Beyond the Boundary Edition #43
- 7 days ago
- 15 min read
FROM THE REGION MANAGER
Shaun Connell
NAIDOC Week | Celebrating Culture, Community and Connection
As we recognise the upcoming NAIDOC Week, we take a moment to celebrate the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to acknowledge the strength and resilience of First Nations communities across our region.
This week also marks a significant milestone for one of our proud community clubs, with Rumbalara Football Netball Club celebrating its 30-Year Gala. Rumbalara’s impact, both on and off the field, has been profound, playing a vital role in fostering community pride, inclusion and cultural connection.
We congratulate Rumbalara FNC on this remarkable achievement and acknowledge the club’s ongoing leadership and contribution to our game and community.
Player Transfers Closed – Registrations Continue to Strengthen
Player transfers have officially closed for the current season, with lists now settled for the remainder of the year.
Goulburn Murray is tracking strongly in 2026, with 9,167 participants YTD and continued growth across community football and programs. Participation gains are being driven by strong junior pathways, emerging formats and steady league performance across the region.
Importantly, increased involvement in programs and umpiring, along with continued growth in women’s and girls’ football, signals a positive and sustainable outlook for the game locally.
Building Cultural Competency - Murray League Cultural Awareness Session
AFL Goulburn Murray is proud to partner with the Murray League to deliver the first Murray League-based Cultural Awareness Session as part of the Community Connect initiative.
Delivered by Rob Hyatt from the Koorie Heritage Trust, this important session will support clubs to build greater cultural understanding, strengthen relationships with First Peoples communities, and contribute to a more inclusive football and netball environment.
Monday 13 July 2026
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Nathalia FNC
Participants will gain valuable insights into Aboriginal identity and history, effective community engagement, the impacts of racism, and the importance of anti-racism and allyship.
To support meaningful discussion and ensure learnings are shared across clubs, AFL Goulburn Murray encourages attendance from:
Club Executives
Coaches
Senior Captains (U14+)
Together, we can help build strong club leaders who will shape a more connected, respectful and culturally inclusive sporting community.
Regional Administration Transition Update Meeting – GMJ and W&G
Clubs participating in the Goulburn Murray Juniors and Goulburn Murray Women & Girls competitions are invited to attend an important update meeting on the Regional RAC Transition Project on 8 July.
The session will share progress to date and outline the proposed governance and administration model that will support junior and women’s and girls’ football from 1 November 2026.
Invitations have been sent to clubs in recent days. For meeting details or agenda information, please contact your Competition Administrator.
We encourage all clubs to be represented and to stay engaged as planning continues for the future of football across the Goulburn Murray region.
Netball Victoria Talent Academy and State Program Trial Invitations
The region is pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the players who have been invited to trial for the 2027 Netball Victoria Talent Academy and Victorian 17/U and 19/U State Programs. A full list of players invited to trial can be found by clicking here.
STATE TITLES | ||
Immogen Buntine | Goulburn | Mooroopna |
Arabella Cavicchiolo | North East | |
Sienna Linssen | North East | |
Indi Rijnbeek | North East | |
ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||
Pippa Butterworth | Goulburn Murray Junior League | Yea |
Ava Braybon | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Mooroopna |
Quinn Downward | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Echuca |
Molly Fowler | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Euroa |
Charlie Haw | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Echuca |
Grace Hill | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Euroa |
Aroha Kautai | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton Swans |
Ruby Pickles | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton Swans |
Georgia Robertson | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton United |
Maddison Robinson | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton United |
Ellie Sidebottom | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton |
Isla Liddell | Goulburn Valley Netball League | Shepparton Swans |
Tessa Hueston | Kyabram District Football Netball League | Tallygaroopna |
Ava Bourke | Murray Netball League | |
Emily Collins | Murray Netball League | |
Lydia De Pasquale | Murray Netball League | |
Pippa Leeds | Murray Netball League | |
Marnie Morgan | Murray Netball League | |
Emma Moyle | Murray Netball League | |
Ruby Obrien | Murray Netball League | |
Avah O’Farrell | Murray Netball League | |
Lucy Smith | Murray Netball League | |
Wirrkari Wanganeen | Murray Netball League | |
In Case you Missed It: AFL Victoria Org Chart
Upcoming Key Dates
July
📅 July 5 - 12 / NAIDOC Week
📅 July 23 - 26 / Road Safety Round
📅 July 23 / R4 Telstra Footy Country Grants Close
📅 July 24 - 26 / GMJ Sit Down Round
📅 Women's Coaching Month
August
📅 August 24 / TAC Club Rewards Program Closes
September
📅 September 21 / Toyota Good for Footy Raffle Closes
We’re Here to Help!
