It is widely regarded as the highest-standard Australian rules football league in regional Victoria, with several former AFL players now playing for a variety of clubs.

[2] In March 2024, following extensive consultation,[3] AFL Barwon detailed a plan that would expand the second-tier Bellarine Football Netball League to 12 teams from 2025 with a path for a team to accept an invitation for promotion to the GFNL, replacing a club that would then be relegated from the GFNL.

The Don Mathieson Medal is presented to the league's best and fairest player at the conclusion of the home-and-away season.

[24] Two players have won the award on three occasions: John Williams for Barwon and St Mary's across four seasons in the late 1980s, and Newtown & Chilwell's Matthew McMahon in consecutive seasons in the late 2010s.

The Leading Goalkicker Award is presented to the player who has kicked the most goals at the conclusion of the home-and-away season.