That's a snapshot of the Football Integration Development Association carnival in Bendigo on Sunday.

It was football at its purest - no money, no high-profile recruits, just men and women having a ball playing the game they love.

The FIDA carnivals provide Victorians with an intellectual disability the opportunity to play footy in a competitive environment.

The home side Bendigo Suns hosted the Echuca-Moama Rockets, Wodonga Jets, Wangaratta Merriwa Magpies and Goulburn Valley Stars in a round robin tournament.

Each team played four games of two 10-minute halves.

"The players really enjoy it, so it's great to put these carnival days on for them,'' Bendigo Suns committee member Daniel Rees said.

"To see the smiles on their faces is fantastic."

The home crowd support at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve didn't go unnoticed by the Suns' playing group.

"Whether they're playing in Bendigo, Wangaratta or Shepparton our players love it, but they get an extra kick out of playing in Bendigo,'' Rees said.

"They get more people they know to come and watch them and a lot of our players support clubs around Bendigo, so people from those clubs get the chance to come along and watch.

"Some of the players when they get a goal love to soak it up and celebrate (with the crowd)."

For the players there is a serious side to the games - and that's the scoreboard.

"Our club promotes participation, but the players definitely take it seriously,'' Rees said.

"They definitely love to win."

Bendigo won three of its four matches on Sunday to finish second behind Wangaratta.

The Bendigo leg was the fourth of five FIDA carnivals for the season.

The final round will be played in Wangaratta on Sunday, August 11.

"The Wangaratta carnival is a finals series and the top two teams at the end of the day will play for the premiership,'' Rees said.

"We are in the top three at the moment, hopefully we can sneak into the top two."

The Bendigo Suns survive off the back of hard work from a small group of volunteers.

The FIDA program is expanding each year and Rees would like to see more support and exposure for the Suns.

"There's more teams entering the FIDA leagues across the state each year,'' Rees said.

"We need to continue to generate more exposure and recognition for it in Bendigo.

"In the two years it's been up and running in Bendigo there's people that are aware of it, but we need to get the word out there more because there's people around the region that could be participating in the league that probably don't know about the program."

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