Football Victoria Begins New Era under Unified Structure

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Image credit: Rachel Bach/By The White Line

Following an announcement made on Tuesday by Football Victoria, seven former Associations will now be brought under a new model aimed at uniting clubs across the state. 

The move comes after engaging with regional clubs and volunteers in the 2023-24 Regional Football Review, the results of which helped to form a new model aimed at improving support for clubs, streamlining administration, and making Victorian football more connected going forward.

Who Will be Affected? 

Seven regions will now be brought under the umbrella of Football Victoria, including: 

  • FV Greater Ballarat (formerly Ballarat District Soccer Association)
  • FV Greater Bendigo (formerly Bendigo Amateur Soccer League)
  • FV Gippsland (formerly Gippsland Soccer League) 
  • FV Latrobe Valley (formerly Latrobe Valley Soccer League)
  • FV Shepparton (newly formed) 
  • FV South West (formerly South West Victoria Football Association)
  • FV Sunraysia (formerly Football Federation Sunraysia)

These seven former Associations will join FV Geelong, who has been a part of the FV family since 2010. 

Why Has the New Model Been Introduced? 

By bringing the majority of clubs in Victoria under a united model, players and volunteers alike will benefit hugely from streamlined administrative support and improved pathways. 

Although these regions will now become a part of the Football Victoria banner, they will nevertheless be granted the ability to maintain their community identity. To ensure that this objective is realised effectively, Regional Advisory Panels will collaborate with Football Victoria, alongside the help of a Regional Football Team who will help to carry out a smooth transition for the regions involved in the change.

FV CEO, Dan Birrell, has expressed his excitement for the developments and the positive impact they will have on the future of Victorian football. 

“Our regions have always played a wonderful and defining role in shaping football in Victoria. We are excited to honour that legacy while working side-by-side to build the next chapter – one that strengthens connections and creates a more unified and sustainable future for football across the state,” he said via press release.

How Does the Model Align with the 2023/24 Regional Football Review?

The review aimed to analyse previous reports, the current operating model, feedback from stakeholders and best practice governance models in sports to form recommendations which would be most beneficial to the future administration, development and overall experience of Victorian football. 

The ten fundamental recommendations found within the Regional Football Review were: 

  1. Professionalising the regional development workforce 
  2. Committing to the long-term service delivery to regional football 
  3. Re-aligning resources to ensure effective administration and advocacy 
  4. Consolidating the core functions of the Associations 
  5. Protecting the assets and history of the Associations 
  6. Standardising competition delivery 
  7. Aligning disciplinary processes 
  8. Increasing youth engagement through school programs 
  9. Improving access to play, coach and referee pathways 
  10. Delivering the annual Country Championships 

Therefore, bringing the former Associations under the banner of Football Victoria is the first essential step towards a more streamlined, professionalised and unified football structure designed to distribute resources fairly across clubs in the state of Victoria. Behind the model is not only the desire to improve efficiency off the pitch, but to ensure that players, coaches and referees have a future in the long-term development of Victorian football. 

Playing for the Future

The new model represents an exciting new era for Football Victoria, as well as for fans, players and staff associated with the changes due to come into effect in 2026. Ballarat Regional Advisory Panel Chair, Lucy Brennan, has backed the move as immensely positive for the region’s footballing future. 

“As a past player and coach, I could not be more excited to help provide these opportunities for the Ballarat Football Region and look forward to the support, input and discussion to ensure we are setting our region up for success now and in the future,” she said via press release. 

As Australia looks to develop football across the country, laying secure foundations within the state for current and future participants is an important first step. With an aligned and sustainable footballing structure, fans and clubs can remain optimistic about nurturing the next generation of Victorian talent and providing accessible pathways for all to achieve their sporting ambitions.

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Football QLD to team up with Restore Function Physiotherapy

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Football Queensland announced last week it will be partnering with Restore Function Physiotherapy in a multi-year collaboration.

Elite preparation and performance

By establishing a long-term partnership with a business dedicated to supporting athletes in the region, Football Queensland are showing their commitment to supporting current and future players in their physical preparation.

Furthermore, by ensuring injuries are kept at bay through physiotherapy, strength and conditioning services, Restore Function Physiotherapy will help Football Queensland to keep their most talented players fit and firing throughout the season.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, expressed his delight at establishing the alliance and what it means for Football Queensland’s football development going forward.

“Our partnership with Restore Function Physiotherapy is a key step in continuing to raise the standard of FQ Academy and State Team programs,” Cavallucci said via press release.

