Melbourne Victory’s first campus announced

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Victory Campus
Image Credit: Melbourne Victory website

Melbourne Victory has announced Beveridge as the first home of its proposed campuses as part of the club’s recently revealed new infrastructure strategy.

An in-principle agreement between the Mitchell Shire Council and Melbourne Victory has set forth plans for an exciting world class facility and open ground reserve that will be known as “Melbourne Victory’s Northern Campus”.

The facility will aim to support Victory’s women’s and academy football programs by providing three full sized football pitches, four synthetic small-sided pitches, and elite training amenities as part of a multi-sports hub owned, managed, and operated by Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston expressed enthusiasm for the new project.

“The Club was thrilled to join with Mitchell Shire for such an important milestone to kick off the Club’s infrastructure project, and with a strong member base in the North, opening our first site in that growth corridor was an easy decision,” he said via press release.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie explained why the campus was so integral to the club’s vision.

“The Northern Campus will be the first campus for the Club and will help elevate our Women’s and Academy programs while also fostering the growth of football for all Victorians and providing connection to a new community, as part of building fandom for the Club,” she said in a press release.

In addition to aiding the development of Melbourne Victory players and talents, the Northern Campus will also act as a community hub. Alongside quality pitches, the campus will include a cafe, gymnasium, top end changing rooms, recovery facilities and other leading amenities which cater to both the club and community.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor, John Dougal outlined the shire’s excitement for the collaboration with Melbourne Victory.

“This is a fantastic development for an area where Council is working hard to provide the services and infrastructure,” he said via press release.

“We’re always advocating to bring assets to the region that will enhance the lives of our communities and help to prepare them for the growth the area is experiencing.

“Sport is incredibly important part of life in Mitchell Shire. Which is why it is fantastic to be involved with Melbourne Victory who will provide a high-performance sport presence that will enhance community engagement and pride, bring economic development to the region and promote healthy lifestyles.”

The $35 million dollar plus project is aiming to commence construction in 2026, with a community consultation and feedback process to be announced shortly.

 

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Football Australia Expands Mental Skills Program for Match Officials Amid Sustained Focus on Referee Retention

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football Australia has confirmed a second national webinar for match officials, led by sports psychologist Dr Liam Slack, extending a referee development series introduced after strong engagement with an initial session on managing match-day pressure.

The upcoming session, themed “parking with purpose,” will focus on decision-making strategies designed to help referees process on-field calls and reset attention quickly across a match that can present hundreds of individual decisions. Dr Slack, who also consults with The Football Association and the AFC Referee Academy and previously spent over a decade as a performance psychologist with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited in England, brings substantial elite-level experience to a program open to officials at every level, from grassroots to professional.

The theme builds on work Dr Slack has already delivered within Australian officiating. He recently led a session with Football Australia’s National Referee Academy on the same concept, framing the ability to consciously park a decision and refocus on the next phase of play as a trainable skill rather than an innate trait, one that separates officials who reset quickly under pressure from those who don’t. He has also addressed more than 100 Football Australia elite match officials and staff on developing a stronger match-day mentality, an indication of how embedded this psychological framework has become across the officiating pathway rather than remaining a one-off intervention.

The expansion of the webinar series reflects a broader shift in how football administrators are approaching referee attrition. Rather than treating retention purely as a recruitment or pay problem, the program signals an institutional acknowledgment that the psychological demands of officiating, particularly the compounding pressure of split-second decisions under public scrutiny, are a material factor in whether officials remain in the game.

It rests alongside other measures adopted across Australian football in recent years, including visible identification programs for junior referees and structural reviews of referee departments at state federation level, all aimed at the same underlying issue: a shrinking pool of match officials relative to demand.

Football Australia has not detailed metrics for assessing the program’s impact on referee numbers, though the recurring engagement of an internationally credentialed specialist across multiple tiers of the officiating pathway suggests sustained institutional investment in the approach.

Football Victoria elevates fan enjoyment with Streets partnership

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Image credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Football Victoria (FV) revealed last week a new partnership with ice cream giants, Streets. The brand will become an exclusive ice cream partner for the next three years.

 

An iconic brand for joyful experiences

As a well-known and popular ice cream brand with people all around the nation, Streets will now look to support the fan experience in Victoria through its products.

It reflects FV’s commitment to delivering a family-friendly and memorable experience for spectators. Both on and off the pitch, the organisation is striving to elevate the experience for fans and families alike.

“Football Victoria is always looking for ways to elevate the experience at The Home of The Matildas, and this partnership does exactly that,” explained FV Executive Manager of Commercial and Facilities, Chris Speldewinde.

“It’s a fantastic fit for our community and we’re looking forward to what the next three years will bring.”

Furthermore, Senior Brand Manager at Streets, Ryan Katz, emphasised the brand’s role in community sport and in creating memories beyond the action on the pitch.

“Streets is proud to join Football Victoria as its exclusive ice cream partner,” Katz said.

“There’s nothing better than enjoying a great game with a classic ice cream in-hand, and we’re excited to be part of those moments across the state.”

 

Understanding community football

Community football is all about these moments. Sunny days, the family together, and a sweet treat in-hand while supporting a local team alongside friends and neighbours.

This is why a partnership between FV and Streets is particularly important.

Not for its commercial value, but for what it tells us about both parties’ understanding of what matters to fans. From young fans to experienced matchday-goers, everyone wants to find enjoyment while watching the game.

And while the 90 minutes of action is the focus, the experience of a local matchday is truly defined by interactions with fellow supporters and smaller – but no less significant – moments of happiness during the day.

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