GFNL Discussion 2026

[MortlockWatcher]

AFL Barwon have picked up the 'three-division' drum and started banging it again.

I can't see the G&DFL ever coming to the party on that issue.

 

[Burtyl78]

AFL Barwon have picked up the 'three-division' drum and started banging it again.

I can't see the G&DFL ever coming to the party on that issue.

I think it’s best to just get Armstrong creek and surf coast suns in and that will make 24 teams ( 3 x 8 teams ) , just forget the GDFL

 

[western dog]

AFL Barwon have picked up the 'three-division' drum and started banging it again.

I can't see the G&DFL ever coming to the party on that issue.

Cant see GDFL clubs considering a move whilst Neville W is at the helm. Why would they anyway? Most of the clubs in the GDFL would be either Div 2 or 3 in a Super AFL Barwon 3 Div comp and lose all their best players to the Div 1 Clubs. They are well looked after as is and would be an after thought if gobbled up by AFL Barwon.

 

[Aucklander]

For all your GFNL talk.

 

[Who are ya]

A slow old Sunday. Was going through ladders in country competitions. What an even comp you have. Top 4 teams all on the same points with 5th side 4 points behind. Is there a favourite?

Like most leagues since the introduction of the points system, it’s become a very boring and predictable comp. St Mary’s, Colac, Joeys always strong and now only stronger because of the points system and junior set ups. Leopold and Newtown always around the mark, South and Bell Park up and down. Grovedale and Geelong West competitive but not good enough to consistently compete. North Shore, Lara and St Albans down the bottom. That’s pretty much been the tale of the league since 2017

 

[Mongrel Punter 15]

Matthew Knights

Matthew Knights

Age

55

Ht

178cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

9.3

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

18.4

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

to coach Leopold in 2025???

 

[King Cat]

Matthew Knights

Matthew Knights

Age

55

Ht

178cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

9.3

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

18.4

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

to coach Leopold in 2025???

They appointed Luke Kelly might want to check that before you post champ.


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[Who are ya]

The strong get stronger and weak get weaker with Joeys grabbing Chafer from Grovedale. Massive big up for Joeys, Chafer is one of the top handful of players in the gfl. Can see why this is one of the least active threads as there’s not much to talk about. Same handful of sides up the top each year and same sides down the bottom each year. Has reflected on overall crowd numbers at games for a few years now as well I think

 

[Magnets]

The strong get stronger and weak get weaker with Joeys grabbing Chafer from Grovedale. Massive big up for Joeys, Chafer is one of the top handful of players in the gfl. Can see why this is one of the least active threads as there’s not much to talk about. Same handful of sides up the top each year and same sides down the bottom each year. Has reflected on overall crowd numbers at games for a few years now as well I think

There will be some interest from O&M followers, one of the busiest threads with Johnson coaching there. Wodonga Raiders have announced Pokock returning from Newtown.

 

[mobility]

The strong get stronger and weak get weaker with Joeys grabbing Chafer from Grovedale. Massive big up for Joeys, Chafer is one of the top handful of players in the gfl. Can see why this is one of the least active threads as there’s not much to talk about. Same handful of sides up the top each year and same sides down the bottom each year. Has reflected on overall crowd numbers at games for a few years now as well I think

would think Chafer would have gone to Torquay.

 

[Who are ya]

would think Chafer would have gone to Torquay.

He’s in the top handful of players in the comp and probably unlucky to not have played a lot more vfl in the year just gone. Would be a few years before he went back to the bfl I’d say

 

[mobility]

He’s in the top handful of players in the comp and probably unlucky to not have played a lot more vfl in the year just gone. Would be a few years before he went back to the bfl I’d say

Can still play for Torquay and a VFL team.

 

[Who are ya]

Can still play for Torquay and a VFL team.

Yep sure can. He obviously didn’t want to

 

[mobility]

Yep sure can. He obviously didn’t want to.

Yep sure can. He obviously didn’t want to

Like P.Hughes who played plenty of VFL last season and remain aligned to Torquay.

 

[Magnets]

Enquiring from an O&M perspective, how has,Stevie J’s recruiting gone? He wasn’t great at at it here, but didn’t need to be with Ybarra’s list

 

[Who are ya]

Kruger is a big get for Grovedale. Doubt they’ll see much of him this year but hopefully the vfl draw is kind and he can line up in a few games. Bloke should probably still be on an afl list

 

[roarin sunbury lion]

What’s happened with north shore?

 

[Who are ya]

What’s happened with north shore?

More than likely into recess this year and honestly don’t think they’ll come back. Writing has been on wall for a while now and unfortunately as far I know the club didn’t look at alternatives that may have helped them in the future. A real shame as they were an extraordinary club throughout the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s

 

[Grimmett]

What’s happened with north shore?

