Salary caps and player points were supposed to promote equalisation in local footy, but a country coach says dramatic change is needed as clubs across Victoria remain in a doom loop.
Collegians and St Bernard’s battled it out in a VAFA Premier Men’s thriller on Saturday. Watch the REPLAY here.
A powerhouse club in one of the state’s strongest district leagues is building nicely for another shot at flag glory.
Wattle Park has made a resounding start to the VAFA season with four straight wins. Coach Glenn Hopkins on his side’s form and the players making an impact. It’s in our VAFA Division wrap.
Established stars and young guns are humming as Pakenham sets the pace in Outer East league Division 1. Coach Justin Stanton reveals the key to the lethal Lions’ success.
Kilmore had kicked just two goals in three quarters of footy on Saturday. In the final 30 minutes it tripled its score to over-run Kinglake in an epic finish.
Werribee Districts coach Chris Gilham has pinpointed an area which is making a “real difference” for his side this season as a former VFL player continues his impressive start to the year.
Historic milestones were reached, one club ended a six-year wait while plenty of big names fired across country footy.
After almost three years away from the game, Kwame McHarg returned to local footy with a bang on Saturday in a matchwinning performance. See the coach’s verdict, how it happened and Deer Park’s injury concerns.
An undersized power forward with a deadly boot lit up the Outer East league with a 14-goal haul, but it could have been more.
Clubs and players from across the state will come together to say no to violence on and off the field and support a foundation started after a footy player died from a coward punch nine years ago. More here.
Local footy clubs looking for a new home from next season will have until the end of next month to lodge an application as part of AFL Vic’s stringent new transfer guidelines. Latest here.
It was the kick that ignited Emerald’s season. With 1000 fans holding their breath, the right man had the ball in his hands for the Bombers in an epic finish in OEFN Premier Division.
The football and netball community will pay its respects to a Ballarat teenager who died suddenly last month with a fundraiser on Saturday. Here is what we know.
A Brownlow medallist managed to pull on the boots despite battling the flu and hamstring injuries while one former AFL small forward booted a handful. Plus why one game was called off. It’s in our country footy wrap.
Since 2000, country footy has been filled with dominant teams who have been the envy of their local competitions. Now we’ve ranked the top-25 in the first quarter of the century.
A former AFL forward had a day out in front of goal with seven majors in his first senior appearance for his local while the 2015 number two pick impressed on debut. See our local footy talking points.
Venturing north to take on the Brisbane Lions Academy is always challenging. See how the Geelong Falcons fared in their Coates Talent League boys and girls double-header. Full REPLAYS.
An APS footy season loaded with AFL Draft hopefuls is upon us. Find out the top prospects, surprise packets and club linked talents from every side and how every school will fare in 2025.
It was double delight for the Northern Knights in round 2 of the Coates Talent League, with both sides picking up big wins. Watch the REPLAYS here.
Sandringham Dragons and Eastern Ranges have experienced mixed emotions after the boys and girls took to the field for their respective Coates Talent League matches. Watch the REPLAYS.
Marlion Pickett has made a surprise country footy appearance on the weekend just a week out from his debut with Melton South. Here’s how it came about.
A ‘cursed’ injury toll may be impacting one club’s premiership defence however, as a grand final replay looms, there may be some gold among the rubble.
A former West Coast Eagles star is heading to Victoria’s north for some serenity and a game of footy this month. His best mate explains why.
The brother of a superstar Adelaide Crow is playing a vital role in one country club’s resurgence as it aims to end a 29-year premiership drought.
The Eastern league Premier Division club is facing a nervous wait over prized recruit Sam Weideman following an injury on Saturday. Latest here.
Talk about having the ball on a string. One Mulgrave young gun is amassing the possessions in Division 2 this season, propelling his side to an unbeaten start. But he’s not the only standout …
It has played just two games in a month in an unorthodox start to life in Eastern’s Division 1 – not that it has impacted Boronia’s win-loss ratio. Here’s what the Hawks have learnt.
The Hawks put reigning top-division premier Balwyn to the sword on Saturday following an almighty rush after half-time. Here’s how it happened …
Greenvale is on the board in 2025 after an impressive win over Pascoe Vale with coach Darren Bewick hailing the impact of a pair of young guns, a club debutant and the Jets’ leaders.
Keilor Park might have the best big man combination in its competition with ex-AFL and VFL talents shining. Coach Colby Blyth speaks on their form and creating an “identity”.
Craigieburn has won two close games on the trot and coach Shane Jacobs has declared there’s more to come from his side. Here’s why there’s so much excitement.
The local football club of a player who suffered a medical emergency during a game on Anzac Day, forcing the match to be abandoned, has provided an update on his condition.
A Pines champion was paid the ultimate compliment after helping the Pythons claim another big scalp in MPFNL Division 1, while a former AFL star fired Edi-Asp to victory and a young gun sizzled for Sorrento.
A former AFL premiership star whose signing was kept “under wraps’’ has made a sledgehammer impact at Devon Meadows, firing off a big bag of goals in MPFNL Division 2.
The Tiger spirit was on full display as the men in yellow and black knocked off traditional rivals Chelsea — after a rousing talk from a former club champion.
Rosebud coach Danny Ades gives an insight into his side’s unbeaten start, while an ex-AFL player made a surprise appearance as Frankston YCW and Pines were involved in a night-time thriller in MPFNL Division 1.
Lower Plenty slept in on Saturday but, once roused, showcased its firepower to claim a dominant win over Thomastown, with Tyler Wallace the star.
