The more than 50 country clubs under pressure in 2025
The 2025 country footy season is shaping as a thriller. We profile the clubs with something to prove across Victoria.
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It’s going to be a massive season next year in country footy as teams look to improve, others look for redemption, and others look to stay the best.
But which teams are under the most pressure to perform.
We’ve looked through each league to find the teams who have plenty to do in the off-season, good and bad, to deliver in 2025.
From reigning champs to teams looking to win their first game in a while, the list has it all.
Here are the teams with a point to prove in 2025.
Albury, Ovens and Murray
From grand finalists to missing finals, that was the Tigers in 2024. There was change in the coaching role with former AFL midfielder Anthony Miles leaving and Max Lynch, a former Collingwood and Hawthorn player, taking over. The focus will be simple, build the club back into a finals contender.
Ararat, Wimmera
It’s been 26 years since a team outside of Horsham has won three Wimmera league premierships in a row. Ararat gets the chance to do it after winning back-to-back premierships and ending a 22-year drought in 2023. Led by former Carlton player Tom Williamson and former VFL player Tom Mills the team has been the team to beat.
Balranald, Central Murray
The Roos have lost a lot of players in the off-season, which has put pressure on them to recruit well in the coming months to remain as one of the teams to beat in the Central Murray league. The Neagle brothers, Matt, Jaxon and Jydon, have all left to join South Mildura. The Dogs also added Balranald’s Harrison Soraggi while others have left to join other clubs. Almost a third of the starting 22 are gone, which puts pressure on new coaches Jack Salau and Ben Fuller to recruit replacements.
Bambill, Millewa
Bambill has won four premierships in a row, the best run in country footy. The Saints have won the past three flags and also the premiership in 2019 before Covid impacted 2020 and 2021. As other teams have tried to get closer, Bambill remained the benchmark. 2025 will see other teams, like Gol Gol and Cardross, try again to end the run.
Benalla All Blacks, Ovens and King
After winning the 2022 Ovens and King league premiership, the All Blacks have struggled since, winning just two games. As we’ve seen recently with Maryborough, having two teams in the same town, in two different competitions, can be hard to maintain. For the All Blacks sake it will be hoping to turn it all around and get back to the 2022 form. Can the club recruit the right amount of players in the off-season to make it happen?
Bonnie Doon, Ovens and King
There might not have been much serenity in the off-season at Bonnie Doon.The Bombers won every game during the home-and-away season, 18-0, before being eliminated in straight sets. The 2023 premiers could have made it back-to-back flags, instead how it handles the devastating finals series will be the focus of the off-season.
Branxholme Wallacedale, South West
Over the past couple of seasons, since 2019, every team has made the finals except for Branxholme Wallacedale in the South West District league. Last season, the side only won one game and will be looking to improve heading into 2025. The team has already made a couple of signings to improve its chances.
Bunyip, Ellinbank District
It’s going to be a big year for the Bulldogs. Bunyip next season will play in a new competition, returning to the Ellinbank District league after playing in the West Gippsland league. The team has not won in two years, currently on a 36-game losing streak. What the club does in the off-season will hopefully end the streak but also validate the reason for the move.
Campbells Creek, Maryborough Castlemaine
Currently has the sixth longest drought in Victorian football for a senior footy win. Campbells Creek has not won a match since 2022 and are currently winless in 36 matches. Off the field the club is in a strong position after recently installing new courts for their netball teams.
Calder United Lions, North Central
The newest team in country footy is only a few months away from playing their first game. Calder United is a new club formed after the merger of Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport. This off-season is crucial to the success, making sure the right structure and players are in the place. What will help them is the success of other merged entities in the competition. The past six premiers in the competition have all been merged sides.
Caramut, Mininera
Currently has the third longest losing streak in country football, not winning in 41 games. Caramut has also not made the finals since 2008. The pressure will be on to break both of those droughts next season and rise up the ladder.
Castlemaine, Bendigo
Only two teams remain in the Bendigo league which aren’t based in the city. One is Castlemaine with the other being Gisborne, who have made the grand final in two of the past three years, winning the premiership in 2022. Castlemaine on the other hand has struggled but last year showed signs of improvement under ex-AFL player and coach Michael Hartley, winning seven games. The off-season has been spent recruiting and boosting hopes for a finals tilt in 2025.
Cohuna, Central Murray
Last season, the Kangas won eight straight games to end the home-and-away season and make finals. This off-season the club has recruited well, not only retaining coach and former Golden Square midfielder Jack Geary, but adding some valuable players. The team has signed Bendigo league stars Ricky Monti and Tom Toma while also adding 2023 Echuca premiership player Corbin Anderson.
