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THE BARWON BULLETIN

The official noticeboard for AFL Barwon Club Officials & Volunteers.
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EDITION 87
JULY 15, 2026
(LAST UPDATED - JULY 15, 2026)
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(Umpire appointments are updated Thursday 4pm)

2026 AFL Barwon Community Awards Nominations

AFL Barwon is proud to open nominations for the 2026 AFL Barwon Community Awards, celebrating the outstanding people who make our football and netball communities thrive.

The Community Awards recognise excellence across coaching, administration, officiating and volunteer service, incorporating the long-standing AFL Barwon Coaches Awards alongside honours for Community Netball Coaches, Club Administrators, Football and Netball Umpires, Club Trainers and Personality of the Year.

If you know someone who has made an exceptional contribution to their club or the wider football and netball community, we encourage you to nominate them by completing the relevant award category below.

Nominations are open to all AFL Barwon affiliated clubs, associations and leagues, including the Geelong Football Netball League, Bellarine Football Netball League, Colac & District Football Netball League, Geelong & District Football Netball League, Female Football, Junior Football & Netball competitions, and the All Abilities Football Netball League. Anyone within the community is welcome to submit a nomination.

Nominate Here
Geelong Falcons Open Letter

To our Barwon football community,

Across every town, every oval and every competition in our region, talented players are emerging. They come from big clubs, small programs and everywhere in between. Their development is shaped by the people who know them best - their teammates, their coaches, their families, and the environments they've grown up in.

Talent does not depend on postcode, ladder position or club size. It grows strongest where players feel connected, confident and able to be themselves.

As the Geelong Falcons, our commitment to talent identification is simple: we will continue to recognise and support talented players in every club and every competition across our region. With the strength of our recruiting network, we're consistently out in the community - watching, learning and connecting with players from all corners of our program's reach. If a player has ability, character and drive, we will see them. They will not be overlooked because of where they play.

We've seen this proven time and time again. Many of our drafted players have grown up in their local clubs, surrounded by familiar faces and supportive environments that helped them build the foundations needed to reach the highest level of the game.

These stories aren't exceptions - they highlight the power of strong, community-driven pathways.

To players: keep enjoying your football. Keep learning, competing and growing in the environments that bring out your best.

To parents: trust that your child's club environment matters more than chasing a "better pathway.

To coaches and clubs: your work shapes confidence, belonging and development - and we appreciate it deeply.

Our region is rich with talent, and together, we'll continue to recognise it, nurture it and celebrate it wherever it emerges.

Yours in football,

Jesse Drever
Talent Lead | Geelong Falcons

AFLW Community Sausage Sizzles Fundraising Opportunity

Fire up the BBQ and support your club’s female football program by running a sausage sizzle at one of our 2026 AFLW home games!

The AFLW Sausage Sizzle is a grassroots initiative bringing local football spirit to life, designed to support and empower female football programs across the Barwon region.

Aligned with the AFLW home games, six local football clubs are selected each season to host a sausage sizzle at GMHBA Stadium.

Everything is provided – all the equipment, ingredients and support – and every dollar raised goes straight back into the clubs’ female football programs helping them invest in new equipment, uniforms, support staff, and more.

In 2024, Armstrong Creek Sharks were among those chosen.

Their goal was simple but urgent: to provide proper mouthguards for their female players. Many girls had none, some were using hand-me-downs from their brothers, and shockingly, a few were resorting to cardboard as makeshift protection.

But that all changed thanks to their hard work and the backing of this initiative. The Sharks raised enough money to buy bright pink mouthguards for every single girl at their club. And to celebrate this incredible achievement, Geelong Cats AFLW players joined the Sharks at training to hand-deliver both the mouthguards and guernseys, a moment filled with pride, joy, and unity. 

The initiative launches on Monday July 6, follow the link here to express your interest for the program. 

Road Safety Round Collateral

Road Safety Round returns from 23-26th July 2026, where we call upon football and netball players across Victoria to ‘Band Together’.

This year’s Road Safety Round will spotlight speeding, which is a contributing factor in at least 30% of fatal and 25% of serious injury crashes on Victorian roads. Don't risk it, slow down.