Jesse Tardio provided the fuel and Zane Souleiman provided the fireworks as North Heidelberg cemented itself as one of the NFNL Division 1’s top teams.
Ex-AFL forward Noah Cumberland’s local footy debut turned into a nightmare as he was slapped with a suspension for a late off-the-ball hit. Watch the video.
Former Carlton and Brisbane star Mitch Robinson has copped a big whack after appealing a local footy suspension for flipping the bird to the crowd. See the incident.
Romsey’s defence was dominant, Jack Jedwab starred at the other end and Sam Wilson was everywhere in between to earn the Redbacks an important RDFNL scalp.
Macedon will rue several missed gilt-edged opportunities as it salvaged a draw with Diggers Rest on Anzac Day, while a courageous Burra was awarded the Grumont Medal.
A breakout Michael Rutledge performance powered Macedon’s big win over Gisborne Giants, while Angus Nolte and Ryan Pretty did likewise Kyneton.
Recently retired Geelong star Tom Hawkins starred on his return to country footy with Finley while other ex-AFL names made their mark in games across Victoria on Good Friday. See the wrap.
The 2025 local footy season might only be a couple of weeks old, but the state’s longest winning and losing streaks continue to extend. See who takes top spot.
One of local football’s most contentious issues — the salary cap — is under the microscope after Mick McGuane’s Keilor lost its 2023 premiership. As AFL Victoria reviews the cap, we delve into the strong arguments for and against it.
Grassroots footy clubs in search of much-needed funds have a perfect opportunity coming next week. Find out how you can apply.
After a stunning year of local footy we’ve ranked our top 70 clubs as the best in Melbourne. Did we get it right? See who we say is number one and lodge your own vote.
A spectacular 14-goal haul lit up the Outer East, while it was raining goals for two former AFL players and a local great returned — it’s all in our local footy wrap.
After a decade as captain and two premierships, it’s easy to see why Jack Worrell is Cheltenham’s “golden boy”. Inside his journey as he lists his toughest opponents.
With the Southern league Division 1 women’s season in full swing, we reveal the players to watch who could make or break premiership tilts here.
At 0-2 and with a pair of tough opponents on the horizon, memories of last year’s 0-7 start were creeping up on Highett. This is how a surprise win got the Bulldogs’ season back on track.
For all the phone calls Old Peninsula made during the off-season, they didn’t account for a new forward who “rocked up” to a training session after four years away from footy and is now turning heads.
With a key name missing, Ajax coach Lachlan Buszard has been looking to beat his biggest challenge. And now he believes he’s found it. Here’s why in our VAFA Premier grades wrap.
A remarkable second-half comeback from Caulfield Grammarians ended Old Geelong’s unbeaten start to life in the VAFA Premier League on Saturday. Catch the REPLAY here.
The VAFA Premier Women’s competition will return to action on Anzac Day. We’ve broken down the key names from every side for the rest of the season.
VFL battler Northern Bullants has stood down its coach Rohan Welsh after an alleged verbal clash with a board member.
Matt Johnson did not come through the traditional football ‘pathway’. But through talent and tenacity he’s made his way onto the radar of AFL clubs at Frankston.
At age 28, Kye Declase is back in the VFL and the former Melbourne rookie is not yet prepared to give up on his dream of playing AFL, as Paul Amy finds out.
Blake Watson isn’t quite sure how he ended up at Sandringham. But he knows one thing: he’s proud to have been appointed captain of the VFL Zebras. PAUL AMY goes inside his rise.
There’s plenty of exciting new faces in the VFLW this season from ex-AFLW players to local hopefuls. See every club’s list.
The flow of top-flight talent into the Northern league extends to the women’s competition with delisted Geelong young gun Brooke Plummer returning to her junior club.
Two NTFL matches were called off after an Essendon-listed VFLW player suffered a severe lower leg injury, which left her waiting on the ground for ambos for more than two hours.
Local footy is the heartbeat of the game but it requires countless hours of expertise and dedication from thousands of people. Here are those who are having the biggest impact on the grassroots.
Laverton co-coach Tony Jofre can remember the days of picking the blokes “who lived across the road”. Now the Magpies on the path forward as he gives an insight into how they’re doing it.
Caroline Springs’ senior men’s team got on the board for the first time in 2025 as Brian Lake booted five while the women’s side continued its dominant form. Go inside the club’s “patient” approach.
Point Cook has one of the youngest lists in the Western Football Netball League this season. Coach Saade Ghazi opens up on guiding the club’s regeneration and the leaders playing an important role.
West Footscray has made an impressive start to 2025 and despite some injury concerns, there’s plenty of positives including two last minute recruits. See all the talking points from WFNL Division 2.
Gary Moorcroft took the AFL’s Mark of the Century and now after a legendary local footy career, with great difficulty, he’s selected his best 22.
Jason De Graaf had a brush with league football, but it was to be in the country game where he won acclaim as a player and coach. At 53, he’s back in the league he dominated with a fierce, uncompromising approach.
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.
The AFL might not be on this weekend but there are plenty of matches around the state for fans to watch. Check out the list of must watch games here.
A Port Adelaide star has been investigated by the AFL over an alleged threatening text message sent to a rival player.
Willie Rioli has dodged a sanction from the AFL over threatening Bailey Dale after Saturday’s game, with the forward apologising to the Dogs defender to resolve the incident.
Clayton Oliver would be looking at the Cats wondering what could have been, writes Jay Clark. Now, the Demon is at risk of falling by the wayside if he can’t find a suitor, but what would he cost?
A St Kilda young gun gave the perfect response to a massive and very public spray from his coach by joining an elite crew.
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