Your ultimate guide to the 2025 Geelong and District league season
A new Geelong and District league footy season is upon us. We break down all your club’s ins and out, key players and young guns, and have our say on how each of the 12 sides will fair in 2025.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Are we in for the most heated GDFNL premiership races in recent memory?
After one of the most even campaigns in 2024, every club is loading up and optimistic for the season ahead.
Can Thomson make it back-to-back flags, or will clubs like East Geelong or Werribee Centrals atone for last year’s disappointing straight-sets finals exits?
Or will it be another who rises back up, and snatches it from under everyone else's noses?
See where every club sits heading into round one.
Anakie
Last year: 10th
Senior coach: Jayke Mawson.
Captain: Mason Rhodes and Luke Dahlhaus.
Ins: Josh Mawson (Woodville-West Torrens, SANFL), Jake Long (Tullamarine), Brad Gerrard (North Shore), Jai Jeffrey (Southern Districts), Kain Fuller (Palmerston), Mitch Gavin, Robert Cannon, Billy Whiting (Lara), Ryan Green (Lara U18s), Kyle Eibl (returning), Jayden Davey (VFL), Blayne Sharp (Corio), Ben Tabit (Tarneit), Matt McLaughlin (Yarrawonga), Bryce Hall, Bailey Gilman, Thomas Anderson, Luke Sharp, Leo Gilla, Shaquarn Cox.
Outs: Ajang Kuol mun (Port Melbourne VFL), Brayden Riddell (police force), John Whitehouse (Sunshine Heights).
Key player: Luke Dahlhaus. The ex-AFL player dominated in his first season at the Roos, but with more support through the midfield this year, could do even more damage this year.
Young gun: Oscar Barter. Returns from an pre-season with Geelong VFL under his belt. By all accounts is back fitter than ever, and after overcoming some injury niggles, kicked five in a pre-season hitout. Should build on his 16-game 45-goal efforts from 2024.
Coach says: “We’ve gone out and recruited really well, closed the gap a bit last year and probably fell a bit short in a few games, but I think with another year under our belt, the recruits we’ve got, pretty big talent, we should hopefully play finals.” – Mawson.
Addy says: Made positives strides from the wooden spoon to a five-win record last year, and we’re expecting a further jump in Mawson’s second year in charge with another super-sized recruiting haul. How he fits players into his best 22 under their points cap is the question.
Bannockburn
Last year: 5th
Senior coach: Ron Pilgrim.
Captain: Connor Jervies.
Ins: Aaron Seller, Ryan Wentworth (North Shore), Rhys Ginn (GW Giants, GDFNL), Harry Lear, Cooper Evans (Bell Park), Darcy Giddings.
Outs: Leigham Elzinga, Jaxon Elzinga (South Barwon), James Hose (St Joseph’s).
Key player: Josh Kunjka. Got his first pre-season in a while under his belt, so should build on his impressive 2024 form playing forward and through the ruck. Expect him to spend most games in the ruck, with Kieran Fulton likely to miss part of the year with an early-season injury recovery and potential move to WA.
Young gun: Austin Mahoney. The teen got his first taste of senior football last year playing midfield and forward. A tackling freak who loves the hard ball.
Coach says: “I think we’ve definitely improved, we’ve brought another four or five younger guys in who have played reasonable footy at different levels. We’ve filled a few gaps we needed to improve on. We’ve got a lot of depth this year which is a big improvement on last year.” – Pilgrim.
Addy says: Have lost three exciting youngsters to the GFNL, while Fulton’s potential omission is a blow, but should be thereabouts again if they can build on the talented youth which started to come through last year.
Bell Post Hill
Last year: 9th
Senior coach: Ash Witney.
Captain: Jack Yates.
Ins: Scott Hughes (Modewarre), Felix Jones (North Warrnambool Eagles), Dylan Witney, Caleb Bacely, Nick Costello, Tim Barton (Great Western), Luke Mann, Liam Meyrich (Tarneit), Danny Gray (Apollo Bay), Andrew Casey, Matt Hogan (Nullawil), Adam Beath (Belmont reserves), Lachlan Verschuren (South Barwon U18s).
Outs: Boe Collins, Dan Maher (Inverleigh).
Key player: Felix Jones. Arrives at Myers Reserve from the higher level Hampden league, Jones’ workrate and competitiveness through the midfield will be a boon for the Panthers, while he has X-Factor if run up forward.
Young gun: Cody Chircop. Enters his second season at Bell Post Hill, and will look to build on a strong end to 2024, his two best games coming in the final round.
