WorkSafe Country Club Game Heads to Central Victoria: Wycheproof-Narrapot vs. Birchip-Watchem

The WorkSafe 2024 Country Club Series concludes this weekend, with the final match of the series being played in the heart of Central Victoria, when Wycheproof-Narrapot Football and Netball Club host the Birchip-Watchem Football Netball Club on Saturday.

Wycheproof-Narrapot is the proud hometown of 2022 WorkSafe Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition winner Ricky Allan and is gearing up for an exciting showdown against the Birchip-Watchem Bulls. This will be the club’s final home game, before it joins forces with the Nullwil FNC for the 2025 season, a familiar occurrence for the club, which has experienced many mergers throughout its history.

The WorkSafe Country Club Game will put the Wycheproof-Narrapot community in the spotlight throughout the week, with a Tuesday night Sport and Life Training (SALT) mental health session provided for the home team by WorkSafe, along with visits from Western Bulldogs 2016 Premiership Player, Tom Boyd, and Melbourne Vixens players Kate Eddy at Thursday night training and Shelly O’Donnel on match day.

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

By taking part in the week, Wycheproof-Narrapot 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," Madigan said.

“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,” he 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 can't wait to get up to Wycheproof.”

This weekend will be the final WorkSafe Country Club Game 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:

Wycheproof-Narrapot vs. Birchip-Watchem

Wycheproof Recreation Reserve, Wycheproof

Date: Saturday August 10

Time: 2:30pm

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.