Community in Focus: Berrigan Football Netball Club
4 March 2026
Saints on track, eagerly preparing for another season
As the winter sports season fast approaches, football/netball clubs across the region are waking from their summer hiatus.
It’s time to dust off the boots and sneakers, get back on the training track or court, and prepare for another year when these local clubs once again become the focus of attention in their community.
The Berrigan Football Netball Club (FNC) or, 'the Saints' – as they are fondly known – have had a resurgence both on and off the field and the club.
With a proud history stretching well over a century, the club is eagerly looking ahead to season 2026.
Under 14s the pride of the town
Last year, the Saints were represented in finals by all four football teams, with the youngsters in the Under 14s the pride of the town and club after recording an emphatic premiership victory against the previously undefeated Picola United.
It was a story for the ages which was further rewarded when the young Saints were presented with the Berrigan Shire Sports Team of the Year award at the community's 2026 Australia Day ceremony.
This was not just a team of talented youngsters coming together and recording a grand final victory; this victory was one to be remembered and savoured.
While the youngest Saints team had enjoyed success as runners-up in 2023 and 2024, at the start of 2025 there were insufficient players for an Under 14s side, and it appeared Berrigan would have to advise the Picola Football Netball League administration that it would not be fielding a team.
But local farmer and parent Rob Ryan had other ideas. He rallied the troops, getting enough young footballers interested in ‘having a crack’, even some who were new to the game.
The focus was not on winning games, but rather on building a sense of belonging, mateship and community; a culture that became the heart of this fledgling team.
This group gelled from the start and put a string of early season wins together – some by big margins – before coming back to earth with a thud when suffering an 11 goal defeat against top of the table Picola United.
James Ware and his son Hudson celebrate premierships 14 years apart.
But the spirit didn’t falter. This disciplined group continued working hard, and finished second on the ladder with 13 wins and four losses.
They made it to the grand final, but were rank outsiders against the powerhouse Picola team.
However, underdog status only made the young Saints more determined, and their grand final win by almost four goals capped off an amazing season; one which typifies the Berrigan FNC spirit.
It was even more special for the Ware family, who are Berrigan FNC stalwarts, with Under 14s Vice Captain Hudson Ware winning a premiership exactly 14 years to the day after his father, James, was part of the 2011 Berrigan senior premiership team. That is the most recent senior football flag for a club steeped in history.
A long and proud club history
The club was formed in the latter part of the 19th century, with its first recorded match against Cobram in 1891.
After initially playing in the Murray Border Football Association, Berrigan switched to the Southern Riverina Football Association from 1905 to 1930, during which time it won 10 premierships.
In 1933, Berrigan joined the Murray Football League, winning another five premierships, the last in 1980.
It was during this era that Berrigan fielded its most highly decorated player, with Brian Gleeson - later dubbed the ‘boy from Berrigan’ - donning the local jumper before joining St Kilda. He won the 1957 Brownlow Medal for the Victorian Football League’s best and fairest, before a knee injury during a 1958 pre-season match ended his career.
Also playing during this magical era was local champion Graham Ellis. A framed image of him running through a guard of honour alongside his son for his 300th senior game in July 1971 takes pride of place in the Saints' Premiership Cabinet.
He remains the only Berrigan senior player to reach that 300 game milestone.
After the 1980 premiership, Berrigan struggled in the Murray Football League and, at one stage, there were fears the club would fold. With strong community support, the Saints moved to the Picola & District Football League and, after a slow start, were grand finalists in 2009, defeated by Jerilderie, and then premiers in 2011.
Graham Ellis runs through the guard of honour for his 300th game with the Berrigan Saints.
Club spirit endures, no matter the game results
While on the ground there have been successful years, and some not so successful, the club spirit and community backing of Berrigan FNC does not wane.
The outstanding performance of the 2025 Under 14s, when all looked lost pre-season, is testament to this.
This year the club will field multiple teams across all divisions in both football and netball, with the latter playing a far more integral part of the Berrigan Saints than in earlier years.
In 2025, the Under 17s continued their solid form of recent seasons in which they have twice been runners-up.
Similar to the Under 14s footballers, the team was struggling for numbers last year but, with support from the club's Under 15s team players, was able to get deep into finals before a loss in the premiership decider.
The camaraderie and enthusiasm across the club's netball program remains infectious.
Top notch facilities
And whether it’s footballers, netballers or supporters, they now all enjoy first class facilities, with the Berrigan Sportsground regarded as one of the finest in the region.
Clubrooms have been re-built and changerooms renovated. As a result, Berrigan is not only able to host large crowds at its home games, but is also a suitable venue for league finals.
This year, a small but important addition to the clubroom facilities is an ice-making machine, purchased with a $1,900 grant received through Murray Irrigation's 2025 Community Sponsorship Program.
This new piece of equipment will assist football and netball players in sports injury management, as well as support recovery.
Club President Noel Baxter said the ice-making machine would not only support approximately 170 players across numerous teams during the football/netball season, but would also be used by other sporting codes including the Berrigan Cricket Club and those involved in the annual Berrigan Show.
“Our club plays a vital role in the community, giving everyone a chance to come together and support the health and wellbeing of each other through being part of a team," Mr Baxter said.
“Providing the facilities for sports injury recovery is integral to our commitment to safety and wellbeing of all participants.”
The Berrigan Saints' Under 14s won the 2025 Picola League premiership and were also awarded Berrigan Shire Sports Team of the Year.
Anticipation rising for the season ahead
The President, along with players and supporters, is looking forward with excited anticipation to another football/netball season in the Picola & District Football Netball League. The season launch is scheduled for Saturday 28 March.
The club’s fourths - the reigning Under 14s premiers - are again expected to be a team to watch. The thirds (Under 17s) will be strengthened by the addition of some 2025 fourths’ players, while the ‘top age’ junior players in 2026 have another year’s experience under the belt.
Meanwhile, the seniors have recruited well and are hoping this will help them go beyond last year’s semi final appearance.
All netball teams have been training well to achieve a level that will result in more wins over the 2026 season.
A highlight of the year will no doubt be in June, when the Saints have the services of former Carlton and Brisbane Lions footballer Mitch Robinson, both on the ground and at a sportsman’s night.
The club will also host its annual goods and services auction in July.
While one of the aims is to achieve on-field and on-court success, this is not the ‘be all and end all’ at Berrigan FNC.
Providing the community with a social outlet, teaching team values to youngsters, and providing a central hub where local people can come together are all vital aspects of a country sporting organisation.
This is all epitomised at Berrigan Football Netball Club.
Murray Irrigation's annual sponsorship program is made possible through the support of its customers.