“Restore Function Physiotherapy will deliver a range of services across our boys’ and girls’ pathways, including training and match coverage, injury screening, rehabilitation and high performance support,” he continued.

“The experience everyone at Restore Function Physiotherapy bring from elite sport will help to further professionalise our programs and support the long-term development and wellbeing of Queensland players.”

 

Supporting long-term development

As Football Queensland looks to build a sustainable footballing future across the region, prioritising players’ health will be essential. With training partners like Restore Function Physiotherapy, clubs can help their players become elite athletes, ultimately improving the footballing standards on the pitch.

Restore Function Physiotherapy Owner and Founder, Miranda O’Hara, revealed her pride at having established an alliance with Football QLD for the upcoming season and beyond.

“We’re proud to partner with Football Queensland and support its Academy and State Team players with high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy and high performance programs,” O’Hara said via press release.

“Our role is to work closely with players and staff to deliver injury prevention, rehabilitation and S&C programs that support sustainable high performance and long-term athlete development.”

It is clear that the impact of a partnership between Football QLD and Restore Function Physiotherapy goes far beyond a mere commercial venture. It is an alliance which can help a local business, as well as nurture future talents coming through the Football QLD system.

Ultimately, by providing Queensland players with elite training and support networks, a distinct culture of excellence and professionalism is created before they step onto the pitch.

 

Read more about Restore Function Physiotherapy and the services they provide here.

 

Is the FW Regional Girls Training Camp bridging the access gap for talent?

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Image Credit: Football West

In Western Australia, the tyranny of distance has historically functioned as the primary barrier to talent identification.

For regional footballers, the logistical and financial burden of accessing elite pathways often renders the concept of “equal opportunity” a theoretical ideal rather than an operational reality. However, the recent Regional Girls Training Camp, hosted at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, suggests that Football West is moving to operationalise the structural changes announced in its 2026 academy overhaul.

Earlier this week, nearly 100 players aged 10 to 17 converged on the State Centre for Football in Cannington. The three-day camp invited participants from the previous year’s Country Week carnival, represents the first tangible application of the “real-match” and high-performance philosophy outlined by Football West Development Manager Gareth Naven late last year.

While the previous announcement of the Regional Academy model focused on the structural shift from training camps to competitive “State Carnivals,” this current initiative addresses the resource gap. For stakeholders and policymakers, the camp serves as a case study in how centralised infrastructure assets can be leveraged to service a decentralised demographic.

Infrastructure as an equity lever

A lack of high-performance environments defines the economic reality of regional football. The facility gap between metro NPL setups and regional clubs is often vast. Football West uses the Sam Kerr Football Centre to subsidise the “professional experience” for regional talent.

Sarah Carroll, Female Football & Advocacy Manager, notes the purpose extends beyond simple engagement. The curriculum fused on-pitch technical training with athlete development workshops.

Geography usually blocks access to this sport science for a 14-year-old Pilbara or Goldfields player. By centralising this education, the governing body helps standardise the player pool’s knowledge base. Naven’s alignment strategy demands closing the “knowledge gap” alongside the technical one.

The economics of the “Legacy”

Critically, the WA Government funds the camp through the Female Community Legacy Program. This highlights the Legacy Program’s ROI for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

A stated aim to “enhance club capability” acknowledges that player development requires an ecosystem. The funding mechanism here is significant. Without state intervention, the cost per head would prohibit many families from attending.

Targeted funding bridges the gap between community participation and elite commercial viability. Regional Lead Tanya Amazzini calls these opportunities “essential” for player growth and confidence.

Strategic alignment with the 2026 pathway

Observers must view this camp alongside the Regional Academy system overhaul. The new “State Carnival” model demands players physically prepared for elite competition. This camp functions as the preparatory phase for that new competitive reality.

Football West uses elite exposure to mitigate the shock of transitioning to state programs. Furthermore, involving players from the Pilbara to the South West keeps the talent net wide. Maintaining sight on remote talent requires constant investment.

The residual challenge

However, the long-term impact warrants caution. The “re-entry” phase remains the primary challenge. Players return to clubs with significantly fewer resources than the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Success depends on the “trickle-down” effect of the education provided. If players transfer this knowledge locally, the aggregate standard of regional football rises. If isolated, the experience may simply make the regional gap feel more pronounced.

Integrating 100 regional girls into the state’s premier facility executes the strategic plan. It signals that the Centre delivers dividends to the broader ecosystem, not just the elite.

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