News Archive

With only two games remaining in the 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball season, Winchelsea and Inverleigh will meet in a highly anticipated preliminary final this Saturday. The winner will advance to next weekend’s grand final against East Geelong, while the loser’s season will come to an end. Winchelsea have performed strongly under pressure throughout the finals series, defeating Thomson in the elimination final before overcoming Bannockburn in the first semi-final. Minor premiers Inverleigh hav…

Sarah Kasparian from the Corio Football and Netball Club has been recognised as the GDFNL A Grade netball Athlete’s Foot most valuable player for 2026. The final count saw Kasparian finish with 33 votes while Mia Edwards (Anakie) trailed just behind with 31 votes as determined by the opposing clubs each round. Originally from South Australia, Kasparian joined the league this year and has played out her first season with Corio with a history of country netball and leading goal-scorer awards…

Claudia Cook from the East Geelong Football and Netball Club is the 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball Margaret Webb medallist. Polling 31 votes to secure the best and fairest award, Cook has become the fifth two-time Margaret Webb medallist in the history of the league following her first win in 2019. Just two votes behind Cook was Maddison McKiernan from Winchelsea who secured the runners up award as well as being named in the team of the year alongside Cook. Cook has now featured in the team of…

Two consecutive finals wins have sent Winchelsea straight into the A Grade netball preliminary final with the help of strong performances from co-captains Meg Royal and Grace Pullen. Winchelsea finished fourth on the ladder and have since won its elimination final against Thomson and, most recently, their semi-final against Bannockburn on Sunday. With both of their finals games being won by at least ten goals both Royal and Pullen were proud of the result against Bannockburn who they lost to…

It has been a busy year for netball in the GDFNL and while the season isn’t over yet, Nicole Smith and Elisha Balins have been working hard behind the scenes to make it all happen. The pair stepped into their roles for the first time this year, with Smith serving as the Netball Co-ordinator and Balins being appointed as the Junior Development Officer for 2026. “We started off the season six weeks before the first game, and it was daunting,” Smith said. “Neither of us have actually run a leag…

After a highly successful season for both the A grade and B grade teams at Inverleigh, coach Lisa Milne couldn’t be prouder of her players for the effort and talent they have displayed. Not only did the Hawks' A Grade and B Grade sides both finish as minor premiers for the season but they also both faced East Geelong in the second semi finals this past weekend. Whilst the A Grade side didn’t get the result they wanted losing by 18 goals, B Grade was able to defeat East Geelong by just one goa…

Werribee Centrals have avoided becoming the third consecutive qualifying final loser to exit the GDFNL premiership race in straight sets after seeing off the Belmont Lions in the first semi-final by 67 points. The Centurions used dominant second- and fourth-quarter efforts to steamroll the Lions, 17.12 (114) to 7.2 (44) at St Albans Reserve. They will now face Winchelsea in Saturday’s preliminary final, with the winner to face East Geelong in the following week’s grand final. (Click here for…

Redemption for last year’s grand final loss is just four quarters away for East Geelong. The Eagles booked a berth in next month’s decider after overcoming a halftime deficit and a horrific injury to “spiritual leader” Sam Lowe to defeat Winchelsea by 16 points at St Albans Reserve. (Click here for full story)

Second Semi Final – Inverleigh v East Geelong The first round of the 2026 GDFNL A grade netball finals was a thriller and saw East Geelong defeat Bannockburn and Winchelsea knock Thomson out of the premiership race. This week in the second round of finals, Inverleigh will return from their break to face East Geelong in the second semi final which gives both teams a second chance regardless of the result. Inverleigh will have utilised this past week to train and prepare for finals, making the…

ROUND 1 Winchelsea def by Werribee Centrals 3 votes – Connor Linehan-Cunningham (Werribee Centrals) 2 votes – Aaron Stone (Werribee Centrals) 1 vote - Bryce Linehan-Cunningham (Werribee Centrals) Thomson def by Inverleigh 3 votes – Josh Viney (Inverleigh) 2 votes – Luke Wilson (Inverleigh) 1 vote – Jordan Camm (Thomson) Corio def by East Geelong 3 votes – Zac Smith (East Geelong) 2 votes – Matthew Kasparian (East Geelong) 1 vote – Ben Mulvahil (East Geelong) Geelong West def by BP…

ROUND 1 Corio 1.1 (7) def by East Geelong 16.22 (118) 3 votes – Angus Farrow (East Geelong) 2 votes – Darcy Martin (East Geelong) 1 vote – Isiah Bigham (Corio) Geelong West 3.2 (22) def by Bell Post Hill 6.8 (44) 3 votes – Renn Lovitt (Bell Post Hill) 2 votes – Liam Meyrich (Bell Post Hill) 1 vote – Striling Keane (Geelong West) Anakie 4.4 (28) def by Belmont Lions 7.8 (50) 3 votes – Shaun McNamara (Belmont Lions) 2 votes – Robert Law (Anakie) 1 vote – Jake Butler (Belmont Lions) Winchel…

