GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL & NETBALL FULL PREVIEW OF ALL SENIOR FOOTBALL & NETBALL COMPETITIONS in Gippsland MAGAZINE Every FOOTBALL & NETBALL FIXTURE WRAP UP of all JUNIOR FOOTBALL in Gippsland Preview of NETBALL VICTORIA ASSOCIATION 2021 CHAMPIONSHIPS for 2021 GIPPSLAND POWER preview for season 2021 and more.... For 2021 scores & results visit the AFL GIPPSLAND website via the qr code HERE @AFLGIPPSLANDGIPPSLAND FOOTBALL AND NETBALL MAGAZINE 1 SENIOR LEAGUES JUNIOR LEAGUES FEMALE FOOTBALL 2 GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL AND NETBALL MAGAZINE Getting to know Gippsland again After two successful runs in 2017 and 2018, the Gippsland Football and Netball Magazine returns for 2021. Previously produced as a joint project by local print media organisations and AFL Gippsland, this year’s edition will feature more emphasis on leagues and SENIOR LEAGUES competitions and how they will look in 2021. This year’s edition has been sized to match the Footy Records, Taggers, Barrackers, Followers and Spectators that pundits would see at weekly matches. Hopefully this guide will be one that can be read throughout 2021 and provide valuable information across all 16 competitions in Gippsland. It has been a hard task to source all of this information before the season starts. All information we managed to get was correct at the time of printing but we acknowledge there may be some movement on the eve of the season. A huge thanks to the Gippsland League, West Gippsland Football Netball Competition, North Gippsland Football Netball League, Ellinbank & District Football Netball League, Mid Gippsland Football Netball League & AFL Gippsland Women’s Competition for their support in the creation of this magazine. We also thank the junior leagues who lend their support, including Southern Gippsland JNC, Sale & District JFA, Traralgon & District JFL, JUNIOR LEAGUES FEMALE FOOTBALL West Gippsland JFC & Gippsland Youth Girls. Daniel Heathcote AFL Gippsland GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL MAGAZINE 2021 Produced and published by AFL Gippsland Editor: Daniel Heathcote Sub editor: Damen Francis Contributors: Daniel Heathcote, Damen Francis, Ken Moore, Liam Durkin Cover design: Daniel Heathcote Cover Photo and image Credits: MD Photography Mark Drury, Clixz Sports Images, Jodie Harlow, Damen Francis, Latrobe Valley Express, Daniel, Healthcote Other magazine images for League, Club and Associations sourced through affiliated social media accounts GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL AND NETBALL MAGAZINE 3 AFL Gippsland Welcome to the 2021 season. To say this Just as energised are the RAC staff who are would be the most anticipated season yet, eagerly awaiting round one results to start would be an understatement. Whether you’re coming in to assure them community sport is a player, official, umpire, supporter, friend back. Daniel Heathcote will again manage and or family we welcome you and thank you for administer the Gippsland League as well as returning to football or netball after the 2020 oversee and support the operations and staff season we didn’t have. within the RAC. The last 12 months have been a challenge for Simon Whelan is excited about administering everyone and whilst some of those challenges the junior leagues, Traralgon and District remain a threat in the background, it’s exciting Junior Football League, Sale and District Junior to see leagues, clubs and associations get on Football Association and Southern Gippsland with things as best they can. There’s no hiding Junior Football Competition. Simon will also the fact things will look different both on and manage the AFL Gippsland Youth Girls and off the field. How things look in round one support the clubs in the West Gippsland may be different in round seven or twelve, but Junior Football Competition. I encourage everyone to adapt, remain flexible and do what we can to ensure football and Brandon Milburn will oversee the Alex netball is played as normal as possible. Scott & Staff West Gippsland Football Netball Competition and AFL Gippsland In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, Women’s League. Brandon has been pivotal across Gippsland there have been some in administering the inaugural AFL Gippsland significant changes to leagues with some Intersport All Stars, a new Gippsland regional junior age group changes as well as a few clubs program for 13, 14 and 15 year olds. changing leagues. We welcome Carlie Dwyer to the team In 2021 my biggest priority is participation. in a new role at the RAC. Carlie will be Whether that’s within schools, auskick centres, responsible for netball administration of the junior or senior clubs, I am committed to Alex Scott & Staff West Gippsland Football supporting all levels across Gippsland. Netball Competition as well as support Daniel Have you heard about or seen on our with netball matters in the Gippsland League. social pages the exciting work Gippsland’s I am confident that across our Gippsland Football Development Managers have been region, at the RAC, within clubs, at league