Netball

The McDonald's Ballarat FNL will introduce an Independent Tribunal for season 2022. Expressions of interest are welcome from suitably qualified applicants to join the Tribunal panel. 

The McDonald's Ballarat Football Netball League will introduce a new Independent Tribunal in 2022 to hear disciplinary matters arising from the various competitions of the league.

Applications are now invited for suitably qualified people to become a member of the Independent Tribunal. Working with the Tribunal chairs, panel members will hear reports and other matters referred according to the guidelines of the AFL, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria.

This role is ideally suited to a person who has recently retired from the game or who has a passion and interest in football and/or netball.

To express your interest, please email BFNL General Manager Shane Anwyl at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by COB Tuesday 5^th April 2022.

For further information, please contact Shane Anwyl on 0409 072 403.

Adrian Bettio, Chairman of the McDonald's Ballarat Football Netball League, has issued a joint statement alongside President of the Central Highlands Football League, Doug Hobson, asking the local football and netball community to respect and abide by the crowd restrictions put in place by government and health authorities.

 The boards of the Ballarat FNL, Central Highlands FL look forward to finals commencing this weekend after an interrupted season. 

The entire football and netball communities across the wider Ballarat region are to be commended for adapting to the everchanging protocols that are in place to keep us all safe and healthy. 

One of those protocols that are in place is the need to limit the number of people who can attend sporting events. This of course has a profound impact on our competitions, but we understand the need to have such measures to ensure we can move to a more normal environment soon. 

Whilst both leagues would welcome public, family and club members to support their teams competing, the current restrictions do not allow anymore than the minimum number of people to conduct the games of football and netball. There is, however, an allowance for one parent or carer to attend for junior players. 

Across this weekend, we ask that the football and netball community respect the restrictions put in place by government and health experts, that both leagues must abide by. 

Good luck to all teams and clubs competing this weekend and beyond. 

Regards,

Adrian Bettio - Chairman, McDonald's Ballarat FNL

Doug Hobson - President, Central Highlands FL

The McDonald's Ballarat FNL is pleased to announce the Week 1 match schedule for the McDonald’s BFNL Ballarat Toyota Junior Finals Series.

Matches will kick off with the Qualifying Finals at Northern Oval 2 on Saturday 20th August, followed by Elimination Finals at Wendouree Reserve and the Northern Oval on Sunday 21st August.

Once again, the league thanks the City of Ballarat for their support in hosting finals at the premier football and netball venues across the region and country Victoria.

View or download the scheduled football and netball matches for this weekend below.

Every match from last weekend's Ballarat Toyota Junior Grand Final Day is now available for purchase on BFNL.com.au. And you can find all the match information, teams lists and more in the Digital Record.

All the matches from Sunday's Ballarat Toyota Junior Grand Final Day are available for purchase. 

You can find the links to each match by clicking the button below or go to the BFNL Media tab and select 2022 BFNLJ Grand Finals.

Each match is available for purchase for $15.

To download the match to keep or to watch online when you want, follow these steps:

1. Click on the match you wish to purchase
2. Click on the video screen
3. Create an account, or log in if you already have an account
4. Follow the payment prompts (credit card and PayPal payments available)
5. Watch the video online 
6. To download, refresh the page or log back in and select the download arrow to keep the match forever!
7. Please note: online viewing is available for 24 months

You can also find the Digital Record under the Football tab and select Junior 2022 Grand Final Record or simply click on the cover below.

The BFNL has a proud tradition in its Junior Netball Representative Program. In preparation for our 2022 engagements the BFNL have declared all coaching positions are open for application.

The BFNL invite suitably qualified people who may be interested in applying for a coaching position in 13 & Under, 15 & Under and 17 & Under Representative Netball Teams to contact BFNL Netball Manager Gemma Murphy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note: These appointments will be for a term of 1 year and all representative coaching positions will be assessed at the completion of the 2022 season.

Key Responsibilities and Requirements:

• Minimum certification of Foundation level coaching qualification
• Plan, attend and run all training sessions.
• Current Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• Passion for junior development and ability to build strong training programs and game plans that focus on competitive player development.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive working relationships with participants of junior sport, to foster the optimal sporting potential of individuals
• Attend all representative lead up events (dress presentation, team photos as required).

In 2022 the BFNL Netball Representative teams will be competing at, but not limited to, the following Interleague/tournaments:

• Netball Victoria Western Zone Association Championships – TBA

Please forward all applications, outlining your skills and qualifications that address the criteria outlined above, to:

Gemma Murphy – Netball Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
0401 152 906

With the announcement today of an extension to the current lockdown across Victoria, the McDonald's Ballarat FNL provides an update on all competitions.

SENIOR Competition

The senior football and netball competition will continue to be ‘paused’ at this stage and will resume Round 11 effective from the date of an approved return to competition. This will ensure all clubs have played each other once and the same number of byes. 

JUNIOR Competition

Junior football and netball will have the round scheduled for Sunday 25thJuly 2021 abandoned and removed from the fixture. 

The competitions will restart from the fixtured games as at the date a return to play has been announced. 

