Devon Meadows retains star, adds recruits
Devon Meadows will be rock-hard fit and younger in the MPFNL in 2025, with a key player remaining after flirting with the idea of playing VFL.
Local Footy
AFL body threatens to axe country footy club
A month out from the start of the season, one of the state’s biggest footy leagues is threatening to boot out one of its former powerhouse clubs.
GFNL bombshell: AFL Barwon’s plans to boot North Shore
North Shore has been caught off guard by a shock letter from AFL Barwon telling them the organisation plans to proceed without the club in 2025. Read the full letter here.
‘Disappointed they’re gone’: Wandin on life after Narre in OEFN
Wandin coach Nick Adam says the Bulldogs will raise the bar in OEFN after the departure of rivals Narre Warren to Southern league. The Bulldogs have recruited well but lost some good ones, too.
Late recruiting boost for Bendigo club
Eaglehawk has added a top-line recruit to its ranks as rival clubs eye the spot it has filled in the last Bendigo league finals series.
Into the unknown once more for Old Paradians
31 for 31: New year, new competition. It’s a familiar feeling for Old Paradians but one it overcame to win a premiership last year. How will the club fare in NFNL Division 2?
Echuca’s major boost ahead of premiership defence
A delay in the start of a major project has given Echuca some good news ahead of the new season. But it will come at a cost for 2026. Here is what we know.
Hawkins headed for the VAFA
Former Geelong superstar Tom Hawkins is set to pull on the boots in the VAFA in 2025, linking with a “magical place’’ that left a lasting impression on him as a schoolboy.
‘What an opportunity’: New look Monash set to bounce back
Monash Blues might have suffered double relegation and lost a host of key players but new coach Andrew Batten is backing his side to embrace the challenge in front of them.
‘Completely take the p***’: Inside local footy’s ‘murky’ salary cap
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.
Rumour Mill: The race to secure ex-AFL star
An ex-AFL star has moved homes and clubs in the local area have the cheque book out while some of his former teammates might link up together in country footy. That and more in the Rumour Mill.
OEFN signings tracker: Every club’s list changes
There’s been a stack of player movements in Outer East Football Netball league ahead of the 2025 season. See every club’s ins and outs here.
‘Supersized’: Local football club to host month of practice matches
A “Super Saturday” of practice matches will kick off a massive month of action at Cora Lynn, with country and metro leagues taking part. See the schedule.
Clarko’s marathon mission for fallen mate
Ongoing grief over the loss of a former schoolmate to suicide has prompted North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson to run to extraordinary lengths in a unique marathon effort.
Former Hawk becomes a Rooster
The Ballarat league will be bolstered in 2025 with another ex-AFL player to join the competition. Here is what we know.
New chairperson for Ballarat league outlines goals for 2025
For the first time this decade a new person is in charge of the Ballarat league. He outlines what the focus is for the league in 2025.
Premiership Cat locks in his next club
Recently retired Geelong and Carlton star Zach Tuohy has confirmed his next football club, signing for a club in the state’s west in a move which will see him link up with a former teammate.
Every Murray Bushranger boys player analysed
The Murray Bushrangers will be looking to continue its strong recent form of producing first round draft picks for AFL clubs. We look at this year’s boys under-18 team.
Blue heaven: Walker boys on path to being Blues brothers
Ahead of the 2025 Coates League season we meet the son of a gun being mentored by Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, and discover he has a younger brother who could be even better. Carlton fans start salivating now.
Murray league country footy club caught in major salary cap bust
A northern Victorian club has been punished after exceeding its salary cap by more than $54,000 last season. See all the details.
How Pyramid Hill landed Daniels for drought breaking pursuit
Pyramid Hill has one of country’s longest footy droughts and it has received a boost in its bid to go one step further in 2025 with the brother of a NBA rising star finally joining the club.
Locked in: Eastern league practice matches revealed
The season is fast approaching and a host of clubs have locked in scratch-matches as they prepare for 2025. See who your club is playing.
‘Monster of a kid’: Falcons’ late pre-season boost
A highly-touted under-19 top-division premiership tall has landed at Lilydale in a move set to shake things up on-field at the Falcons.
Ex-Sun among talent tipped to spark Bulls’ new era
Noble Park has waved goodbye to its biggest names this off-season. But there is plenty of cause for optimism with a young list according to the coach — including the arrival of an ex-AFL Sun.
‘Fit, strong, hungry’: Homegrown Hawks top up for flag tilt
Rowville has added a stack of VFL talent this off-season as it looks for a second Eastern Premier Division flag in three seasons.