doing in schools? George Morgan, Michael level or individually, no stone is being left Roberts and Paul Vaughan have all returned unturned to ensure everyone reconnects with reenergised, enthusiastic and passionate about football and netball in 2021. participation and retention. If your school, club or auskick centre has not been visited or Bring on the first game! I can’t wait to contacted throughout term one, anticipate a get amongst the crowd and watch more visit or support after Easter holidays. community football and netball than ever! GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL AND NETBALL MAGAZINE 5 Over a decade sponsoring Country Football. Over 30 years helping keep workplaces safe. VWA 1007_FootyRecord_210x148_Football_CMYK_V3.indd 1 6/04/2016 4:20 PM Proudly supporting country Victorians WorkSafe is proud to once again support AFL This isn’t about us telling farmers and those Vic Country for the much-anticipated 2021 in the agriculture industry what to do, but season. reminding them that accidents can and do happen. We have been closely associated with country football and netball since 2002 and it’s a We want to change the bullet-proof attitudes partnership we are passionate about, as it that many farmers have, that an accident, plays such a significant role in the health, serious injury or fatality will not happen to safety and wellbeing of regional and rural them. communities. That an ordinary day can turn to tragedy For many country Victorians weekends centre and have life-changing consequences for the around going to the local ground to watch the farmer, workers, family and the farm’s future. football and netball. WorkSafe can’t do this alone, that’s why we It unites communities with common purpose, value this partnership so much. and it helps everyone stay connected. After a year of being socially isolated from family, When the season was cancelled last year friends, colleagues and team-mates, this has because of COVID-19, we put in place an never been more important. alternative WorkSafe Country Club Challenge. Together we need to re-establish those This created a space to allow clubs to still connections and look out for the health, safety engage with each other and the wider and wellbeing of everyone in our community. community. This year WorkSafe will continue to work But it didn’t fully replace the comraderie and alongside local clubs and leagues to promote of course the fierce competitiveness of playing workplace safety, so we can ensure all against each other every weekend. workers make it home and get to do the We look forward to again embracing that things they love, like playing sport each and competitive spirit and to meeting you at a every day. Country Club Game throughout the season Over a decade sponsoring When our workers are safe, we’ll see them and through the @CountryClubHub group on on the field. We’ll see them on the court. Or Facebook. Country Football. we’ll see them on the sidelines. We are here to support you and our Club In country areas we know a large part of Safety Fund offers financial support to clubs staying safe at work is staying safe on farms. who have initiatives to make their players and supporters safer. Over 30 years helping Sadly we know far too many workers are being killed or seriously injured on farms every year. Because when we work together we can get keep workplaces safe. the message out that workplace safety is WorkSafe’s new agriculture campaign “It’s everyone’s responsibility. never you, until it is” shows how easily an ordinary day can turn to tragedy and Colin Radford how small decisions can have life-changing Chief Executive consequences. WorkSafe Victoria GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL AND NETBALL MAGAZINE 7 VWA 1007_FootyRecord_210x148_Football_CMYK_V3.indd 1 6/04/2016 4:20 PM A new era for senior competitions in Gippsland Senior football and netball returns to Gippsland in 2021 and it will be met with equal parts anticipation, intrigue and optimism, and perhaps an element of perplexity as well. Much has changed since the final siren and whistle blew in September 2019. The release of the 2018 AFL Gippsland Senior Leagues review and the subsequent AFL Victoria 2020 G25 review have left a landscape of uncertainty that will finally settle into place in season 2021. The most notable development was the confirmation that the six remaining Alberton Football Netball League Clubs - Foster, Fish Creek, Meeniyan Dumbalk United, Stony Creek, Tarwin and Toora - would join the Mid Gippsland League. In a huge 18 months for Mid Gippsland, the football league amalgamated with the Mid Gippsland Netball Association to become the Mid Gippsland Football Netball League, which then welcomed the six new clubs to become a 15-club competition. This would only be a short-term proceeding with Trafalgar’s successful bid to join the Ellinbank and District competition. Following Trafalgar’s departure, Yallourn Yallourn North engaged the North Gippsland Football Netball League to help move their club on from the Trafalgar are one of the clubs on the move in 2021 Mid Gippsland League.