Geelong will host five AFLW matches at GMHBA Stadium including a round one home game to kick start the season.

The AFLW fixture was released this week and the Cats will also play two games in Melbourne, one in Warrnambool and will venture outside the state twice to take on GWS and Port Adelaide.

The Cats will open the season in front of the local fans at GMHBA Stadium against Western Bulldogs before hitting the road to North Sydney Oval in round two to take on the Swans.

The Cats will take on North Melbourne in round three under lights on a Friday night at home.

The AFLW will celebrate and recognise the contribution of past and current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in rounds seven and eight in AFLW Indigenous Round, with the club facing Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium in round seven and Collingwood in round eight at Victoria Park.

Rounding out the home and away season, Geelong will travel up the highway to Ikon Park to play Richmond in round nine before finishing the season at home in round 10 against Hawthorn in the AFLW Pride Round.

Geelong CEO Steve Hocking said the club was eagerly anticipating the season and was looking forward to building on from the clubs finals appearance last season.

Our fixture has provided us a host of thrilling matchups, family-friendly timeslots, and exciting opportunities, and the Club is poised to continue our impressive journey in the AFLW so far in the 2023 season, he said.

We love playing at home and we cant wait to play at GMHBA Stadium throughout the season, however our fixture also presents exciting opportunities for fans based outside of Geelong including heading to Alberton Oval in Adelaide and North Sydney Oval for the first time, games in Melbourne against Richmond and Collingwood, and once again in Warrnambool where both our womens and mens playing groups have enjoyed spending time in the community.

We look forward to the season ahead and seeing coach Dan Lowther, captain Meg McDonald and the team build on last season.

Geelong Fixture

*All times are local

Round 1

Saturday 2 September, 5.05pm

Geelong Cats vs Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium

Round 2

Saturday 9 September, 1:05pm

Sydney Swans vs Geelong Cats, North Sydney Oval

Round 3

Friday 15 September, 5:05pm

Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, GMHBA Stadium

Round 4

Saturday 23 September, 12:35pm

Port Adelaide vs Geelong Cats, Alberton Oval

Round 5

Thursday 28 September, 6:15pm

Geelong Cats vs Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium

Round 6 Country Game

Sunday 8 October, 1:05pm

Essendon vs Geelong Cats, Reid Oval Warrnambool

Round 7 AFLW Indigenous Round

Saturday 14 October, 3:05pm

Geelong Cats vs Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium

Round 8 AFLW Indigenous Round

Sunday 22 October, 1:05pm

Collingw...

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jeremy Crawford said this weeks announcement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would not go ahead was not a huge shock.

Citing a cost blowout from the budgeted $2.6 billion to possibly over $7 billion, Premier Daniel Andrews cancelled the Games, which was to be held in Geelong and three other regional hubs.

Despite the Games cancellation, Mr Andrews recommitted to the legacy infrastructure promises that were part of the larger Games project, including new and upgraded sporting facilities and social and affordable housing in Geelong and regional Victoria.

Mr Crawford said that while the announcement was surprising in that no one saw it coming there had been low confidence among the business sector.

There has been very low confidence due to a lack of clarity and certainty coming out of the government, especially over the last few months or so, he said.

We havent had any businesses that have been hanging their future hopes and dreams on the Commonwealth Games.

But what we have had is obviously some feedback from different parts of the business community who might be impacted by this, particularly our sporting organisations that we partner with the chamber.

The business sentiment is that what were looking forward to is working with the government on where this investment is going to and making sure that its utilised appropriately.

Mr Crawford said there were some businesses who had begun planning for the Games.

There are some businesses that I spoke to today who were looking at growing, expanding or even starting because of the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games, he said.

There are probably in the minority, but what we really want to make sure of is that when the investment goes into some of these bricks and mortar projects whether its sporting stadia, community provisions or even a regional tourism package, that the ability for the services to be sustainably delivered is there with that support as well.

Mr Crawford said there were more than 4000 jobs to be created from the Games, pre- post- and during the event.

And that has a lot of affiliate industries that would have ridden the wave of putting Geelong on the map internationally including the tourism sector, the hospitality sector and a lot of the retailers that obviously would have benefitted from a huge increase in foot traffic in and around the Geelong regions and sporting precincts, he said.

With all of that now seemingly completely lost, what we want to know is how can get the government to work with organisations like the Chamber and others to make sure that those opportunities for businesses still exist and over the next period of time where theres investment going in there that the provision of those services would have been offered for businesses to tap into, there still remains opportunities for them to grow.

The po...

Newcomb & District Cricket Club all-rounder Cam Egan is through to the second round of the Renegades Recruit.

The Renegades Recruit searches for the best players in community cricket competitions across the state with the potential to play at a higher level.