‘No use denying it’: Ex-Eels boss leads Burnside cap recovery
The man who oversaw an NRL salary cap scandal ten years ago is now steering a Melbourne football club out of its own breach saga.
Every signing of the EDFL off-season
The EDFL off-season is in motion and clubs have made big moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.
Bombers’ bid to help unearth next Kako, Prespakis in local area
Essendon has strengthened its connection its bid to a local footy competition in a move which it hopes help find more young guns from Melbourne’s northwest. See the details.
‘Massive’: 1000-goal forward sets sights on GDFNL
Corio’s hope of rising up the GDFNL ladder in 2025 has received a major boost with the signing of a prolific goalkicker. Plus, the telling stat which influenced the Devils’ recruiting drive.
Why Nathan Burke is so bullish about Karingal
AFL Hall of Famer Nathan Burke has taken over as Karingal’s new coach. He gives a snapshot of what’s ahead for the Bulls in 2025, names the youngsters to watch and reveals what will underpin the club’s new era.
Heavy player losses but Dromana ‘ready to hunt’
Dromana has lost seven players from its grand final side but coach Ben Holmes explains why he’s “super excited’’, and names the next crop of talented Tigers to watch out for.
‘We’ve got options’: Crib Point adds OEFN team of year defender
An Outer East team of the year defender has joined Crib Point’s list of recruits — and the Magpies are set to unleash an exciting teenager in the early rounds of the 2025 MPFNL season.
MPFNL says no to U19s playing in neighbouring league
The Mornington Peninsula league has knocked back club requests to play a second U19s side in a neighbouring league. But one club official says it’s “like restraint of trade’’.
Final Falcons squads: Cats linked talents among 84 prospects
There are four youngsters tied to Geelong as academy and father-son prospects, while there are several other famous surnames among boys and girls squads. See the full lists here.
Calder Cannons greatest team of the century
Famously known as “the footy factory”, Calder Cannons’ best team of the past 25 years features some absolute AFL greats. See the side here.
Every Calder Cannons player analysed
Calder Cannons boast a host of father-son, NGA and mid-season draft prospects. Coach Sam Willatt discusses every player in the Coates League squad.
The GWV Rebels greatest side of the century
Tall timber dominates when selecting the GWV Rebels best team of the century which features a host of premiership stars. See the full team.
South Morang’s expectations for Division 1 return
31 for 31: South Morang isn’t dropping expectations as it prepares to step up to Division 1 and coach Gary Hall discusses how he’ll deploy boom recruit Noah Cumberland.
Heidelberg raising the bar for four-peat chase
31 for 31: Three-time NFNL Division 1 reigning premier Heidelberg only got stronger over the summer. Coach Vinny Dattoli discusses the club preparations for a possible four-peat.
Creekers secure delisted Cat
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.
Locked in: Northern clubs tee up practice matches
The Northern league season is just eight weeks away and clubs are gearing up with a series of practice matches. Check out the pre-season schedule here.
Locked in: RDFNL clubs practice match schedule
As Riddell District clubs ramp up preparations for Round 1, they’ve locked in a series of practice matches. See who’s playing who, where and when.
Gender footy wars tearing town apart
A volatile break-up between a women’s footy team and their century-old club is threatening to split a country town and looks headed for a costly battle in the courts.
Fight for equality threatens to leave players in cold
When a successful Victorian women’s footy team broke away from its club, they didn’t realise they might be left without a league to play in. The club president and league give their sides of the story.
The local footy teams to keep an eye on in 2025
From clubs with massive off-season recruiting drives to those who need to live up to the pressure, these are the local footy teams you need to keep an eye on in 2025.
Millions on offer for local footy clubs
Grassroots footy clubs in search of much-needed funds have a perfect opportunity coming next week. Find out how you can apply.
Ranked: The top 70 local footy clubs of 2024
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.
Ex-AFL players coach teams to glory
Champions were crowned across the state in local footy with coaching guns helping their teams get to the top. Here is the wrap of all the grand final action from Saturday.
Ginni-style GF prep, $1999 is unders and the QR code highlight reel
There’s a Jack Ginnivan-style GF preparation, a player not settling for less than 2k a game, a QR code to individual highlights and two big AFL names linked to local footy. It’s all here in Quick Kicks.
Black Rock’s plan to shake ‘poor cousin’ tag
The coach loves how the older brother of a VFL gun flies for the footy in the preseason. Could this be a new air Jordan? Here are the Cole hard facts.
Every in and out across the entire Southern league
Keep up to date with every in and out across all four divisions of the Southern Football Netball League. See all moves here.