Players will take to the field or court wearing blue armbands to honour lives lost on the road and serve as a reminder that we can all be the difference in making them safer.

Road Safety Round collateral has been put into your clubs pigeon hole at AFL Barwon HQ.

2026 AFL Barwon Finals Hub

The AFL Barwon Finals Hub is your one-stop destination for everything you need throughout the 2026 Finals Series.

Stay up to date with the latest fixtures, venues, match times, ticketing information, live streaming details, finals policies and important event information. You'll also find key details on league presentation events and everything happening across the AFL Barwon finals season.

Finals Hub

Senior Football

AFL Barwon Premier Data Feedback Request

AFL Barwon is seeking feedback from clubs regarding the delivery and value of Premier Data post-game statistics throughout the 2026 season.

We will be sending an survey to Senior Football Coaches and Football Managers to complete.

Junior Football

AFL Barwon Kempe Junior Football Finals

Please note and advise coaches, team managers and any other relevant club personnel of the following information for finals.

Dates:

Junior football finals for the region will commence on the following dates by age group: 

U14 Mixed & U16: 

  • Week 1 – 22nd/23rd August (TBC)
  • Week 2 – 29th/30th August (TBC)
  • Week 3 – 5th/6th September (Grand Finals @ Herne Hill Reserve)

U14 & U17 Female: 

  • Week 1 – 16th August (TBC)
  • Week 2 – 23rd August (TBC)
  • Week 3 – 30th August (Grand Finals @ Lara Recreation Reserve)

*Please note that games will be played across both Saturday and Sunday throughout the final series for the U14 Mixed & U16 competitions.

Eligibility:

As of July 7th, we are 10 rounds through the season (inclusive of grading) for every age group. Please look to make yourself familiar with the eligibility requirements for finals to ensure that your club/participants are aware of what will be enforced: 

Resource Links

On-Field Vests & Apparel (loco)
Football Order Form

GFNL & BFNL Netball

Attempts and Goal Statistics

A reminder that attempts must be recorded in PlayHQ for all grades 17U and above.

Attempts are not required to be recorded and entered into PlayHQ for 15U and below, as per the AFL Barwon competition rules.

Please ensure your score entry secretaries are across this detail.

14.20 On match day, the Home Club is responsible for entering the results onto the PlayHQ Database by 5pm. And is to include the following:

  • Quarter by quarter scores and final score
  • Best Players (no team effort)
  • Successful goals
  • of Goal Attempts (not in 11&U, 13&U and 15&U)
  • Ensuring all players from the line up who took to the court are included in the line up, and removing anyone who did not take to the court.

Please note: It is the responsibility of the HOME club team to ensure all this information is correct before entering the data.

Penalty: $100 fine.

Player Positions

Please ensure that upon entering the scores for all games, that positions are also entered.

Should e-scoring be completed for a game, this data will auto-populate, so we encourage you to shadow this scoring process to support with end of day score entry.

Positions are much easier to track in the scoring platform since the updates at the start of the season, and as we work towards removing paperwork in future seasons, encourage you to become acquainted with this software.

Rolling subs require you to simply select the player from the bench that’s rolling on, and other changes can be managed with a drop and drag.

We have had really positive feedback from clubs who have been shadowing all games with e-scoring and in relation to the time it has saved them.

To practice e-scoring, please feel free to utilise the following demo link: https://score.uat.playhq.com/demo/netball-australia/2026-03-12/demo-court-id/games/demo-game-id_netball-australia

Finals Preparation

As we approach finals, please be reminded of the AFL Barwon Competition rules as outlined in the 2026 Handbook.

Should you wish to cross check your players’ games played totals, you can do this via:

  • Reports
  • Competitions
  • Games played

This report is now working, following some issues earlier this season. Should you wish for any records to be cross-checked, please reach out via email.

BFNL Rules

4.11 Players who play 6 games in a lower senior grade automatically qualify for any senior grade higher. (Players must still adhere to all other applicable competition regulations that restrict player movement eg:4.9).

6.1 Players must take the court in at least 6 games to be eligible to participate in that division’s finals series. If the minimum number of games is not played, the player is ineligible to play finals

6.2 Once a player takes the court in the 9th game, they are ineligible to play in a lower grade/ division in the same age group.