AFL Barwon has sent them a letter advising they are moving forward with planning the 2025 season without North Shore being included in the football. Will keep the netball going because they have the numbers. Club only has 19 players registered on PlayHQ for two football teams.

 

[olly21]

More than likely into recess this year and honestly don’t think they’ll come back. Writing has been on wall for a while now and unfortunately as far I know the club didn’t look at alternatives that may have helped them in the future. A real shame as they were an extraordinary club throughout the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s

They will be back in some way or another. They themselves are still confident so I would have liked the league to help them get out on the park now instead of writing this letter. Why can't they give them to the last moment?

For the future of the club they should look at a merger with Corio and play in the GDFL or go it alone but go down to the GDFL. Bellarine isn't the answer as they will have no long standing rivalries

 

[Who are ya]

They will be back in some way or another. They themselves are still confident so I would have liked the league to help them get out on the park now instead of writing this letter. Why can't they give them to the last moment?

For the future of the club they should look at a merger with Corio and play in the GDFL or go it alone but go down to the GDFL. Bellarine isn't the answer as they will have no long standing rivalries

I think if they go into recess this year that’ll be the end of them unfortunately. Just isn’t the numbers for both players and support out that way anymore

 

[King Cat]

It’s a shame north shore can’t field a team. But you could see it coming. They had to forfeit reserves games last year. They lost a lot of players in the off season. They aren’t exactly and attractive club to play for if you don’t want to get belted every week.
Maybe it actually took a tough stance by afl Barwon to bring it to a head.
It’s hard to see them coming back from this.

If the GFL clubs weren’t so pig headed and allowed promotion relegation in a simple two up two down format their league would be stronger for it. But a lot of the clubs wanted to preserve their premier league status and now we have a very lopsided competition. And now a team can’t even field a team. It works in so many leagues but unfortunately in geelong the clubs just won’t allow it. It will make for a better competition at all levels. GDFL included. But no one has ever really had the balls to make it or want it to happen.
So we will continue to see clubs struggle and the same teams win most years. And hopefully no more clubs go under.


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[Who are ya]

According to the addy, afl have back flipped on their decision the seagulls will be playing this year. Just delaying the inevitable in my opinion. Their senior side last year wouldn’t have beaten the top 6 sides in the reserves and they’ve lost years best and fairest and runner up. Haven’t picked up anyone either. I fear what happens in the middle of the season when they have a few injuries or blokes unavailable. We could see a club pull the pin during the season

 

[Who are ya]

It’s a shame north shore can’t field a team. But you could see it coming. They had to forfeit reserves games last year. They lost a lot of players in the off season. They aren’t exactly and attractive club to play for if you don’t want to get belted every week.
Maybe it actually took a tough stance by afl Barwon to bring it to a head.
It’s hard to see them coming back from this.

If the GFL clubs weren’t so pig headed and allowed promotion relegation in a simple two up two down format their league would be stronger for it. But a lot of the clubs wanted to preserve their premier league status and now we have a very lopsided competition. And now a team can’t even field a team. It works in so many leagues but unfortunately in geelong the clubs just won’t allow it. It will make for a better competition at all levels. GDFL included. But no one has ever really had the balls to make it or want it to happen.
So we will continue to see clubs struggle and the same teams win most years. And hopefully no more clubs go under.


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You’re spot on about clubs not having the balls to make it happen. GFL clubs seem to have some misconstrued idea that they are elite clubs that don’t deserve to be playing a lesser standard of footy despite a fair few of them doing nothing of note for a long time. There’s a few BFL clubs that could definitely make the step up ( one in particular but they seem to enjoy being a big fish in a small pond )

Personally I’d have North Shore either merge with Corio and play in the gdfl or if they think they have a future as a stand alone club drop them down to rebuild the club up again. And I’d make Torquay come into the GFL

 

[King Cat]

A strong GFL is what should happen. And that only happens if the weak drop off. And stronger teams come in. The GFL would be stronger if for example North Shore Lara and St Albans weren’t in the GFL. And say Torquay Ammos and Barwon Heads were in the GFL.

It will never happen that way but if it did the GFL is a stronger league. But the GFL clubs can’t see the greater good and allow it to happen.

The flow on would be those teams go to the BFL and that competition becomes more even because the better teams go up and don’t win the flag every year.

If they can’t handle the GFL they go back down.

Every team finds their competitive level.

But clubs don’t want it. Not all. But most. They want to protect their own little piece of turf and not do what’s best for footy as a whole.

And unfortunately situations like north shore happen.


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