Tonight, another name will be added to the Whitley Medal honourboard. But before the 2026 GDFNL best and fairest is crowned, those who have experienced that moment have a message for this year’s recipient. From inaugural winner Mark Stewart in 1992 to reigning medallist Jack Yates, the Whitley medallists were each asked what advice they would give to the player who follows them. Their messages cover hard work, humility, respect, preparation and making the most of a football career. Above al…

Take a quick look at the Geelong & District Netball League fixture this weekend and it becomes obvious that Inverleigh and East Geelong are the competition powerhouses. Both clubs have all senior teams competing – and in the case of East Geelong, all junior sides as well – with Saturday’s second semi-final schedule a genuine battle of the raptors. The Hawks and Eagles play each other in A, B, D and E Grades with North Geelong taking on East in C Grade. Inverleigh will be fresh from a w…

In the first finals game of the 2026 GDFNL A grade netball competition, Bannockburn captain Sharon Ford suffered a serious head injury that had spectators holding their breath. Bannockburn faced East Geelong in the qualifying final, which saw the Eagles sneak away with the win by 3 goals. With just under ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Ford took a dangerous fall which caused her to land backwards onto the court and split her head open. “At the time I didn’t actually realise how…

East Geelong Football Netball Club is a “hub of activity” at the moment according to senior footy coach Ned Aulsebrook.   The Eagles have both senior football and all senior and junior netball teams still in the Geelong & District League finals race, making it 11 out of 11 sides getting through to the second week. East Geelong’s 42-point qualifying final win against Werribee Centrals at St Albans Reserve on Saturday 22 August puts it into the second semi against Winchelsea with the winne…

A resolute defensive effort has kept alive the Belmont Lions’ hopes of ending a 19-year premiership drought after claiming a thrilling two-point elimination final win over North Geelong at St Albans Reserve. Trailing by 10 points at three-quarter time, but kicking with the aid of the northerly breeze in the final term, goals from Ben Evans and BJ Michell gave the Lions back the lead at the six-minute mark. The Magpies regained the advantage less than two minutes later when Rory Desnoy marked…

East Geelong will feature in its third consecutive second semi-final under Ned Aulsebrook after beating Werribee Centrals for the second time in as many weeks in the GDFNL qualifying final. The Eagles were too good for the Centurions after quarter time at St Albans Reserve, posting a 16.12 (108) to 10.6 (66) victory to book a meeting with minor premier Winchelsea in Saturday’s second semi-final. However, the win wasn’t without drama for East.

Four days out from its qualifying meeting with East Geelong, GDFNL club Werribee Centrals has confirmed the re-signing of coach Rhyce Prismall. Prismall arrived at Galvin Park to share the coaching role with Nick Smith in late 2019 but didn’t get a chance to lead the club until 2021 after the 2020 season was lost to the Covid pandemic. He’s held the role solo since 2024. (Click here for full story)

Teaching colleagues will become coaching partners in 2027, with Drysdale gun Jack Jenkins joining East Geelong as co-coach alongside incumbent Ned Aulsebrook. Jenkins, who made the last of his 187 senior appearances for the Hawks yesterday (Saturday), has signed a two-year deal with the Eagles. The 31-year-old says discussions with Aulsebrook, who he teaches alongside at Iona College in the Year 7 cohort, have been ongoing for several weeks. (Click here for full story)

QUALIFYING FINAL After a highly competitive and exciting 2026 A grade netball season, the first round of finals is finally upon us, and this is a round of netball you won’t want to miss. The qualifying final will take place this Saturday the 22nd of August between East Geelong and Bannockburn, two teams full of experience and skill. Bannockburn has displayed some impressive netball throughout the season, finishing third on the ladder with 14 wins and 4 losses. Despite sitting on top of the…

Inverleigh has finished the GDFNL A grade netball season as minor premiers which gives Zoe Saunders a chance to be the first player since 2016 to win back-to-back premierships. Saunders won the 2025 A grade netball premiership with the Belmont Lions before moving across to Inverleigh this season to develop her skills and seek out another grand final victory. “I had a great season in the midcourt in 2025, but I was really looking to develop in new positions which is why I was attracted to Inve…

Club history will be made this weekend as Nicole Weatherley becomes the first football or netball player to play 350 senior games for the Werribee Centrals. Weatherley joined the Werribee Centrals when she was just 18 years old and has been a loyal and successful member of the club ever since. Having played for over two decades with the Centurions, Weatherley has featured in nine A grade netball premierships and has won the club best and fairest award twice.  As a life member of both the GD…