6.3 A player can only play in one senior game over one weekend of finals.

6.4 Any junior is eligible to play in two finals over one weekend (one junior and one senior, or two junior not in the same age group)

GFNL Rules

4.11 Players who play 6 games in a lower senior grade automatically qualify for any senior grade higher. (Players must still adhere to all other applicable competition regulations that restrict player movement eg:4.9).

5.1 Players must take the court in at least 6 games to be eligible to participate in that division’s finals series. If the minimum number of games is not played, the player is ineligible to play finals.

5.3 Once a player takes the court in the 9th game, they are ineligible to play in a lower grade/ division in the same age group.

5.4 A player can only play in one senior game over one weekend of finals.

5.5 Any junior is eligible to play in two finals (one junior and one senior) over one weekend of finals as long as they are qualified as per 5.1.

Junior / Midweek Netball

Fixture Update

The remainder of the midweek fixture for all age groups has now been released on PlayHQ.

Please see below a link to access:

https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/org/afl-barwon-fnl/afl-barwon-fnl-winter-2026/67a3f07f

Finals Preparation

As we lead into the midweek final's series, please see below relevant bylaws:

8.10 In AFL Barwon JN any player is only allowed to play in one final over the night.

7.1 Players must take the court in at least 4 games to be eligible to participate in that division’s finals series. If the minimum number of games is not played, the player is ineligible to play finals. (Once a player takes the court in the 6th game, they are ineligible to play in a lower grade/division in the same age group).

Scoresheet reminders

Please ensure team lineups are pre-selected on PlayHQ no later than midday on match day.

Players must be on both scoresheet and position tracking sheet

First and Last names must be included on the position tracking sheet

All quarters must be tracked on the position tracking sheet with the first quarter lineup only on the scoresheet

11&U Party Round

11&U Party Round is scheduled for Sunday 23 August at Kardinia Park.

Party Round is a fun way to celebrate the end of the season for our 11&U teams, who do not participate in a final's series. This year's theme is Crazy Socks and Team Posters, and we encourage all teams to get involved!

An email has been sent to clubs with a link to submit their teams to be involved in the day. Please have this submitted by no later than Thursday 6 August.

CDFNL Netball

Finals Preparation

As we approach finals, please be reminded of the AFL Barwon Competition rules as outlined in the 2026 Handbook.

2.9 Players must take the court in at least 6 games to be eligible to participate in that division’s finals series. If the minimum number of games is not played, the player is ineligible to play finals.

2.10 Once a player takes the court in the 7th game, they are ineligible to play in a lower grade/division (in the same age group – Seniors is classified as one age group).

2.11 Once a player has taken the court in a specific senior grade they are ineligible to play in the senior grade 2 grades lower. Ie. A grade and C grade or B Grade and D Grade.

Should you wish to cross check your players’ games played totals, you can do this on PlayHQ via:

  • Reports
  • Competitions
  • Games played

This report is now working, following some issues earlier this season. Should you wish for any records to be cross-checked, please reach out via email.

Netball Umpiring

2026 AFL Barwon Finals Series Availability: BFNL and GFNL Netball Umpiring

Finals are fast approaching and we are inviting umpires to submit the form below should they want to be considered for finals.  
Selections will be made through a thorough process that considers performance across the entire season, team matchups, umpire pairings, availability and include which clubs/teams are playing in each match. Umpires must hold a minimum C Badge.

Please complete your Expression of Interest via the form https://forms.office.com/r/zDvNJ0P8F8

Umpires external to the AFL Barwon Panel pool will be notified by Monday 10th August should they be required for the finals series.

Action required: missing information from clubs

We are again chasing up umpire rosters for previous rounds please ensure these are sent through each weekend.

As outlined in the Netball Umpire Coordinator meeting at the start of the year clubs are required to provide their umpire rosters each week to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. assist in providing mentoring opportunities for your club umpires.

