AFL Barwon has revealed a fixture that will give hope to some of the GFNL’s strugglers by fixturing numerous match-ups involving those clubs in the 2025 season’s opening month.
Several clubs in the lower reaches of the ladder expressed frustration – both publicly and privately – with this year’s draw.
AFL Barwon has also been mindful of return match-ups between lower clubs and the top half of the ladder.
St Albans and Lara, which have signed new coaches Rick Munn and Brett Henderson, respectively, will clash at Concept Oval, giving them a chance to start the season on the right note.
The Supersaints don’t face a 2024 top-five team until Round 4 (St Joseph’s) and have avoided return meetings with reigning premier Leopold, finalists St Mary’s and Bell Park, and Colac.
The Cats’ only meeting with a reigning finalist in the opening month is a Round 3 clash with St Mary’s.
Grovedale will again face runner-up South Barwon for the John Nankervis Shield to start the season before meetings with Lara and St Albans.
The Swans and St Joseph’s are among the teams the Tigers face only once.
However, new North Shore coach Mark Hounslow is facing a baptism of fire, with a trip to Colac followed by meetings with Bell Park, Leopold and South Barwon in a tough first four weeks.
The Seagulls, who have seen an exodus of players and are under threat of relegation to the Bellarine as they enter the 2025 season at the bottom of the rolling club championship, play those four clubs twice.
They have avoided a second meeting with St Joseph’s and St Mary’s.
Reigning premier Leopold will have a more demanding path in its quest to become the third club to win a hat-trick of GFNL flags.
New coach Luke Kelly will have to prepare for return meetings with each of 2024’s finalists.
This year’s premier St Joseph’s is in the same boat, while South Barwon, St Mary’s and Bell Park will have to play three fellow top-five teams twice.
As revealed by K rock Football on December 10, two matches will be played on April 5, a week before the season’s official start.
Dubbed ‘Round 0’ by AFL Barwon, Newtown & Chilwell will start the Steve Johnson era against arch-rival St Joseph’s at Elderslie Reserve.
Colac will unveil its new playing co-coach, former St Kilda star Seb Ross, in a twilight fixture against Bell Park at Central Reserve.
The Eagles and Joeys will have a third break outside the two competition byes in Round 15, while the Tigers and Dragons will enjoy Round 4 (Mother’s Day weekend) off.
Joeys will also feature in an Easter Saturday blockbuster against reigning Leopold in Lorne (Round 1 – April 19), the traditional Anzac Day meeting with South Barwon (Round 2 – April 25), and the Big Freeze game against St Mary’s at Anthony Costa Oval (Round 6 – June 1).
X: @krockfootball
WHO DOES YOUR TEAM PLAY ONCE?
Bell Park – Lara, South Barwon, St Albans, St Mary’s
Colac – Leopold, Newtown & Chilwell, St Albans, St Mary’s
Geelong West – Lara, Grovedale, Leopold, St Joseph’s
Grovedale – Geelong West, North Shore, South Barwon, St Joseph’s
Lara – Bell Park, Geelong West, South Barwon, St Joseph’s
Leopold – Newtown & Chilwell, Colac, Geelong West, St Albans
Newtown & Chilwell – Colac, Leopold, North Shore, South Barwon
North Shore – Grovedale, Newtown & Chilwell, St Joseph’s, St Mary’s,
South Barwon – Bell Park, Grovedale, Lara, Newtown & Chilwell
St Albans – Bell Park, Colac, Leopold, St Mary’s
St Joseph’s – Geelong West, Grovedale, Lara, North Shore,
St Mary’s – Bell Park, Colac, North Shore, St Albans
