Eagles to host Swans for 2026 Big Freeze match

THE renowned GFL Big Freeze match is set for a new home in 2026, with Newtown & Chilwell’s Jardon Oval to host the fifth edition of the popular event.

On May 31, the Eagles will take on South Barwon, with a group of local figures and celebrities to head down the slide to raise funds for MND research.

St Mary’s and St Joseph’s have faced off in the past two years, after the first two editions were hosted at Drysdale BFL clashes.

Newtown & Chilwell and South Barwon will now play in the next two editions.

Event organiser Graeme Reid said that moving venues and clubs has always been in the pipeline and was excited for two new clubs to be involved.

“We were always looking ahead to see who would be able to host the next series and the next couple of years,” he explained.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that the next two years will be shared by these two clubs.”

Reid said that both the Eagles and the Swans have embraced the opportunity to be involved in a major day on the Geelong calendar.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with their enthusiasm (and have) already received ideas from both clubs about how they can add to the event and how they can manage it too, because it’s such a big day.

“It’s right in the middle of their season, so we understand how much of an imposition it is, but luckily they all get behind the cause and it’s a great community event.

“It’s now a big event for Geelong and it gets bigger each year.”

Each year, the event has continued to grow, something Reid said the team take great pride in.

More than $360,000 has been raised to date across the four editions, with last year’s fundraising exceeding the target of $100,000.

“We pinch ourselves and say, ‘look at what’s being created’.

“It’s grown to quite a managed structure that we have to have people in place to manage all sides of it and luckily, we don’t have any shortage of people that want to contribute.

“We’ve already got a few names that we’ve either pencilled in or we’re pencilling in and it’s going to be very exciting this year.”

More information will be announced closer to the date in May.