Bell Park

Round 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Colac

Round 9, 10, 11, 13

Geelong West Giants

Round 8, 9, 11, 13

Grovedale

Round 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Lara

Round 7, 9

Leopold

Round 10

Newtown & Chilwell

All received

North Shore

Round 9,

South Barwon

Round 13

St Albans

Round 13

St Josephs

All received

St Marys

All received

Anglesea

Round 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Barwon Heads

Round 12, 14

Drysdale

All received

Geelong Amateur

All received

Modewarre

Round 14

Newcomb

All received

Ocean Grove

Round 14

Portarlington

Round 13, 14

Queenscliff

Round 14

Surf Coast Suns

Round 5, 6, 7, 11

Torquay

Round 14

Resource Links

Netball Resources
Federal Grant Opportunity - Game On: Teaming up for climate action

Australian Government will open a funding opportunity to clubs and councils on June 11 and closes July 31st, 2026.

The Game on: Teaming up for climate action program will deliver $35.262 million over 2 funding rounds and will run over 3 years from 2026–27 to 2028–29. The program was announced as part of the Support for the Net Zero Plan.

Individual clubs can apply ($25K - $100K)

More information on the program can be found here

2026/2027 Greater Geelong Community Grants

2026/2027 City of Greater Geelong Community Grants are open.

Do you have an amazing idea but need funding to bring it to life?

Whether you are seeking to purchase new equipment, offer group activities, upgrade facilities, run a community event or create an inspired arts project, funding is available.

Grants available include:

  • Arts Projects
  • Christmas
  • Clean Economy
  • Climate Change Partnerships
  • Community Equipment
  • Community Events
  • Community Infrastructure
  • Community Strengthening
  • Creative Commissions
  • Creative Seed
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • First Nations

For grant guidelines, how to apply and important dates including free information sessions and grant writing workshops, visit Here

Stay up to date with Community Grants news by subscribing to our newsletter.

Telstra Footy Grants

The Telstra Footy Grants program offers local football clubs in Australia the opportunity to receive funding to enhance their operations and community engagement. The Telstra Footy Grants is designed to financially assist initiatives that can support Community Clubs affiliated to the AFL to strengthen the base and secure the future in three key strategic areas: Grow and assist volunteer capacity. Grow and diversify participation. Improve club environments and experiences. Final rounds closes Thursday 23 July.

Information found here

Apply here

SRV - Regional All Abilities Participation Grant

The Regional All Abilities Participation Grants help deliver inclusive opportunities for people with a disability in regional Victoria to participate and thrive. Grants of up to $25,000 are available for equipment, travel, inclusion workforce, and programs and disability-led initiatives. Applications close 12 August.

Please click here for more information and for the application link.

Coaching Your Actions

In the lead-up to Junior Finals, the AFL Victoria Coaching and Umpiring teams will deliver an online webinar designed for Junior coaches across Victoria competing in finals.

Finals can be a more intense and challenging environment for all involved. This session aims to support coaches and club staff in creating a positive, well-managed experience that benefits players, umpires, and the wider football community.

While the session is designed with finals teams in mind, it is a valuable learning opportunity for all coaches regardless of participation in finals.

The workshop title, “Your Actions, Their Game”, reflects our shared responsibility to help shape positive finals football environments.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 12 August at 8pm. The registration link is found here

Play by the Rules - Complaint Handling

Refreshed Course Play by the Rules has re-launched their Complaint Handling Course. The course aims to support presidents, committee members and nominated complaint handlers in community sport to effectively handle complaints as they arrive. The course focuses on providing tips and strategies to handle grievances that don’t need to be escalated, whilst providing options for when more formal processes should be activated.

Click here for the web page.

Toyota Good for Footy Raffle
The Toyota Good for Footy Raffle gives 100% of funds raised helping invest in the things that matter most to your players, volunteers and community. Tickets are just $5. Plus, you could win one of three brand new Toyota vehicles, exclusive AFL experiences, coaching clinics and more. When your club raises funds, it builds a stronger season ahead. That's Good for Footy! Ticket sales close 21 September 2026 at 12.00pm.
Start promoting ticket sales for your club here
TAC Club Rewards

The TAC and AFL Victoria have partnered together for 34 years, working to achieve the vision of no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. As part of the program, all AFL Victoria-aligned clubs across regional Victoria and in the metropolitan leagues can take part and earn up to $10,000 in funding by promoting road safety in their community. This year we're tackling speeding driving. Road Safety Round will take place over the weekend of 23-26th July 2026.Applications close Monday 24 August

Click here for more information
AFLW Community Ambassadors Program

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassadors Program.

