Gormandale in Gippsland to host WorkSafe Country Club game

The WorkSafe Country Club Series travels to the heart of Gippsland this weekend, with the Gormandale Football and Netball Club hosting the Churchill Football Netball Club in AFL Victoria’s country footy feature event for the round.  

Gormandale is a small country town situated between Yarram and Traralgon with a population of just over 320 people. The Gormandale FNC has experienced promising growth in the last few years, attributed to the hard work of its new President Chris Robertson and his newly appointed committee. In 2022, the club received an exciting visit from Leongatha-born, Hawthorn AFL premiership player Jarryd Roughead, who returned to the Gippsland region for the 2022 Carlton Draft Series.

The WorkSafe Country Club Game will put the small community of Gormandale in the spotlight with a week of activities leading up to the game. This includes a Tuesday night Sport and Life Training (SALT) mental health session provided for the two clubs by WorkSafe, along with visits from Western Bulldogs 2016 premiership player Tom Boyd, and Melbourne Vixens players Rudi Ellis, Kate Eddy, Hannah Mundy at Thursday training, and Mwai Kumwenda (MJ) on game day. 

The WorkSafe Country Club Games initiative aims to champion regional communities and their volunteers, while serving as a platform for these football and netball clubs to promote the importance of workplace safety.

By taking part in the week, Gormandale FNC will also receive a $5,000 financial contribution from WorkSafe, along with new footballs, netballs and goal post padding to support the club.

Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, said that the week is a terrific opportunity for the local community to come together and remind each other of why it’s important to keep each other safe at work.

“We know our participants have a lot going on and fatigue and other decision making can creep in.

“WorkSafe have been a tremendous supporter of Victorian country footy for more than 20 years now, and the relevance is as clear as ever – stay safe at work, and we’ll all keep coming to the footy on a Saturday to enjoy a kick and spending time with our mates and families.”

Western Bulldogs 2016 premiership player Tom Boyd is looking forward to his involvement in the week.

“Country footy and netball clubs are the heart of our regional towns here in Victoria, to be able to connect with these places, people and clubs is some of the best work that I get to do,” Boyd said.

“These clubs are filled with such great people, and they are the perfect place to reinforce the mental component of getting home from work safely.

“I cannot wait to get up to Gormandale.”

This weekend will be the fourth of six WorkSafe Country Club Games for 2024. By focusing on agricultural communities where risks of injury are heightened, WorkSafe aims to build connections and deliver essential safety guidance to safeguard at risk Victorians from injury and harm at work.

Match details:

North Gippsland Football Netball League - Round 13

Gormandale v Churchill  

Gormandale Recreation Reserve, Gormandale

Date: Saturday July 13

Time: 2:10pm

It's been a tough season for Gormandale in the North Gippsland Football Netball League, with the Tigers winless and last on the 11-team ladder. Churchill, meanwhile, sit eighth on the ladder with four wins and six losses and a healthy percentage, after they played and won a final in 2023. 

The match will be live streamed on the AFL Victoria Facebook page. 

CLICK HERE for the full schedule of WorkSafe Country Club games in 2024.