Lacrosse Together Cup 2025: A Celebration of Inclusion and Connection

The wind across Melbourne made setup interesting. A few cones rolled, and the Proud2Play and merch tables had to be shifted to the back wall for survival. Once games began, none of that mattered.

This year saw 22 teams take the field, an increase of four from last year. Divisions were full across the board, with five Family teams, four Novice teams, eight Intermediate teams and five Experienced teams.

Games were played round-robin style, using a modified format that kept things quick and friendly. Each match started with rock, paper, scissors instead of a coin toss. The atmosphere stayed relaxed until the finals, when teams started caring very much about seeing their names on the trophies.

2025 Lacrosse Together Cup Winners

Family Division: Chaos Cousins
Novice Division: Chil-lax
Intermediate Division: UniLax 2gether
Experienced Division: WLC U18
Spirit Award: University of Melbourne

Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who turned up and played for fun. Forty-six new players joined in for the first time, making up more than a quarter of all participants. Players who identify as men increased by 12 per cent, and 63 per cent of everyone on the field were players under 25. That shows what inclusion and community sport can do for the next generation.

Chris Moffat, a former Victorian U19 and 2023 Australian Men’s team member, opened the day as a special guest speaker. He spoke about what it would have meant for a younger version of himself to see this kind of event and this kind of community. It was a reminder of why the Cup exists and what it stands for. We are happy to have him back home after his time overseas.

The games ran smoothly thanks to a mix of first-time referees and experienced officials. The raffle drew a steady crowd, supported by our generous sponsors:

Lacrosse Gear, Garden Street Gin Club, Sideline Social, Coles, Charles St Butcher, Tania Alexander Yoga, Pure Plant Protein, Tully’z Kitchen, DT’s Hotel, Kentravos, Swaard, The Smoothie Bombs

These sponsors helped raise funds for Proud2Play. Coffee from Cherry Mouth Roasters did brisk trade, Altona Lacrosse Club ran the BBQ and canteen, and the face-painting table stayed busy all day.

Swinburne University volunteers, VicSport, our MC and the 2025 Ambassadors (Zac Ansell, Ellie Diamantopoulos, and Aiden Fyfield) were on hand throughout the day. We even had a visit from a representative from Hobsons Bay City Council, who came to see what inclusive lacrosse looks like in action.

Proud2Play was the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising. They work to reduce social isolation, stigma and discrimination of LGBTQIA+ people through sport and recreation, creating safe and welcoming spaces for participation. They champion inclusivity in sport, offering guidance to sports clubs, individuals, and local government on fostering diversity. Clubs can learn how to make participation welcoming for every member, while individuals can find opportunities to get involved and connect. Their vision is an Australia where everyone can take part in sport without fear or discrimination, and events like the Lacrosse Together Cup help bring that vision to life. If you need help from them for your club or want to learn more, you can visit their website.

The Lacrosse Together Cup keeps growing each year because it is simple. People show up, play together, and feel part of something good. That is the goal, and we hope to see even more of you next year.