Lara withdraws A Grade netball team as club resets

The Lara Football Netball Club will not field an A Grade netball side in the Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) for the 2026 season.

The decision follows discussions between the club and AFL Barwon about Lara’s ability to field a competitive and sustainable A Grade team, with concerns raised about player availability.

In a statement, AFL Barwon confirmed the club had chosen to place its A Grade netball program into recess for the season.

“Following these discussions and a review of player availability, the club has made the decision for its A Grade netball team to enter recess for the 2026 season,” the statement read.

The AFL Barwon board approved an exemption to the competition’s by-laws, which require clubs to field senior and reserves football teams as well as netball teams from A Grade down.

The GFNL fixture will remain unchanged, with byes scheduled in place of Lara’s A Grade netball games.

All other Lara netball teams will continue to compete in the GFNL competition, alongside the club’s involvement in other AFL Barwon competitions including senior women’s football, junior football and junior netball.

The announcement follows the Cats’ decision last month to withdraw their senior and reserve football teams from competition.

On Tuesday, the Lara Sporting Club also announced it had established a future planning group (FPG) to find a viable and sustainable pathway forward for the club.

The group will be chaired by long-standing sports administrator Phil Clohesy and will examine the club’s current situation before developing recommendations aimed at returning Lara to competition and securing its long-term future.

Club president Louise Goodwin said the working group would focus on rebuilding the club’s programs.

“It operates as a strategic, time-bound working group, focused on long-term success rather than short-term participation,” she said.

The working group includes newly appointed AFL Barwon chief executive Kate Patterson and head of football Sarah Naylor.

“We are particularly pleased that AFL Barwon is an active participant in the working party,” Goodwin said. “The support and advice of the AFL Barwon board is much appreciated.”

The Future Planning Group is expected to deliver its report and recommendations by July.