Rainbow colours bring pride to sporting clubs
🔗 [SYSTEM UPDATE] Link found. Timestamp incremented on 2025-11-26 13:55:13.The footy and netball were fierce, but the big appeal of the Pride Cup day was the festival atmosphere.
Words and pictures by MATT JOHNSON
The third annual Pride Cup saw Yarra Glen Football and Netball Club continue their dominance over their rivals in the event, with both teams bringing home the trophy. The senior men's football team ran out 75-point winners over Kinglike while the A Grade team defeated Kinglake 81 points to 19. The women also made a clean sweep of the four Division Two netball fixtures. However, the Cup's festival-like atmosphere and its efforts to promote LGBTI inclusion remained the premier attraction of the day.
1 - Vendors set up ahead of the third annual Pride Cup at Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve.
2 - The netball court became a sea of colour as women showed their support for the LGBTI community.
3 - Skins' recent "Homophobia? Knot me" campaign was represented by a number of Yarra Glen and Kinglake players throughout the day.
4 - Kinglake Netball Club tries to peg back the Yarra Glen advantage.
5 - A lunch celebrating the efforts of Yarra Glen FC in promoting inclusion was part of the festivities.
6 - Channel 9 News anchor Peter Hitchener spoke at the lunch about his fondness for the country spirit and the benefits of coming together as a community.
7 - Dark skies failed to put a dampener on the day.
8 - A panel of young LGBTI AFL umpires addressed the audience during the Pride Cup lunch.
9 - Yarra Glen FC prepare to do battle in the third annual Pride Cup.
10 - The crowd watched as the pre-match ceremony took place.
11 - Aunty Joy Murphy spoke about the pride she has not only in her own identity and community but the ability for country football to bring many kinds of people together.
12 - Cabaret singer Mama Alto belted out a spine-tingling rendition of the national anthem.
13 - Country football's trademark passion was on display throughout the day with many players willing to throw themselves at the ball.
14 - Both 50m arcs were reimagined as rainbows as part of the day.
15 - Goal umpires swapped the typical white flags for rainbow flags.
16-- - Yarra Glen FC drew inspiration from Jason Ball's sidelining due to a knee reconstruction, and did not give up the lead for the entirety of the match.
16 - Members of the LGBTI community relished the Pride Cup day atmosphere.
17 - Yarra Glen FC ran rampant during the Pride Cup, securing the victory over Kinglake FC 17.16.118 to 6.7.43.
18 - Yarra Glen FC was awarded the Pride Cup for the third consecutive year by Jason Ball and Ball's father, David.
19 - Jason Ball poses with the Pride Cup winners for both football and netball following their resounding victories.
20 - The club song rings throughout the changerooms following Yarra Glen's triumphant return to Division 2.
21 - Pride Cup jerseys are auctioned off post-match as part of the celebrations.
