WRFL Div 1 Discussion 2026

[Avg at best]

There would have been a time Italians, Greeks, Croats, Lebanese etc didn't gravitate toward the game either, for some reason though it seems Indian people are placed in the too hard basket.

Perfectly said and I agree with you 100%

They’re here, they’ll learn to love the game like the rest of us.

Only have to see the amount of people attending AFL games to see they have growing interested in Aussie rules footy.

 

[SeaSide]

There would have been a time Italians, Greeks, Croats, Lebanese etc didn't gravitate toward the game either, for some reason though it seems Indian people are placed in the too hard basket.

Then let's get them out of it.

 

[BlueJet]

Then let's get them out of it.

Couldn't agree more

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Lets get a local primary school AFL competition going.

Im not even sure particiapation at junior level is the problem for everyone, just suburbs going through demographic changes.

Willy Jnrs
Newport
Yarraville
Point Cook
Werribee Districts

All have strong junior representation.

Willy Jnrs unfortunately send most of their kids to Willy CY's
Newport Juniors and Newport Seniors haven't had a good relationship in the last 5-10 years
Yarraville seem to recruit a lot of kids from other clubs, with maybe locals falling away
Point Cook seem to be able to keep them up until U18's then get raided by surrounding clubs with offers of $ for kids
Werribee seem to do a pretty good job on holding their kids into their senior program under Gillo

if you could funnel Willy and Newport kids into a senior club that would be a start IMO

 

[Wickers18]

Im not even sure particiapation at junior level is the problem for everyone, just suburbs going through demographic changes.

Willy Jnrs
Newport
Yarraville
Point Cook
Werribee Districts

All have strong junior representation.

Willy Jnrs unfortunately send most of their kids to Willy CY's
Newport Juniors and Newport Seniors haven't had a good relationship in the last 5-10 years
Yarraville seem to recruit a lot of kids from other clubs, with maybe locals falling away
Point Cook seem to be able to keep them up until U18's then get raided by surrounding clubs with offers of $ for kids
Werribee seem to do a pretty good job on holding their kids into their senior program under Gillo

if you could funnel Willy and Newport kids into a senior club that would be a start IMO

Spotty and Newport panthers put something out about working with Newport juniors. A lot of Newport juniors from u16s are going to both clubs for u18s.

Be interesting with point cook, no real new players so really looking for the improvement to come from existing players and juniors coming up, a few 18s got a taste of seniors last year, but 18s struggled.

 

[Robos]

Spotty and Newport panthers put something out about working with Newport juniors. A lot of Newport juniors from u16s are going to both clubs for u18s.

Be interesting with point cook, no real new players so really looking for the improvement to come from existing players and juniors coming up, a few 18s got a taste of seniors last year, but 18s struggled.

Not sure there 18's struggled , they where in the pack with YCW and Werribee , or maybe not quite there as some where playing seniors. Will be interesting to see how their seniors go, have no pick ups but they kicked into gear 2nd half of the season.

 

[ROOS77]

Disagree entirely. Having juniors does not translate into having seniors, Manor Lakes for example.

How on earth is a junior club going to have the players, infrastructure or Money to have 2 competitive senior teams (Seniors and Reserves each week). After their merger with North Essendon Ascot Vales seniors went into recession as they did not have the resources. Funding senior teams is much more expensive than junior teams both on the field and the off field support.

Parkside provide a competitive senior group of players (if the teams are not competitive the juniors will not stick around), they have good funding sources with robust off field support network.

IF Ascot Vale ever do want to have senior teams for their juniors to progress through to they absolutely need Parkside as much as Parkside need them for junior football. They are in the same catchment area, one on one side side of the river and the other on the other side

Junior clubs have all the money these days and prop up senior teams everywhere.

Parkside obviously have a money man as they are throwing out ridiculous offers atm.

The right people at Ascot Vale could quite easliy get an u18s side going for a couple of years and plan for senior team over the space of 3-4 years

 

[lachy]

Junior clubs have all the money these days and prop up senior teams everywhere.

Parkside obviously have a money man as they are throwing out ridiculous offers atm.

The right people at Ascot Vale could quite easliy get an u18s side going for a couple of years and plan for senior team over the space of 3-4 years

Quite easily. What was the last successful senior club built purely from a junior program?

 

[lachy]

Junior clubs have all the money these days and prop up senior teams everywhere.

Parkside obviously have a money man as they are throwing out ridiculous offers atm.

First statement is a gross generalisation. I have been heavily involved in 3 clubs and that couldn't be further from the truth. Also have good friends at another 4 again not true at all.

Parkside are a well run club with more than just a moneyman.

 

[ROOS77]

Quite easily. What was the last successful senior club built purely from a junior program?

Most WFNL clubs are very old and started as senior clubs when everyone played footy in winter and cricket in summer.

Its way different now as you know, but Pt Cook have done it recently

 

[ROOS77]

First statement is a gross generalisation. I have been heavily involved in 3 clubs and that couldn't be further from the truth. Also have good friends at another 4 again not true at all.