Corowa Rutherglen, Ovens and Murray
The Kangaroos have been one of the busiest clubs in the off-season. Corowa Rutherglen has signed ex-AFL player Daryn Cresswell as coach and have made a host of signings. Last season, in their first since recess, the team won one game. You feel this off-season is all about going chips in to make sure the club can make finals and maybe go further.
Corryong, Upper Murray
The Upper Murray continues to be the league defying the odds with four teams but Corryong for the past couple of years has been struggling, winning just two games in the past three years.
Dookie United, Picola and District
Makes the return to the Picola and District league for the first time since 2017 after playing in the Kyabram and District league. It’s been nine years since the side last played finals in the Picola league and the team will be intent on making an immediate impression.
Echuca, Goulburn Valley
Last season the Murray Bombers were ranked number one, by us, in country footy after winning a third straight Goulburn Valley premiership. They’ve been the benchmark of the competition since Covid and continue to produce with not only their established players but their rising youth. But as with any team at the top there are others looking to bring them down. No team since 1966 in the GV league has won four straight premierships with only Koroit, in the Hampden league, able to win four premierships in a row in the major leagues in the past 10 years.
Echuca United, Murray
It was a tough season for Echuca United, losing all but one game. It’s been five years since the team has made finals and since Covid the team has struggled to get out of the bottom four.
Garfield, West Gippsland
Has won just seven games since 2022, with four of them against Bunyip, who are not in the competition anymore. Garfield, like Bunyip, were one of a few teams who moved from Ellinbank to West Gippsland to form the new competition. 2025 could be a big year for the club. Does it try to stay in West Gippsland and look to rise up the ladder, or does the club try to make a move back like the Bulldogs?
Gordon, Central Highlands
Only lost to two sides last season including Bungaree who beat the Eagles in the preliminary final. The Eagles had won two premierships in 2022 and 2023 and will be looking to bounce back next season. It’s started well, this off-season, with the signing of Daniel Burton from Point Cook in the Western league.
Gormandale, North Gippsland
Next season shapes as a massive year for Gormandale. The Tigers have not won a game in almost three years, with a losing streak stretching 47 matches. The last win came in round one, 2022. With rumours the club also want out of the North Gippsland league, this off-season shapes as being important on and off the field.
Harrow Balmoral, Horsham District
There will be pressure on Harrow Balmoral to continue their extraordinary form. The side has the longest winning streak in local Victorian football, winning 36 matches in a row and two straight premierships. In fact, since the Southern Mallee Giants left the competition at the end of 2017 the team has won four of the last five premierships. It’s been 12 years since a team won more than three flags in a row.
Heathcote, Heathcote District
The Saints entered last year as one of the premiership favourites but injuries and a controversial finish to their season in the semi-final ended any hope. Finals losses can do one of two things, either galvanise a team to bounce back or it can impact them for years to come. This off-season will be crucial to make sure the team is motivated to hunt for their first premiership since 2010.
Hill End, Mid Gippsland
The pressure will be on ex-AFL player Adrian Burns as he takes on the coaching role at Hill End. Since making the finals in 2022, the Rovers have won just one game in two seasons. Burns, who played football for Essendon and St Kilda, has been tasked with turning the club around.
Horsham Saints and Demons, Wimmera
Once upon a time the Wimmera league was dominated by Horsham teams. From 2003 to 2018 the teams in the city won all but one title. Since Covid, both teams have struggled, not making the grand final, with only one team making the finals in each of the past three years. Horsham is the biggest city in the Wimmera league with the largest population. The pressure is on to return the area back to the top.
Imperial, Sunraysia
The Imps were the story of 2024, going from wooden spoon to winning the. With success comes pressure, outside and inside the club. The club only has 36 player points for 2025 compared to 45 in 2024. Already, the reduction has had it’s impact with the club unable to sign a couple of players. And it will have an impact throughout the season on who the club can play.
Korumburra Bena, West Gippsland
Has won just seven games since 2022 with four of them coming against Bunyip, who are now out of the competition. The Giants have struggled since coming into the competition from the Alberton league and the off-season will be critical to improving.
Lake Wendouree, Ballarat
The Lakers showed plenty of improvement last season. Despite finishing 10th for the second straight year the team won three games and were more than competitive in other contest. Now the focus is on improving again and trying to make finals for the first time since 2018. The Lakers have been successful in the juniors and netball.
Leongatha, Gippsland
The premiership run for the Parrots ended last season, losing to Traralgon in the grand final. Before the loss, Leongatha had won three of the past four premierships in the Gippsland league. Is the dynasty over and have other sides taken over? Or is their still life in the Parrots to go for another premiership tilt? The club will be hoping it’s the first option.