Our team is on hand to support you across all areas:
AFL Victoria
Governance, Strategy, Facilities, Partnerships & Governance – Shaun Connell
Club Development & Experience – Sam Monaghan
Participation Team – Kevin Monaghan & Mel Saunders
RAC Operational Support – Jo Spencer (HOO), Andrew Moore (GVFUA), Brad Noonan (GVL), Connor Noakes (GMJ), Sam Heron (GMW&G), Jo Backway (Netball), Michelle Adams (Finance)
Murray League – Dale Norman
Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards - Nominations CLOSING SOON!
The 2026 Toyota National Volunteer Awards close this Sunday! So don't forget to jump onto the link and nominate an amazing volunteer at your club.
The awards, comprising 13 categories, recognise volunteers across Australia who have made outstanding contributions to community football. All NAB AFL Auskick centres, schools, community clubs, and affiliated leagues in each state and territory are invited to participate.
The various category nominations will first be considered at State / Territory level. State / Territory winners are then considered as part of the AFL National Awards, with all nominees receiving a certificate. Wonderful recognition & prizes are on offer to the various category winners. Nominations close Monday 6 July!
Please nominate here: Toyota National Volunteer Awards 2026 - Intellistack
Club promotional toolkit: find here
Child Safeguarding Requirements
Clubs are legally required to comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards (VCCS), however the VCCS doesn’t explicitly call out the need for clubs to have a Child Safety Officer (CSO). However, appointing a CSO is a positive step towards meeting the requirements outlined in the VCCS to ensure a safe environment.
The AFL has a Club Safeguarding Checklist on the Play AFL website along with a Child Safeguarding Officer position description which will help clubs. In addition to this, Sport integrity Australia (SIA) also has a range of resources available.
Please head here for more information or to report a child safeguarding matter, please lodge through the AFL Integrity Portal or contact AFLGM Club Development Lead for further guidance and support.
Keeping Racism Out of Community Sport!
Content Warning: This content contains explicit mentions of racism.
Community sport should be a place where everyone feels welcome, safe and respected. AFL Victoria has partnered with the State Government to launch an anti-racism campaign in which clubs, players, volunteers and families learn how to build inclusive environments and respond to hate and discrimination when it occurs.
Nabil is the President of an AFL club in Victoria. He faced racial abuse while umpiring an under‑14s game. Nabil believes in education, clear reporting, and building clubs where everyone feels they belong.
Racism doesnʼt belong in our game.
Watch Nabilʼs story and learn more here: https://youtube.com/shorts/ePLt5SMQ2Eg
Club Learning Module
Federal Grant Opportunity - Game On: Teaming up for climate action
Australian Government's Game on: Teaming up for climate action program will deliver $35.262 million over 2 funding rounds and will run over 3 years from 2026–27 to 2028–29. The program was announced as part of the Support for the Net Zero Plan. Individual clubs can apply ($25K - $100K). Closes July 8 2026.
Telstra Footy Grants
The Telstra Footy Grants program offers local football clubs in Australia the opportunity to receive funding to enhance their operations and community engagement. The Telstra Footy Grants is designed to financially assist initiatives that can support Community Clubs affiliated to the AFL to strengthen the base and secure the future in three key strategic areas: Grow and assist volunteer capacity. Grow and diversify participation. Improve club environments and experiences. Final rounds closes Thursday 23 July.
Toyota Good for Footy Raffle
The Toyota Good for Footy Raffle gives 100% of funds raised helping invest in the things that matter most to your players, volunteers and community. Tickets are just $5. Plus, you could win one of three brand new Toyota vehicles, exclusive AFL experiences, coaching clinics and more. When your club raises funds, it builds a stronger season ahead. That's Good for Footy! Ticket sales close 21 September 2026 at 12.00pm
Australia Post Community Grant
Our Community Grants program supports projects that connect people to improve mental wellbeing in local communities. To help them deliver for their communities, we award Community Grants of up to $10,000 each year to fund community-led, local projects. These funds will be dedicated to projects that enhance mental wellbeing by fostering connection and building resilience within communities recovering from a natural disaster or a major storm event.
