Football
26 August, 2025
Minyip Murtoa named community club of 2025
Minyip Murtoa Football Netball Club has been awarded the 2025 Toyota AFL Community Club of the Year.
Minyip Murtoa Football Netball Club has been awarded the 2025 Toyota AFL Community Club of the Year.
Ange Ballinger, AFL Wimmera Mallee Region Manager, and Liam Brady, AFL Wimmera Mallee Club Development Lead, made the announcement following the club's training last Thursday.
The Wimmera Football Netball League club received the national honour for their innovative and forward-thinking approach to community sport.
Chris Delahunty, Minyip Murtoa’s club president, says the achievement is a great reward for years of hard work put in by the club and its committee.
"It's been a long road to get where we are, and it's great recognition for many years of hard work," Delahunty said.
"So they were all very excited at the club."
Ballinger says that the award is fantastic for the region, demonstrating what clubs can do to continue their growth.
"Even in areas with obstacles, there's so much we can do in clubland to sustain and grow sporting communities," Ballinger said.
The club was praised for its strategic planning in committing to the growth of junior and female football participation.
Delahunty and the committee’s advancements in the junior space include the creation of an additional playing surface to allow all junior teams to play at every home game, and the establishment of a new satellite Auskick in Horsham, sparking a 30% growth in participation.
"We've grown in our membership in the last few years, particularly in the football area," Delahunty said.
"We've had a 40% increase year on year, and that's predominantly from the introduction of the junior training program (Auskick) that we're running in Horsham."
Minyip Murtoa was critical in the Wimmera Football Netball League starting its inaugural female football competition, fielding both a seniors side and a joint under 14s side with the Warrack Eagles.
The inaugural season had Minyip Murtoa field 46 female players, and included the seniors taking out the 2025 premiership.
"The introduction of women and girls football has been really successful for our growth, our female participants in football, but all also bringing new family members and so forth into the club, which has been great," Delahunty said.
Helping the club into the future is funding they've received from Sport and Recreation Victoria and the federal government, which will go towards new lights at the Minyip ground and new netball courts at Murtoa for 2026.
As national winners, the club receives an outstanding prize package, including a three-night trip to Melbourne, invitations to AFL Grand Final Week events, and reserved seats at the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The club will be formally recognised at the AFL Victoria Awards in October.