Coach says: “Got a few of the older boys back and a few other recruits from their mates … if the older boys hadn’t left last year those younger blokes don’t get all the games they got into them, that just helped their development from last year and is going to help them this year as well.” – Ash Witney
Addy says: Had a tough start to last year after several key departures, only to gather some momentum and wins late in the season. With many of those guys now back, expect the Panthers to rebound back up the ladder.
Belmont Lions
Last year: 2nd
Senior coaches: Andy Walsgott & Brent Vermeulen.
Captain: Jak Evans.
Ins: Billy Pelham, Lachy Slorach (Barwon Heads), James Beasley (Western Eagles), Riley Somers (St Albans), Charlie Steel (South Barwon U18s).
Outs: Nathan Jennings (ACL), Matt Ludbrook (Stanhope).
Key player: David Van Allitt. An X-Factor recruit last year, Van Allitt (formerly Allitt) can impact forward and in the midfield and has the ability to win a game off his own boot.
Young gun: Ben McPherson. The young forward became a mainstay in the Lions’ forward line, kicking 24 goals in 17 games. With another pre-season behind him, and by joining the leadership group this year, we’re expecting McPherson to go to another level.
Coach says: “It was a bit of a rollercoaster last year … every week was a new first. We probably overachieved last year and a lot of people may have thought that was our
chance. Certainly the vibe is, people are keen to give it another shake. But there is a far bit of unknown where we’ll fall, we’re fairly similar to last year and all the other teams will have improved. Replacing a couple, it (improvement) has to come internally, it has come from another year of us coaching and knowing each other and the way we want to play.” – Walsgott.
Addy says: Exceeded external expectations last year to reach the grand final, with the key question now whether they can back up those lofty heights again. Had one of the quieter recruiting periods in the league, so will need returning players to take their games up a notch.
Corio
Last year: 12th
Senior coach: Joel Bennett.
Captain: Toby Bennett.
Ins: Jarrod Bayliss (Coldstream), Justin Van Unen (Kilsyth), Russell Cowan (Upper Ferntree Gully), Kynan Manning-Stratton (Old Collegians), Brady Hercus Quince (Bannockburn U18s).
Outs: BJ O’Toole (North Geelong), Blayne Sharp (Anakie).
Key player: Justin Van Unen. The addition of an 1000-goal career forward supercharges an attack which already has various strings to its bow.
Young gun: Brock Cervenka. Kicked 23 goals in 17 games in his rookie season, bags of five and four. Had some quieter weeks, but with another season under his belt should build more consistency into his game.
Coach says: “We’ve added a few new players to the group … and we’ve got a whole group of young guys who have put together their first 30 games of senior footy and I’m really excited to see how their careers progress, for a lot of them, it could be their breakout year, if we can manage five guys have their career peak sort of season it’s going to take us a long way to where we want to go.” – Bennett.
Addy says: Plenty went against Corio last year, but expect them to take strides up the ladder. Playing coach Joel Bennett’s return from injury should inspire the group, while the Devils have brought in experience to complement a budding young core group.
East Geelong
Last year: 3rd
Senior coach: Ned Aulsebrook.
Captain: John McIntyre.
Ins: Jeremy Ollis (Modewarre), Andrew Steele (Newcomb), Ryan Lempa (St. Arnaud), Patrick O’Brien-Henderson, Paddy Visentin (St Mary’s), Mitch Wright, Sam Rial (Simpson), Jay Skate, Jake Nolan (returning), Coby Eagle (Winchelsea), Jude Payne, Tim Manly, Noah Charman, Jack Willson, Jed Davis (St Mary’s U18s), Luke Menzies (Queenscliff/St Mary’s U18s).
Outs: Alister Maas (retired), Billy Andrew (Canada), Ryan Bartel (Perth), Hugh Menzies (injured).
Key player: Andrew Steele. A proven forward in the Bellarine league, Steele’s inclusion inside 50 makes the Eagles’ attack more multidimensional and helps ease the attention on Caleb Ezard.
Young gun: Ben Crombie. Emerged as a key midfielder for the Eagles last year, but should only get better after joining Geelong’s VFL program as a train on player this year.
Coach says: “ “I think the overarching feeling is, we just go again, there is no point wallowing in that (finals exit). I think something I’ve taken (from last year) is how to manage guys across the year rather than being at the top of our game every week.” – Aulsebrook.
Addy says: Last year’s minor premiers will be disappointed by a straight finals exit, but appear to have only strengthened their list and according to some in the league, will be the team to beat.
