Kyneton Women’s Football Club is continuing to call on AFL Victoria to act now to stop the club from being without a home for 2026, despite the governing body saying its decision is final.
The Wedge-tailed Eagles have been fighting for months to field a standalone side in 2026 but have suffered numerous setbacks and currently are set to sit this season on the sidelines.
It comes after the club was denied entry to the Riddell District Football League in 2025 and 2026.
The club was formed after players left Kyneton Football Netball Club saying they felt it was an “unsafe environment”.
Players played at Gisborne in a combined Gisborne-Kyneton United team, winning the Essendon District Football League division 2 premiership.
The club launched a petition last week saying the club is ready, proven and community-backed and that they have just 30 days to save its 2026 season.
The petition had more than 5000 signatures by Monday morning.
The petition stated that the players started their own club to “build something better”.
“In August they applied to play in their local league, the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) but were rejected,” the petition stated.
“So they applied to a league a little further down the road, the Central Victoria Football League and were accepted unanimously.
“Despite this, and despite meeting all participation requirements; AFL Victoria upheld the appeal by the RDFNL, a league that had previously rejected KWFC. ”
The petition said that AFL Victoria’s reasons do not stack up and that there had been no opportunity to appeal the decision..
“We are financially viable. Strong governance. Support for facilities and grounds access and we are a team that is ready to play.
“If this decision is not overturned in the next 30 days, women footballers will lose a second consecutive season, and an award-winning, community-run club will be sidelined entirely.”
A letter from AFL Victoria to the Kyneton Women’s Football Club on 16 January said the decision is final.
“Under the AFL Victoria affiliate regulations, applications are led by affiliate leagues, not the proposed clubs, and impacted leagues only may appeal to an independent AFL Victoria appeal panel,” the letter said.
“Accordingly, the panel undertook a comprehensive review of the submissions by the RDFNL and CVFL and upheld the appeal. The reasons for that decision have been communicated to your club.”
AFL Victoria, which shared the letter with Star Weekly, said the lack of demonstrated need, existing capacity, pathway and facility concerns were the main reasons.
“AFL Victoria acknowledges both the passion and effort of the KWFC, and we trust this correspondence provides clarity and certainty for players who seek to play in the 2026 season.”
Petition: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kvkhv
