Mid-season funding win for Storm

BOOTING plenty of goals on the field during the 2026 BFNL premiership season, Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club has kicked a big one on the off-field.

A planned reconstruction of the Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserves senior oval will go ahead following a crucial state government funding win.

The Storm have been allocated $250,000 from the latest round of the Country Football and Netball Program.

Delivered in partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, the program provides funding to local government authorities to help regional football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations upgrade and develop facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations.

The Storm’s funding will go towards ground profiling, seeding the oval with drought tolerant species, a new turf wicket and new drainage and irrigation systems.

Premier and Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan said grants from the latest round included ground resurfacing and new oval and court lighting projects, because “everyone deserves equal facilities no matter where they live”.

“Footy and netball clubs are the heart and soul of Bendigo and that’s why we’re backing them with more money for better grounds,” she said.

“This boost will go a long way to helping Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club cater for the growing numbers of people keen to get involved in grassroots sport, providing more opportunities for locals to get active and play the sport they love.”

A big mid-season boost, the funding announcement comes with the Storm sitting third on the senior football ladder, level on wins with top side Gisborne and second-placed Sandhurst.

More than $44m has been invested in 600 country football and netball infrastructure projects under the program since 2005.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said nothing brought regional communities together like country football and netball, with local grounds playing a vital role in community traditions.

“Better home ground facilities means that clubs can encourage more participation, fair access, host more events, nurture volunteers and draw bigger crowds, creating a real buzz and boosting local economies,” she said.