Local footy and netball clubs are the lifeblood of their towns – and the Portarlington Demons are no exception in the 3223 postcode.
So it’s an absolute boon for the entire northern Bellarine community that the footy club is finally becoming “whole” with the addition of its women’s division for the 2026 season and beyond.
The Portarlington Golf Club and the PFNC are already great partners in several aspects, so it’s an almost natural extension that the golf club’s Community Contribution Fund (CCF) will help kickstart this female footy revolution.
“We are absolutely thrilled to provide $5360 to the Demons to help women’s footy get off the ground locally,” golf club chief executive Michael Phillips said.
“The money will go towards the purchase of specific club apparel and other football equipment required immediately, but we feel like it’s an investment in something that will be absolutely brilliant for the entire community forever more.
“I think everyone around town knows the club has really taken some big steps forward in the past couple of years – and this new aspect is something I’m certain we’ll all look back on in the future as a key moment in the club’s history, so we’re rapt to be a small part of it.”
PFNC president Steve Cogger was extremely grateful to have received the CCF grant, noting it had come at a perfect time.
“We already are working hand in hand with the golf club in different areas, so for Michael and his team to step up again for us at a watershed moment in our history means a great deal,” Cogger said.
Sarah Perrott will drive the new female Demons as coach next season.
“We’ve got grand plans for what our women’s program will become and this is brilliant timing because we’ve just announced our team’s inaugural coach, Sarah Perrott, who we think has the skill and drive to bring it all to life.
“We’ve already got a lot of interest, but this funding will help attract the next generation of young talent that will hopefully make our whole community proud and engaged with the club.”
Perrott, formerly an A-grade netballer with the Demons, left town to focus on her footy career and enjoyed fruitful stints with both Hawthorn and Geelong at VFLW level, including as assistant midfield coach with the Cats last year.
A relatively new mum to Lou Lou, she’s eager to make Port a female footy hot bed.
“It’s support like this that will make our program create a welcoming environment that will, in turn, enable us to create sustainable success for years to come,” Perrott said.
“We want to grow footy for women throughout the community and become that pathway for players on the Bellarine to progress through to VFLW and AFLW in the future.”
In the past six financial years alone, the Portarlington Golf Club has given charitable support of more than $250,000.
In that time, the CCF component has become the biggest single source of community initiatives with almost $65,000 in such grants alone.
The CCF was established to support not-for-profit community or sporting organisations to make positive improvements that will, in turn, benefit the wider community.
Golf club chief executive Michael Phillips said there had again been great interest in the CCF process, with a total of $14,110 to be distributed, well in excess of the project’s originally advertised $12,000 scope.
“These donations have become incredibly important within our community, so we’re happy to extend again this year for projects such as this one that are incredibly worthy,” Phillips said.
“The principal is to help those who are not only helping their club or organisation, but also have a communal focus with their projects, so this make perfect sense.”
