💙🤍 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT — NEWCASTLE 2026 I’ve come home from Newcastle incredibly proud of Vic Country. We celebrated championships, All Australians and outstanding individual achievements. But it’s the people and the little moments that made this carnival special. One I’ll always remember was David Tyquin arriving at our Vic Country awards. After a broken hip and surgery, David discharged himself from hospital to be there. David had nominated his longtime footy mate, Dean Moore, for Vic Country Life Membership. Being there to watch Dean receive that honour meant so much to him. That friendship says everything about what this organisation means to people. Another personal highlight was presenting Kevin Rigg with Vic Country Life Membership. I nominated Kevin after discovering he wasn’t already a life member. After almost 20 years of selflessly giving his time, I was amazed. I suspect many simply assumed someone who had given so much must already hold that honour. Watching Kevin fight back tears of disbelief as he began his speech is something I’ll always treasure. Kevin, you have given so much without expecting anything in return. Seeing what this recognition meant to you was a highlight for our whole Vic Country family. During gala night, dozens of our men and women greeted me with handshakes and hugs. So many told me it was the best Vic Country carnival they had ever attended. Hearing that was incredibly rewarding. The credit belongs to everyone who helped make the week happen. The positive feeling across our group stood out. Medals or no medals, people were already saying, “We’re coming to Gold Coast in 2027.” Our barefoot bowls and karaoke night brought more than 130 people together. Everyone embraced the dress-up theme, had a laugh and enjoyed each other’s company. Those nights build friendships that last beyond the football oval. I also want to recognise our Men’s 35/40s coaches, Steven Tate and Keegan Devereux. They worked hard all year to build a lasting culture within our youngest men’s group. They admired the brotherhood our 50s and 55s have built over more than 20 years. They wanted the next generation to build that same connection. They finished Newcastle with a championship medal. More importantly, they built a young football family keen to return next year. Sharing this carnival with my wife, Kylie, meant a great deal to me. At her first carnival, she formed friendships with so many of the wives in our group. She came as a non-player and left with friendships I believe will last a lifetime. Our families are an important part of Vic Country. Their experience matters every bit as much as what happens on the field. My goal as President was for people to enjoy Newcastle and feel part of something special. Our board, especially Kevin Rigg and Mark Blackburn, worked alongside our coaches and team managers to achieve that. Thank you to everyone who gave their time, solved problems and made others feel welcome. Seeing around 300 players and family members enjoy the week makes all the hard work worthwhile. The Northern Territory and Vic Metro players who joined us became family too. Hearing that they want to return next year means a lot. We filled every men’s team and had strong numbers across our women’s teams. We’re now looking towards multiple men’s teams in the 35/40s and 45s next year. The board has already begun organising Gold Coast accommodation in the Labrador area. Booking discount codes will be shared very soon. Vic Country is built on friendships, commitment and people looking after each other. In Newcastle, we strengthened those friendships and welcomed new people into the family. We’ll carry that spirit into the Gold Coast. Thank you for making my first carnival as President one I’ll always remember. See you on the Gold Coast in 2027! Jason Aspland President — AFL Masters Vic Country 💙🤍 Proud of our players. Proud of our families. Proud to be Vic Country. #VicCountry #AFLMasters #Newcastle2026 #GoldCoast2027