The future of football in Geelong’s northern suburbs will be discussed later this week as concerns grow over dwindling participation rates in the area.
Supported by AFL Victoria. with the working title Greater North Geelong Future Football Summit, an independent facilitator will oversee the forum at the Shell Club in Corio on Friday afternoon.
Seven clubs – Anakie, Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, Corio, Lara, North Geelong, and North Shore – have been invited.
It is understood that AFL Barwon, the GDFNL, staff from the City of Greater Geelong, representatives from the state and federal members of parliament, community organisations, including Meli, and local schools will also be involved.
The changing demographics of the northern suburbs have impacted once-thriving junior programs on the Melbourne side of the Telegraph Bridge.
Northern Stars, which sources players from Corio and North Shore, hasn’t expanded as hoped.
The Stars field two teams this year, down from five – of which two were female in 2023.
Anakie no longer has an alignment with Little River, while Bell Post Hill and North Geelong have also struggled to attract junior talent.
Lara, estimated by demographic resources organisation id community in 2021 to have a population of 19,041, and fellow GFNL club Bell Park have solid representation across all age groups.
X: @krockfootball
2024 JUNIOR TEAMS BY NORTHERN SUBURBS CLUBS
ANAKIE
- Under 14 Mixed x 1 (combined with Bell Post Hill)
- Under 18 Boys
BELL PARK
- Under 9 Mixed x 3
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 10 Girls x 1
- Under 12 Girls x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 3
- Under 14 Girls x 1
- Under 14 Mixed x 2
- Under 16 Boys x 1
- Under 16 Girls x 1 (combined with Geelong West)
- Under 18 Boys x 1
BELL POST HILL
- Under 9 Mixed x 1
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 1
- Under 14 Mixed x 1 (combined with Anakie)
- Under 16 Boys x 1 (combined with Geelong West)
- Under 18 Boys x 1
CORIO (NORTHERN STARS)
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 1
LARA
- Under 9 Mixed x 3
- Under 10 Girls x 1
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 12 Girls x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 3
- Under 14 Girls x 1
- Under 14 Mixed x 2
- Under 16 Boys x 2
- Under 16 Girls x 2
- Under 18 Boys x 1
NORTH GEELONG
- Under 9 Mixed x 1
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 2
NORTH SHORE (NORTHERN STARS)
- Under 10 Mixed x 1
- Under 12 Mixed x 1