The 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball competition will come to an end for seven teams this weekend with Round 18 being the final round of regular games before finals. Whilst the top five isn’t completely finalised yet, Round 18 will determine whether Thomson or Belmont Lions will feature in finals. To kick off Round 18, Werribee Centrals will take on East Geelong who currently sit in second place and are hoping to secure their position in the first qualifying final. Werribee Centrals have displayed…

Inverleigh (position 1st, points 56, percentage 165.34) Defeat North Geelong and the minor premiership is theirs regardless of other results. The Hawks should win and earn a week off when finals get underway. A fantastic season so far. East Geelong (2nd, 54, 159.13) With Inverleigh unlikely to lose, the Eagles will be now be intent on staying in the top three. They face Werribee Centrals and should win. If the Centurions cause an upset, East could finish as low as fourth, but that is unlikel…

Bannockburn is well placed to ride up the Geelong & District Football League ladder next season according to outgoing coach Ron Pilgrim. The Tigers can still make finals this year, but need a few things to go their way first. It’s a bit complicated, but Banno (40 points, percentage 128.61) will sneak in if it flogs Corio, and Bell Post Hill (40, 130.63) defeats Belmont Lions (44, 135.13), but not by too much. Pilgrim, who has played and coached more than 500 games at Victoria Park, will…

Round 17 of the A Grade netball competition featured a rematch between the Thomson Tigers and the Belmont Lions after both teams featured in the 2025 grand final last season. The winner this game would determine who out of Thomson and the Belmont Lions would make it into the top five and deny their opposition of featuring in finals for the 2026 season. With everything to play for, Thomson was able to pull off a six-goal win against the Belmont Lions in a hard-fought game despite trailing by t…

Pressure was the key word as Corio produced the most stunning upset in our region in 2026 by beating finals-bound Winchelsea by 41 points at Shell Reserve. The 11th-placed Devils overcame a slow start, in which they conceded the first four goals of the contest as the Blues made the most of the northerly breeze to claim their third victory of the season, 18.9 (117) to 10.16 (76). Corio’s win has major implications in the battle for the minor premiership and direct entry into a second semi-fina…

Joel Bennett admits he will probably be “bench-pressing a broomstick” when he begins to build up strength after recent back surgery. The Corio star went under the knife last Monday to alleviate ongoing pain that was the result of an on-field incident in May 2024. Bennett was crunched after backing into a pack late in a match against Inverleigh, leaving the 2023 Whitley medallist with three broken vertebrae. (Click here for story)

With finals being just around the corner, Round 17 of the A Grade netball competition will be one of the most electrifying rounds of the season. To start off the second last round of netball, the 2025 grand finalists will go head-to-head again as Thomson looks for redemption against the Belmont Lions as reigning premiers. If this rematch wasn’t already thrilling enough, the winner of this game will solidify their place in finals and knock their opponent out of the race with just one round rem…

With only two rounds to go in the GDFNL 2026 netball season, Bannockburn is currently the only club to have five leading goal-scorers heading into finals. As Bannockburn prepares for its Round 17 clash against Inverleigh, these five young goalers will be looking to maintain their place at the top of the goal-scoring leaderboard. Leading goal-scorer for the 13&U netball grade is Kailee Maaka. With 302 goals for the season so far, Maaka has scored 18 more goals than her competition. “I’m p…

North Geelong has overcome injuries to a key trio of players to overcome Bell Post Hill by 13 points and all but lock in a qualifying final berth. The Magpies, who were down to one rotation on the bench for much of the second half following injuries to Patrick Cleary, Jacsen Jewell and Damian Fazio, withstood a third-quarter fightback from the Panthers to post a 10.16 (76) to 9.9 (63) victory. The win, the reigning premier’s fifth consecutive, puts it eight points clear of next week’s opponen…

Belmont Lions can take a giant step towards a historic third consecutive finals appearance if it can return from their meeting with Werribee Centrals at Symal Oval with an 11th win of the season. The Lions haven’t played in finals three years in a row since the GDFNL returned to a single-division format in 1996. Victory for last year’s beaten semi-finalists, coupled with a loss for Bell Post Hill, which faces third-placed North Geelong, would give them a one-game break with two rounds to play…

The countdown is officially on until finals with just three rounds left in the 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball season and Round 16 is filled with matchups that will shape the top five. Bannockburn will be eager to defend its position in first as the Tigers take on East Geelong who have had great form this season with two fewer wins than Bannockburn in third place. East Geelong was defeated by Winchelsea last round whilst Bannockburn returned to the winners' list against Bell Post Hill after their…

Corio goal shooter Sarah Kasparian has strengthened her grip on the Athlete's Foot A Grade MVP leaderboard, extending her tally to 27 votes with just three home-and-away rounds remaining. In her first season at the Devils, the experienced shooter has been a standout despite Corio's challenging campaign, combining leadership with consistent performances in attack. Kasparian sits one vote clear of Margaret Webb medallist Claudia Cook (East Geelong) while Anakie's Mia Edwards i…

