Footy’s Favourite Farmer 2025 Announced

Orbost dairy farmer and football netball club president Royston Nettleton has been named WorkSafe’s 2025 Footy’s Favourite Farmer.

Known in the Snowy River community as “Doc”, the mental health advocate and 2024 Orbost Citizen of the Year recently played a major role in donating 17 truckloads of hay and silage to drought-stricken farmers in south-west Victoria.

As Footy’s Favourite Farmer, the 500-game legend has won $10,000 worth of safety improvements tailored to his business, and a further $10,000 to spend on safety upgrades for the Orbost Snowy Rovers Football Netball Club, where he has been president since 2012.

The annual competition, in collaboration with AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, celebrates the unsung heroes and unique role of sport in farming communities.