AFL Barwon is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Lang, Todd Devine and Michael Fitzgerald to the AFL Barwon Board, endorsed by members at last night’s Annual General Meeting.

Two of the Director vacancies were filled by nominees from the Bellarine Football Netball League and Geelong Football Netball League Boards, with Todd Devine and Michael Fitzgerald appointed through that process. Nick Lang was also voted in by member clubs to join the Board.

The three new Directors bring a wealth of experience across community sport, governance and business, and will play an important role in guiding the continued growth and strategic direction of football and netball across the Barwon region.

AFL Barwon also acknowledges and thanks David Chaston for his nomination for the Board and his willingness to contribute to the organisation at governance level.

The AGM further marked the conclusion of the Board tenures of Michelle Gerdtz, Sarah Naylor and Nicola Wojcik. AFL Barwon sincerely thanks Michelle, Sarah and Nicola for their commitment, professionalism and contribution during their time as Directors. Their input has helped shape key initiatives and governance outcomes that position the organisation strongly for the future.

Members also approved a series of amendments to the AFL Barwon Constitution at the AGM, reflecting the organisation’s ongoing commitment to strong governance and contemporary best practice.

The 2025 AFL Barwon Annual Report can be found here.

AFL Barwon is pleased to announce a new two-year partnership with Winning Edge, who will join the organisation as the Official Trophy and Premiership Cup Partner.

Winning Edge, a family-owned and operated business, is passionate about championing grassroots sport and recognising achievement at every level of competition. Through this partnership, Winning Edge will work closely with AFL Barwon and clubs to deliver high-quality trophies, awards and merchandise that celebrate the contributions of players, volunteers, officials and communities throughout the region. 

The partnership carries particular significance for Winning Edge Managing Director, Alistair Ewart, who attended school in Geelong. His strong local connection to the Barwon region reinforces the alignment between the two organisations and reflects Winning Edge’s genuine investment in supporting local football.

Ewart said the partnership was a proud moment for the business.

“At Winning Edge, we’re passionate about grassroots sport and celebrating achievement at every level. Partnering with AFL Barwon allows us to support the clubs and communities that are the heart of football in the region, and we’re proud to help honour their contributions through quality awards and merchandise.”

AFL Barwon CEO Kate Patterson welcomed the partnership.

“We’re proud to partner with Winning Edge for the next two years. Alistair and his team have a genuine passion for community sport, and we’re looking forward to working together to further recognise and celebrate the players, volunteers and clubs who drive football in our region.”

The two-year agreement will see Winning Edge support AFL Barwon competitions and events across the region, further strengthening the recognition of excellence within community football. 

AFL Barwon looks forward to working closely with Winning Edge to build strong relationships across the region and contribute meaningfully to the continued success of football and netball throughout the Barwon community.

To find out more about Winning Edge and their products and services for clubs, simply go to www.winningedgepresentations.com.au

AFL Barwon has formally established a Junior Football Working Party, bringing together a diverse and experienced group of club representatives to help shape the future of the region’s junior pathway.

Following a call for nominations to clubs across the region, 10 individuals were selected to form the Working Party. Each member brings extensive experience in junior sport across multiple codes, along with strong, current involvement in football within the AFL Barwon region. Their collective knowledge and on-the-ground insight ensures discussions are informed by real club environments and community needs.

The group includes representatives from a broad cross-section of clubs, ensuring a range of perspectives are considered. This diversity allows for balanced and constructive conversations around the opportunities and challenges facing junior football at all levels.

The Working Party will meet frequently with AFL Barwon staff to discuss matters relating to the entire junior football pathway, spanning both competitive and non-competitive formats. Key focus areas include:

• Junior grading
• Fixturing
• Competition structures
• Stakeholder conduct
• General business and emerging issues

Constructive and informed discussion underpins the group’s purpose, with meetings focused on identifying and working through both emerging and ongoing challenges across the region. This approach enables AFL Barwon to assess ideas, consider potential changes and understand the practical implications of decisions at club level before implementation.