Lindenow, East Gippsland
Won just one game last year. The club has started the turnaround signing a trio of players from Watsonia in the Northern league including Baxter Evans who also played at Marcellin College and the Oakleigh Chargers.
Lorne, Colac
From being the hunter to the hunted. Lorne enters year two under former AFL player Ed Curnow who is the coach at the Dolphins. The team won their first premiership in five years with a win over Irrewarra-Beeac in the decider.
Mansfield, Goulburn Valley
There is plenty of buzz with the Eagles after their off-season recruiting. Mansfield has not only signed former Collingwood player Callum Brown but has added VFL players Mitch Lewis and Nick Gray. And there’s talk of more coming.
Marong, Loddon Valley
Been the benchmark of the competition for the past few years, winning three straight premierships, but changes in the off-season could see other clubs pounce. Kain Robins and Paul Thomson have taken over as co-coaches after three-time premiership coach Linton Jacobs left to join Colbinabbin in the Heathcote District league. Robins and Thomson have said they won’t change much, looking to keep the structure, which has been successful.
Maryborough, Bendigo
It’s not only a big off-season but a massive 12 months for one of Victoria’s oldest clubs. Maryborough recently announced it was going into recess next year. The team had lost 64 games in a row before the announcement and suffered the biggest ever loss in the Bendigo league earlier this season.Now they’ll be determined to work towards a 2026 return.
Maryborough Giants, Maryborough Castlemaine
After almost 90 years of having two or more teams in the town of Maryborough, next year will be different with the Giants the only senior team in town. The Giants, who are the merged entity of Royal Park and Maryborough Rovers, made their debut last season, finishing 11th with four wins. The team was coached by ex-AFL player Damian Cupido but he has now left the club with a new coach, Matt Walker, taking over.
Meringur, Millewa
Has only won once in the past 30 matches. In a six-team competition the Kangaroos have had a tough couple of seasons being competitive.
Moama, Murray
The next few months will be some of the most important in the history of the club. The club has publicly announced it will be exploring where their future lies in 2026. The choices are the Goulburn Valley league, the Bendigo league or staying in the Murray league. The likelihood is moving away from the Murray league.
Moe, Gippsland
The Lions have made it clear this off-season already it is premiership or bust for them. Moe has signed ex-AFL players Ben Crocker and Myles Poholke, also hiring Poholke’s brother Leigh. The Poholke brothers have come from Sorrento in the MPFNL. It’s been 58 years since the Lions last won a flag.
Moyston Willaura, Mininera
Another team in the league looking to rise up the ladder. The Panthers last season won one game, against Caramut, and the year before suffered one of the heaviest losses in country footy history.
Nirranda, Warrnambool
Not since the 1950s has a team won four straight premierships in the Warrnambool District league and Nirranda have the opportunity next season. The Blues won the minor premiership before beating Merrivale in the grand final.
North Albury, Ovens and Murray
Last season was the club’s best in almost two decades, playing in the preliminary final after being wooden spooners in 2022. But now the challenge begins. The team last year had 46 points it could use for one game, now it is 39.
North Ballarat, Ballarat
There will be plenty of pressure on the Roosters from a few angles heading into 2025. The first is bouncing back after going from grand finalists, to finalists, and hiring a new coach, Clint Proctor, with former coach Brendan McCartney joining Port Melbourne in the VFL. The other factor is their best players moving to the VFL. Riley Polkinghorne, Josh Sparkman and Malachi White, while all signing to stay, will be lost throughout the season if they play for Port. The trio join Jack Riding who is playing for Werribee. How the club replaces the three could be the difference.
North Warrnambool, Hampden
You could argue the Eagles are the Collywobbles of country footy. The past four completed seasons the team has made the grand final but fallen at the final hurdle, two times to Koroit and twice to South Warrnambool. The club has never won the Hampden league. The Eagles have Michael Barlow, Steven Motlop and Nathan Vardy, a trio of ex-AFL players.
Nyora, Ellinbank District
One of a few teams last season to lose every game. Nyora in the off-season has hired a new coach and recruited plenty of players, including four from Koo Wee Rup.
Phillip Island, West Gippsland
The Bulldogs have an incredible record in the West Gippsland league, making the past five grand finals. But the recent three the team has lost. The pressure will be on to turn the tide, make the grand final again, and go one better.
Portland, Hampden
Currently on a 33-game losing streak and have not won since 2023. There’s been persistent conversations about their future in the competition and whether the clubs stays in the Hampden league, or moves to either a minor South Australian or Victorian league.
