubs and leagues to ensure the best possible structures are in place to support sustainable growth, competitive balance, and the long-term health of community football and netball in the region. As part of this process, AFL Barwon will review the current non-mandatory promotion and relegation model, junior programs and league structures.