WRFL Div 2 Discussion 2026

[Avg at best]

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?

Nice work there

 

[SeaSide]

If people pay $6 for a cup of tea then that’s on the individual and not the club

They're locked in.

 

[AllHart]

Lynden Dunn

15

Lynden Dunn

Age

38

Ht

192cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.3

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

4.8

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.4

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

3star

joins North Footscray.

Posted today on the North Footscray Football Club Facebook page:

An early present for our Devils family — Lynden Dunn

15

Lynden Dunn

Age

38

Ht

192cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.3

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

4.8

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.4

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

3star

is locked in for 2026!

Dunny brings an enormous amount of knowledge and experience across all levels of football, along with a genuine passion for developing young players and giving back to grassroots footy.
In addition to pulling on the red and white at 2pm on a Saturday, Lynden has also accepted the role of Director of Coaching. In this role, he will work closely with our coaching staff to help develop not only our players, but our growing football program as a whole.
Join us in welcoming Dunny and his family to the club — a massive addition to our football program and community.
Career highlights & experience:
• Drafted from Calder Cannons with Pick 15 in the 2004 AFL Draft
• 165 AFL games for Melbourne Football Club
• Melbourne FC Life Member
• 33 AFL games for Collingwood Football Club
• 198 AFL games and 99 goals across a 15-year AFL career
• Manages Collingwood’s Father–Son and Community Pathways program
• Post-AFL playing stint at West Coburg (EDFL)
• Player-coach at the Caulfield Bears (SFNL)

 

[Graeme Cook]

Agree, but Truganina already has 2 soccer clubs and a RL club, does footy just give up? Only need 60 footballers out of 30,000+ people and still growing

The trouble is 30000 people are mostly Indians they don't play football

 

[Avg at best]

The trouble is 30000 people are mostly Indians they don't play football

I see it more as an opportunity

As I’ve stated multiple times previously. Next time you’re at an AFL game have a look at the crowd. You’ll see a lot of Indian people in the crowd. They like to watch the game, the next step is getting them to play!

 

[BlueJet]

The trouble is 30000 people are mostly Indians they don't play football

Neither did Italian's, Greek's etc at one point in time. The trouble is in people putting groups in the too hard basket.

 

[longbomb50]

Lynden Dunn joins North Footscray.

Posted today on the North Footscray Football Club Facebook page:

An early present for our Devils family — Lynden Dunn is locked in for 2026!

Dunny brings an enormous amount of knowledge and experience across all levels of football, along with a genuine passion for developing young players and giving back to grassroots footy.
In addition to pulling on the red and white at 2pm on a Saturday, Lynden has also accepted the role of Director of Coaching. In this role, he will work closely with our coaching staff to help develop not only our players, but our growing football program as a whole.
Join us in welcoming Dunny and his family to the club — a massive addition to our football program and community.
Career highlights & experience:
• Drafted from Calder Cannons with Pick 15 in the 2004 AFL Draft
• 165 AFL games for Melbourne Football Club
• Melbourne FC Life Member
• 33 AFL games for Collingwood Football Club
• 198 AFL games and 99 goals across a 15-year AFL career
• Manages Collingwood’s Father–Son and Community Pathways program
• Post-AFL playing stint at West Coburg (EDFL)
• Player-coach at the Caulfield Bears (SFNL)

Great get for north. Will do wonders for the younger fellas. Absolute cracking fella too

 

[mksport]

i believe it will still be between just north Footscray and Wyndham vale - I think they are just to good for the rest of the comp.. Wyndham vale have a couple of good signings and so do north Footscray. I think it will be a even battle between the two of them

 

[GlenOrdan]

How is Rockbank going? Still lots of the players that were any good still haven't signed yet?

 

[Avg at best]

Manor Lakes entering into a partnership in 2025 with Laverton for the under 18’s could be quite a mistake for them. Laverton seemed to have snapped up a lot of the manor lakes boys for under 18’s and senior footy right when the storm are looking to re-establish a senior program.

