PJFC Newsletter, December 18, 2025
To our PJFC Community,
We are hoping that you’re keeping fit and healthy as the summer holidays approach.
In reflecting on the successful 2025 season, we saw a return to Toorak Park and a record number of teams and players at PJFC thanks to the amazing contributions from our volunteers and players.
Although we’re getting ready to head to the beach, your football Club is busy in preparation for 2026.
2026 Season Dates
The SMJFL has released the dates for the 2026 season. Round 1 is Sunday 19 April.
The regular season training begins Friday 17 April. There will be pre-season / summer training sessions prior to this date with details to be confirmed.
You can download a printable PDF of the schedule below by clicking here.
Registrations for Season 2026
Registrations for Prahran Junior Football Club will open on Monday January 12, 2026.
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Returning players and new players to AFL are given priority registrations between January 12 to January 31.
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Registrations will open to transfers from other clubs from February 1.
Registration fees will be $405, of which $345 will go to PJFC for its football program and $60 goes directly to the league. The PJFC fees for 2026 are the same as they have been for the 2024 & 2025 seasons.
Got questions? Look at the details & FAQS on our website – and then reach out to our Registrar (Peter Cotter) at registrar@prahranjfc.com.au
Summer Skills Development Program
Like previous years, we will run Summer Skills Sessions. These are optional sessions open to all players interested in AFL. They are designed to improve skills, meet other kids, and enjoy some footy fun.
It is planned that these will begin in February with details to be confirmed in the New Year, pending ground availability.
The PJFC pre-season program will kick off after the completion of the Summer Skills Sessions.
For Under 16 players and older, the Prahran Senior Football Club would like to extend an invitation to players to join in their pre-season program. Their pre-Xmas training concluded on 15 Dec and will recommence near the end of January. For those junior players interested in a more substantial pre-season / getting super fit / even playing some practice matches – the seniors are keen to welcome you down. If interested, please reach out to Peter Cotter at registrar@prahranjfc.com.au
Farewell to Junior Football
For those players born in 2007, this year marked the final year of their time playing junior football.
As a club we would like to acknowledge their contribution to the Prahran Junior Football Club in pulling on the Two Blue jumper. We also acknowledge the contribution of their families in supporting them and our club.
Below is a list of those 2025 players who have played their final season at PJFC.
We wish them all the best going forward and we hope that you continue your football journey.
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Hannah Dowling (109 PJFC games), Skye Emery (9), Izabela Ignjic (93), Emma Johnston (3), Edie McLachlan (52) & Mia Tobin (25).
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Alex McCreadie (34 PJFC games), Roman Nuttall (130), Nicholas Phimister (132), Jackson Robinson (99), Gus Taylor (118), Xavier Winnett (62), Zac Wood (136) & Marco Verona (128).
Wayne Oswald awarded Prahran Football Club
Life Membership
Congratulations to Wayne on being awarded life membership at the recent AGM. It is due recognition of his long-standing commitment to PJFC as Coach and Coaching Director.
In 2026, Wayne will again be at the helm of our Footy Operations team. He is putting away his coach’s whistle for the year to focus on “Coaching the Coaches”.
In our growing club – in 2025 we had over 700 players in 31 teams – Wayne’s focus will be on developing and supporting our current and new coaches in their key role.
Below is from AGM when Wayne’s life membership was awarded
Wayne joined the Juniors in 2013 - the proposed role was to coach the coaches.
Wayne’s extensive coaching history and knowledge was a welcome addition ot the club - starting at Geelong FC, establishing Sandringham Dragons, and Development Coaching and Recruiting for a range of clubs across Victoria.
Wayne moved into the Director of Coaching role at PJFC. Wayne was an important step in building our girls program, when asked by Sam McKay to coach and develop the first girls team at the juniors - this team included Abbie McKay.
We asked Wayne what he felt were his moments of achievement whilst at the club. His response speaks to why he has had such a huge impact on our kids:
There are many moments when I have felt the privilege of being a part of a community made up of non-judgemental, kind, caring, like minded people & with all persons involved, committed to making a difference to a child's mental & physical health.
Joining the Prahran JFC [surprisingly] took me back to my own childhood & made clear how much I had benefitted from my involvement in being a member of a [small country town] community Club, simply by being surrounded by persons of high values & standards.
In my case, sport [more than school] was my yellow brick road to understanding the reward for determination, dedication & most of all resilience.