Parkside are a well run club with more than just a moneyman.

Big junior clubs have lots of money, Ascot Vale are a big junior club now and would not need Parkside if they chose to go on their own.

Wasn't that long ago Parkside didn't pay their players and ended up in Div 2 & 3 for 20 years.

 

[lachy]

Most WFNL clubs are very old and started as senior clubs when everyone played footy in winter and cricket in summer.

Its way different now as you know, but Pt Cook have done it recently

Point Cook recently???? 16 seasons ago with 2010 to 2016 in the lower levels of the Ammos where there were no player payments and no reserve team requirements.

Blazenly saying Ascot Vale could easily get senior teams up and going in the EDFL or WRFL is a nonsense has not been done successfully this century for a reason

 

[lachy]

Big junior clubs have lots of money, Ascot Vale are a big junior club now and would not need Parkside if they chose to go on their own.

Wasn't that long ago Parkside didn't pay their players and ended up in Div 2 & 3 for 20 years.

They may or may not need Parkside, but they would be creating history of they did go on their own or they could simply merge with a club they have a long relationship with

 

[ROOS77]

Point Cook recently???? 16 seasons ago with 2010 to 2016 in the lower levels of the Ammos where there were no player payments and no reserve team requirements.

Blazenly saying Ascot Vale could easily get senior teams up and going in the EDFL or WRFL is a nonsense has not been done successfully this century for a reason

Thats pretty recent considering alot of clubs are 100 years old.

Ascot vale have the numbers to do it, 20+ junior teams is easily enough.

 

[Local Sports Victoria]

Plenty happening across the WFNL already with a big mix of AFL, VFL and local signings landing before Christmas. I’ve put together a full club-by-club wrap here: https://localsportsvictoria.com.au/wfnl-2025-26-off-season-signings — which moves stand out most to you so far, and who’s shaping up for a big 2026?

 

[Call again]

20 years ago there were no Indians in Hoppers now there everywhere there kids don't play footy.
But they take over cricket clubs Hoppers sub districts has only 1 Australian in the 1st and 2 in the 2nds sign of the times.

So none of the Indian backround players are Australian?

 

[Dogs till i die]

Interesting that Spotty and Newport Power juniors have agreed to a formal alliance,.

I knew the arrangement between Newport Panthers and Newport Power had broken down but that's a coup for Spotty. Power are A Grade in the juniors whereas Spotty generally aren't. Will also be interesting to see where the Power juniors who graduate to senior footy actually end up.

Wonder if the Panthers will use the Altona North area to start their own junior program?

 

[Avg at best]

Interesting that Spotty and Newport Power juniors have agreed to a formal alliance,.

I knew the arrangement between Newport Panthers and Newport Power had broken down but that's a coup for Spotty. Power are A Grade in the juniors whereas Spotty generally aren't. Will also be interesting to see where the Power juniors who graduate to senior footy actually end up.

Wonder if the Panthers will use the Altona North area to start their own junior program?

Newport Power I think should look at re-establishing there own senior program.

The Panthers got all the trouble, re-establish the power as a separate and better entity.

 

[SeaSide]

Turbs out of interest how many WRFL div 1 games have you watched the last 2-3 years? Given the GF went into overtime and the top 4 was very close, not sure how you say other sides would get smashed.

Two years ago, Willy CYs (B Grade Ammos) played a pre season practice game against Melton, the Ballarat FL reigning premiers and a fully

Im not even sure particiapation at junior level is the problem for everyone, just suburbs going through demographic changes.

Willy Jnrs
Newport
Yarraville
Point Cook
Werribee Districts

All have strong junior representation.

Willy Jnrs unfortunately send most of their kids to Willy CY's
Newport Juniors and Newport Seniors haven't had a good relationship in the last 5-10 years
Yarraville seem to recruit a lot of kids from other clubs, with maybe locals falling away
Point Cook seem to be able to keep them up until U18's then get raided by surrounding clubs with offers of $ for kids
Werribee seem to do a pretty good job on holding their kids into their senior program under Gillo

if you could funnel Willy and Newport kids into a senior club that would be a start IMO

Willy Jnrs send most of their kids to Willy CY's

Why is that unfortunate?
The Ammos have a great reputation, and the Willy players love the VAFA culture.

Two years ago, Willy CYs (B Grade Ammos) played a preseason practice game against Melton, the Ballarat FL reigning premiers, a fully paid professional team.

No surprises. It was only a preseason warm-up game, and Melton won by about 4 goals.

BUT, why is it unfortunate? The Willy Juniors aren't sent to the CYs, the Willy Junior players make up their own minds.

Please explain.

PS: Isn't it nice to have a choice!

 

[Wickers18]

Newport Power I think should look at re-establishing there own senior program.

The Panthers got all the trouble, re-establish the power as a separate and better entity.

I thought Newport power should have tried to field an 18s side in 2026, strong 16s numbers and ability.