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund
The next round of the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund is now open with funding up to $500,000 available. Clubs are encouraged to speak to their Council contact about any potential projects and their alignment to program guidelines. The program is only eligible to LGAs and will close on Tuesday 28 July, 2026 at 5pm
Bunnings Legend of the Tongs
Bunnings Legend of the Tongs is back for 2026! Clubs can nominate their legends for the chance to win weekly prize packs. Plus, a chance to win a trip for two to attend the AFL Footy Festival & 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final, and an additional $25,000 in Bunnings products & materials for the club. Closes: 16 August 2026
TAC Club Rewards
The TAC and AFL Victoria have partnered together for 34 years, working to achieve the vision of no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. As part of the program, all AFL Victoria-aligned clubs across regional Victoria and in the metropolitan leagues can take part and earn up to $10,000 in funding by promoting road safety in their community. This year we're tackling speeding driving. Road Safety Round will take place over the weekend of 23-26th July 2026. Applications close Monday 24 August (promo packs available at AFL Goulburn Murray)
Australian Sports Foundation
Grassroots football clubs should consider using the Australian Sports Foundation as it allows clubs to raise funds through tax-deductible donations. This makes it easier to attract support from individuals, businesses and major donors while increasing credibility and reach. Clubs can use the platform to fundraise for projects such as facility upgrades, equipment, participation programs and other club development initiatives.
WorkSafe Footy's Favourite Farmer
Nominations are now open for the annual Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition, celebrating the incredible individuals who shine both on the farm and at the local oval. The competition, run in partnership with AFL Victoria, awards $10,000 to the winning farmer to put towards farm safety improvements, and another $10,000 for upgrades to their local football netball club. Entries close 31 July.
School Holiday fun is just a click away!
Join us for a full day of footy fun these school holidays, with programs running in Shepparton, Echuca, Yea and Cobram – including the launch of an All Girls program in Cobram for the very first time.
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Participants will enjoy:
• A full day of football activities
• Footy giveaways
• A brand-new football to keep
Whether you're new to footy or already love the game, there's something for everyone.
Find your closest program here: https://play.afl/club-finder-map?formats=holiday_programs
For more information, contact: mel.saunders@afl.com.au kevin.monaghan@afl.com.au
AFL Victoria Junior Football Finals Charter - Your Actions, Their Game!!
In the lead-up to Junior Finals commencing in mid-August, the AFL Victoria Coaching and Umpiring teams will deliver an online webinar designed for Junior coaches across Victoria competing in finals.
Finals can be a more intense and challenging environment for all involved. This session aims to support coaches and club staff in creating a positive, well-managed experience that benefits players, umpires, and the wider football community.
While the session is designed with finals teams in mind, it is a valuable learning opportunity for all coaches regardless of participation in finals.
REGISTER TO ATTEND: Your Actions, Their Game - Pre Finals Webinar 2026
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
(A calendar invite including the Teams link will be sent following registration.)
Who Should Attend
* Junior Head Coaches (strongly encouraged)
* Assistant Coaches and Team Managers (welcome and encouraged)
* A member of the club’s Executive Committee
Accreditation
Coaches and Assistant Coaches who register and attend will receive 30 points toward coaching reaccreditation.
AFL VIC Coaches Forum 2027
AFL Vic will once again be hosting the AFL Victoria Coaches Forum in 2027. A date has been confirmed, and the event will once again be hosted at the MCG, this time on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February. This will also be part of a wider AFL Victoria Season Launch event for several streams of community football, more details on this event will be coming shortly.
Women's Coaching Month - JULY 2026
Women’s Coaching Month is here! The theme in 2026 is ‘Keep Coaching. Keep Leading', which celebrates retaining and empowering women coaches, supporting growth through programs, recognising leadership, and inspiring long-term involvement and their continued impact.
Throughout the month, we will be sharing stories of some of our wonderful female coaches.
We encourage our clubs to recognise and promote the wonderful women coaching in some capacity at your club, and if there aren't many, think of ways to get women involved going forward.