Could this be Jordan Camm's year? The Thomson gun utility has added to his claim for a Whitley medal victory by sky-rocketing up the leaderboard for the Athletes Foot MVP, an award voted by opposing coaches and team managers. After trailing Anakie's Joshua Mawson by five votes after Round 10, Camm has polled 13 of a possible 15 votes in the past five games to lead the pack by four votes with three rounds to go. Mawson has added four votes in five games to sit outright second while fellow Ana…

Corio immortal Joel Bennett has taken another positive step in his recovery, undergoing successful surgery this week as he continues his rehabilitation from the spinal injury that has impacted him for the past two seasons. The 2023 Whitley Medallist suffered the injury in Round 6, 2024 while co-coaching Corio against reigning premier Inverleigh. After returning for 12 games last year and three games this season, Bennett revealed surgeons successfully removed two problem bones that had been cau…

After representing New South Wales in basketball and spending four seasons in the AFLW, Olivia Barber has returned to where her sporting journey began with netball. The former Geelong and Collingwood footballer joined Winchelsea's A Grade side in 2026 and has quickly become a key part of the Blues' push towards finals. Growing up in the small New South Wales town of Balldale, netball was Barber's first love before basketball and football eventually took centre stage. "I started playing netba…

With three losses from its first six games, Winchelsea coach Ben Moloney said a mindset change to narrow the gap between his side’s best and worst was the main reason for a nine-game winning streak. Moloney used a statistic to identify his side’s inconsistency with Winch conceding 170-points across two hours of play while scoring just 17. Outside of those two hours, the Blues had outscored their opposition. “The three games that we lost, we probably had a quarter and a bit each game of foo…

Bell Post Hill has marked a major milestone for one of its best-ever players with an important 10-point win over fellow finals contender Bannockburn at Myers Reserve. Coach Ash Witney says the 250th appearance of six-time premiership player Tim Barton provided plenty of motivation to overcome the Tigers and stay in the hunt for a top five berth. “You probably don’t need any motivation when finals are on the line,” Witney said. (Click here for full story)

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Winchelsea coach Ben Moloney has revealed how a catch-up with Nathan Buckley is helping drive standards among his club’s coaching staff. Using a pre-existing relationship from his time as a VFL player at Collingwood in the early stages of Buckley’s coaching tenure at the Magpies, Moloney reached out to the now Geelong assistant coach when he joined the Cats. (Click here for full story)

After a round full of upsets last weekend, Round 15 of the 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball competition is stacked with matchups that will make or break some finals hopes. The Geelong West Giants will come up against the confident and skilled Corio after their unexpected win against Thomson last round.  Whilst the Giants are yet to take home a win this season, Corio have been competitive throughout despite just falling short in a few close games. “I’ve said all along that if the team brings the…

Cody Dixon celebrated her 150th North Geelong game in the best possible way on Saturday, helping the Magpies to a thrilling one-goal A Grade victory that snapped a 749-day home drought. Dixon has been a loyal and committed player for the Magpies since her junior netball days, starting in the under-17’s before progressing into B Grade and A Grade. "I played in A Grade first for a few years, then I dropped down into B Grade and had some fun with my friends,” Dixon said. "Now I’m back up into A…

Bannockburn has become the second GDFNL club publicly searching for a new coach in 2026 after Ron Pilgrim announced he will step down when the Tigers’ campaign concludes. Pilgrim, who has been a player or coach across 513 matches in yellow and black, told Bannockburn’s playing group on Thursday night that he will bring his third stint in charge at Victoria Park to an end. He says it will also allow the Tigers to start the process of finding a replacement. (Click here for full story)

North Geelong has sent a reminder to the rest of the GDFNL that it will be in the thick of the GDFNL premiership race after handing Werribee Centrals a 60-point hiding at Keith Barclay Oval. The Magpies, who have strung together three consecutive wins to climb back into the top five, made the most of the inclusion of some key talent in beating the Centurions, 16.16 (112) to 7.10 (52). Co-coach Peter Riccardi, who rated the win “as right up there”, says the return of premiership big man Tom Da…

The Geelong & District Football Netball League (GDFNL) is proud to announce that a total of $4,285.00 has been raised and donated to support the family of Nathan Fitzgerald, following the tragic events that have deeply impacted football communities across Victoria and beyond. During last weekend's matches, GDFNL clubs came together in a remarkable show of compassion and solidarity, donating gate takings, conducting raffles, and collecting contributions from members, supporters, volunteers…

This week I visited Anakie ahead of their home match against East Geelong. A big thank you to all who joined us on the segment.