Televised as a two-part miniseries, 10 young cricketers tried out at St Kildas Junction Oval before the squad was first cut to six and then next Tuesday down to three.

The players were put through their paces at St Kildas Junction Oval under the watchful eye of former Renegades mens and current WBBL coach Simon Helmot.

It was definitely different, Egan said.

It was more focussed on filming and getting the right parts. The actual cricket aspect was pretty elite. There were some good cricketers.

A left-arm seam bowler and more than capable batter, Egan said he clocked 126km/h during the initial outdoor training.

Egan, 21, started his cricket at St Leonards in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association and then crossed over to Newcomb & District last season in Geelong Cricket Association 4ths.

He will line up for the Dinos again this season and is hoping to play in England next winter before making the jump to GCA 1sts.

Egan said while he was a bowling all-rounder, he had worked hard on his batting in recent seasons.

I started off not caring about my batting I was just bowl, bowl, bowl sort of thing, he said.

I never really trained hard enough to make runs or bat higher. But Ive worked at it the past five or so years. The main focus is bowling.

The second episode of Renegades Recruit is on Tuesday July 25 at 7pm on 7plus and the Renegades Facebook page.

The post Cam in line for Gades Recruit appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Committee for Geelong CEO Michael Johnston said he was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Games, to be held in regional Victoria, including Greater Geelong, was scrapped by Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday due to escalating costs associated with the event.

This represented a unique opportunity to showcase Geelong on a global stage, boost our visitor economy, and deliver a range of legacy benefits for the region, Mr Johnston said.

Those local businesses who had already spent considerable time and effort in tendering will have been dealt a double blow by this news.

The announcement of a $2 billion Region Fund in its place is welcome, and it is pleasing to hear Geelong will continue to receive the legacy infrastructure benefits the Games promised to deliver. In particular, the creation of more affordable housing is desperately needed, and we would be hopeful that additional dwellings can be added.

Mr Johnston said it was also positive for residents in the citys southern growth corridor, with the Armstrong Creek Aquatic Centre, Waurn Ponds indoor sport facility, and hockey pitch at Torquay to be completed (along with the upgrade to the Stead Park hockey facility in Norlane).

With regards to the construction of the housing and sporting infrastructure, there are some important questions that need to be addressed, he said.

What is the timing? The Games provided a firm deadline. Without that deadline, we seek assurances that these projects are not delayed.

The other question is whether local businesses will be prioritised through the procurement process? This was a key component of the Victoria 2026 procurement approach and provided Geelong businesses access to significant Government work. It is imperative on the Government to maintain this approach, and support local businesses in supplying the legacy projects. We have the skills and talent here. Use it.

The post Committee CEO disappointed appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Geelong council and industry leaders have reacted with shock and disappointment after Daniel Andrews announcement this week that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would no longer go ahead.

Citing a cost blowout from the budgeted $2.6 billion to possibly over $7 billion, the Premier cancelled the Games, which was to be held in Geelong and three other regional hubs.

Despite the Games cancellation, Mr Andrews recommitted to the legacy infrastructure promises that were part of the larger Games project, including new and upgraded sporting facilities and social and affordable housing in Geelong and regional Victoria.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan voiced his disappointment at the decision, saying councils job from here was to advocate for the legacy projects Geelong had been guaranteed.

We have been promised huge amounts of tourism, economic, social and sporting benefits from these Games, Mayor Sullivan said.

More than 7500 jobs were to be created post- and pre-Games, more than 1200 procurement opportunities for local Victorian jobs These are all lost now.

This was marketed as, and truly was, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our sporting infrastructure, our affordable housing stock, to strengthen our community and sporting culture.

We want to ensure that the legacy benefits that have been promised by the State Government do come to fruition. Well be holding the government to account for this. The Premier made a promise to regional Victoria and we expect him to follow through.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) executive director Tracy Carter said while the Games cancellation was an absolute disappointment and a lost opportunity to showcase the region, the early timing of the decision meant the local tourism industry had not invested too heavily to date.

Were disappointed for our industry, some of which have already put in quite a bit of work in trying to figure out how they can partner with the Games, Ms Carter said.

These sorts of things dont come along too often. There was such a lot of excitement, so its just a real shame for that not to have eventuated.

Certainly, we hadnt got to the point of doing any investment of funds; it was really all preliminary and strategic thinking.

What it did for our industry was unite everyone behind a shared, aspirational source of excitement. (Our job now is) to harness the excitement that was there. We have to grow our international visitation through other means.

For more stories on the Games cancellation, see page 3.

The post Comm Games shock appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

The G21 Geelong Region Alliance has expressed its support for the business, sporting and broader communities in the aftermath of the state governments cancellation of the Games.

In a statement this week G21 CEO Giulia Baggio acknowledged the immense effort already committed to the event, but said the citys infrastructure needs, highlighted by the Games, were not going away.