The Program recognises women and girls in the football community who have been instrumental in facilitating and nurturing the remarkable growth of women and girls’ football.

You can find out more about the program here- https://play.afl/clubhelp/women-girls/grants

Nominations close on July 26th.

Racism Doesn’t Belong In Our Game

The State Government has launched an anti-racism campaign bringing together 7 Victorian Sporting Organisations, CM Sport, VACSAL and VicSport to increase awareness of racism in community sport and its impact.

The Campaign is designed to tell the story of 7 people who experienced racism in community sport and provide education and digital tools for sporting clubs.

Racism doesn't belong in our game resources
2026 Community Awards Nominations – NOW OPEN

The Netball Victoria Community Awards celebrate the significant achievements of individuals and groups who have contributed to the sport of netball in Victoria throughout the year.

The growth and development of netball within Victoria is at the heart of everything we do and we love to highlight the great work of our Victorian netball community.

Nominations for the 2026 Community Awards are now open!

Umpiring and Coaching

Coach Developer Expressions of Interest

Do you know someone in your netball community who would be great at running Coach Accreditation workshops or Coaches in the Field sessions? Netball Victoria is looking to expand its pool of Coach Developers. These developers need to hold (or be working towards) an Intermediate Coaching Accreditation and be confident, capable teachers. To learn more or submit an expression of interest, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Host a Coach Development or Intermediate Workshop

Upskill your coaches by hosting a Development and/or Intermediate Workshop at your association or league. These accreditations are essential for building confident, skilled athletes. All coaches officiating at Association Championships MUST hold a current Development Coach Accreditation. The new Intermediate coaching accreditation was piloted at Parkville and expressions of interest are now open to host the new blended course.  The online component is available on Netball Learning. Make sure your coaches get accredited now. To express in the new Intermediate coaching accreditation course please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To apply to host Development coaching accreditation please use this link Development Coach Practical Workshop - Application Form - Intellistack

Current Endorsed Tester List

2026 Endorsed Umpire Tester List - July  update.
Please check the list ahead of arranging testing panels to ensure testers are eligible.

Professional Development

Vicsport: Child Safe Sport Community of Practice: Social Services Regulator session – online 11am-12pm, 21st July

Vicsport is pleased to host our next Child Safe Sport Community of Practice with a presentation from the Social Services Regulator (SSR). Playing an important role in promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, SSR supports organisations to understand and meet their responsibilities under the Child Safe Standards. To learn more and register please click here

Partner Offers & Grants

Game On : Climate Action Grant NOW OPEN – closes 28th July 2026

Round 1 of this federal funding grant opened on the 1st July and will be very competitive. It is due to close on the  28th July, however the funding round might close earlier if the funding allocation is exhausted. You are able to apply directly. The grant includes lighting upgrades, so if you are eligible, you can reach out to our contact Andrew Scott from Quality Energy ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) who can take you through the steps and provide a quote. It is important that you also reach out to your local Council representative as they landowner. The program will provide support for up to 500 community sports clubs, helping them upgrade their facilities to be more climate resilient and energy efficient. Forecast Opportunity View - FO2025-5550: GrantConnect

Woolworths NetSetGo Grants Program

The Woolworths Netball Grants Program supports grassroots netball clubs and associations across the country to improve the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids. This year, grants of $2,000 will be awarded to 40 clubs across Australia. There will also be a massive $20,000 grant for the winner of the 2026 People’s Choice Prize, as well as 12 Free Fruit for Kids deliveries valued at $250 each or a $250 Woolworths Essentials e-Gift Card to purchase fruit for kids. To be in the running, applicants need to explain how their club or association would use a grant to help improve the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids, in one or more of the following ways:

  • Sporting equipment / uniforms / improvements to facilities
  • Access to Woolworths’ NetSetGo program; and/or
  • Nutrition

Home - Woolworths Netball Grants

Community Support Grants

Netball Victoria has established the 2026 Disaster Relief Program under its Community Support Program to provide targeted financial assistance to affiliated clubs, associations, leagues and families impacted by natural disaster events during 2026. The hardship grant can also be accessed through this link. Community Support Program - Netball VIC

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