With only five rounds left to play until finals, the A Grade netball competition is tighter than ever and Round 14 is packed with some exciting match ups. All eyes will be on the live streamed game between Bannockburn and Belmont on Sunday as the reigning premiers prepare to take on the top side this season. Bannockburn continue to lead the competition with only one loss for the season, giving them a six point lead ahead of Inverleigh who sit below them in second place. Belmont will be looki…

Making excuses is not part of Rhyce Prismall’s vernacular, but the Werribee Centrals coach concedes injuries, coupled with unavailability, have contributed to the club’s consecutive losses. Unbeaten after 11 rounds, the Centurions’ winning run was halted against Winchelsea in Round 12, followed by a 22-point defeat at the hands of Bannockburn. A candid Prismall says the multiple absences have tested the club’s depth. (Click here for full story)

From a tiny country town in northern Victoria to captaining the Australian Diamonds, Sharelle McMahon's journey shows just how far community netball can take you. McMahon’s passion for netball started from an early age when she began playing locally in her hometown of Bamawm, a small country town just southeast of Echuca. “I started playing netball at both a local association and a football and netball club,” McMahon said. “The football and netball clubs are such an important part of the loc…

Winchelsea coach Ben Moloney has hailed the maturity of his players as they took another step towards a first finals appearance in 12 years with a thrilling two-point win over the Belmont Lions at Winter Reserve. After snapping Werribee Centrals’ 11-match winning streak to start the season the previous week, the Blues held off a late charge from the home team to record their second win of the season against the Lions, 12.8 (80) to 11.12 (78). (Click here for full story)

North Geelong great Kelly Parker has made history this morning by running out for her 450th game. Parker, who won an A Grade premiership in 2003 and the coveted Margaret Webb medal in 2004, said she was thrilled to share her milestone with Sarah Fitzsimmons and Lauren Drever who both play their 350th games against Thomson today. "I just want to say on behalf of us three thanks for the well wishes today," Parker said. "Never in a million years did I think the three of us would be here at the…

GDFNL legend Nick Costello has had a week to remember. Costello made history for the Panthers when kicking his club record 426th senior goal against Geelong West. The former Roo now heads to Anakie where he will play his 150th senior game for the Panthers. "It feels like I've played 300 here," Costello reflected. "It is a big test for us because Anakie is travelling quite well at the moment." His son Oakley also played against Anakie this morning. To emulate his father's career with bot…

Surgery next month will determine whether Joel Bennett ever pulls on the boots again. The Corio star has been sidelined since Round 3 as he deals with the ongoing effects of a serious injury suffered in the first half of the 2024 season. (Click here for full story)

Round 13 is here and with only six rounds remaining in the GDFNL 2026 netball season, the competition is getting intense. A huge matchup comes this round between Winchelsea and Belmont as both teams are fighting to solidify their place in finals. Winchelsea currently sits at fourth on the ladder whilst Belmont are just below them at fifth place with just one less win for the season. “The girls keep putting out each week and they’re doing really well but we can’t afford to be dropping any gam…

The 2026 Suncorp Super Netball competition has officially come to an end, but for me, this season is only the beginning. As an interning netball reporter for the Geelong & District Football Netball League, I was lucky enough to gain behind the scenes access to the highest level of netball in Australia. This incredible opportunity provided me with insight into the production of SSN games and what really goes into bringing the professional netball industry to life. After attending the la…

Last season’s Geelong & District Netball League grand finalists find themselves in a battle to claim a spot in the five with seven sides well in contention for September action. Reigning premier Belmont Lions are in fifth spot and runner-up Thomson is one rung below with six rounds remaining. The Lions face a tough run home with four of their six opponents still in the finals race. They meet Winchelsea (4th), Bannockburn (1st), North Geelong (11th), Werribee Centrals (9th), Thomson (6th)…

If East Geelong is to go one better than last year’s grand final appearance and snap a 17-year premiership drought, they’ll likely have to do it without gun forward Zac Smith. Smith suffered a ruptured AC joint following a contest at ground level during the second quarter of Saturday’s 101-point win over Corio at Richmond Crescent. A meeting with a surgeon later this week to determine whether he will play again in 2026. (Click here for full story)

North Geelong co-coach Peter Riccardi had no hesitation in labelling Saturday’s 11-point win over Bannockburn as “character building”. The undermanned reigning premier, which has been ravaged by injury and unavailability since the King’s Birthday break, hung tough in heavy conditions at Keith Barclay Oval to hold off the Tigers for the second time in 2026, 12.13 (85) to 10.14 (74). (Click here for full story)

Round 12 of the 2026 GDFNL netball season is bound to be an interesting one, as the teams will revisit their first opponents of the year from Round 1. A rivalry to look out for this round is between Inverleigh and Thomson, two sides who are likely to play finals and have had a great season thus far. “We’ve been building each week and are learning from each other, so we’re starting to really build together as a group,” Inverleigh A grade netball coach Lisa Milne said. Thomson defeated Inver…