BFLW Competitions

As with junior football and netball, all BFLW grades will have the round scheduled for Sunday 25thJuly 2021 abandoned and removed from the fixture. 

The competitions will restart from the fixtured games as at the date a return to play has been announced. 

As further details become available, the league will assess the competitions to ensure the 2021 season can be completed. 

END RELEASE 

The McDonald's Ballarat FNL announces impacts to the various competitions in light of today’s announcement from the Victorian Government. 

The state government has today announced a state-wide lockdown effective from 8:00pm tonight through to 11:59pm Thursday 12thAugust, which will affect the Ballarat FNL competitions from this weekend. 

Detailed below is the impact this lockdown has on the various BFNL competitions and how they will be managed. 

McDONALD'S BFNL SENIOR COMPETITION 

The senior competition will not proceed with round 12 this weekend. This round will be cancelled and not replaced. 

Impacts on further scheduled rounds will be determined as further details are provided by the government over the coming days to indicate a likelihood of when football and netball may return to competition. 

McDONALD'S BFNL JUNIOR COMPETITION 

The junior competition will not proceed with this weekend round of football and netball, which will also be cancelled and not replaced. 

As per the senior competition, the league will await advice on when competition football and netball can return to determine the pathway forward. 

All options will be considered by the league regarding the final home and away round, and finals as further information becomes available. 

McDELIVERY BFLWOMEN'S 

The BFLW competition will not proceed with this weekend round of football, which will also be cancelled and not replaced. 

As per the senior competition, the league will await advice on when competition football can return to determine the pathway forward. 

All options will be considered by the league regarding the final home and away round, and finals as further information becomes available. 

Information will be provided as it is made available and allow us to work towards a conclusion to the 2021 competitions across football and netball. 

The Ballarat FNL is seeking commentators to join the team as part of our exciting, expanded Netball coverage for the 2023 season.

Each week a selected A Grade Netball game will be streamed live as the official BFNL ‘Match of the Round’.

Those interested in commentating should have:

• A passion for community sport
• A good understanding of netball
• The availability to attend games on a Saturday afternoon in the Ballarat and surrounding regions

No previous experience required and all equipment provided!

Remuneration negotiable.

Expressions of interest can be sent to BFNL Netball Manager Gemma Murphy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0401 152 906.

Our BFNL Netball Representative/Pathway Program will be going ahead for 2021. This is a junior program for 13s, 15s and 17s age groups.

Nominations are open now and if you are interested in being a part of the junior representative program for 2021 in the 13s, 15s or 17s age group, please fill out the Player Nomination Form (form link below) and return by email by the following dates:

Nomination forms for 17s to be emailed by: COB on 16^th of February

Nomination forms for 15s and 13s to be emailed by: COB Tuesday the 23^rdof February

You will need to email player nomination forms back to the Netball Manager:

Gemma Murphy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The 17s age group tryouts will be held at the Lake Wendouree Netball Courts on the following dates:

Thursday the 18^th of Feb: 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Tuesday the 23^rd of Feb: 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Thursday the 25^th of Feb: 4.30pm – 5.30pm

North Ballarat Junior Football and Netball Club, together with East Point Junior Football and Netball Club will host the annual ‘Pink Round’ on Sunday 16 July 2023 at Mars stadium.

This year marks the second year the clubs have come together to raise awareness of cancer and raise funds for the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre and Breast Cancer Network Australia.

The initiative started after Junior Netball Co-ordinators for North, Rachael Murnane and East, Jodie Hodge were both experiencing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The Pink Round will see more than 300 North junior netballers and footballers (both girls and boys football teams) wear pink Breast Cancer Network Australia socks.

The girls football program is also hosting a dinner, with a guest speaker to talk about the cancer journey and importantly how young people can support their friends and loved ones who might be experiencing cancer.

“We are really proud of the Pink Round and raising awareness of the importance of regular health checks and scans," said North Ballarat Junior Netball Co-ordinator Rachael Murnane.

"The sad reality is that so many of us are touched by cancer. Early detection is critical and if we can help to encourage people to book a check-up, then it’s been a success.

“We invite the community to come along to North to support not only the teams competing on the day, but to show support for everyone in our community who has been affected by cancer.

"We are selling raffle tickets and hosting a BBQ and a lolly stand will be set up at North netball courts from 8am till 3pm.

“We hope that everyone will come together, pink up and get behind the teams as they play for a great cause.

“Our North community has been extraordinary with every one of our junior teams being sponsored by local businesses and families for the cost of the Breast Cancer Network Australia socks.

“We’d like to thank our major sponsors Nicholson Construction, Bakers Delight and The Butchers Club.”

Find the full junior fixture for football and netball for start times and venues.

A quick-fire update on all the netball news from the BFNL, this first edition of Quick Shots includes a big boost to BFNL umpire development thanks to Netball Victoria, an update on the representative Pathway Program, and information on membership and coaching accreditation.

Umpire Development Opportunity

The league has been successful in obtaining a significant grant from Netball Victoria to boost umpire development.

