Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (10:36): Last Wednesday our community received some shocking news. Without warning, the Ballarat Football Netball League decided to exclude the Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club from the 2026 junior competition fixture. This decision is deeply disappointing and frankly unacceptable. The Woady Warriors are a proud and growing country club built through years of dedication from volunteers, families and community members. They represent 150 kids and their families from Smythesdale, Scarsdale, Haddon, Snake Valley and surrounding communities – young people who love their footy and netball and who deserve every chance to play. To deny them the opportunity just weeks before the season begins is devastating. At a time when we should be doing everything possible to support children’s participation in community sport, this decision does the opposite. It undermines the efforts of a club that has done everything asked of it to grow, develop and provide opportunities for local kids.

I have written to the league urging them to reverse this decision immediately. Our federal member for Ballarat and I have also written to AFL Victoria and AFL Goldfields calling for the decision to be overturned and for the league to work constructively with the club so that every child who wants to play can take the field and court this season. To the Woady Warriors, you deserve your rightful place in the league. And to the Ballarat Football Netball League, have a heart: do not bench our country kids. Let the kids play.