Come just after 4:30 pm on Saturday, August 1, Bannockburn should have a clearer picture of whether it will make a quick return to the GDFNL finals. After failing to feature in the top five for the first time since 2012 last year, whether the Tigers will feature on the vast expanses of St Albans Reserve will be determined by the next five rounds. Bannockburn, which is among four teams with a 7-4 win-loss record, sits fifth on the ladder but is only one win off second spot. The Tigers’ challe…

Within her first year of netball in the Geelong District Football & Netball League, Sarah Kasparian from Corio is leading the Athlete’s Foot MVP count after Round 11. As a tall goal shooter, Kasparian plays a vital role within her team as both a leader and a player, which has awarded her with 21 MVP points this season. “You don’t play for these awards so I just go out there and do what I think is the right thing for everyone in that moment,” Kasparian said. Sitting below Kasparian on the…

Winchelsea coach Ben Moloney has praised how his players handled the occasion of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations after beating reigning premier North Geelong by 58 points at Eastern Reserve. Resplendent in a heritage guernsey of navy blue and white hoops with a maroon band, the Blues started strong and held off a third-quarter fightback from the Magpies to grab their eighth win of the season, 17.20 (122) to 10.4 (64). “We definitely touched on the occasion, and just about how signif…

There will be all the more reason to watch this afternoon’s Anakie vs. Werribee Centrals’ match with three players featuring in the Athletes Foot MVP leaderboard. Anakie youngster Joshua Mawson, cousin of senior coach Jayke, has shot out to a five-vote lead a narrow one vote margin in the first five rounds. SENIOR FOOTBALL - ATHLETES FOOT LEADERBOARD 20 - Joshua Mawson (Anakie) 15 – Tate Camilleri (Werribee Centrals) 15 - Jordan Camm (Thomson) 15 - Cassidy Parish (Winchelsea) 15 - Brad Gerra…

With just eight rounds remaining in the 2026 GDFNL netball competition, Round 11 is full of season shaping match-ups. The most anticipated game of the round is between Bannockburn and Thomson who have both had successful seasons so far, sitting at second and fifth on the ladder respectively. Thomson will be hungry for a win after their loss to East Geelong last week, hoping to secure a win in honour of their coach, Shannyn Leach, who celebrates her 200 games this round. “I’ve really enjoyed…

After many years of dedication as a coach and a player, Shannyn Leach from the Thomson Tigers will celebrate her 200th club game. Since joining the Tigers in 2016, Leach has worked hard to solidify her place at the club by taking on multiple coaching roles and receiving numerous netball awards. “It’s come up on me pretty quickly but it means a lot to me,” Leach shared. “What we’ve been able to achieve as a group and as a club has been pretty special.” Sharing the 200-game milestone with Lea…

Chris Wilkie admits Geelong West would not be around to celebrate its 100th anniversary if not for the joint venture it entered into with the GFNL club Geelong West-St Peter’s in 2016. The Giants president, who has been with the club for 30 years, save for a couple of seasons at Corio in the 2000s, recalled the then Cheetahs struggles ahead of Saturday’s milestone match against the Belmont Lions. “If this (joint venture) didn’t come in, or this didn’t come to a head, or come to a vote to the…

A syndesmosis injury suffered by Osca Riccardi before the interleague break is likely to sideline the North Geelong star until the closing stages of the GDFNL home-and-away season. Riccardi was forced from the ground early in the third quarter of the Round 8 win over Corio on May 30. After having his ankle re-strapped, the former Geelong rookie completed some run-throughs and returned to the field only to suffer further damage when he went to change direction. (Click here for full story)

Inverleigh has kept alive its flickering finals hopes with what coach Chris Moore has described as the club’s best win since the 2023 grand final after beating Bell Post Hill by 45 points at Myers Reserve. Leading by four points at three-quarter time, the Hawks, sparked by teenage star Sam Cations, slammed on nine goals to two in a final term that dreams are made of to claim a 19.12 (126) to 11.15 (81). “We weren’t playing good footy, we weren’t travelling well, we had some honest conversatio…

No division or area of the netball court is off limits for young North Geelong player Ryla Carr. At just 16 years old, Carr manages to play up to three games of netball per week, taking on any position that is thrown her way from the defensive end to the goal circle. Since joining North Geelong in 2024 after playing for Corio, Carr has made her mark on the club and appreciates the welcoming community at the Magpies. “I didn’t know how long I’d be here for but it’s like a family,” Carr said…

The Geelong District Football and Netball League's 15&U and 17&U representative netball sides returned home from Ballarat in high spirits.   Both sides were undefeated, making it a tournament clean sweep for the Raiders following the 13&U line-up's 6-0 record on Sunday, June 14.   Anakie defender Jessica Newell starred for the 17&U side while Bannockburn's Maggi White was influential across multiple positions.     North Geelong's Ryla Carr also proved to be one to w…

