News Archive

After months of historical research, just ONE photograph remains missing from our collection of past GDFL presidents. We thank Nick from the Geelong Heritage Centre for his assistance as well as June Harding for providing photos of her father Les "Guv" Smith, our league's third longest serving president after Neville Whitley OAM and Eric "Jock" McKenzie. Elbertus “Bert” Herni (6 February 1948 – 21 September 2017) served as president of the Lara Football Club in 1978 before becoming GDFL presi…

Want to find out who won your club's senior football best and fairest in season 2026? (Click here for our updated lists)

The Geelong & District Football Netball League (GDFNL) is one step closer to completing its historical collection of former presidents with just three photographs remaining missing. Following months of research and assistance from local historians, sporting clubs and community members, the league has recently located a photograph of Albert H. Langdon (1927–1933) through the Bareena Bowls Club. He is pictured here in 1940 after winning the Victorian Country Pink Championship with H. Bannam…

Thomson has announced 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership player Clay Smith as its senior football coach for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Smith, who played 55 AFL games, brings extensive coaching experience to Godfrey Street following senior coaching stints at Point Cook (2023–24) and Ballan (2025). The former Bulldog spent the 2026 season as a senior assistant coach at Bolder Football Club, having previously held an assistant coaching role at Williamstown VFL. The Tigers are confident Smith's e…

Belmont Lion Michael Murdoch has signed on for season 2027. The reigning Daryl 'Sid' Jones medallist has featured in both of the GDFNL's Interleague wins over Colac DFNL in 2025 & 2026. (More to come)

The Geelong & District Football Netball League (GDFNL) is calling on the local football community for assistance as its historical research project moves closer to completion. Following months of research and assistance from local historians and heritage organisations just six former presidents remain without a photograph in the league's historical collection. Much like today, when the Geelong region is represented by three major football competitions, the 1930s also featured three separa…

Expressions of Interest remain open for the 2027 GDFNL Raiders Representative Netball Program with an expanded program set to provide even more opportunities for the league’s emerging junior netballers. The Raiders are planning to field two teams in each of the Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups in 2027, which will give more young players the opportunity to develop their skills, challenge themselves and experience representative netball. Players selected in the program can look forwar…

Caleb Ezard has joined elite company. East Geelong’s key forward has capped off his first premiership by winning his club’s best and fairest count. Captain John McIntyre finished runner up, denied a club record sixth win having already featured on the honourboard in 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. “To be on the same honourboard as him was very special,” Ezard explained. “He presented me with the medal and as the day went on he got around it.” Ezard crossed over to East Geelong in season…

As the GDFNL continues to preserve and celebrate 150 years of local football history, we are calling on the Geelong community to help complete an important piece of the puzzle. After extensive research through archives, newspapers, clubs and local families, photographs have now been located for the majority of the league’s known presidents dating back to the 19th century. However, nine presidents remain without a photograph. If you recognise one of the names below, are a descendant or know s…

Inverleigh has made a positive start to its off-season as it chases a return to finals in 2027. The Hawks have added North Shore duo Connor Walmsley and Brad Tregenza, the former having played under Inverleigh coach Chris Moore at Anakie before joining the Seagulls in 2019. Walmsley played 88 senior matches with North Shore, but injury restricted him to just five appearances this year. (Click here for full story)

Less than a month after becoming a premiership Eagle, East Geelong’s Jayden Fanning has called time on a decorated career. Fanning played an important role in the Eagles’ finals series thanks to his stoic display down back. “The last few years I have been umming and ahhhing about whether to pull the pin,” Fanning told GDFNL Media. “I think being so close for numerous years now has made it hard but now that we have that one (premiership) for the club I think its time to pull the pin.” Fann…

Anakie's Jackson Francese-Fulton has celebrated a national title this afternoon. The 20-year-old helped guide Victoria University to a 10.8 (68) to 4.6 (30) win against Sydney Tech in the final of the Australian University Games’ AFL Nines tournament in Perth. The Vultures celebrated wins over Murdoch (WA), University of Sunshine Coast (QLD), Deakin (VIC), University of NSW and University of Sydney in the Group Stage before holding off Australian Catholic University in the Semi Final. Though…

Outgoing Belmont Lions co-coach Andy Walsgott is confident he is leaving the club in a better place than when he arrived four years ago. Walsgott, who has shared the co-coaching role with Brent Vermeulen since being appointed for the 2023 season, chose not to seek a contract extension for 2027. The duo guided the Lions to three consecutive finals appearances, including the club’s first grand final berth in 17 years in 2024. (Click here for full story)

The East Geelong Football and Netball Club have taken home both the senior football and A grade netball premiership cups in the same season for the first time in the clubs 147-year history. The senior football team defeated the Werribee Centrals in a thrilling one-point victory on Saturday to break a 17-year premiership drought since their last grand final win in 2009. The A Grade netball team had previously won two premierships in 2022 and 2024 and defeated Winchelsea by five goals to take…

