AFL Barwon and Forty Winks Geelong are proud to announce a new partnership for the next two seasons.

Forty Winks Geelong’s partnership with AFL Barwon reinforces their commitment to supporting local sport and the communities that make the region such a great place to live and play.

As a locally owned and operated business, Forty Winks Geelong understands the important role community football and netball play in bringing people together. The partnership will see Forty Winks Geelong support AFL Barwon while promoting the importance of quality sleep, recovery and overall wellbeing.

Mick Shannon, Operations Manager at Forty Winks Geelong, said the partnership is a natural fit.

"We're excited to partner with AFL Barwon and support the thousands of players, volunteers, coaches and families involved in local sport. Community clubs are at the heart of our region, and we're proud to be involved with an organisation that has such a positive impact across Geelong and surrounding areas."

Jo Atten, Store Manager at Forty Winks Geelong, said quality sleep plays a vital role in everyday performance. "We're passionate about helping people improve their sleep and recovery so they can perform at their best. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent or simply looking to improve your wellbeing, quality sleep is one of the most important foundations for success."

AFL Barwon CEO Kate Patterson said, “AFL Barwon is proud to partner with a locally owned business that genuinely understands the role community sport plays in our region. Forty Winks Geelong’s commitment to promoting the importance of sleep and recovery aligns strongly with our focus on wellbeing across football and netball. We’re thrilled to welcome them into the AFL Barwon family.”

The partnership reflects Forty Winks Geelong's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities while helping people understand the important connection between sleep, recovery and performance.

Visit Forty Winks Geelong and try "bedMATCH" exclusive to Forty Winks to receive your personalised sleep solution.

AFL Barwon provides governance and strategy development for Football and Netball across the Barwon region.

We are excited to welcome work experience participants into our team and provide a valuable learning and development experience. Our program is designed to give students or recent graduates real-world exposure to the operations of a dynamic organisation, hands-on opportunities to contribute, and the ability to explore different areas of our business.

What We Offer

As part of your time with us, you’ll gain hands-on experience working alongside a passionate and experienced team, allowing you to contribute meaningfully to our day-to-day operations. You’ll also gain insight into all areas of the business, including (but not limited to)

• Operations and Administration
• Events and Competitions
• Community Engagement
• Governance and Compliance

You will receive mentorship and guidance from team members across the Football and/or Netball department, helping you build both knowledge and confidence in your work. You'll also have the opportunity to attend meetings, events, and planning sessions to gain a broader understanding of how the organisation operates. Throughout your placement, we aim to provide an environment that aligns with your individual goals, while supporting the needs of the organisation.

Available Positions & Descriptions

Football Operations - Position Description

Netball Operations - Position Description

The work experience roles are voluntary and require availability for the duration of the 2026 Football & Netball season. 

To apply, please send your resume and a brief explanation of your interest in this opportunity to:

Head of Football - Sarah Naylor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Head of Netball - Sophie Allison (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

Applications will be monitored and actioned as they are received.

A club that didn’t exist a decade ago is now one of the fastest growing clubs in the region.

By Ben Andonoudis

Every weekend, hundreds of young footballers and netballers don the Armstrong Creek colours in a remarkable transformation for a club that didn’t exist a decade ago.

And their rapid rise is only just getting started.

Founded in 2019 by local parents, the club has grown from two teams to now having close to 20 teams across football and netball.

Now, it has set its sights on expanding even further.

For Co-President Chad Dunscombe that includes a goal of entering sides into senior grades within the next five years.

“In five years, we see ourselves as a fully competitive senior club, with strong pathways from our junior programs through to senior football and netball,” Dunscombe said.

Discussions with AFL Barwon have helped the club to identify a viable date to enter senior competitions.

“We'd love to lock in a year soon, with 2029 looking like a realistic and exciting target,” Dunscombe said.

Although the club has long-term ambitions to field senior teams, the rise the club has experienced is built on several factors.

While participant numbers tell part of the story, the environment the club has created is a source of pride for its leaders.

“What's been most pleasing isn't just the growth in numbers, but the culture we've built,” Dunscombe said.

Key pillars of inclusivity, development and a family-oriented approach are what Dunscombe feels sets the club apart from others in the area.

“Our biggest point of difference is our culture,” Dunscombe said.

That has been built off the back of hard work from many locals.

These locals have given the club a level of community support that they say has been incredible.

“From families to local businesses, people have really embraced the club.”

“That support, along with our valued sponsors, is a big reason why we've been able to grow so quickly,” Dunscombe said.

This support has been felt across the club.

And it’s enabled the club to develop multiple arms of its operations.

The netball program has surged, going from two teams in 2022 to 12 teams this year, creating opportunities for dozens more young athletes.

That has only been possible due to the help of local volunteers at the club.

A core group of families have been central to the success of the program from the start according to Junior netball coordinator Jaqui Padget.

“We've got 10 or 12 families that have been there since the start, and these parents are so entrenched in our club, they're at every training session and come to the committee meetings,” Padget said.

While the club has grown exponentially in recent years, it hasn’t always been like this.

When Padget joined the club in 2021, the netball program looked very different to what it is today.

“We started with a group of kids at NetSetGO, and that was probably 20 kids, and now we're at 12 teams,” Padget said.

That first season in 2021 saw the fledgling club in a very different position to now on a number of fronts.

And it wasn’t just the on-field numbers.

“It was hard to get volunteers, but I think with so many more kids involved, there's a lot more parents working from home, so probably some more time up their sleeve, and people more willing to give up time yet to support our young  players,” Padget said. 

It means that youngsters now fill the courts at trainings and on gamedays.

And they do under the watchful eye of their devoted coaches and volunteers, all working to ensure that the girls have the best experience possible.

For Padget this is something the club values highly.

“You want the girls to come to training and feel like they can come and be themselves,” Padget said.

Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club has a bright future ahead of it.

Seven years after its formation by a group of local parents, Armstrong Creek is already planning for its next chapter.

As participation continues to climb and a push for senior football and netball firmly on the horizon, the Sharks’ story is only just beginning.