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Seth Smith played a key role for the Gippsland Pride.

Rising stars make their mark on country cricket rep tournament

The second round of the Victorian Country Cricket League’s representative tournament saw a host of positive performances. See who stole the limelight.

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The country footy clubs to keep an eye on in 2026

The country footy clubs to keep an eye on in 2026

They are the teams to beat, the one’s who will set the agenda in 2026 or clubs who are in desperate need of a win or two. Here are the teams to look out for in country footy in Victoria next year.

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Natalie Korinfsky, Kyneton Womens Football Club President (centre), with players Shannon White, Teagan Ainslie, Charlie Bracey and Amber Gajic are angry at the recent state government for slashing of funds into womens sporting programs. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Women’s footy club assesses legal options after AFL Vic rejection

A country women’s footy club is assessing its legal options after AFL Victoria blocked its move to a new league, despite unanimous support.

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Murray FL, Grand Final, Nathalia V Barooga, at Mercury Sports Complex, Shepparton, Jason Limbrick, 8, Nathalia Purps & Brodie A'Vard, 5, , Barooga, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Barooga accuses AFLGM of ‘payback’ over Picola switch

A club’s move to an unaffiliated competition has triggered an AFL crackdown that threatens to destroy two women’s teams and end dozens of playing careers.

Interleague Round, Ovens & Murray V Goulburn Valley, at Wangaratta WJ Findlay Oval, Ovens Murray & Goulburn Valley, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

$140k swing: How the GV league recovered from 2024 shocker

The Goulburn Valley league has achieved a stunning $140,000 financial turnaround after hitting rock bottom with major losses last season.

Goulburn Valley FL, Round 16, Rochester Tigers V Echuca Murray Bombers, at Rochester, Rochester & Echuca, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

‘Exploring options’: Country footy powerhouse linked with league switch

One of country footy’s most powerful clubs has confirmed a possible move away from its current competition could be on the cards in the future but insists no decision has been made. Here’s what we know.

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How your local footy club can earn a share of $8m in funding

How your local footy club can earn a share of $8m in funding

Grants of up to $20,000 are on offer for local footy clubs across Australia heading into 2026. Here’s how you can apply.

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Reece Scoble kicks on the run for North Warrnambool in the Hampden league grand final. Picture: Geoff Rounds

‘Club driven’: Why Hampden’s Friday grand final was scrapped

Public holiday Friday country footy grand finals are in danger of never catching on after one of the state’s biggest leagues pulled the pin after one year.

Wangaratta Rovers' Will Christie celebrates his fourth goal in the O&M grand final win against Wangaratta. Picture: Marc Bongers, North East Photography

O&M profit dip after $2500 club rebates paid

The Ovens & Murray league has cut its own profits by $25,000 after distributing rebates to all 10 clubs following a bumper financial year.

Birchip-Watchem forward Ben Edwards playing against Sea Lake-Nandaly. Picture: Blake Lee

1200km a week: Commute costs country club its star goalkicker

A prolific forward who kicked 320 goals in three seasons has called time on his mammoth weekly drive after back-to-back grand final heartbreak.

Carol McKinstry - new Chairwoman of the Bendigo Football Netball Leaugue board.

BFNL leadership crisis: Major blow to push for change

A dramatic push to oust the Bendigo Football-Netball League’s long-serving chairwoman appears doomed after crucial backing evaporated before Monday’s vote.

Ranked: Victorian country cricket’s best dynasties since 2000

Ranked: Victorian country cricket’s best dynasties since 2000

The dynasties. The comeback stories. The legends. Here are Victorian country cricket’s 35 most era-defining teams since 2000.

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Jackson Paine of the Brisbane Lions takes a mark during their round 22 AFL game against the Geelong Cats at the Gabba in Brisbane, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Ex-AFL player joins country club

A VAFA player, with links to his new club, has made a move to country footy for 2026. His new club reveals why they’ve secured the ex-AFL player.

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Revealed: The top talents to watch at Australian Athletics All Schools

Revealed: The top talents to watch at Australian Athletics All Schools

From children of former Australian representatives to the youngster who ran quicker earlier than Gout Gout this year, these are the athletes to watch at the Australian Athletics All Schools Championships.

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Sturt's Connor McFadyen celebrates his last quarter goal against Glenelg. Second semi final.

How the Eagles plan to rise in the Wimmera League

A country footy club who has struggled in recent seasons has landed two state league guns as part of a recruiting haul. Go inside their plans to rise up the ladder.

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GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Hardie of the Cats in action during the 2024 VFL First Semi Final match between the Geelong Cats and Southport Sharks at GMHBA Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

‘Avalanche effect’: How Wang Rovers are building a dynasty in equalisation era

Against all odds, the O&M club with the smallest points budget has secured a VFL Team-of-the-Year midfielder, defying country footy’s equalisation system designed to stop them.

Murray FL, Round 19, Nathalia V Barooga, at Nathalia, Cameron Cloke, 23, Barooga Hawks, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

‘Exceeded our expectations’: Barooga move major vote of confidence

Barooga members have voted overwhelmingly to rejoin the Picola District league after 36 years, with the club admitting it has been “outgrown” by Murray league rivals.

