![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/03\/576466762_1364462992_02410.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Under-18 girls coach Meaney is the senior women’s coach and female football director of coaching at Redan.<\/p>\n
He has extensive experience across junior and senior programs over two decades, including interleague support roles and a strong history in player development, mentoring and female football pathways.<\/p>\n
Under-15 girls co-coach Bennett coached the East Point Dragons under-14 program across 2024-2025 and led the 2025 under-14 girls interleague side.<\/p>\n
He also served as an assistant with the GWV Rebels Under-15 V\/Line Cup program and in 2026 will step into the East Point under-16 girls head coach role while continuing to assist the Rebels.<\/p>\n
Co-coach Oldaker was assistant coach of the 2025 under-16 girls interleague team and previously coached the Ballarat Swans under-12 girls in 2024.<\/p>\n
She has also coached school football at Ballarat High School and is building further pathway experience through involvement with the Rebels under-16 program.<\/p>\n
Petrie’s return as under-17 boys coach continues his strong involvement in the BFNL representative pathway.<\/p>\n
He previously served as an assistant coach with the AFL Goldfields Academy from 2019-2021 and has coached progressively through the BFNL interleague age groups since starting at under-13 level in 2021.<\/p>\n
Into his third straight season as leader of the under-17 program, Petrie is recognised for his focus on player development, game education and building a strong team-first culture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under-15 boys coach Aaron Harnden will lead Bacchus Marsh’s under-14 senior team this season after leading the under-14 reserves in 2025 and serving as assistant coach of the 2025 BFNL under-15 interleague team.<\/p>\n Harnden is a player-centred coach focused on adaptability, role education and high-performance standards, with strong experience in both development and representative football environments.<\/p>\n Under-14 boys coach Watkins has led Darley Junior Football Club since 2016, working across all age groups from under-10 to under-16.<\/p>\n In 2025 he was head coach of the BFL under-13 boys interleague team.<\/p>\n He offers broad junior development experience and a strong understanding of the local talent pool.<\/p>\n Under-13 boys leader Ridley has coached junior football in Ballarat for six years, leading premiership teams in 2024 and 2025 (under-13 and under-14).<\/p>\n He also has three years’ experience as a senior assistant coach and will continue in that role in 2026.<\/p>\n Ridley is known for building strong team environments and consistent on-field success.<\/p>\n Training is scheduled to start across March and April for those selected in initial squads.<\/p>\n Successful players will represent the BFNL on the following dates.<\/p>\n Saturday 23 May: Under-17 boys and under-18 girls<\/p>\n Saturday 4 July: Under-13, under-14 and under-15 boys, under 15 girls, under-18 girls and women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) has locked in its interleague football coaches for 2026, with a mix of returning faces and newcomers taking on the coveted roles. A heavy commitment to interleague football will see the BFNL fielding teams at under-17, under-14, under-15 and under-13 boys level and in senior women’s and under-18 and […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/03\/536286208_1179476260_06912.jpg\")