Country Masters footy doubles as scores take a back seat

Country Victoria's over-35s footy competition has almost doubled in five years to 819 registered players across 16 teams, according to ABC News.

The Victorian Country AFL Masters competition is strictly for players over 35. Its growth was detailed in an ABC News report published on September 24, 2026.

There is no scoreboard pressure. Country Masters football does not keep official scores, so games are played for the run, the contest and the company rather than ladder positions and finals.

That mix is pulling in long-time footballers and returners alike. David O'Brien is 55 and estimates he has played about 860 games in his lifetime. For the past seven years he has played exclusively in Masters leagues.

O'Brien helped launch the South Coast Sharks Masters team in 2023. He was previously a National Party MP and country town hotelier.

All 16 current Victorian Country AFL Masters teams are men's teams. The league hopes to launch a women's competition soon.

The country competition sits inside a bigger national Masters scene. AFL Masters describes itself as the largest over-35s football competition in Australia.

Its next national gathering is close. The 2026 AFL Masters National Carnival is scheduled for September 27 to October 3 in Newcastle, New South Wales, according to AFLVM.

For fans, this means something simple. No scores. Plenty of footy. And room for more to join in.