Fortunately, I was able to put my sport world mindset of ‘be your best’ into my long term life plan.
I went on to formally study a sport related field & work in the wonderful world of enabling sport as a metaphor of a life well lived.
My Prahran JFC experience has completed the circle of my long term life plan - the opportunity to give back in memory of all those who generously gave me a gift [to share].
Beth Schofield Awarded Outstanding Service Award (SMJFL)
Beth was awarded an outstanding service award by the SMJFL at this year’s AGM. With only 5 recipients across the SMJFL, it was wonderful to see Beth’s contribution to PJFC recognised.
Beth Schofield has been like a top of the range Swiss army knife at our club. - there's nothing this woman can't do or hasn't done, to support PJFC.
Beth has been on our committee for 7 years, joining as soon as she arrived at the club. She trained up and nailed the registrar role for most of these years, but it is last season that she really stepped up and the committee had a chance to see just how amazing and versatile she is.
Beth was due to step down from the committee this time last year as her kids were no longer playing footy. Instead, our club found ourselves down afew committee members, so not only did Beth offer to stay another year, help a very green president who had 5 minutes of committee experience, but also step into treasurer.
Not only did she work wonders on our finances, but she obtained her RSA to serve beers on Friday bar night, wrangled the raffles, lugged boxes when the time came to move back to Toorak Park, picked & packed an avalanche of merch (when it finally arrived), cooked snags on the bbq and mentored out also new registrar to share years of her experience and learnings.
Never one to self promote, Beth was a volunteer at our club for all the right reasons and we love her for it. She is very much leaving PJFC in a better place.
Congratulations to Hunter Holmes
Congratulations from everyone at the Two Blues to Hunter Holmes who was picked up by Geelong at pick 33 in the recent draft. Hunter played 97 games with PJFC after starting in the Under 8s back in 2015.
Hunter joins his brother, and fellow former Two Blue, Max Holmes at the Cats. Max pulled on the Blue & Blue on 56 occasions.
Well done Nick Newton
Congratulations to Nick Newton on his recent fund-raising swim of the English Channel.
After completing his Under 14 Miller goal umpire flag waving duties and cheering on Jack Newton, he headed over to the UK to swim the Channel - for the 4th time! Nick is one of the oldest to make the crossing and says his next challenge is designing the pre-season swim program for Under 15s…
Nick’s fundraising efforts were for his swim coach Butch who is suffering from cancer.
PFC Pathway Program
With 140 years of proud history, Prahran Football Club remains committed to providing a clear and supportive pathway from junior to senior football.
PFC invites all Prahran Juniors players to continue their football journey with the Two Blues at our Senior Club.
Following our 2024 Division 1 Premiership, the Senior Men’s team will return to VAFA Division 1 in 2026, while our Senior Women’s team will again compete in Division 3 after their return in 2025.
As in previous seasons, eligible junior players may play up to five games with the Senior Club while still participating in junior football. This pathway provides valuable development and exposure to senior football, with several Under 17.5 Boys and Under 18 Girls players taking part in 2025.
Looking ahead, the Club is aiming to field an Under 19s Men’s team in 2026, further strengthening our pathway into senior football. Brett Dickinson will play a key role in this program and can be contacted at dickinsonbw@gmail.com.
Pre-season training with the Senior Club offers a great opportunity to meet the coaches, train alongside senior players and experience the standards of Two Blues football firsthand.
Working With Children Checks
PJFC is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who participate in AFL Football.
We encourage all parents to apply for WWCC. Volunteers on game days are required to have a WWCC. It takes all of 10 mins and means you are able to help your Team Manager out as a volunteer on game day
The off-season is a good time to either sign up for your WWCC or check to see whether it is current.
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Register for your WWCC HERE
Once the registrations open (from 15 Jan), please register as a volunteer (it is free) and add your WWCC in your PlayHQ profile.
Final Thoughts
As the year comes to a close, we’d like to wish all our players, families, coaches, volunteers and supporters a happy and safe holiday season, and a wonderful start to the New Year.
Thank you for being part of the Prahran Juniors community in 2025 — your energy, enthusiasm and support make our club such a special place.
We hope all our players enjoy a well-earned break and have a great school holiday period, filled with fun, rest and time with family and friends.
We look forward to seeing everyone back at the club in the new year, ready for another exciting season of footy.
Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!
