News Archive

The countdown is on to a landmark moment for the Geelong & District Football Netball League with the inaugural 11 & Under netball season set to begin in 2026. GDFNL executive and member clubs have commended netball manager Lee Doherty and the league’s working parties for achieving the milestone, which expands a junior pathway that has been in place since netball was introduced in 2002. Until now, the league has operated three junior divisions. Inverleigh has been the dominant force a…

The Geelong & District Football and Netball League will return to separate senior football and netball vote count nights in 2026, confirming two standalone medal events for the upcoming season. The Neville Whitley Medal night will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at Buckley’s Entertainment Centre. Along with the league’s highest individual football honour, the night will also feature the presentation of the Ivan Tansing Medal for the leading reserves player, Rookie of the Year, and the anno…

New rules affecting how young people under 16 use social media have come into effect from December 10, 2025. Netball Victoria has released a fact sheet outlining the changes, their potential impact and links to helpful resources. Further information is expected from Netball Australia and the eSafety Commission in the new year with a briefing session for affiliates scheduled for February 2026. MEANWHILE the GDFNL fixture has been released for season 2026. Last year Bannockburn defeated Anaki…

Winchelsea gun Fin Parish will get a chance to put his undoubted talent on a show at a higher level after being invited to pre-season training with VFL club Werribee. The 24-year-old has earned an opportunity despite a broken thumb, followed by an overseas holiday, limiting him to just four senior matches for the Blues in 2025. “We pushed Fin early on, saying, ‘Well, are you interested? And would you be keen on giving it a crack?,” Winchelsea coach Ben Moloney said. “He’s someone who likes t…

Corio has unveiled journeyman Mikali Harrison as its latest recruit. Harrison joins the Devils after spending part of 2025 with Kyabram and District league club Stanhope. He is no stranger to local grounds, having played senior football with Belmont Lions, Newcomb and North Shore. At the Lions, he made 85 appearances in the firsts. “A mid/small forward, he’s highly skilled, thrives at contested balls, while also applying great forward pressure,” Corio said in a post on Facebook. “We’re loo…

A relationship formed during Rhyce Prismall’s playing days with GFNL club Lara has helped Werribee Centrals secure the services of Cats’ co-captain Aaron Stone. Prismall played with Lara when Stone’s dad, club great Shayne, was midfield coach, while also playing alongside brother Jordan at senior level. Stone joins returning Centurion Connor Linehan-Cunningham in making the move to Galvin Park from the Snakepit. “I’d always check it and see how the boys were going,” Prismall said. “We played…

Bannockburn had added some much-needed firepower to its forward line as it looks to avoid missing finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in more than 20 years in 2026. The Tigers have signed Henry Hawker from GFNL club Leopold as they look to improve their offensive output after ranking 10th for scoring, and tumbling down the ladder to 10th position – their worst home-and-away win-loss record since 2005. On the comeback from a serious knee injury when he arrived at the Lions, the 19…

Strong family ties have helped GDFNL preliminary finalist Bell Post Hill land former Geelong West (GFNL) captain David Handley. A Geelong Falcons premiership player in 2017, who also played 16 VFL games with Carlton, including 14 in 2022, has been unveiled as the Panthers’ first off-season signing. Handley’s mum, Amanda, is a life member at Myers Reserve, while his father, Ewan, is a former player. The 26-year-old was part of Bell Post Hill’s Auskick program but didn’t play with the club. H…

Inverleigh has poached experienced midfielder Zac Plant from GDFNL rivals Thomson. The Hawks have confirmed the arrival of Plant, who was part of the Tigers’ 2024 premiership team and played in their losing grand final side the previous year against Inverleigh. “We are getting a hard-nosed and experienced midfielder who will not only bolster our senior squad but will also drive standards and fit into our culture seamlessly,” the Hawks said in a statement on social media. “As one of the pre-e…

Bannockburn’s hopes of a quick bounce back after missing the GDFNL finals for the first time since 2014 have received a significant boost, with premiership co-coach Jack Brauman returning to the club. The hard-edged midfielder, who has VFL experience with Werribee to his name, has spent the past three seasons with QAFL club Surfers Paradise. A one-off appearance in mid-2023 was his only outing for the Tigers since leaving Victoria Park, after helping guide the club to the 2022 premiership. C…