Golden Rivers FL, Grand Final, Ultima Roos V Hay Lions, at Marcona, Ultima & Hay, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Round Zero to start new look Central Murray league

A major shake-up will see the Central Murray league introduce its first-ever top-eight finals series following a historic merger of two competitions.

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Kyle Humphrys hit his first century for California Gully in the Emu Valley T20 competition. Picture: Supplied.

How country cricketer’s all-time great T20 knock happened

A central Victorian cricket club got more than it bargained for when its marquee cricketer hit a stunning century which had him leading the country this week. He reveals how it happened.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 28: Harley Reid of the Eagles runs with the ball during the round 16 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on June 28, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

AFL urged to fix widening city-country talent divide

The AFL faces a crisis as country talent development collapses, with industry insiders warning the current system could kill off regional football’s century-long contribution to the elite level.

Will Chandler from Glenelg reacts after scoring a goal during the SANFL preliminary final match between Central Districts and Glenelg at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Sunday, September 15, 2024. (SANFL Image/David Mariuz)

Famous names, state league guns among Corowa recruits

The Longmire name is set to play a significant role for Corowa-Rutherglen next year with four cousins set to play alongside each other in an off-season where the Roos have been bolstered by a package of recruits.

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Picola & District FNL, Grand Final, Waaia V Strathmerton, at Strathmertton, Shane Railton, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

How Barooga’s return could reshape Picola league

Barooga members vote Thursday on rejoining the PDFNL after 36 years, with their potential return set to trigger talks about splitting the 16-team competition.

Football BFNL Portarlington v Newcomb: Portarlington 5 Connor Menadue kicks a goal Picture: Mark Wilson

Ex-AFL player continues journey with country club

A former two-club AFL player has signed on with a country club after playing football in Geelong last season. Here is what we know.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 19: Number One pick Willem Duursma is presented his jumper by Harley Reid of the Eagles during the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium on November 19th, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Is country footy about to be left for dead?

As country football celebrates its latest crop of AFL draftees, the grassroots game faces a critical leadership vacuum after its true voice went more than a decade ago.

Ovens & Murray FN, Round 1, Wangaratta Rovers V Wangaratta Magpies, at Wangaratta Rovers ground, Nathan Cooper, 2, Wangaratta Rovers & Wangaratta Magpies, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

‘Too onerous’: Why O&M is slashing its VFL player finals rule

Ovens & Murray league plans to slash VFL player qualification matches from nine to five senior matches for finals eligibility amid growing state-level opportunities.

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14/09/2024 Imperials v Wentworth Grand final at Mildura Sporting precinct , Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti celebrates the win. Photographer: Noel Fisher

Tippa’s shock move into coaching

Former Essendon cult-hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has made the big leap into coaching after shocking his local footy club and switching to a cross-town rival.

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Interleague Round, Ovens & Murray V Goulburn Valley, at Wangaratta WJ Findlay Oval, Charlie Morrison, 1, Ovens Murray & Cohen Paul, 21, Goulburn Valley, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

How copying its biggest rival can rescue GV

Dumped GV chairman’s decade-old warnings about league administration have come true as AFL Victoria dismantles regional hub model.

Round 12 of the QAFL competiton. Broadbeach Cats v Palm Beach Lions at Subaru Oval. Jye Lockett kicking a goal. 24 June 2023 Mermaid Waters Picture by Richard Gosling

Lockett name returns to North Ballarat

The nephew of an AFL legend is set to return to Victoria next season after signing on with a powerhouse country club as he prepares to depart Queensland.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Josh Dunkley of the Lions celebrates with Lions Head Coach Chris Fagan after winning the AFL Grand Final match between Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Player points and salary cap bumps for Gippsland clubs

AFL Gippsland confirms the clubs that will receive extra player points and salary cap space in 2026 as one prepares to welcome a triple AFL premiership player this weekend.

GYG - MPFNL Division One Senior Men, Round 9. Mt Eliza FNC Senior Men Vs Pines FNC Senior Men, played at Emil Madsen Reserve, Mount Eliza, Victoria, Saturday 14th June 2025. Mt Eliza FNC Senior Mens player Christopher Carey..Picture: Andrew Batsch

How country club secured premier ruckman

A country footy club has signed one of the best ruckman from a Melbourne competition where he is fresh off a premiership which followed a 2024 best-and-fairest.

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Revealed: Best of the best from Vic’s footy factories since 2000

Revealed: Best of the best from Vic’s footy factories since 2000

Ahead of the 2025 AFL Draft we looked back on the first quarter of the century to name the best teams from each Coates Talent League club. Which one do you think stands out as the state’s premier footy factory?

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Murray Bushrangers top team of the century.

Bushies best: The top AFL guns to come out of the Murray talent pipeline

Nine players selected in the top 12 AFL draft picks highlight an extraordinary list of talent produced by regional Victoria’s Murray Bushrangers this century. Check out the top 25 talents to emerge from the program.

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Jordan Johnston in the NTFL men's grand final between Southern Districts and St Mary's. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Country footy contender continues to build with another recruit

A leading player in one of the major country leagues is heading north to join a star forward and a former VFL midfielder as one team looks set to contend for a premiership next year. Here is what we know.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Will Kelly of the Magpies looks on during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at AIA Centre on September 26, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

How ex-AFL player surprised his country club

An ex-AFL player will return home to play country footy in a move which even surprised the club he’s joined. Here is what we know.

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