The 2026 Read The Play Round has been cast as a success by all twelve of our member clubs. Our league was proud to champion Read the Play Round. Read the Play Round is an annual initiative across, Geelong and District Football Netball League and AFL Barwon clubs, dedicated to shining a light on youth mental health in local sport. Why does it matter? The young people playing in our competitions every weekend are part of a generation under significant pressure. ● Nearly 1 in 2 young Australians…

The last time Werribee Centrals won a premiership, they weren't unbeaten after 10 rounds. In fact, none of the four premiership teams that built the club's modern dynasty were unbeaten after 10 rounds. Yet the 2026 Centurions head into this weekend's clash against Geelong West at 9-0, giving them the opportunity to achieve something none of those flag-winning sides managed. Forward target Brandon Houlihan will return as the Centurions attempt to start a season 10-0 for the first time since…

Round 10 of the GDFNL A Grade netball competition is packed with match ups you won’t want to miss. After winning their first game of the season last week, North Geelong will take on Anakie who sit just above them on the ladder. “We’ve definitely been working hard to get the win, so it was nice for our hard work to pay off,” North Geelong A Grade player Kiera Marsh said. Whilst Anakie will be looking for their second win of the season in Round 10, North Geelong won’t be going down without a f…

East Geelong veteran Jack Beardsell says he will be “hoping for a miracle” to play again this year after scans confirmed that the injury he sustained early in last week’s loss to Bell Post Hill is a broken leg. The versatile 32-year-old has also damaged ligaments in his ankle, and while he has avoided surgery, Beardsell is expecting to spend 9-12 weeks on the sidelines. (Click here for full story)

Julia Nash from the Werribee Centrals is not your typical netball player. When she isn’t defending on the netball court, Nash is taking on the football field as a versatile ruck. Since joining the Werribee Centrals in 2019, Nash has made her mark across both netball and football, utilising her height and competitiveness to stand out within the league. “I’ve played local netball since juniors but nothing high standard until I joined Centrals,” Nash said. “I was looking at joining a football…

On face value it was a match between two winless sides sitting at the bottom of the Geelong & District Netball League ladder, but for a rebuilding team such as North Geelong, it was an opportunity to confirm the belief in the direction the club was heading. The Magpies got out to an eight-goal lead at quarter time against Geelong West Giants and extended the margin at every change to win 57 to 22 at West Oval. The ease in which the Magpies defeated the Giants even surprised coach Katie Mc…

The Geelong District Football and Netball League's 13&U representative netball side celebrated a tournament sweep on Sunday, June 14. The representative line-up returned home undefeated by winning all six games at the Greater Ballarat tournament. GDFNL president Darryl Jarvis was among the big names in attendance. "It was a great day for all those involved," he stated. An Anakie team also participated, recording a memorable 4-2 win against Sebastopol Burras.   GDFNL 13&U Resul…

Fresh from breaking Corio's all-time games record with his 375th appearance, Chris Laurie has taken time to thank the club and community that have supported him throughout his remarkable journey. Laurie surpassed the previous benchmark in front of family, friends and teammates creating another memorable chapter in a career defined by loyalty and commitment to the Devils. The milestone became even more special as Laurie shared the day with his children, Trey, Maya and Avah while also lining up…

A focus on contested football over the bye has paid off for Bell Post Hill, which overcame East Geelong and tough conditions at Richmond Crescent to claim its sixth win of the season. The Panthers outlasted the Eagles in a low-scoring affair, 10.7 (67) to 7.6 (48). The victory leaves last year’s beaten preliminary finalists fourth on the ladder, bang in the middle of five teams with 6-3 win-loss records, entering the second half of the season. (Click here for full story)

A flood of injuries and unavailability has opened the door for the return of two-time Werribee Centrals best-and-fairest, Tyler Crennan, for Saturday’s clash with Corio. Missing from the opening six rounds of the season due to work and family commitments, the 2023 Whitley Medal runner-up made two appearances in the reserves before last week’s interleague break. Coach Rhyce Prismall says they made no promises to Crennan when he returned to training last month. (Click here for full story)

2026 seems to be the season of milestones, as this week, East Geelong will be celebrating Samantha Rundle as she plays her 400th game for the club. Rundle first joined the East Geelong family back in 1985 when she was just 11-years-old and has been a member of the club ever since. “We came across here when my brother started playing footy,” Rundle reflected. “Ever since then, being here as a kid, we just stayed here. It’s a great community, greatly family oriented, and just a great place to…

On Thursday, June 18 our netball reporter Lauren McDonald headed to Thomson ahead of the Tigers' Round 9 fixture against Winchelsea.