GW Giants
Last year: 11th
Senior coach: Scott Frangos.
Captain: Brayden Mitchell.
Ins: Alex Blair (St Virgils, Tasmania’s SFL), Jacson Collins (Geelong West, GFNL), Jarra Blackney-Noter (Dennington), Alex Buckwell (Apollo Bay), Jye Bohm (Killarney Vale), Harvey Murrant (Grovedale), Ted Walliss (Caramut), Joel Coombes, Sam Caruso, James Pullan.
Outs: Josh Viney (Inverleigh), Rhys Ginn (Bannockburn), Aaron Hutchison, Matt Ianelli (retired).
Key player: Justin Carey. Missed half the season with injury, but when he was on the park was a forward threat. Kicked 18 goals in nine appearances, including six in the final round.
Young gun: Harry Fraser. Enters his third year of consistent senior football at the Giants, and is looking fit and firing as he gets ready to hold down a half back role.
Coach says: “In our third (game) we started getting all these injuries … it sort of went downhill from there. We’re sitting a lot better and ready to go.” – Frangos.
Addy says: The Giants had little consistency as injuries hit hard last year. If they can keep everyone on the park, and their new recruits can gel quickly into the group, expect them to build on last year’s three-win record.
Inverleigh
Last year: 7th
Senior coach: Chris Moore.
Captain: Jack Fiolet.
Ins: Boe Collins, Dan Maher (Bell Post Hill), Jarod Bacon (Anglesea), Josh Viney (Geelong West, GDFNL), Josh Foster (Wyndham), Matthew Kozole (Albanvale), Jaiden Reid (St Joseph’s), Lachlan Main (Warrnambool), Beau Metcalf (Hawthorn AFC), Ethan Clohesy, Dylan Scoble (Moyston Willaura), Guy O’Keefe, Max Corbett, Darcy Norris, Max Elford, Bradley McHugh, Rudy Webb.
Outs: Adam Donohue (South Colac), Paddy Bourke (South Barwon), Finley O’Keefe (Geelong West GFNL), Matt Tyquin (Springvale District), Billy Cations, Michael Grozdanovski, Jakeb Templeton (retired).
Key player: Jarrod Love. Expect the experienced midfielder to again lead from the front, and combine well with new recruit Boe Collins, both players cut from a similar mould.
Young gun: Logan Haberfield. Last year’s league rising star, Haberfield often went to some of the best rival midfielders last year to get a taste of the level required, so expect the teenager to break free and win more of the ball himself this year.
Coach says: “We went out and recruited and recruited young. Hopefully what we’ve done in the last six months will set the club up for the next five years. We still have a lot of experience so the young kids will be shown the right way, we’ll have that mix and how far they get is a wait and see.” – Moore.
Addy says: The Hawks have lost some of their most experienced and top-level players to retirement or rival club leagues, so the laws of gravity suggest a fall down the ladder, but if they can get some of their new recruits and young talent to fire quickly, they should still prove a challenge.
North Geelong
Last year: 6th
Senior coach: Peter Riccardi.
Captain: Zac Schwennesen.
Ins: Ben O’Brien, Josh Widdison (Lara), Jordan Purcell (North Shore), Jasper George (Bell Park), Terry Tseros (Apollo Bay), Mark Paramonov (Clunes), Jamie Haber (Watsonia), BJ O’Toole (Corio), Sam Mahney (Lara U18s).
Outs: Harry Cornelius (Clarence, TAS).
Key player: Ben O’Brien. A centre half back recruit from Lara, O’Brien will go a long way in shoring the Magpies up behind the ball.
Young gun: Cooper Vaughan. The 20-year-old smashed his 2km time trial and put on more size, as he looks to cement his midfield role, though provides versatility with an ability to run through the wing and forward positions.
Coach says: “All the boys are ready to go, it’s a new year, everyone starts from scratch … everyone’s recruited well, it’s just whose at this time, ready to play round 1. It’s been a long pre-season, I think we’re cherry ripe.” – Riccardi.
Addy says: The Magpies exceeded all expectations under Riccardi last year to rise up the ladder and just miss finals. Strengthening some key areas, they appear stronger on paper, but will hope to avoid second-year blues in a competition that is only getting stronger.
Thomson
Last year: 1st
Senior coach: Paul Lynch.
Captain: Sam Jacka and Billie Smedts.
Ins: Ben Kamaric (St Joseph’s), Patty Knott (Horsham Saints), Dylan Jose, Kane Higgins (Lara), Paul Davis (Mallee Giants), Andrew Jarvis (returning), Jamie Bach (Stawell), Jake Butler (Geelong Amateur).