An enormous amount of time, effort and money has been invested in and around Geelong for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and this momentum must not be lost, Ms Baggio said.

We must refocus our energy on delivering the housing, transport and sporting infrastructure so desperately needed by our rapidly growing communities.

Ms Baggio welcomed the Victorian governments promise of a $2 billion regional infrastructure package, despite it being no substitute for the huge economic and social uplift the Games would have provided.

The repurposed investment in sporting facilities, tourism and affordable and social housing must be securely tied to the Geelong region and delivered without delay.

We want to see these projects listed in the budget forward estimates and construction timelines honoured. In particular, the G21-Geelong region urgently needs a large proportion of the promised $1 billion social and affordable housing fund.

The lack of housing has caused a chronic shortage of workers, and this is holding back our economic development at a time when Geelong should be booming.

The G21 statement also lamented the lost opportunity to showcase the Geelong regions cultural identity and promote the history and storytelling of the Wadawurrung traditional owners.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan echoed those sentiments, saying the chance to have international visitors engaging in cultural experiences, engaging with First Nations culture around Geelong had been lost.

The post Geelong must refocus on infrastructure appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

A community group that represents ratepayers in Greater Geelong has voiced its concern over how leftover funding will be used following the cancellation of the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Premier Dan Andrews announced on Tuesday, July 18, that the Commonwealth Games would not be held in Victoria in 2026.

Ratepayers Geelong president Peter Mitchell said it was a pity to lose a good showcase for the region.

The influx of people to the region, the world attention, and recognition of our region which would lead to on-going tourism and income, will now not happen, he said.

Any large sporting event brings a large increase in the local economy, and the assets built for the Games would have been an ongoing benefit to the area for many years.

Mr Mitchell said he believed it could be a good thing to have the Commonwealth Games scrapped for Victoria given that the reasons and figures provided by Premier Andrews are correct.

The Games were a single large event that was drawing resources away from many smaller initiatives that can now happen, he said.

With the Games now cancelled there must be significant surplus, not only in money, but in freed resources of various sorts. How those are deployed will determine if the end result is good or bad.

Mr Mitchell said the cancelled games effect on local ratepayers depended on how the City of Greater Geelong and the state would react.

If the allocated funds from the state are distributed to the regions as planned, ideally in the same proportions and for similar purposes, the ratepayers will get at least some of the benefit, he said.

Given the troubles that the budget caused, I hope they will quickly review it and properly fund things such as the libraries, lifesaving and pools.

I also hope they re-consider the jobs lost in the recent re-structure, all of which will be good for the ratepayer.

The post Ratepayers Geelongs concerns appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Greater Geelong welcomed 82 new Australian citizens this week.

Over two ceremonies at City Hall on July 17, mayor Trent Sullivan welcomed new citizens from 32 different countries, including Thailand, India, Peru, Brazil, China, Portugal, Afghanistan and Albania.

Mayor Sullivan said council was proud of its role in supporting a strong and diverse Geelong community.

Geelong is a place where people of all cultural backgrounds are welcome and included, he said.

Our cultural diversity is one of our communitys great strengths and something worthy of positivity and celebration.

Occasions such as tonights ceremonies are always joyous and really highlight the fact that Geelong is a place that people from across the world choose to make home.

New arrivals to our region contribute individually to our community in a variety of ways, and collectively, add to the rich cultural fabric of our city.

This is something we value so much and will continue to foster and support.

Taking this weeks ceremonies into account, the City has now conferred around 900 new Australian citizens on behalf of the federal government so far in 2023.

Approximately 18 percent of Greater Geelongs population, or close to 50,000 residents, were born overseas, and the city was formally declared a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2002.

The post City welcomes 82 new citizens appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

As the federal government prepares to hold the referendum on the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament sometime between September and December this year, Geelong council will host a series of events to stimulate community discussion on the issue.

Held between July and September, the council-run series of forums and community kiosks intend to offer locals the chance to share their perspectives and listen to those of others in an informal setting.

Community conversation forums will be held at the Citys Wurriki Nyal administration headquarters and, while free to attend, require registration via geelong.link/voiceforums.

Community kiosks at libraries and a planned series of informal pop-up kiosks around Geelong will not require registration.

Council also has a number of other education and information events in the works, with plans to announce them soon.

Acting Mayor Anthony Aitken, deputy chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships portfolio, said the events were intended to help to inform the community ahead of the referendum.

It goes without saying that everyone is entitled to make up their minds on the Voice and vote as they see fit at the referendum, Cr Aitken said.

We want to help that process by opening up opportunities for the Geelong community to have respectful conversations about the proposed Voice To Parliament Constitutional Referendum, focused on education and dialogue so that everyone can feel fully informed before they vote.

