Dear West Coburg Football Club Members, Supporters, Players, Families, Parents and Sponsors,
On behalf of the entire committee, we’d like to sincerely thank you. Your loyalty and dedication to the club mean a great deal to us, and as we begin Season 2026, we’re genuinely excited about what lies ahead. Your support truly makes a difference and plays an important role in everything we’re building together.
RECORD PARTICIPATION
This season we are proud to announce a record number of participants across our club. Our junior program now fields two Under 8s, two Under 10s, two Under 12s, two Under 14s, one Under 16s, two Under 18s teams, a reserves team and a senior team. Most excitingly, for the first time in many years, we have a thirds team playing under the lights on Friday nights. This is a huge milestone for our club, hard work of our coaches and a testament to the growth of our community.
We are also incredibly proud to share that four of our Under 14s have been selected for the Bachar Houli Academy, a wonderful recognition of their talent and hard work. We also congratulate Zac Newman on making the Calder Cannons and representing West Coburg Football Club. We could not be prouder of these young athletes flying the flag for our club.
Auskick is back and thriving, with 2025 delivering our highest ever female participation. Building on that momentum, our girls team has now transitioned to our Under 19s team, playing on Saturdays and once again led by the amazing Tracy Gerdtz.
COACHING & DEVELOPMENT
This season, we’ve welcomed a number of new coaches, all sharing a strong focus on the development and growth of our athletes at every level. We warmly welcome Akkie, Leon, Andrew, Omar, Darren, Cole and Raoul to the club as new coaches, and are equally pleased to have Julian, Danny, Corey, Digby, Tracy, Massad and Louie back on board for another year.
The West Coburg Football Club, Bernie Kirby, Academy continues, led by current AFLW player Georgia Patrikios, providing great opportunities for our juniors.
We are incredibly proud to welcome home one of our own, two time AFL premiership player Brandon Ellis. Seeing him return to where it all began is a truly special moment for our club, and one that means a great deal to everyone connected to West Coburg.
Our new Senior Coach, Cole Harvey, has already made a strong impression, earning the respect of many across the football community. With his experience at the Western Jets and as an interleague coach with the EDFL, Cole brings not only outstanding credentials but also a clear vision and energy that is helping drive our club forward.
We are delighted to welcome back Louie Diab and Mass Khouri in their coaching roles. Both bring a deep passion for the club and a genuine commitment to developing our players, and their presence adds great strength, leadership and connection to our program.
We are thrilled to introduce Danny Messaike as our new Senior Operations Manager. A homegrown premiership player, Danny has a deep understanding of what this club stands for, making him the perfect fit to help drive our standards and continue building something special.
A special mention to Naim Mansour as he takes on the role of Thirds Coach. The work he has put in behind the scenes has been nothing short of outstanding, driving things forward largely through his own effort and commitment. His passion for the club has already seen him bring a number of West Coburg boys back home where they belong, and his impact is something the whole club can be proud of.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Raoul Woods returning as our Junior Coordinator for a second year. The care, time and effort he pours into our junior program does not go unnoticed, and the impact he is having on our young players and families is something truly special. Our junior program is in a far better place because of his commitment, and the club is very grateful for everything he continues to give.
Retention at the senior level is stronger than ever, and that’s a reflection of the culture being built right across the club. Players are choosing to stay, and just as importantly, new players are choosing West Coburg, from our juniors right through to the senior group. It’s a clear sign that we’re building something people want to be part of.
CLUB ROOMS UPDATE
Our clubrooms at Shore Reserve are just over a month and a half away from completion and we cannot wait! In the meantime, our juniors will continue to use Brearley Reserve, and our Under 18s through to seniors will utilise our neighbouring grounds. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we get across the finish line.
SEASON AHEAD
The committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to set up a strong and successful 2026 season. There’s plenty to look forward to, with a full calendar of events that will play a big role in bringing our community together throughout the year.
We also have new club apparel on the way, so keep an eye out for that.
In addition, we’ll be introducing a general membership option for our neighbours, supporters and friends, giving more people the chance to be part of the club.
CODE OF CONDUCT
As we head into the season, we kindly remind all players, families and supporters to uphold the club’s Code of Conduct. Showing respect to umpires, coaches, players and volunteers is an important part of who we are and the values we represent. It plays a big role in creating a successful season, both on and off the field, and helps ensure our club remains a positive, welcoming environment for everyone.
VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!
Our club is built on the support of our people, and we simply couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers. This season, we’re asking each member of the West Coburg family to contribute up to five hours, whatever you can give truly makes a difference.
Every bit of support helps keep the club running smoothly, strengthens our community, and allows us to give back to the people who make it so special. If you’re able to lend a hand, we would genuinely love your support and are incredibly grateful to everyone who steps up.
TO OUR SPONSORS
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for their continued support of the West Coburg Football Club. Your backing means so much to us and plays a vital role in everything we do, from supporting our teams to helping get our kids off screens and out on the park.
To our friends and family interested in supporting the club through sponsorship and connecting with our community via our social media and wider network, we would love to hear from you.
A special thank you to the following sponsors for their incredible support this season:
Your contribution makes a real difference to our club and our community, and we are truly grateful for your ongoing support.
A special thank you to our friends at Burger Bandits for their ongoing support. It truly means a great deal to our entire club community.
We can’t wait to see you all around the grounds throughout the season. It all begins this weekend.
Proud to be a West Coburg.
Warm regards,
Sam Farfoud
President, West Coburg Football Club
