By Tom Ingleton
Players from Kyneton’s Women’s Football Club have finally found a home for the 2025 season, with the club to join forces with Gisborne for the upcoming Essendon District Football League season.
The two clubs will field the team, Gisborne-Kyneton United, in a one season partnership giving female footballers in the Macedon Ranges another outlet to play.
As reported by Star Weekly, players from the Kyneton Football Netball Club decided to form their own team this season hoping to field a standalone club to provide the environment they wanted to play in.
Three leagues, including the Riddell District Football League which was the new club’s preference, knocked them back and it led to uncertainty for the players and where they would play this season.
Keen to keep the Kyneton name in place, the new club has formed a partnership with Gisborne, which is has been re-establishing its senior side after not having the numbers last year.
Kyneton Women’s Football Club president Natalie Korinfsky said the move ensures both clubs remain competitive while also providing players with a place to play.
“This allows us to keep our group together while also benefiting from the leadership and talent at Gisborne,” she said. “It ensures both clubs remain strong, sustainable, and competitive moving forward.”
Gisborne, meanwhile, has been working to strengthen its women’s program, securing experienced coach and Victorian Women’s Football League life member Bernie Marantelli to lead its senior side’s relaunch.
Bulldogs club president Tony Brancatisano said the shared vision between the two clubs made the decision an easy one.
“We share a commitment to growing the game, and this is a huge step forward for both clubs and our local football community,” he said.
KFNC has been one of the RDFL’s most dominant women’s teams in recent years, winning the inaugural premiership in 2023 and finishing runners-up in 2024.
The hybrid team will feature a mix of Kyneton Women’s and Gisborne players, along with key signings such as midfielder Kat Bau (Woodend-Hesket), Kyneton best and fairest winners Belinda Hately and Teagan Ainslie, and veteran Shannon McFerran, a 12-time Victorian representative and was previously voted one of Australia’s top 100 sportswomen.
Thirteen former KFNC have so far put in clearances to be part of the new club which will play in the division 2 competition this season.
Gisborne-Kyneton United starts its season at home at Gardiner Reserve on Saturday.
While Gisborne seeks to continue building its women’s program in the future, Kyneton plans to re-apply for a spot in the RDFL in 2026.