🏉 Registrations to Umpire for the 2026 season are still OPEN!
Stay involved in footy and develop your skills with support from experienced coaches. Field, Boundary & Goal Umpires all welcome.
Spirit of Football & Netball Round
Last weekend, across the region, all Junior Football grades across the Goulburn Murray Region and the Goulburn Murray Juniors Netball grades participated in the “Spirit of Football/Netball” Round.
The Spirit of Football/Netball Round is centred around three main qualities: sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play. The Round encourages players to embody the true essence of the game by demonstrating respect towards opponents, officials, and teammates alike. It is an opportunity for clubs to showcase their commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive sporting environment. We saw players across our competitions display all three qualities when competing out on the field.
Following the conclusion of the game, both captains and coaches from each team identified a player from the opposing team that embodied these qualities throughout the match who were presented with a medal.
Congratulations to all players that were awarded the Spirit of Football/Netball medal and thanks to all teams that participated in the special annual Goulburn Murray Juniors round.
Goulburn Murray Juniors Sit Down Round
AFL Goulburn Murray in collaboration with AFL Victoria are excited for the upcoming Sit Down to Coach Round across our junior competitions.
As we continue to help create better environments for all participants in our sport, players, umpires, volunteers and spectators, Sit Down Round will be hosted across the Goulburn Murray Junior competition Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July, which will be Round 13/Round 9.
On this weekend, Coaches and additional support staff in the coaches box (i.e. Runners, Trainers and Assistant Coaches) will be sitting down throughout the game. This comes off the back of our very own Spirit of Footy Netball annual rounds and the incredible success that South Australia has achieved through the SANFL Junior competition where they have seen much improved results in post-game umpire ratings of the match day environments for them and the players on the field. This initiative saw a reduction of ‘poor ratings’ (1 or 2 out of 5) from 165 in season 2023 before Sit Down Round was introduced to now 45 poor ratings in 2025 when Sit Down Round was implemented every week throughout the SANFL Juniors season.
Further to the above regarding officials, all spectators and non-official personnel are required to remain behind the boundary fence at all times and are not permitted to enter the playing surface under any circumstances, including during quarter-time breaks and team huddles. This requirement is in place to ensure that junior football remains a player-centred environment, allowing players and coaches to engage without external influence or distractions from spectators.
Under 9s/Under 10s Games
Coaches are still permitted to be on the oval to support their players, but noting the theme of the round
Chairs are able to be set up around the ground to encourage the initiative
To participate in this initiative:
1. Discuss as a club and ensure coaches are prepared to participate, please complete this FORM HERE to confirm the details of your club, the club contact and your local league/region by Friday 17 July.
2. AFL Victoria will provide you with social media collateral and also flyers and posters to spread around your club ahead of the weekend's games.
3. Ensure that your opposition clubs on the weekend are aware that you are participating in this and encourage them to do the same, by providing them necessary chairs for the games.
4. We encourage clubs to share photos directly to AFLGM or across your club socials
Please see the image below to get a preview of what the game day environment would look like for coaches and support staff on the bench.
AFL Women & Girls Charter
Signing up to the AFL Women & Girls' Charter demonstrates a club's commitment to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for women and girls at all levels of the game.
The Charter supports clubs to strengthen participation, leadership and development opportunities, while reinforcing positive club culture, respect and equality. This should be a straightforward decision for every club president in the region.
Click the link to get started - W&G Charter
Goulburn Murray Women & Girls Under 14 Girls - Registrations Open
Our 6-week season + finals is here!
Starts Wednesday, 1st July at Moama Rec Reserve, from 5:00 PM
Get your team together and enjoy a great season of competition, community, and fun. Whether you’re returning or joining for the first time, everyone is welcome!
6-week season
Finals series
Great atmosphere
All skill levels welcome
Don’t miss out — register now! https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/9c0d3e
For more information, please contact Women & Girls Coordinator Sammy Heron via sammy.heron@aflgm.com.au
AFLW Community Ambassadors Program
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Chemist Warehouse AFLW Community Ambassadors program.
The program recognises women and girls in the football community who have been instrumental in facilitating and nurturing the remarkable growth of women and girls' football. Nominations close July 26.
You can find out more about the program here.
NETBALL CONNECT:
Netball Connect – Emergency Saturday Phone Assistance 9am-11am.