Teen’s hidden trait which impressed Power recruiters
Plucked from the obscurity of Melbourne suburban football to join an AFL list Josh Lai is the feel good story of the summer. His local coach reveals one unlikely trait which could separate him from other wingmen in the AFL.
St Kilda City’s next rebuild step revealed
St Kilda City has trodden the next step on its tedious rebuild path to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the club. Find out more.
‘Fairly new list’: Unicorns boosted by returning trio, young guns
MHSOB have finished middle of the pack in the last two VAFA seasons but with a “fairly new list” coach Bernie Pretty is hopeful of some big improvement. Go inside every Division 2 club’s pre-season.
Every in and out across the entire VAFA ahead of 2025
Keep up to date with every in and out across all six divisions of the Victorian Amateur Football Association. See every move here.
Package of recruits has Ormond poised to challenge
Ormond coach Kyle Pinto says the Monders are doing “a hell of a lot right” as they look to continue their rise in the VAFA — and a package of recruits will help their cause.
How Swinburne Uni plans to overcome high player turnover
Swinburne University is hopeful of unearthing a “couple of gems” on the eve of the season as the Razorbacks prepare to celebrate a significant milestone in 2025. The rundown on every VAFA D3 club here.
Locked in: clubs finalise lists for 2025 VFL season
More than 300 newcomers, from AFL retirees and discards to Coates Talent League graduates and local hopefuls, have been added to VFL lists for the 2025 season.
VFL/W clubs, state sides to take on Tassie’s best
VFL and VFLW clubs have been announced as opponents for the Tasmania’s best footballers this year in a series which will also feature NSW and Queensland teams. See who will be in action.
‘Potent on the scoreboard’: Key recruits boost Frankston’s VFL plans
Frankston has handed coach Jackson Kornberg a multi-year contract extension, while securing a string of key recruits. The Dolphins have also revealed how they intend to take another step forward in the VFL in 2025.
‘Enormous’ Werribee end 31-year premiership drought
Werribee are kings of the VFL jungle for the first time since 1993 after one of the all-time great grand finals with the Norm Goss Medal winner doing his AFL chances no harm.
Essendon VFLW player suffers severe leg injury in NTFL
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.
Named: Melbourne local footy’s most influential movers and shakers
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.
What’s next for Star Dog after VFLW honour
Fresh off winning the VFLW league best-and-fairest, star Western Bulldog midfielder Dom Carbone has revealed what she’s aiming for next and why she’s eyeing off an AFLW return.
Named: top 50 guns of the NFNL Women’s
Across three divisions, the Northern league is stacked with talented women. We’ve had a crack at naming the best of a sensational season.
Every signing of the WFNL off-season
The WFNL off-season has only just started but some clubs have already well and truly started making moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.
Ex-AFL stars, Lake’s flag bid: 25 WFNL storylines to watch
What impact will Bachar Houli and Lachie Hunter have, can Brian Lake lead Caroline Springs to a premiership and can the big recruiters make it work? These are 25 WFNL storylines to watch this year.
Melbourne footy club axes ex-AFL star after police charges
An ex-AFL star charged with historic child sexual offences has been stood down from the state’s Indigenous body and has had his contract to play local footy in Melbourne torn up.
Named: the biggest local footy recruits of 2025
From Melton to Mornington, Epping to East Brighton, local footy clubs have secured some elite talent. We’ve named the biggest moves of the summer here.
King of the Mountain: De Graaf back in the league he ruled
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.
Grand final wins and a shock or two
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.
Where you can watch footy with no AFL on this weekend
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.
‘Let’s settle this in the carpark’: The explosive local footy exchange
A local footy club coach’s testy relationship with his president reached boiling point, while a legendary forward’s hot form ended with a bang — the wrong sort. It’s all in the latest Quick Kicks column…
Favourite son returns to Pies after recruiting cleanout
After a restructuring of their football department, the Magpies are set to welcome home a favourite son to run their recruiting program.
Voss sounds off on Opening Round as Blues star firms for R1
The Opening Round concept remains under fire, with Carlton coach Michael Voss the latest to hit out at the idea, as the Blues continue to prepare for their season opener against Richmond.
Swans to unveil Papley clone
Sydney will blood two debutants in the blockbuster against Hawthorn – an ex-Saint and a small forward who has drawn comparisons to Tom Papley.
Team of the century: Roos that kept flame flickering at Arden St
This century has been littered with attempts to relocate the Kangaroos — but these players have all contributed to keeping the club at its true home. See North’s best side since 2000 here.
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty