Junior football scheduled to return in Tasmania

Thousands of Tasmanian school children are looking forward to returning to the football field, with the 2020 season set to get underway in Term 3.

Football Tasmania launched the 2020 season this past weekend, alongside their official partners for the year.

FT CEO Matt Bulkeley praised the football community for being able to work through the challenges presented by COVID-19.

“It has been a mammoth task getting players back on the pitch following COVID-19 and one that could not have been achieved without the hard work and co-operation of the entire football community,” he said.

“With more players than any other sport, the World Game is Tasmania’s Game and it’s been wonderful to see everyone come together to reboot football so Tasmanian children can again enjoy its vast array of health and social benefits.

“Going to play football on Saturday morning is a ritual for many Tasmanian families that has been missed dearly so far this year.

“Now we have the Term 3 restart date in place, these families and children in particular can start looking forward to returning to some level of normal and enjoying a heathy and connected life through football.”

Bulkeley welcomed new partners MyState Bank and SCA to the Tasmanian football setup, noting their contributions to get the season up and running.

“The generosity of MyState Bank and SCA has enabled us to put the measures in place to ensure all junior players and parents are able to attend matches in safety, including setting up hand sanitising stations at every ground across the state,” he said.

“In addition to helping at matchdays, MyState Bank and SCA will also sponsor a ball for each junior player during the season, allowing them to hone their skills at home and make 2020 their most successful season yet. It is wonderful to have both companies come on board as Major Partners of Football Tasmania.”

Football Tasmania encouraged all parents of junior players to check in with their local club or association before the beginning of the season.

Image credit: Football Queensland

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index (CVR) has just been released.

This aggregated metric measures the value for money that each club delivers with respect to their SHIELD weighting and performance output. Over the last five years, the 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index has provided valuable insight to parents and stakeholders by offering a transparent, evidence-based, and non-partisan evaluation of which clubs are effectively converting resources into high-quality development programs.

Understanding the Club Rank Score (CRS)

At the heart of the program is the Club’s Rank Score (CRS), which ranks clubs according to a longevity-focused framework. It analyses key criteria, such as opportunities for progression, equity, and safety, producing a merit-based reflection of FQ Academy Club quality. While the CRS reliably examines a club’s overall performance, it does not consider cost-efficiency or gender inequalities.

How the Club Value Ranking Index Improves Analysis

The Club Value Ranking Index fills this gap. Using the CRS as a foundation, the CVR transforms the data by including additional variables such as gender, registration fees, and SHIELD weightings (gold, silver, bronze) to more accurately quantify cost-efficiency. FQ categorises clubs based on their CRS placement:

Gold clubs: 1–10
Silver clubs: 11–24
Bronze clubs: 25–32

The data offers a unique assessment of how clubs perform relative to their SHIELD tier and costs, including performance by gender. This year’s data shows that clubs investing in both male and female player development perform significantly better.

Correlation Between SHIELD Tier and CVR

When transformed, the Club Value Ranking still shows a correlation between SHIELD tier and higher ranking:

Of 10 gold-tier clubs, 7 make the top 10 in the CVR.
Of 8 bronze-tier clubs, 6 are in the bottom 10 in CVR.

As such, the algorithm is particularly relevant to silver-tier clubs, which are dispersed more widely in the CVR.

Outliers and Key Findings

Notable examples include:

Samford Rangers: 21st in CRS → 1st in CVR
Brisbane Strikers: 14th in CRS → last in CVR
Brisbane City: 5th in CRS → 17th in CVR
North Lakes United: 26th in CRS → 10th in CVR

These results highlight clubs that deliver high-quality outcomes relative to their resources, isolating both overperformers and underperformers.

Changes From Last Year

Since last year, 12 more clubs were added. Examples include:

Redlands United: 1st in last year’s CVR → now falls to 27th
Gold Coast Knights: rose from 20th in CVR to 8th in 2025

This demonstrates the CVR’s ability to provide nuanced assessments beyond pure CRS performance.

Implications for Families and Stakeholders

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index offers a more complete picture of club performance by balancing quality, cost efficiency, and gender-inclusive development. While limitations remain cultural and demographic differences between clubs affect outcomes, the index gives families, coaches, and stakeholders an empirical tool for informed decision-making.

Image credit: Adrian Shaw

The Growing Football Grant will provide funding to 16 Victorian football clubs.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has renewed its support for 2025–26, placing a clear focus on boosting women’s involvement in the sport. As a result, the initiative aims to strengthen clubs and associations by improving awareness, safety, and infrastructure for women and girls.

In Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Darebin United, Keilor Park, and Watsonia Heights football clubs will receive support. Meanwhile, in the west, the grant will fund Altona East SC, Balmoral FC, Footscray United Rangers FC, Sunshine Heights Junior FC, Truganina Lions FC, and Werribee City FC. Additionally, Melbourne University Soccer Club and Monash Soccer Club are included in the allocation.

Beyond Melbourne, regional clubs will also benefit. In Gippsland, Gippsland United FC and Trafalgar Victory FC will receive funding. Further east, the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges will see support for Monbulk Rangers SC. Finally, in rural north-eastern Victoria, Murray United FC Inc will be among the beneficiaries.

Overall, the funding aims to expand and strengthen women’s representation in football. Clubs will use the bursary to reduce barriers to participation through equipment subsidies, female-only programs, and introductory sessions for new players. In turn, these initiatives hope to empower young women with mentoring, education, and opportunities on and off the field.

Ultimately, continued investment in women’s football reflects a long-term commitment to growth and inclusion and supports the goal of reaching 50,000 female players by 2026.

This renewed backing not only amplifies opportunities for women and girls but also reinforces a system where community clubs can thrive through stronger pathways, safer environments, and greater accessibility. With these resources, Victorian football is positioned to foster lasting participation and build a more equitable future for players across the state.