The Karingal Bulls Junior Football Club and Long Island Cricket Club will see the Ballam Park East oval benefit from this funding. Image: Sport & Recreation Victoria
Country football and netball clubs across Victoria are set to receive a major boost, with seven new projects successful in securing funding through the latest round of the Country Football Netball Program.
More than $1.4 million will be invested in 2025, helping football clubs and their communities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations to improve their facilities.
Starting in 2005 and developed in partnership between the Victorian State Government, AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, the program has invested more than $41.5 million in more than 580 country football and netball infrastructure projects over the past two decades.
The most recent round of funding will see the Karingal Football Netball Club & Karingal Junior Football Club earn oval redeveloped at Ballam Park East to support the strong growth in participation at the reserve from both clubs.
Karingal Bulls Junior Football Club President Leigh Gage said:
“It’s been really hard, especially when we had so much rain last year, we weren’t able to use the ground for two or three weeks. It really impacted training where kids didn’t get to play football for those few weeks.
“The upgrades will provide a more open environment for people to come to the club and entice more kids to come. There’s the nice pavilion, and a fantastic oval will complement that.”
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence also announced that the next round of the Country Football Netball Program is now open and will close onMonday 7 July, 2025.
Clubs are encouraged to speak to their local Council on potential projects that will benefit their club and community for submission through this program.
Successful projects in this round
• Bass Coast Shire Council – Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve – Oval 1 Upgrade supporting Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club
• Campaspe Shire Council – Rochester Recreation Reserve Netball Courts - Refurbishment supporting Rochester Football Netball Club
• Frankston City Council – Ballam Park East Oval Redevelopment - Supporting Karingal Football Netball Club & Karingal Junior Football Club
• Indigo Shire Council – Barnawartha Recreation Reserve Oval Lighting Upgrade - Supporting Barnawartha Football Netball Club
• Moira Shire Council – Cobram Scott Reserve Oval Lighting Upgrade - Supporting Cobram Football Netball Club
• Rural City of Wangaratta- Milawa Football Netball Club Lighting Upgrade - Supporting Milawa Football Netball Club
• Yarriambiack Shire Council - Hopetoun Recreation Reserve Netball Sports Lighting Upgrade - Supporting Hopetoun Football Netball Club
Head of AFL Victoria Greg Madigan said:
"Since 2005, the funding support provided through the Country Football and Netball Program has had a significant impact on local communities and sporting clubs across the state.
"The funding enables country football clubs to make vital improvements to safety and accessibility, including ground resurfacing, improved lighting and new changeroom facilities to support the growth of women and girls in football.
"AFL Victoria thanks the Victorian Government for its ongoing support of the program, which has delivered an investment of over $40 million to nearly 600 country football and netball infrastructure projects.
"We look forward to continuing this partnership and building on the substantial investment in community sporting infrastructure that has been delivered over the last twenty years.”
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said:
“Nothing brings regional communities together like country footy and netball. Through this program we’re supporting hundreds of clubs by giving them facilities the whole community can enjoy and get around.”
For more information visit: https://sport.vic.gov.au/news/2025/february/big-score-kicks-off-country-footy-and-netball-in-2025