I see that the storm have announced quite a few players for the thirds side though which is great. Hopefully they’re back playing senior footy in no time. I’ve got a lot of respect and admiration for the people behind the scenes at the club, particularly the president who has kept the place going since the senior program ceased in 2019.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Manor Lakes entering into a partnership in 2025 with Laverton for the under 18’s could be quite a mistake for them. Laverton seemed to have snapped up a lot of the manor lakes boys for under 18’s and senior footy right when the storm are looking to re-establish a senior program.

I see that the storm have announced quite a few players for the thirds side though which is great. Hopefully they’re back playing senior footy in no time. I’ve got a lot of respect and admiration for the people behind the scenes at the club, particularly the president who has kept the place going since the senior program ceased in 2019.

Several Tarneit U18s gone to Lavo as well just as Tarneit had established their U18s in 2025.

Disappointed and concerned for Tarneit.

Hoping ML can get back, 2026 in the Thirds, D2 maybe 2027.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Manor Lakes entering into a partnership in 2025 with Laverton for the under 18’s could be quite a mistake for them. Laverton seemed to have snapped up a lot of the manor lakes boys for under 18’s and senior footy right when the storm are looking to re-establish a senior program.

I see that the storm have announced quite a few players for the thirds side though which is great. Hopefully they’re back playing senior footy in no time. I’ve got a lot of respect and admiration for the people behind the scenes at the club, particularly the president who has kept the place going since the senior program ceased in 2019.

In fairness to Lavo, U18s thinking of graduating to senior football at ML for 2026 maybe didn't fancy playing 3rds footy at ML.

ML should plan to field their own U18s the season before they plan to field 2 teams in D2.

 

[SeaSide]

I see it more as an opportunity

As I’ve stated multiple times previously. Next time you’re at an AFL game have a look at the crowd. You’ll see a lot of Indian people in the crowd. They like to watch the game, the next step is getting them to play!

A Primary school competition will fix it.

 

[hawks1ner]

i believe it will still be between just north Footscray and Wyndham vale - I think they are just to good for the rest of the comp.. Wyndham vale have a couple of good signings and so do north Footscray. I think it will be a even battle between the two are

i believe it will still be between just north Footscray and Wyndham vale - I think they are just to good for the rest of the comp.. Wyndham vale have a couple of good signings and so do north Footscray. I think it will be a even battle between the two of them

i believe it will still be between just north Footscray and Wyndham vale - I think they are just to good for the rest of the comp.. Wyndham vale have a couple of good signings and so do north Footscray. I think it will be a even battle between the two of them

Who has Wyndham vale and north Footscray signed this offseason ? Anyone interesting or good? Aside from Dunn

 

[dogsforl1fe]

Who has Wyndham vale and north Footscray signed this offseason ? Anyone interesting or good? Aside from Dunn

Other than Lynden Dunn they have mediocre players … Wyndhamvale seemed to recruit ok. Jake wood from Port Melbourne is a good small player to have and will do good in div 2 there. Jake Wallis is mediocre and should do ok. Wasn’t the best at rams, they’ve also signed Matthew stephenson, unsure if his any good now but if he is as good and dominant as he used to be he will be there best player.

 

[1stEmergency]

Anyone have any line of sight on the thirds competition in 2026?

Seems to be more teams again this year with manor lakes and truganina entering the comp? Anyone else?

It would be great to see Manor Lakes, Truganina, Eynesbury and North Sunshine (and any other clubs) get to a point where they can enter senior teams.

 

[Wild Thing]

Anyone have any line of sight on the thirds competition in 2026?

Seems to be more teams again this year with manor lakes and truganina entering the comp? Anyone else?

It would be great to see Manor Lakes, Truganina, Eynesbury and North Sunshine (and any other clubs) get to a point where they can enter senior teams.

Glenorden?

 

[Avg at best]

Anyone have any line of sight on the thirds competition in 2026?

Seems to be more teams again this year with manor lakes and truganina entering the comp? Anyone else?

It would be great to see Manor Lakes, Truganina, Eynesbury and North Sunshine (and any other clubs) get to a point where they can enter senior teams.

