AFL Barwon defends possibly excluding North Shore from 2025 GFNL season

AFL Barwon has defended what it described as “contingency” planning to exclude North Shore football teams from this year’s Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) season due to a lack of seniors and reserves players.

AFL Barwon, AFL Victoria, and the North Shore Football and Netball Club (FNC) have been discussing player numbers at the Seagulls confidentially since at least December, but recent media coverage of the issue has prompted AFL Barwon to “reluctantly” explain its position in public.

In a statement released earlier today, AFL Barwon said the league “expressed concerns about [North Shore] football playing numbers” at a December 18 meeting.

“On February 13, AFL Barwon issued a letter to North Shore FNC, providing the club with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to field senior and reserve football teams in 2025. This was prompted by the fact that, at the time, North Shore FNC had no registered senior male footballers.

“Despite some verbal assurances, North Shore FNC had been unable to provide the relevant written confirmation to this request and show reasonable cause by February 28 [at which point] AFL Barwon requested a meeting on March 3, at which [the] North Shore co-president representing netball was the only representative in attendance.

“Due to lack of confirmation by North Shore FNC, AFL Barwon had no choice but to begin planning scenarios for the 2025 season without North Shore FNC participating in the 2025 GFNL football competition as a contingency.”

AFL Barwon stated it was still assessing North Shore’s present ability to meet AFL Barwon By-Law 13.2 – “all clubs must field teams in Senior and Reserve football grades, and all netball grades from A Grade down”.

“Noting a netball exemption has been in place in recent seasons, it is not a viable solution to only have one senior football team,” the league stated.

“While this assessment is still taking place and there has been an increase in registrations, there remains some work to be done regarding North Shore’s ability to field senior and reserve football teams in 2025. AFL Barwon must take proactive steps to support all clubs and players.

“While every effort is being made by North Shore FNC in establishing a sustainable football program, the ongoing uncertainty necessitates careful planning to protect the integrity of the competition and the interests of all participating clubs.”

The 2025 GFNL season begins on April 12, in which North Shore are slated to play Colac.

“AFL Barwon has been reluctant to make a statement about the status of the North Shore FNC due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the discussions,” AFL Barwon chair Michelle Gerdtz said today.

“Having said that, with sensationalist reports in recent days and overnight of ‘bombshells,’ ‘blindsiding,’ and ‘backflips’ by AFL Barwon, we felt we needed to set the record straight.

“We do have concerns about the ability of North Shore FNC to field both senior and reserves teams in the GFNL in 2025 and further information is still being provided.

“It was, and still is, our intention to continue discussions with the club to ascertain their list status with five weeks until the season opener.

“However, the club has preferred to let this play out in public, which has meant that maintaining confidentiality was beyond our control.”