We encourage the community to attend these forums and kiosks, ask questions, put forward their viewpoint, and be open to the viewpoints of others.

While the council has not officially announced its position on the referendum, it has been vocal in its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which called for a constitutionally-enshrined First Nations body to advise federal parliament and the government.

The next Voice to Parliament Community Conversation Forum will be held on Thursday, July 27 from 1-3pm, while the next Community Kiosk is at Boronggook Drysdale Library on Sunday, July 30 from 2-4pm. For a full list of forum and kiosk dates and times visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au.

The post City encourages Voice conversations appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

As finals approach rapidly, Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to Winter Reserve in Belmont for the Belmont vs Bannockburn senior footy and C Grade netball and St Albans Reserve for the St Albans vs Bell Park senior footy.

The post Finals time getting closer appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Regional Victoria will not host the 2026 Commonwealth Games with premier Daniel Andrews this morning announcing the cost associating with the event was too high.

An initial budget of $2.6 billion was pledged, but Premier Andrews said the cost had blown out to more than $6 billion.

Thats well and truly too much for a 12-day sporting event, he said.

I think all Victorians would agree that more than $6 billion is just too much. Ive made a lot of difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them. Were simply not going to invest that money.

The state government will push ahead with legacy projects such as the construction of gymnastics and aquatics centres in Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek.

The Games were expected to bring 100,000 people to the region according to Minister for Commonwealth Games delivery Jacinta Allan.

In April Minister for Commonwealth Games legacy Harriet Shing said the 2026 Games would host nine sports in Geelong and is estimated to contribute more than $3 billion to Victorias economy.

The post Games scrapped appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Bellarine cyclists are encouraged to jump on their bikes to raise money for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) through the Red Nose support service.

The Ride the Month of August for SIDS encourages cyclists of all ages and abilities to ride their bikes on the road, gym, or in their homes to raise money for grieving families and SIDS research.

The event coincides with August 5s Ride the Bellarine for SIDS, where 30 cyclists travel 110km of the Bellarine Peninsula, and director Peter Herrick said it was the first time riders could join online.

Were thrilled to roll out the Ride the Month of August for SIDS online in 2023, he said.

Were excited to welcome not only Victorians but riders from across the country to join us for this important cause.

You can clock up your kilometres in the comfort of your own home, at the gym or your favourite riding spot, its all up to you. The best part is that every cent raised goes directly to Red Nose.

Mr Herrick said the 2023 event had already raised more than $12,000 and that cyclists that joined the fundraiser event online could ride as many kilometres as they like throughout August.

We are blown away by the communitys continued support and generous donations, he said.

However, theres still plenty of time to sign up, jump on the bike and raise funds to be part of this wonderful cause.

You can also donate directly to the ride, so please dig deep this winter for Red Nose.

The 2023 Ride the Month of August for SIDS follows last years Ride the Bellarine for SIDS event success that raised $26,500 for Red Nose.

More information on how to participate and donate is available at www.rideforsids.com.

The post Riding for SIDS awareness appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Barwon Heads regained top form in a thumping 56-point win against Drysdale in round 14 of Bellarine Football League on Saturday July 15.

In a high-standard game in trying conditions, the Seagulls had too many avenues in attack with co-coach Mitch Herbison, young star Ollie Wiltshire and livewire small forward Luca Vella all booting four goals.

It was Vellas best game for the club while Michael Philp was a standout.

The Hawks didnt play badly, but just ran into a side that was hell bent on ironing out some creases in its game.

Ben Fennell booted five goals while Ben Henderson played one of his best games of the season.

Undefeated Torquay eventually shrugged off a determined Ocean Grove by 12 points.

Ocean Groves past two weeks have been losses, but by a combined 26 points to the leagues two best teams.

Ben McNamara and Nathan Mifsud were the Tigers best while ruckman Ed Dayman stood tall for the Grubbers.

Anglesea scooted a game and a half clear in fourth spot with an important win against fellow finals contender Geelong Amateur.

Ammos led by 17 points at the first break, but Anglesea was in front by three at half time.

But with Jarod Bacon (three goals) in fine form, the Roos prevailed by seven points despite the best efforts of Riley Ferguson, who booted three for Ammos.

Ammos are in fifth spot, equal on points with sixth-placed Modewarre.

Modda pretty much ended Queenscliffs finals hopes with a 25-point win.

Modda should win against Portarlington this week while Ammos face a tough one against Drysdale. If results go their way, the Warriors will be in the five by the end of round 15.

Morgan Fenton and Troy Anderson were Modewarres best while Jordy McIvor-Clarke continued his stellar season for the Coutas.

Newcomb won its second game of the season and it seems Portarlington will have to wait until 2024 to taste victory again.

The 52-point margin was much more than many were predicting with the Demons restricted to just one goal and 11 behinds.

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