In coming weeks, the league will provide more information about the 2021 BFNL Umpire Development Program, which will facilitate focused one-on-one mentoring for club umpires who aim to achieve their National C or B Grade badge. The umpire development program is a great initiative. It will assist in growing the numbers in our umpiring pool and improving our club umpires' skill level. 

Information about the program and Expressions of Interest forms will be sent to club coordinators, or you can email BFNL Netball Manager Gemma Murphy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an Expression of Interest form. 

Places on this program will be limited, so be sure to submit your interest quickly. 

Representative Pathway Program

One of the league's focus areas has been preparations for the 2021 representative Pathway Program (formally known as Interleague). 

We would like to announce our Representative/Pathway Coaches for 2021: 

17 & Under Coaches are – Deb Hutchinson, Damien Mullane and Prue Douglass

15 & Under Coach – Katie Williams

13 & Under Coaches – Courtney Mclean and Kara Hart

Try Out Dates for the 13 & Under and 15 & Under Representative Teams

The 13 & Under tryout will take place on Wednesday the 24^th of February from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. This tryout will be at Lake Wendouree Netball Court.

The 15 & Under tryouts will take place on the 4^th and 11^th of March from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Both tryouts will be held at Lake Wendouree Netball Courts.

Anyone wishing to still nominate for the 15 & Under and 13 & Under representative team please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your nomination form by COB Monday the 22^nd of February.

Netball Victoria Membership

Have you registered with Netball Victoria (NV) for the 2021 season yet? Do you know your NV registration covers you for trials and training, as well as playing throughout the season? 

Junior Membership 11-17 years: $58

DOB:  01/01/2004 – 21/12/2010

Senior Membership 18 years & over: $78

DOB:  on or before 31/12/2003

For more information about Netball Victoria Membership visit:

https://vic.netball.com.au/netball-victoria-membership

Is Your Coaching or Umpiring Accreditation Up To Date?

All coaches and umpires are reminded to ensure their accreditation is updated before the commencement of the 2021 season. Check your coaching accreditation through My Netball, and all BFNL clubs will be requested to supply details of their accredited coaches and umpires to the league prior to round one. 

If you require more information about accreditation, you can access this via the following links: 

https://netball.com.au/umpiring-accreditation

https://netball.com.au/coaching-accreditation

Coaching and umpiring accreditation is a Netball Australia (national) requirement.

The board of the McDonald's Ballarat FNL provides the following update on all competitions considering today’s announcement from the state government. 

As of 11:59pm tonight (Monday), regional Victoria will return to the settings in place prior to the current lockdown. That is, community football and netball will be played with several protocols to be followed. 

WESTERN BULLDOGS UNDER 9’s 

The Western Bulldogs Under 9’s will continue to be placed on hold until such time as restrictions allow for suitable crowds to attend given a large number of players and their parent/carer concentrated at one venue. 

BFLWomens 

The McDelivery BFLW competition will resume from this weekend with games as fixtured to take place on Sunday 15thAugust 2021. 

The variation to a full return is that games featuring metro-based clubs (Melton Centrals and Melton) will not proceed. The result of those games will see points shared and no percentage applied. 

This will conclude the home & away season for BFLW and see finals commence as of the 21stAugust 2021 over three weeks. 

BFNL JUNIORS 

The McDonalds Ballarat FNL junior competitions will resume this weekend from the games as fixtured to take place on Sunday 15thAugust 2021. As with BFLW, this will conclude the home & away season for juniors in 2021. 

The Ballarat Toyota BFNL Juniors Finals Series will commence from Saturday 21stAugust 2021, with the format of finals to be confirmed. 

BFNL SENIORS 

Whilst it is encouraging that regional-based competition can resume from this weekend, the Ballarat FNL is in the unique position of having senior clubs across both metro and regional communities. As a result, BFNL senior competition can only return when the settings for metro and regional communities are consistent. 

Given the above, and the likelihood that many clubs will be impacted by the potential of metro-based players not being able to compete in a regional competition, the BFNL Seniors will not proceed this weekend. 

The senior round 13 will be cancelled and no results given. 

The league will await the next advice from the government to determine the status of the final home & away round on Saturday 21stAugust and the Carlton Draught Finals series due to commence from Saturday 28thAugust 2021. 

The pathway ahead for the coming week is based upon advice that is known at this point in time. 

The league is committed to ensuring the 2021 season can be concluded in the fairest manner for all clubs and supporters and appreciate the willingness of all stakeholders to be flexible as we work through the current protocols. 

END RELEASE 

The McDonalds Ballarat FNL is pleased to announce the appointment of Sally Kruger to the role of Netball Umpire Coordinator.

After a selection process that involved a number of highly credentialed applicants, Sally was selected to lead the development and education of umpires within the league, and to further grow the umpire panel available to clubs and the league.

Sally’s experience includes many years as a ‘badged’ umpire, officiating at the highest level in the region across both league and association netball.

Ballarat FNL netball continues to grow at a rate greater than expectations and the requirement for officials, including umpires has been identified as a priority.

Sally commences the role immediately and will provide a valued resource to clubs through the 2021 netball season.

END RELEASE