AFL Goulburn Murray Region General Manager Jamie Macri is pleased to announce the appointment of Josephine Spencer to the position of Goulburn Valley League Operations Manager. Josephine was previously employed by GOTAFE as their marketing and communications officer. She brings a wealth of experience in diverse areas such as public relations, media, business and promotions. Josephine also has extensive experience as a hotel venue and events management which make her a welcome addition to our team. She has vast transferable skills in team management, recruitment and training and also has accreditation in Human Resources and Business Management. Her experience in coordinating, planning and delivering events, identifying and leveraging sponsorship opportunities and preparing media releases will add to the breadth of the GVL’s business operations. Josephine has a strong background in staff management, operations and media and has won awards from the Pacific Australasia Newspaper Association for advertising. Of great significance are Josephine’s links to the Goulburn Valley community. She is a Board Member and Secretary of the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Director of Events and its representative on a number of other boards and organisations. Congratulations Josephine on your appointment and welcome to our team! Josephine’s contact details are 0413 394 311 email:  jo.spencer@afl.com.au

  Registrations are now open! These educational meetings are designed for umpire testers, coordinators, mentors, supervisors and administrators. THE MEETING WILL COVER THE FOLLOWING • National Umpiring Framework • NV Endorsed Umpire Tester List • National Testing Requirements: • compulsory individual testers criteria and panel set-up • testing requirements – umpire candidate pre-requisites & panel pre-requisites • Umpire Testing & Badge Competencies • Standard of Game for Testing • Online Badge Submission Process • Online Badge Updating Process • 2020 Rule Update   Please click on the link below to register with Netball Victoria: Umpire Testers Meeting 2020

    We are pleased to announce the appointment of Levi Power in the role as Football Development Manager. Levi has strong ties to the local football community and has been a positive contributor to football in the region for a long period of time, as well as having been involved in a number of AFL Victoria and AFL programs. Levi played with the Eastern Rangers, Coburg in the VFL, represented Richmond Football Club in preseason games in 2010 and has represented the Murray Football League at interleague level several times.  Levi was a member of the RIO Tinto National Indigenous U/23 AFL Squad in the Footy Means Business Program, played in the NEAFL with Queanbeyan and more recently with Shepparton Bears and Rumbalara Football Club, where he was captain in 2019, and has coached the Rumbalara Under 17 team for the past two seasons.  As you can see, Levi has been involved in a number of pathway programs and his experience across community football spans a number of competitions and states. Levi’s coaching experience also includes coaching the Murray Football League U18 interleague team in 2018 and 2019, being an Assistant Coach with the Laguntas program in 2019, AFL GM V/Line Cup Assistant Coach in 2019 and a Richmond Football Club NGA mentor this year. Levi is also a development coach at the Murray Bushrangers. Aside from his football experience, Levi has been a member of Melbourne University’s Aboriginal Advisory Group and is currently the Aboriginal Health Coach with Primary Care Connect where he develops initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle choices within the local Indigenous community.  Prior to this, Levi held roles as the Healthy Lifestyle Manager, Intake and Care Coordination Service Manager and Aboriginal Health Worker with Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative.  Levi has a strong background in community engagement and stakeholder management, which are highly valuable and transferable skills into the AFL Goulburn Murray FDM role. As you can see from the above, Levi has very strong links to the AFL Goulburn Murray region, which includes both football and the local community. Levi will join us on Monday, January 20.  Please join me in congratulating Levi on his appointment and welcoming him to AFL Goulburn Murray.