Fresh from captaining the GDFNL 25&U Interleague side to a 106-point win, Belmont Lions star Ben McPherson will turn his attention to Inverleigh McPherson's leadership has become one of the great success stories at Belmont, earning him the honour of leading the representative side on the big stage. Belmont co-coach Andy Walsgott said McPherson's growth over the past two seasons had been remarkable. "He's like a son," Walsgott said. "He has come a long way with his development and leader…

Anakie coach Jayke Mawson says early discussions have started with the club on extending his coaching tenure into 2027. Mawson, who became a father for the first time in recent weeks, guided the Roos to their first finals appearance in 26 years last year after taking on the role late in 2023. He says president Heath Menhennet recently started the conversation about next year. “Heath’s pretty onto it… we had a good chat the other day,” Mawson told K rock Football.

The 2026 Interleague netball clash provided yet another competitive matchup between the GDFNL Raiders and the Colac DFNL. Hosted at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve on Saturday June 6, it was a close game with a great turnout in support of the talented players selected to represent the league.   Despite the Raiders 58-53 loss to Colac, there were many positives to be taken away from the day following a consistently strong effort in all four quarters. Goaler Bree Caldwell from the Thomson Tigers…

Geelong & District coach Paul Lynch has paid tribute to the commitment of the competition’s brightest young talent after the Raiders handed Colac and District a 106-point hiding at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve on Saturday. After a seven-point win in last year’s contest, the GDFNL made light work of the CDFNL this time around, retaining the Hickey-Whitley Shield with an 18.21 (129) to 3.5 (23). “It would have been nice, as a spectator (for the margin) to be a lot closer and all that sort o…

Paul Lynch has labelled the GDFNL’s forward line “our most dangerous part of the ground” ahead of tomorrow’s interleague meeting with Colac and District at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve. For the second consecutive year, the Raiders will do battle with the CDFNL at the under-25 level, with the hosts keen to retain the Hickey-Whitley Shield after a seven-point win last year. (Click here for full story)

Partway through its most challenging section of the season, Inverleigh is having its depth tested like few others. The past fortnight, in which the Hawks have been unable to go the distance with reigning premier North Geelong and the unbeaten Werribee Centrals, has resulted in serious injuries for the talented Dan Maher, experienced ruckman Luke Wilson, and reliable captain Jack Fiolet. Maher suffered a broken leg in the loss to the Centurions and is facing the prospect of surgery and missing…

Anakie and North Shore have both paid tribute to David Walmsley following his sudden death yesterday at the age of 61. Walmsley was a premiership player in 1991 and senior captain in 1993 with the Roos. He also won a reserves best-and-fairest at the back end of his career in 2004. “We send our love and condolences to David’s wife Lynette, mother Maureen and children Brittany, Caitlyn and Connor and extended family,” Anakie wrote on Facebook. More recently, he was a popular figure at North S…

The GDFNL has finalised its open-aged netball squad ahead of Saturday's clash against the Colac & District Football Netball League at Winchelsea's Eastern Reserve. Thomson coach Shannyn Leach will lead the side after an impressive season at the helm of the Tigers while Belmont Lions star Molly Gribble has been appointed captain after claiming a second straight Margaret Webb medal in 2025. "Obviously it's a privilege to be captain of the GDFNL Interleague team," Gribble said. "Any one of…

The GDFNL's 25&U Interleague team was unveiled this evening following an inspirational training session in wet conditions. Second-year coach Paul Lynch praised the commitment of the wider squad and urged those who missed selection to hold their heads high before announcing Belmont Lions star Ben McPherson as captain for this year's clash against the Colac & District Football Netball League. McPherson captained the GDFNL to a memorable 11.13 (79) to 10.12 (72) victory over the CDFNL in…

Twin sisters Yianna and Angelique Ross have become an integral part of Belmont's rise, helping the Lions break a 22-year finals drought before playing key roles in last year's historic A Grade premiership. The pair arrived at Belmont as teenagers after taking an unconventional path into netball. "Angelique and I grew up as tennis players, so we didn't start netball until a bit later," Yianna said. "It's because we used to argue a bit during doubles, so our Mum said, 'Girls, I think you nee…

HUNDREDS of young players have represented their hometowns in the Association Championships this month, but the pathway to representative competition is one rarely seen. Geelong and District Netball League junior netball development coordinator, Elisha Balins, was tasked with creating the league’s representative sides this year for the first time. With just two months to bring the squads together, it was a responsibility she did not take lightly. Over several sessions, eligible players were…

It was the round that belied the competitive nature of the Geelong & District Football League ladder. Unbeaten Werribee Centrals sit alone at the top of the table and then seven sides from second to seventh are separated only by percentage. However, it was a lopsided round 8 and if you take away the result at Winter Reserve, the average winning margin was 99 points. Three games were decided by triple figures. Thank goodness for East Geelong and Belmont Lions. In a gripping encounter at…