The establishment of the Junior Football Working Party reflects AFL Barwon’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with clubs and ensuring the junior pathway continues to evolve in line with community expectations.

By working directly with experienced club representatives, AFL Barwon is focused on making practical, informed decisions that support a clear, consistent, and sustainable junior football pathway across the region.

Netball across the Barwon region is experiencing a period of sustained and organic growth, reflecting the sport’s strong connection to community, accessibility for participants of all ages, and the ongoing population growth occurring throughout the region.

Across the 2024/25 Summer Netball season, 2,980 participants took to the court under the AFL Barwon banner, a 16% increase on the 2,563 participants recorded in 2023/24. Participation has continued to grow in 2025/26, with 3,224 participants now involved in summer netball competitions across the region, representing a further 8% increase on the previous season.

The AFL Barwon summer competition is a junior-based program open to all clubs across the Barwon region, catering to 11&under, 13&under, 15&under, and 17&under age groups. The growth in participation has also been reflected at team level. In 2024/25, 311 teams were fielded across AFL Barwon summer competitions, up 14% from 274 teams in 2023/24. That figure has grown again in 2025/26 to 338 teams, an 8.7% increase, placing increased demand on competition structures, scheduling, and facilities. This rise highlights families returning each season, new participants discovering the sport, and clubs working hard to meet growing demand.

While this growth is a positive outcome for the sport and broader community, it has also presented new challenges. AFL Barwon’s ability to expand its offerings has been limited by the region’s current facilities. Without sufficient courts, AFL Barwon’s capacity to support competitions beyond junior levels such as mixed, male, senior, and master’s competitions, is restricted. New facilities would allow for greater diversity in participation opportunities and help meet the evolving needs of the community. 

To accommodate the increased number of teams each week, AFL Barwon has been required to expand competitions across seven club venues throughout the region. This approach has allowed competitions to continue to operate; however, it has also highlighted the limitations of the current facility network.

Unlike some other sports, the region does not currently have full access to a centralised, purpose-built regional netball facility capable of hosting large-scale competitions. As a result, AFL Barwon has been required to carefully manage available court space and scheduling.

In practical terms, this has meant the introduction of 10 byes into the weekly fixture, ensuring competitions remain manageable and venues are not over-utilised. While necessary, this outcome means that some teams and participants are unable to play every week, something AFL Barwon recognises impacts the overall participant experience.

AFL Barwon Head of Netball Sophie Allison said “Participation continues to grow strongly, with over 3,200 players across 338 teams this season. It’s such an exciting prospect to see so many players and their families looking to participate each year and each season. We are so excited to continue to support this growth and expand on the opportunities we are able to provide for our netball community.”

The increase in netball participation has occurred organically, driven by population growth, strong club engagement and the sport’s ability to offer flexible and inclusive competition opportunities. However, this success has also revealed a growing gap between demand and the infrastructure currently available.

As more teams enter competitions each season, the pressure on existing courts continues to grow. Without additional facilities, the ability to further expand competitions or improve scheduling outcomes remains limited.

AFL Barwon continues to actively engage with Netball Victoria and maintain ongoing conversations with local government and councils to advocate for future netball facility development across the region.

These discussions focus on ensuring netball infrastructure is considered as part of broader sport and recreation planning, alongside other growing sports. AFL Barwon is committed to ensuring that netball is not left behind as participation continues to rise and communities expand. While short-term solutions will continue to be explored to support competitions in the immediate future, AFL Barwon remains focused on long-term planning and collaboration to create sustainable outcomes for the sport.

The continued growth of netball across the Barwon region is a positive story, one driven by community connection, participation and opportunity. With the right planning and investment, AFL Barwon aims to ensure that this growth can be supported well into the future for players, clubs and volunteers alike.