AFL Goulburn Murray is excited to announce the AFL Goulburn Murray Tatura Milk Junior Netball Academy squads and coaches for 2020. Following the recent announcement of the extension of the Netball Academy with the 14-year-old age group being added to the Junior Netball Academy. The new age group will build on the last years structure, with more of a specialised court structured development in preparing players for Netball Victoria Talent Pathway programs. AFL Goulburn Murray Netball Administrator Peita Sleeth is excited about the progression and continued growth of the program. “The improvements I have seen in Netballers that have been through the Academy can be attributed to the hard work our players and coaches put into every session. Our goal is to create a positive environment that fosters personal development with a group of passionate Netballers that are wanting to improve their skills”. “We are privileged to have dedicated coaches working hard to develop a specialised program, with a focus on player improvement and individual skill development,” she said. The AFL Goulburn Murray Junior Netball Academy is thrilled to announce director of coaching Ann Austin will again oversee the program and says the implementation of the program last year has been a significant step forward for the region. “The program is fantastic for our region and I’m proud to see the advancement of the players in our academy and the benefit it has on the regions netballers”, mentioned Austin. Ann in conjunction with last year’s  Academy coaches Emma Clignett, Ash Bradley and skills coach Jacqui Hudgson will deliver a program with an emphasis on  providing quality-based player development to support and complement Club, League and Netball Associations and in turn increase the depth of talent within the region, by exposing more players to a higher level of training, participation and coaching. Ann reiterated the values of the Academy and stated  “The Academy strives to influence the behaviour and values of young players by providing a high-quality training and playing environment that supports the personal development of regionally based netball coaches in the program for the betterment of future netball athletes” Academy participants will again be provided with a holistic approach to preparing them for Netball Victoria pathways incorporating skill development and provides squad members with the opportunity to develop into the best of their ability, ensuring they have an opportunity to advance in the sport. Mackenzie O’Dwyer, 12 of Barooga is eager to commence her second year of the Netball Academy having been selected in the State School Victoria Primary School Team in 2019. “I ended up making the Victorian Primary School Team and this is a credit to the AFL Goulburn Murray Netball Academy, I think they have helped me a lot.” Tatura Milk along with Intersport Wingates have been the principle partners of the Netball Academy from its inception in 2019 and are proud to again be associated with such a supportive and progressive program. The Shepparton Netball Association will this year also provide strong support for the Netball Academy and are a great addition as a sponsor of the Academy. Coaches and selectors were very impressed with the high level of skill and effort demonstrated by all players through trials, which made selection of athletes for the 2020 Academy extremely difficult.  Overall, this has continued to be an exciting addition to the netball community, and we are looking forward to delivering a unique program to Academy participants through 2020 and beyond. Congratulations to the players who were accepted into our 2020 Junior Netball Development Academy.   2020 – 12-year-old Squad              20120- 13-year-old Squad            2020 – 14-year-old Squad Jemma Albrey Murchison Ava Ahmet Shepparton Diaz Barzen Kialla Irish Anderson Balmattum Sophie Allen Seymour Sienna Burke Jerilderie Lucy Bicknell Shepparton Remi Bruton Shepparton Jasmine Burke Jerilderie Sienna Carkeek Kialla Montanna Burke Pine Lodge Isla Carver Kyabram Avah Creighton Kialla Zara Cuzens Kialla Mykaelah Castles Kialla Olivia Dorria Seymour Hannah Greig Kialla Sahla Dunstan Moama Sophie Eade Kialla Izzy Guthrie Congupna Maggie Egglestone Mooroopna Lilly Fidock Tatura Amani Issell Mooroopna Taylah Groves Tallygaroopna Georgie Hanlon Kialla Jaylah Meda Shepparton Demi Hendy Katunga Rhani Hendy Katunga Gabby Moore Acardia Ruby Higgins Cobram Bridie Kelly Katunga Benjamin Morgan Avenel Charlotte Hurlston Tocumwal Alice Ludlow Grahamvale Sophie Munro Trawool Ruby Lynch Echuca Ellie Morgan Kialla Mackenzie O’Dwyer Barooga Emelia Mercuri Euroa Lara Moroney Shepparton Tahlia Pate Tocumwal Keeley O’Dwyer Barooga Amalie Pate Tocumwal Charlotte Phillips Congupna Kaleisha Pell Yarrawonga Holly Ralph Kialla Maggie Pittock Euroa Djuralillie Weston Shepparton Jammison Stovell Kialla Madeline Rodda Shepparton Olivia Thompson Tocumwal Adison Thornberry Seymour Michaela Vera Shepparton Hannah Wells Shepparton Tessa Warrin Numurkah Sienna Westblade Echuca   For more information contact AFL Goulburn Murray Netball Administration Officer Peita Sleeth on 0404 259 286.  

  The AFL Goulburn Murray Commission provides governance and strategy development for Football and Netball across the Goulburn Murray region. We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated League Operations Manager to join our team. The Leagues Operations Manager will play an integral role in the success and outcomes of the Goulburn Valley competitions in the region, and as such this role presents a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the success of Australian Rules football and netball. Based in Shepparton and reporting to the Region General Manager, the successful applicant will provide competition management and operations for the Goulburn Valley League and be pivotal in ensuring a smooth and professional delivery for the benefit of member clubs. Responsibilities and Duties include: League competition management including fixturing and match day processing Tribunal operations Correspondence, club liaison and issue management Sponsor servicing Event management League marketing and communications Budgeting and management to set budget The successful applicant will require: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in sports administration Demonstrated high level experience in managing multiple projects and priorities High level of attention to detail, delivering outcomes both on time and on budget Knowledge and experience with member database and competition management software (preferably Sports TG) Exceptional communication skills with the ability to build positive working relationships with all key stakeholders, especially volunteers.   Relevant tertiary qualifications and administration/operational experience in football netball clubs and/or Leagues in the region, while not essential, will be preferred. For more information, please click on the Position Description link (below). PD – League Operations Manager If this sounds like you, please email a cover letter and your resume to jamie.macri@afl.com.au   Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 11th December.

In 2020 AFL Goulburn Murray will continue the development program after a successful inaugural program in 2019, for young netballers from across the region.