AFL Barwon has raised significant concerns over the North Shore Football Netball Club's (FNC) capability to field both senior and reserve teams for the upcoming 2025 Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) season. This announcement was made on Friday, March 7, 2025, as part of the organization’s efforts to address the dwindling registration numbers at North Shore.
According to the statement from AFL Barwon, they have been closely monitoring North Shore FNC's situation and its attempts to establish a sustainable football program for the season. The need for precautionary measures stems from the shocking fact reported at the time—that North Shore FNC had no registered senior male footballers.
AFL Barwon, AFL Victoria, and the North Shore FNC executive have been engaged in discussions about player numbers since at least December 2024. During their meeting on December 18, significant concerns were voiced about the football playing numbers at North Shore, leading to the formulation of the 2025 Action Plan for the Greater North Geelong Future Football project. This plan aimed to revitalize participation at the club but has apparently faltered.
On February 13, 2025, AFL Barwon issued North Shore FNC correspondence urging the club to demonstrate its ability to field both senior and reserve teams. Nonetheless, the club failed to provide the needed written confirmation by the deadline of February 28. This left AFL Barwon with no choice but to enter planning scenarios for the 2025 season without North Shore participating.
The situation continued to very concerning the executive body after it turned out only one representative— the co-president from the netball side of the club—attended the follow-up meeting on March 3, 2025. AFL Barwon stated their commitment to evaluate North Shore’s current status thoroughly to determine whether the club meets the organization’s by-law stipulations, particularly By-Law 13.2, which mandates all clubs to field teams across specified grades.
“While every effort is being made by North Shore FNC to establish a sustainable football program, the uncertainty necessitates cautious planning to protect the integrity of the competition and the interests of all participating clubs,” AFL Barwon emphasized. This concern arises from the league’s obligation to maintain competitive integrity across the GFNL.
Plans for potential exclusion from the league are still under assessment. Michelle Gerdtz, chair of AFL Barwon, noted, “We do have concerns about the ability of North Shore FNC to field both senior and reserves teams in the GFNL in 2025.” Gerdtz highlighted the importance of continuing dialogue with the club to assess their list status, underscoring the urgency as the season opener draws near.
The 2025 GFNL season is scheduled to kick off on April 12, with North Shore set to face Colac as their first match. With only weeks remaining before the opening game, the continuous lack of clarity on the club’s roster situation has drawn criticism and scrutiny from local media.
AFL Barwon expressed its reluctance to publicly clarify the situation earlier due to the delicate and confidential nature of talks, but the recent media frenzy necessitated informing the public of their stance. The organization has warned fans about misinformation, especially the sensationalist reports and 'bombshell' claims circulating.
“The club has preferred to let this play out in public, which has meant maintaining confidentiality was beyond our control,” Gerdtz stated, reiteratively affirming AFL Barwon's intention to work alongside North Shore to establish its roster viability moving forward.
Despite the current challenges, AFL Barwon is reaffirming its commitment to supporting all clubs within the region and ensuring strong football and netball competitions for the benefit of all involved.