John Moriarty Football supported by Football NSW and Tom Sermanni

Football NSW & John Moriarty

Last week, Football NSW assisted John Moriarty Football in their outstanding work in Dubbo and the surrounding areas in a number of special activities.

A number of Community Coaching Workshops were conducted as a part of a week-long dedication to football at both the Narromine Sports Complex for the Narromine Soccer Club and the Westside Panthers Club.

An additional trip was made to the township of Peak Hill, where JMF led a range of school holiday clinics for excited youngsters.

The Football NSW team who attended the event were headed up by Football NSW Technical Director Warren Grieve and Regional Football Manager Andrew Fearnley, with former Matildas and current Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni appearing as a special guest.

Coaches from the Narromine Soccer Club and the Westside Panthers Club were treated to information evenings aimed at further developing and upskilling them with a focus on fostering natural development.

Enthusiastic grassroots coaches in attendance had the opportunity to discuss with the technical staff key points around the ‘Discovery Phase’ (coaching children aged 5-9) for the upcoming grassroots season.

Football NSW has actively supported John Moriarty Football’s coaches in recent years with tailormade coaching development courses focused on guiding them through their Indigenous clinic-based programs and providing development workshops targeting best practices on and off the pitch.

In a sign of the growing popularity of the game and of the immense work being done by John Moriarty Football, club officials and volunteers, Peak Hill FC will field a number of MiniRoos teams in the competition based out of Parkes for the first time in 15 years.

“Whilst supporting the JMF coaches, it has also been a great opportunity to provide regional clubs and communities with discovery phase workshops tailored to providing safe, fun, and engaging training sessions,” Football NSW Technical Director Warren Grieve said.

Football Ferns boss Tom Sermanni, who is currently preparing his side for their Tokyo Olympics campaign, reaffirmed the positive and enjoyable atmosphere of the experience.

“The week has been great. I have had a fantastic few days at the JMF clinics and seen some terrific talent on display across all ages.”

“Furthermore, the various coaches involved and their ability to teach, motivate and interact with the players was outstanding and I look forward to hearing of how they progress in the coming years on their own coaching journey.”

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Mbappé move from Nike to On signals new battle for Football’s sponsorship market

Kylian Mbappe UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier

Kylian Mbappé’s decision to leave Nike after almost 20 years has opened a new chapter in the commercial battle for football’s biggest names. The Real Madrid and France star has joined Swiss sportswear brand On, a significant boon for the company on entry into the football market.

Mbappé’s departure is a significant commercial loss for Nike. The forward joined the company as a nine-year-old and grew into one of its leading football figures. His loss compounds the recent transition of Spanish star Lamine Yamal to long-time rival Adidas.

On built its reputation in running, before expanding into tennis via Roger Federer. It will now use Mbappé’s experience as it develops football products, with its first boots expected to become widely available in the near future. Former France star Thierry Henry has also joined On as its football director and is a shareholder.

On has confirmed that Mbappé’s agreement includes both cash and equity, although the financial details have not been released, gives the partnership a deeper commercial connection than a traditional endorsement deal. Nike still holds significant football contracts, including long-term partnership with numerous national teams.

However, Mbappé’s move gives On an opportunity to challenge the established order, including Nike, Adidas, Puma and other emerging competitors. But will they turn this prized signature into lasting football credibility? To do so, the brand must now deliver products that can compete on performance, design and price.

Mbappé’s switch is therefore more than a sponsorship change. It signals an increasingly competitive fight for football’s most influential athletes and the billions of fans who follow them.

SBS expands Australian Championship broadcast coverage for 2026

The Australian Championship will enter its second season with an expanded broadcast partnership between Football Australia and SBS. The 2026 competition will feature two live SBS broadcasts in every round, marking an increase from the tournament’s debut season.

Thursday night football will form a key part of the new broadcast schedule. The opening match will see Preston Lions face Wollongong Wolves on October 15th, with the game broadcast live on SBS2 and SBS On Demand. Saturday football will also remain part of the free-to-air schedule; first up, Sutherland Sharks’ clash with South Melbourne on October 17th will be shown live on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The expanded agreement gives the competition a greater presence across SBS’s linear channels while retaining its full streaming coverage, with every match across the 2026 Australian Championship available live on SBS On Demand. The platform also provides full replays and highlights for viewers to access at their discretion.

In addition to SBS’ coverage, Football Australia will also stream the competition via YouTube.

The Australian Championship consists of a six-round group stage, finals beginning at quarter-finals from November 26, and a Grand Final scheduled currently between December 10-12.

It features 16 clubs from seven states and territories. The broadcast schedule places several historic fixtures in front of a national audience: South Melbourne will meet Sydney United 58 in a repeat of the 1999 NSL Grand Final, and Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions will also renew a rivalry that includes NSL Grand Final meetings in 1989 and 1990.

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