A historic occasion for females in umpiring will take place this weekend in the Barwon region.

The senior football match between South Colac and Birregurra on Saturday July 18^th will feature an all-female umpiring contingent.

This is believed to be only the second time in the history of the Colac and District Football Netball League (CDFNL) that such an event has occurred.  

The match is a significant milestone that recognises the outstanding contribution that female umpires make across the Barwon region.

Saturday’s match falls against the backdrop of AFL Barwon’s Female Festival of Sport Month.

Female umpires play an important role not only in the growth and sustainability of our umpiring ranks but also in the continued growth of Australian Rules football across the Barwon region.

Their pioneering of female umpiring shows that it is an inclusive, rewarding and respected way to be a part of the game.

AFL Barwon, AFL Barwon Umpiring, Colac Umpires, Geelong Umpires, CDFNL congratulate the umpires selected for this significant occasion.

The umpires selected for this match are:

Field Umpires

• Linda Knight (Colac)
• Ahnika Lennie (Geelong)
• Jess Heath (Geelong)

Boundary Umpires

• Marissa Whitehead (Colac)
• Charlotte Wilson (Geelong)
• Charlotte McKinnon (Geelong)

Goal Umpires

• Anna Rowland (Colac)
• Penny Serle (Colac)

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Bellarine Football Netball League stalwart, Geoff Donnelly.

Following a distinguished involvement with Ocean Grove Football Netball Club, Geoff dedicated nine years of service to the Bellarine Football Netball League Board. During that time, he served as Junior Vice President for two years, Senior Vice President for three years, and President for four years, providing outstanding leadership and commitment to the competition.

In recognition of his significant contribution, Geoff was awarded Life Membership of the Bellarine Football Netball League in 1997.

Geoff also played an important role in helping guide the League through its transition into the Football Geelong era, leaving a lasting legacy on the competition and the broader football and netball community.

On behalf of the Bellarine Football Netball League and AFL Barwon, we extend our sincere condolences to the Donnelly family, Geoff's many friends, and everyone at Ocean Grove Football Netball Club. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

Women's sport is growing rapidly, but the science supporting female athlete health is still lagging behind.

One of the most important messages emerging from the AFL Barwon and Epworth Geelong Female Festival of Sport Seminar held on 7 July 2026, is that the menstrual cycle is not simply a reproductive function; it is a vital sign.

The menstrual cycle provides valuable insight into an athlete’s overall wellbeing, energy availability and hormonal balance. When cycles become irregular, absent, unusually painful or excessively heavy, it is indicative that overall function is sub-optimal. Menstrual health should be considered a key component of athlete monitoring, and most importantly, overall health.

"Your menstrual cycle is a vital sign. When it changes, pay attention." - Dr. Alex Bonner, Gynaecologist OGB Surfcoast.

Understanding the Performance Connection

The menstrual cycle and hormonal fluctuations affect energy levels, mood, sleep quality, muscle repair, recovery and pain perception.

During the first half of the cycle, many athletes report feeling stronger, more resilient and recovering more effectively. Following ovulation (the middle of the cycle) body temperature may rise, perceived exertion can feel greater and sleep quality may be impacted. Some athletes continue to perform strongly, while others notice considerable changes in their training capacity.

The key takeaway is there is no universal experience. Social media, apps and wearables may suggest how an athlete should feel during different phases of the cycle, yet in reality, individual variability is significant. This is why tracking symptoms, energy levels, recovery and performance alongside the menstrual cycle in its entirety, can be an excellent performance tool.

Injury Risk and the Female Athlete

Discussion surrounding female athlete injury risk often centres on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, which occur at significantly higher rates in women than their male counterparts.

The relationship and understating of the role that hormones play in ACL injury is complex, and one that is continuing to be researched globally; with current evidence identifying that hormones are not a sole cause of increased ACL injuries. Rather, hormonal influences are likely one contributing factor amongst a broader mix of biomechanical, anatomical, environmental and training-related factors.

Effective prevention strategies include strength training, neuromuscular conditioning, movement education and appropriate load management, measures that benefit all athletes.

“Understanding women in sport can help us minimise risk and optimize performance.” - Dr. Rekha Ganeshalingam, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Epworth Geelong

Why Load Management Matters

Load management refers to balancing training, competition and recovery to maximise adaptation while minimising injury risk.

For female athletes, load management cannot be separated from health. Painful periods, heavy bleeding, endometriosis, hormonal disorders and inadequate energy (nutritional) intake can all influence an athlete’s ability to train consistently and recover effectively.

Individualised programming does not necessarily require complicated systems. Sometimes it is a simple question: “How are you tracking this week?” Creating environments where athletes feel comfortable discussing symptoms allowing informed decisions around training volumes, recovery strategies and support.