Outs: Charley Donohue (Nirranda), Logan Mitchell (Tantanoola), Jacob Knight (ACL).
Key player: Dylan Jose. An instant replacement for Logan Mitchell as a bash and crash inside midfielder. Steps straight into the vice-captaincy on arrival, his past leadership roles as captain at Lara a boon for the club.
Young gun: Alex Anticev. Played four senior games last year as a midfield-winger type, with coach Paul Lynch expecting to get more senior games out of Anticev and the likes of Charlie Russell and Jack Wilson.
Coach says: “We understand we become the hunted, we just have to become better. We’ve tweaked a few things and way we want to play. A group of new players have refreshed the group and we expect to get a lot out of our kids.” – Lynch.
Addy says: The reigning premiers have lost little in the off-season and what they have, they’ve only gone and replaced. Clearly the best team come September, and should improve their home-and-away record if they can avoid injuries which plagued them early last year.
Werribee Centrals
Last year: 4th
Senior coach: Rhyce Prismall.
Captain: Michael Culliver.
Ins: Josh Stone (Tarneit), Brandon Houlihan (Swan Hill), Regan Vesty (Woorinen), Gavin Donnon, Liam Robinson (Werribee Districts), Luke Cachia (Wyndham Suns), Fletcher Vesty (Werribee Districts U18s).
Outs: Matty Miller (retired), Zac O’Halloran (Lancefield), Connor McKenzie (retired).
Key player: Michael Culliver. Sets the tone in the midfield, and was sorely missed in a few games last year through injury. Takes on the stand-alone captaincy this year, and is the ultimate professional.
Young gun: Carmelo Saliba. Had a breakout rookie season in 2024, kicking 50+ goals as a pressure small forward, but like Werribee in general, will be disappointed with his finals campaign. Should garner plenty of opposition attention in his second year.
Coach says: “We thought we had a really good side last year and I still think although we didn’t have a great finals series we did get a lot right. The group knows, we’re a lot more mature … we’re just ticking all the boxes on our end.” – Prismall.
Addy says: Fell out of finals in straight sets, but their home-and-away record showed they could beat anyone at their best. Continuity is key for the Centurions to back up last year’s form and go better in finals.
Winchelsea
Last year: 8th
Senior coach: Ben Moloney.
Captain: Jordan Huff.
Ins: Jack Sampi (Newtown & Chilwell), Cameron Primmer (North Shore), Tayne Hewson (South Barwon), Indy Parish (Colac Imperials), Tyler Beasley, Arthur ‘AJ’ O’Neill (Kolora-Noorat), Alex Gubbins, Heath Walsh, Alex Hackett (returning), Harry Irvin (South Barwon U18s), Paddy Dench (Grovedale U18s), Jude Coverdale (St Joseph’s U18s), Zac Herman. Ben Andonoudis, Tim Miles, Liam Turner.
Outs: Jordan Gould (Tantanoola), Adam Walsh (Ocean Grove), Tom Moloney, Leigh Ellis (Grovedale), Coby Eagle (East Geelong).
Key player: Cassidy Parish. A contested monster through the midfield, Parish’s height and size means he easily fits a onballer-ruck mould.
Young gun: Jude Coverdale. Returns to his junior club and by all accounts is an exciting and aggressive small forward/onballer type who has a crack despite his smaller frame.
Coach says: “(The goal is) having the guys believe what we’ve got is capable of achieving what we want to achieve – we’ve brought in some new faces and new recruits but the foundation we already had was really strong and capable. It’s hard when you haven’t played a team in the comp to know, but I’m really confident what we’re able to put together and the way we’re training and playing, we’re in a really good spot.” – Moloney.
Addy says: How the Blues go in Moloney’s first season in charge is the big question, the former GFNL player the only fresh face among the coaching ranks. But the Blues appear to have recruited well, and should remain competitive through the mid-table.
More Coverage
Originally published as Your ultimate guide to the 2025 Geelong and District league season
‘It pulls you in’: Inside Madi Browne’s local netball return
Madi Browne returns to the local netball scene on Saturday, after joining BFNL contender Torquay as a coach. The ex-Diamond and SSN commentator opens up on the move, and the Tigers’ prospects.
‘Signed then and there’: How Hawks snared star netball recruit
They may have won just six games over the past two BFNL seasons, but Drysdale is feeling positive about what they can achieve in 2025. Plus, all the ins and outs across the league.