Pyramid Hill, Loddon Valley
The pressure continues to build at Pyramid Hill to end a premiership drought stretching 64 years. It doesn’t help the team has got close the past two years, making the grand final and losing to Marong on both occasions. Pyramid Hill last won a premiership in 1950 in the Mitiamo league. Since then the team has been in three competitions without any senior football success.
Robinvale Euston, Sunraysia
Another club with a points reduction for next year. Robinvale Euston has just 31 points for 2025 after being found guilty of going over the salary cap in 2023. They will need to rely on a fair few one pointers to help the team be competitive towards the top of the ladder.
Rushworth, Kyabram
Coming back from recess is tough, which Rushworth did really well last season, winning five games. . Building on year one will be pivotal to the future for Rushworth.
South Bendigo, Bendigo
It was a disappointing year for South Bendigo as the team missed finals for the first time in three years. This off-season has been busy with a raft of changes including the signing of Jack Fallon and Troy Coates as co-coaches. Both have recruited players from their previous clubs, White Hills and Kerang, looking for the rise up the ladder.
South Mildura, Sunraysia
The Bulldogs have the perfect template for going from bottom to top in 2025. The’ve team has recruited well in the off-season, signing the Neagle brothers, to help rise them up the ladder. The pressure is on though. The Bulldogs have tried the rebuild a couple of times and fallen back down the ladder.
Springbank, Central Highlands
Will last season be a once-off or will the Tigers bounce back? Springbank fell down the ladder to 13th after making the previous two grand finals. The off-season has already seen former Melton South coach Heath Pritchard take over and the pressure will be on to bring the club back to the top. It’s also a historic season for the club, which will celebrate its centenary.
Swifts Creek, Omeo
Since the start of Covid the Demons have made every grand final, winning the flag in 2023. But last season the team lost heavily to Omeo-Benambra.The start to 2025 is the key.
Tatura, Goulburn Valley
Currently on a 17-game losing streak after beating Seymour in the first round last season. Recently ex-AFL premiership player Paul Barnard had his contract extended at the club for another two years after coaching the Bulldogs for the past two. It’s been five years since the team made finals.
Taylors Lake, Horsham
After almost merging with Laharum at the end of 2023, Taylors Lake missed out on finals, winning only four games in 2024. Laharum, on the other hand, took the shock of almost losing their club by responding to make finals. With the threat of mergers lingering in the competition, the focus for the Lakers will be to continue to build and make sure it doesn’t happen to them..
Ultima, Golden Rivers
This could be a major 12 months for Ultima, on and off the field. On the field the team will be defending the premiership. Off the field, the team will be preparing for another tilt at moving away from the Golden Rivers. Recently, the team applied to join the Central Murray league, and while it got approval from the competition, it was rejected by Golden Rivers. With the future of both the competition and Ultima in it on shaky ground the next few months will be crucial to sorting out their future.
Violet Town, Kyabram
Won only one game last season but has spent most of the off-season recruiting. Violet Town has signed multiple players including renowned horse trainer and footballer JD Hayes. But the team is coming from a long way back. Town had the worst defence in the competition last season and the second-worst attack.
Waaia, Picola
It’s been 32 years since a club in the Picola league won four straight flags. Waaia in 1992 won their fourth straight premiership and have the chance, 33 years later, to do the same. The Bombers have been the best team in the competition the past three years and the off-season will play a major part in whether Waaia can contend for a fourth straight time.
Wahgunyah, Tallangatta
After almost folding during 2023, there were glimpses in 2024 the team was on the right track, winning their first senior game in three years. But towards the end of the year the Lions struggled again, which prompted the coach and president to leave. This season there is a new president and co-coaches and the focus in the off-season will be to turn it around and get more wins and stability to the club.
Warrack, Wimmera
Next year will be eight years since the Eagles made finals. After Nhill, last season, ended their long drought of making finals, the pressure will be on Warrack to do the same. The team has ex-AFL player Kyle Cheney and will be hoping with a couple more recruits it can rise up the ladder.
Warragul, Gippsland
Next year is year three of ex-AFL player Jed Lamb coaching the club and the push towards finals will be on. Lamb, with a youthful side, led the team to three wins in 2023 before increasing it to five in 2024. Next season, starting with the off-season, will be about building again and making finals for the first time since 2016.
Yarrawonga, Ovens and Murray
The best team all year but the Pigeons fell at the final hurdle as Wangaratta Rovers won the premiership. There’s been plenty of change with Steven Johnson leaving and Leigh Williams taking over. Williams, who has played for the club the past few seasons, should transition comfortably into the role. The off-season will be about recruiting well and making sure the team remains a premiership threat as the competition continues to grow.
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