While East Geelong got to celebrate what every player from every club at every level craves – a premiership – it was the friendships and camaraderie that rewarded coach Justine Radford the most this season. The new-look Eagles welcomed in three Under 19 players to the squad while retaining the experienced Steph Boyce, Claudia Cook, Shannon Pietsch and Jenelle Baker. It paid off with a pulsating 29 to 24 win against a gallant Winchelsea in the grand final. Radford said a strong bond off the c…

East Geelong claimed the 2026 A Grade premiership after a pulsating contest against a gallant Winchelsea at St Albans Reserve. In a low-scoring game, the Eagles led narrowly at every change and were up by five halfway through the third quarter. But Winch launched a fightback with Katrina Felice finding four unanswered goals to reduce the deficit to one with four minutes remaining in the term. East held a two-goal lead that became five midway through the last quarter, but one final Wi…

A behind just moments before the final siren has seen East Geelong snap a 17-year GDFNL premiership drought in the most dramatic of fashions. Despite Andrew Steele’s running shot at goal from 20 metres out missing to the left, as the goal umpire waved his flag, the siren sounded to signal a one-point Eagles win over Werribee Centrals, 8.11 (59) to 8.10 (58). (Click here for full story)

East Geelong snatched premiership victory in the dying seconds of a scrappy, but pulsating, GDFL grand final against Werribee Centrals.   Seemingly down and out trailing by 13 points late in the final term in a low scoring game, Sam Purdy goaled just before an East behind put the margin to within a straight kick. Then Andrew Steele kicked his second to tie the scores with more than 24 minutes gone on the clock. There was ample time for either side to score next, but both defences repell…

The Whitley Medal book will be launched later this morning at the GDFNL grand final luncheon. The book features interviews from every Whitley medallist from 1992, when Corio teenager Mark Stewart was awarded the honour, to 2026 when Jack Yates became the first Panther to claim back-to-back counts. Former winners will be attending to share their thoughts on the project. (For more information click here) (How to Order)

No matter what the result of Saturday’s GDFNL grand final, a lengthy premiership drought will be broken at St Albans Reserve. East Geelong is chasing its first flag since 2009 – and just its third senior premiership since winning the 1973 Division One title. (Click here for full story)

After eighteen home and away games and three weeks of finals, the 2026 GDFNL A grade netball grand final is finally upon us and will take place this Saturday the 12th of September. Winchelsea and East Geelong will face off in the grand final as they battle it out on the netball court for the premiership cup following two very successful seasons from both sides. Winchelsea finished in fourth place on the ladder from 13 wins and have won all three of their finals games against Thomson, Bannockb…

East Geelong captain John McIntyre is confident he will get through training this week and take his place in the Eagles’ team for Saturday’s GDFNL grand final against Werribee Centrals. McIntyre injured his hamstring early in the qualifying final win over the Centurions on August 22. A five-time winner of the club’s best-and-fairest, the Mick Thompson Medal, he was sidelined for the following week’s second semi-final victory over Winchelsea, meaning he’s only missed one match. (Click here fo…

Werribee Centrals coach Rhyce Prismal has quickly claimed underdog status ahead of next week’s grand final after ending Winchelsea’s dream of a first appearance in a GDFNL decider with a 27-point win at St Albans Reserve, 12.10 (82) to 7.13 (55). The Centurions broke open what had been a tight contest until three-quarter time in the final term, kicking four goals to one to book a meeting with qualifying final conquerors East Geelong next Saturday. (Click here for full story)

After an intense A grade netball preliminary final, Winchelsea is officially a grand finalist with a chance to take home the premiership cup for the first time since 2012. Winchelsea defeated Inverleigh by 18 goals in the preliminary final this past Saturday, leading the game for all four quarters despite some challenging weather conditions. Prior to the preliminary final, Winchelsea defeated Thomson by 11 goals in the elimination final before also defeating Bannockburn by 10 goals in the sem…

Werribee Centrals face some tough calls leading into Saturday’s Geelong & District Football League grand final against East Geelong.   Kai Gomes Pattiyage looks likely to return from concussion protocols while Blake Taylor will push for selection after copping a hamstring injury in the qualifying final. With captain Michael Culliver out for the season after doing an ACL in round 16, stand-in skipper Jack Stephenson said he didn’t envy the coaching panel’s selection headaches this week…

East Geelong captain John McIntyre will wait until Thursday night to make a call on whether his injured hamstring has recovered enough to allow him to play in this Saturday’s GDFL grand final.   McIntyre copped the injury in the qualifying final on 23 August, meaning he will have had 20 days to recover if he lines up in the decider against Werribee Centrals. The star midfielder said he will likely make a final call at training on Thursday rather than game day on Saturday, but was leaning t…

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…