We are providing Saturday phone support for our affiliates with emergency, competition-critical, Netball Connect issues. This service will operate between 9am and 11am on Saturdays. Please note this is for competition critical issues only. The phone number is 03 9321 2299. For general Netball Connect enquiries, training questions or non-urgent support, please continue to use the usual Netball Victoria support channels and Netball Connect resources:
If you still can't find the right information on our NV website, use the Ask Netti via the chat icon or Submit a Request here.
Netball Connect - Automated WWCC Validation Pilot & Bug Fixes
Netball Victoria is currently trialing an automated validation Working with Children Check (WWCC) system that will link into Netball Connect and check the validity of a WWCC at the point of registration. This pilot is being run with a few selected associations. The integration will manage both the initial verification and ongoing weekly monitoring of credentials for over 18's (includes 17-year-olds turning 18 in the registering year) Coaches, Umpires, and Off the Court memberships - including team managers and game day volunteers. Automated weekly re-checks will identify revoked, suspended, or expiring credentials throughout the year, with status updates accessible via the Accreditation Check dashboard. For the first time, this will provide NV, Associations and Clubs with real-time visibility of WWCC compliance and reduce the burden on manual tracking. To enable this there has been a small update to Netball Connect and affiliates may notice an “Accreditation Check” option in their menus. You will not be able to access this unless you are a part of the pilot.
Also, with this update we have taken the opportunity to fix a few bugs. This includes:
The issue Clubs were having with viewing "Own Competitions" in Registrations – this is now defaulted off.
Phase 1 of Officials Grid - this view allows the drag and drop of umpires and other officials into games.
Ability to multi-select match sheets when printing manually scoresheets.
Netball Connect – Loading Umpire & Coaching accreditation into Netball Connect (must be done when registering into your competition). For those with upcoming competitions.
A reminder that umpire and coaching accreditation should be recorded in individual Netball Connect profiles. This can only be done at the point of registration. When umpires and coaches are registering into your competitions, they will be prompted to connect their Netball Australia My Learning account to their Netball Connect Profile and this will automatically pull through their accreditation information including expiry dates. This is really helpful for you to review and can be exported into a spreadsheet from Netball Connect. An outline of the process on Netball Connect can be found here.
Please also note if there are issues or the umpire/coach believes the information showing is not right, it is most likely that there has been a typo when entering their Netball Learning username on through the registration form (often a capital letter at the start of the email address). This can easily be fixed by our Workforce team - please email workforce@netballvic.com.au for any checks or changes. Accreditation records are imported into Netball Connect fortnightly, so if an accreditation is new, it could take a week or two to show on Netball Connect. A reminder that all coaches and umpires MUST be registered to your competition.
PARTNER OFFERS & GRANTS:
Gilbert – EOFY SALE! 30% OFF entire 2026 Range
Gilbert is currently running an End of Financial Year Sale, with 30% off their entire 2026 range! The offer includes all balls, bibs and accessories (excluding packs and custom products). The sale runs until 11:59pm AEST on Tuesday, 30 June. To redeem the discount, simply use the code NV30 at checkout via the link: https://www.gilbertnetball.com.au/discount/NV30
Community Support Grants Netball Victoria offers a Community Support Program which provides targeted financial assistance to 1) individuals experiencing hardship and 2) disaster recovery grants to affiliated clubs, associations, leagues and families impacted by natural disaster events during 2026. Learn more here Community Support Program - Netball VIC
Woolworths Grants Program (May-August) The Woolworths Netball Grants Program supports grassroots netball clubs and associations across the country to improve the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids. This year, grants of $2,000 will be awarded to 40 clubs across Australia. There will also be a massive $20,000 grant for the winner of the 2026 People’s Choice Prize, as well as 12 Free Fruit for Kids deliveries valued at $250 each or a $250 Woolworths Essentials e-Gift Card to purchase fruit for kids. To be in the running, applicants need to explain how their club or association would use a grant to help improve the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids, in one or more of the following ways: Sporting equipment / uniforms / improvements to facilities. Access to Woolworths’ NetSetGo program; and/or Nutrition. To Apply visit: Home - Woolworths Netball Grants
For specific club support, please get in touch with the Club Development Lead:
Sam Monaghan
0407 147 563
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