Alot of these clubs like Eynesbury have been happy/contempt to stay in the thirds for years and I am not sure getting senior and reserve footy is a priority for them.

Don't know why, you'd think in an area like Eynesbury they could get a senior side up and going. Especially being just down the road from Melton and Bacchus Marsh where those clubs play in the BFL which is a high level of footy. Entering the WRFL Div 2 would be a good move for players who arent upto the BFL standard.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Anyone have any line of sight on the thirds competition in 2026?

Seems to be more teams again this year with manor lakes and truganina entering the comp? Anyone else?

It would be great to see Manor Lakes, Truganina, Eynesbury and North Sunshine (and any other clubs) get to a point where they can enter senior teams.

Eynesbury played in the Riddell thirds comp in 2025, and is a Riddell affiliated club. Glenorden have now tried a few times to get back to D2 without success. Think NS are now a long way off and concentrating on rebuilding their juniors.

Best chance is ML but only back to Thirds this year, whilst Truganina is new to senior football this year, will need time.

On the other hand we have Tarneit in D2 who are struggling big time.

 

[leo tolstoy]

Eynesbury played in the Riddell thirds comp in 2025, and is a Riddell affiliated club. Glenorden have now tried a few times to get back to D2 without success. Think NS are now a long way off and concentrating on rebuilding their juniors.

Best chance is ML but only back to Thirds this year, whilst Truganina is new to senior football this year, will need time.

On the other hand we have Tarneit in D2 who are struggling big time.

Guess if there was a 6 team division 3 they could see a viable path.

 

[Pies2526]

Who has Wyndham vale and north Footscray signed this offseason ? Anyone interesting or good? Aside from Dunn

I know some friends that are inside the 4 walls of North Footscray - I hear they have 4-5 division 1 senior players on the verge, could be done within the next week or two. If they get it done, they could seriously challenge Wyndham Vale. Let’s see.

 

[whiskeytown]

WFNL div 2 should look at Lara for 2027.

Club has decent following and juniors but is in the wrong seniors league. I think they’d slot nicely into div 2

Going to 11 teams and a bye in 2027 is not favourable.. but perhaps a 12th team can be found from the 3rds or elsewhere

 

[Dogs till i die]

WFNL div 2 should look at Lara for 2027.

Club has decent following and juniors but is in the wrong seniors league. I think they’d slot nicely into div 2

Going to 11 teams and a bye in 2027 is not favourable.. but perhaps a 12th team can be found from the 3rds or elsewhere

Lara is a club that needs to step back at least temporarily from the strong GFNL and ideally for them I'm sure they'd prefer to do it under the AFL Barwon banner.

Lara and clubs like North Shore and Western Rams are great advertisements for divisional football.

The problem for Lara and North Shore is AFL Barwon and their 3 separate comps are very parochial and protective and don't offer automatic promotion / relegation between the comps. If ever there is a clear need for it, it's in the case of these 2 clubs who haven't been competitive for a long time in the GFNL.

The GDFL doesn't seem to want them and the Bellarine is probably not a good fit for them given they're skewed toward the peninsula.

Whilst the WFNL D2 would offer them the step back, Lara are a quintessential Geelong / Country club and I doubt they'd consider us. Seems to be GFNL or bust for them unless things change under AFL Barwon.

 

[Avg at best]

Lara is barely 20 mins on a good run from the Werribee area where the majority of WRFL clubs are located nowadays.

WNFL would be SILLY to at least not approach them and put a feeler out. Really opens up that corridor between Geelong and Werribee being a viable spot for the inevitable urban sprawl that’s coming and future clubs that will no doubt pop up in the area.

With this a club like Werribee Centrals may also consider a move if a move by Lara is successful

 

[Turbos mail]

WFNL div 2 should look at Lara for 2027.

Club has decent following and juniors but is in the wrong seniors league. I think they’d slot nicely into div 2

Going to 11 teams and a bye in 2027 is not favourable.. but perhaps a 12th team can be found from the 3rds or elsewhere

Kidding yourselves as no way Lara are going to WRFL div2 and go from GFL to the worse league in metro Melb.