"Menstrual cycle awareness is performance awareness." - Dr. Alex Bonner, Gynaecologist OGB Surfcoast. 

Recognising REDS

An important health consideration in female athletes is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS).

REDS is a systemic response to the body receiving insufficient (nutritional) energy to meet basic physiological functions plus athletic demand. An early warning sign can be changes to the menstrual cycle, hence the importance of tracking and viewing the cycle as a report card of health.

REDS is driven by low energy availability and subsequently can disrupt several bodily functions including, but not limited to menstruation and bone health. Left unaddressed, REDS can increase injury risk, impair performance and have lasting consequences on long term health.

The important message for athletes, coaches and parents is that menstrual changes should never be dismissed as a normal consequence of training hard. This is the body sending distress signals.

"Know your body. Know your edge. Know your menstrual cycle. Track it. Learn it. Use it." - Dr. Alex Bonner, Gynaecologist OGB Surfcoast. 

Creating a Better Sporting Culture

Many athletes still feel uncomfortable discussing menstrual health, particularly in environments led by male coaches or support staff. Open conversations and upskilling all involved in athlete care are essential if we want women and girls to participate in sport safely and confidently.

Creating a healthier sporting culture starts with education. It means normalising discussions about menstrual health, encouraging cycle tracking, recognising symptoms early and valuing health as highly as performance. It means helping athletes understand that painful periods may be common, but they are not necessarily normal, and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

The opportunity is clear: when sport begins to treat menstrual health as a legitimate performance variable rather than a topic to avoid, everyone benefits.

Learning to listen (to your body) may be one of the most powerful performance strategies available.

“Supportive, healthy and successful sports environments aren't in the dark about women's health." - Emily Brown, Physiotherapist Corio Bay Health Group.

Further reading and resources:

AIS Female Performance Health Initiative Education Modules

Low Energy Availability - Are you eating enough?

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS)

AFL Barwon is proud to release its inaugural Female Participation Report, highlighting the strength of female involvement across football and netball throughout the Barwon region in 2026. 

Coinciding with the Female Festival of Sport, a week dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the contributions of women in sport across the region, these participation figures demonstrate the significant role women and girls play within our sporting community. Their involvement is an integral part of the success, growth and future of community football and netball, both on and off the field.

Across AFL Barwon-governed football and netball competitions and club programs, 13,114 female players have participated this year, representing 45 per cent of all registered participants across the region.

Netball continues to lead female participation, with 9,649 players taking part across both the winter and summer seasons. The 13 & Under section recorded the highest participation of any age division, with 2,181 players, highlighting the strong pathway of young girls entering and enjoying community sport.

Female football has also continued its positive trajectory, recording 3,465 registered participants across all competitions and programs. Of those, 616 players competed in the Epworth Senior Female Football competitions, demonstrating the continued strength and sustainability of the senior female game across the region.

Participation is further reflected in the number of teams taking the field and court throughout the year, with 932 female teams competing across AFL Barwon competitions, comprising 840 netball teams and 92 football teams.

Women are also making an enormous contribution in leadership and officiating roles across community sport. In 2026, 897 registered female coaches are supporting players across the region, including 833 netball coaches and 64 football coaches. There are also 430 female umpires officiating competitions (370 netball umpires and 60 football umpires).

Collectively, these figures represent more than 15,000 registered female participants across playing, coaching and umpiring roles throughout the Barwon region. 

Importantly, these numbers do not capture the thousands of female volunteers, committee members, team managers, trainers, administrators, canteen volunteers and club supporters who dedicate countless hours behind the scenes each week to ensure community football and netball continues to thrive.

The participation statistics reflect the continued growth of female sport across the region and the positive impact of clubs that have embraced inclusive environments, invested in female programs and created opportunities for women and girls to play, coach, officiate and lead.

AFL Barwon CEO Kate Patterson said the figures were a testament to the commitment of clubs and volunteers in providing opportunities for women and girls across the region. 

“These participation numbers are a fantastic reflection of the work being done across our football and netball community to ensure women and girls have every opportunity to be involved in our competitions” Patterson said.

"Whether it's as a player, coach, umpire, volunteer or administrator, women are making an enormous contribution to community sport throughout the Barwon region. It's particularly pleasing to see strong participation at the junior level, which provides an exciting foundation for the future of female football and netball." 

"The Female Festival of Sport is about celebrating these achievements while also recognising the people behind the scenes who continue to create welcoming, inclusive and supportive environments for women and girls. We thank every club, volunteer and participant for the role they play in making our community stronger through sport."