Ex-Balwyn gun Jeff Gobbels set to appear on Married At First Sight

A local footy gun is set to swap his premiership medals for a wedding ring when he appears on the new season of Married At First Sight. It’s all in the weird and wonderful world of Quick Kicks.

Jeff Gobbels will star on MAFS.

The rumour mill around local footy circles is heating up as is the finals race.

But here at Quick Kicks we’re here to look at the lighter side and the sometimes serious moments.

Whether it be a funny exchange, a good stat or an action that’s laughed about after the game — it’s all here.

FROM KICKING GOALS TO THE SILVER SCREEN

Former Balwyn star Jeff Gobbels is set to tie the knot on reality television program Married at First Sight. Filming is underway for the new season of the hit dating show to air on Channel 9 in 2025. The ex-spearhead is stepping in front of the camera again after a brief stint on long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2017, where he played police officer Kurt Bridges for three episodes. Gobbels served as captain of Eastern league powerhouse Balwyn from 2020-2023, retiring ahead of this season after 195 games and 481 goals after joining the club in 2012. He won premierships with the club in 2012, ’13, ’15 and ’16, winning a best and fairest in 2015. He linked with VAFA club Old Xaverians soon after leaving the Tigers, and has played four senior matches this season.

And, in a gigantic plot twist, Yahoo Lifestyle reports Gobbels has been accidentally paired with an ex-partner on the show.

ON THE MOVE? 

Rumour has it the Eastern league could soon be welcoming a new club. A longstanding VAFA outfit is touted to be on its way into Eastern’s Division 4 from 2025, which currently sits at seven teams. The addition of another club would even the competition to eight sides, removing the weekly bye.

YOU’RE FREE TO GO

One local footy club which has confirmed it will have a new coach next season is really cleaning house. With the changes at the top looming, there’s talk all players who had already signed on for next year are free to look for another club if they wish. Talk about a fresh start.

‘I CAN’T SAY ANYTHING’

A local footy coach was left a little perplexed when an opposition player got away with an attempted strike on the weekend. It happened right in front of the boundary umpire, no free kick awarded. The coach in question asked the official why he didn’t mention it. “I can’t say anything,” was the response given.

‘THAT’S AS FAR AS HE CAN KICK IT, MATE’

A Mordialloc player tossed in his teammate as collateral damage during a rant to the umpire on Saturday. He took a mark from a short kick in but was immediately tackled and held up after the umpire called “not 15, play on”. He questioned the umpire on the decision and when the umpire backed in his call, the Bloodhound said “that’s as far as he can kick it, mate”.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Port Melbourne Colts had a bit of fun during their win over St Paul’s McKinnon on Saturday, just ask new recruit Luke McComb. McComb has quickly become a team favourite for his all-encompassing locker room banter. He brought it out of the locker room on Saturday after a failed attempt at a big grab late in the fourth quarter. It’s understood he barely got off the ground in this marking attempt but brought himself off the ground and told the coaches he needed a rest due to “altitude sickness”.

KICKED OFF THE GROUND

Whittlesea lost hosting rights to Northern league finals last week and on Saturday, the state of Whittlesea Showgrounds, saw the club forced to move its crunch home game against South Morang to Kilmore. JJ Clancy Oval is another 35km or 30 minutes north of Whittlesea, so it was a big day for both clubs. It didn’t bother the Eagles though as the club won its 16th straight match of the season to keep its perfect season bid alive. Whittlesea claimed a 23-point victory to cement its flag favouritism, 12.9 (81) to 8.10 (58).