Aki Ionnas on Jack Edwards Reserve upgrades: “The project has been a milestone for the club”

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Image credit: City of Monash website

The upgrade of Jack Edwards Reserve is well and truly underway, and the project, which is set to be completed at the end of 2025, is one that will improve multiple aspects of the club from increased attendance to unlocking important facilities for a women’s team in the near future.

The budget for the project is $14.73 million which is broken down through $4 million from State Government, $2 million from the Federal Government, $530,000 from the Oakleigh Cannons Football Club and $8.2 million from Council.

The key features of this mega project include:

– Construction of a safe 500 seat grandstand

– Instalment of 550 lux sports lighting for the main pitch

– Fencing & Pathways

– New pavilion and changing rooms

Soccerscene spoke with General Manager & Director of Football at the Oakleigh Cannons, Aki Ionnas to discuss what it looks like for the future of the club.

The progress at the ground has been steady thus far and it’s a project that has been in the talks for a long while, starting in September of 2021 with the State Government’s financial contribution before it officially began construction back on May 17th of 2024.

“It’s going fantastic, the works have started, and everything is going really well,” Ionnas said.

With a massive Australia Cup fixture on the horizon versus Sydney FC, the team they beat famously in the 2022 Quarter Finals at Jack Edwards Reserve, the move to Bundoora for this huge match is only going to be temporary.

After upgrades, Jack Edwards Reserve is sure to be ready to host these exciting, popular fixtures that will attract thousands into the stands and boost the already intimidating atmosphere.

“It’s at The Home of the Matildas because the club haven’t got lights to host night games at the moment but the first thing that will be installed will be the lights in November,” he said.

The new pavilion and grandstand supports the club’s goals to cater for a female team as well as host men’s and women’s double headers.

With a club of this size lacking an NPL Women’s side and the women’s game booming in popularity, Ionnas spoke on the importance of bringing one in, especially with the targeted upgrades.

“The club have talked about it quite a bit actually, it’s still a work in progress and it’s a goal of ours to have a team absolutely,” he said.

According to Ionnas, the project’s success and generous funding from multiple parties is a result of the hard work of Club President Stan Papayianneris and Chairman Kon Kavalakis, who lead this push for an upgrade that will shape the future of Oakleigh Cannons Football Club.

“This project has been a milestone, and I want to mention our Chairman Kon Kavalakis and our President Stan Papayianneris who have been instrumental in this project, it’s been a huge work in progress.”

“The person that started this was Kon Kavalakis who worked very closely with the local council and the state government to get this funding for the project. Stan Papayianneris has been working closely with Kon as well to get it over the line.”

This is a transformative project for the club, spearheaded by key figures in Kon Kavalakis and Stan Papayianneris. It promises to deliver in many aspects for the Cannons and solidify their future as one of Melbourne’s most successful football clubs.

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FCA to Host Exclusive Two-Part Goalscoring Workshop Series with Dr Ron Smith

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Image Credit: box2box

One of Australian football’s most respected coaching minds shares decades of research ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has announced an exclusive two-part coach education series featuring renowned coach educator and football analyst Dr Ron Smith, offering coaches a rare opportunity to explore the evolving science of goalscoring through the lens of one of Australia’s most influential football thinkers.

The online workshops, scheduled for June 1 and June 8, will examine the historical development, modern trends and future direction of goalscoring in football, drawing on extensive research that formed the foundation of Dr Smith’s doctoral studies.

For FCA, the sessions represent the culmination of more than a year of planning and provide a timely opportunity for coaches to deepen their understanding of attacking play ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

“Ron’s work on goalscoring has been years in the making and continues to evolve,” FCA President Ian Greener said.

“We felt there was no better time to bring this knowledge to the coaching community than in the lead-up to the World Cup, when coaches around the world will be analysing the game’s best teams and players.”

Across the two sessions, Dr Smith will present findings from his extensive research into goalscoring patterns and trends, examining how the game has changed over time and what coaches can learn from football’s biggest tournaments.

Topics covered throughout the series will include:

  • Historical analysis of goalscoring trends
  • How goalscoring has evolved in the modern game
  • Key patterns identified through Dr Smith’s research
  • Scoring trends across the last six FIFA Men’s World Cups
  • Comparisons between men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments
  • The role of pressing, transition moments and direct play in creating goals
  • Practical coaching implications for improving attacking performance

The two-part structure has been intentionally designed to build upon itself. Session One will focus on the evidence, data and research underpinning Dr Smith’s findings, while Session Two will explore the practical applications and coaching interventions that can emerge from that analysis.

Football Australia has accredited both workshops with one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour each, allowing coaches to earn two CPD hours by attending both sessions.

Dr Smith’s coaching and coach education credentials span decades. He has worked extensively with Football Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Socceroos, while also holding coaching roles internationally in Iceland and Malaysia, as well as within the A-League.

His contributions to coach development have helped shape generations of Australian coaches, making this series a valuable opportunity for coaches across all levels of the game.

Event Details

History and Future of Goalscoring – Session One
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Format: Online
CPD: 1 Football Australia-accredited CPD hour

Following the completion of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, FCA is also planning a special panel discussion featuring leading Australian and international coaching voices to analyse the key tactical developments, trends and lessons emerging from the tournament.

Further details regarding that event are expected to be released later this year.

FCA members can attend the workshops free of charge, while guest registrations are available through Eventbrite.

Geelong Regional Football Hub vision one step closer to reality

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Image credit: Football Victoria

A process five years in the making, the Geelong Regional Football Hub (GRFH) will now build its home at Sutcliffe Reserve in Corio.

A major advancement

The project promises to be a major boost for the football community in Victoria’s west.

But the approval isn’t just about addressing the current issues facing players in and around Geelong (with just one football pitch found per 6,971 people), it symbolises an all-important promise to players, coaches and supporters:

A promise to invest, support and grow.

So now, following an extensive process of potential site assessments and council approvals, Football Victoria (FV) will prepare to lay the physical foundations at Sutcliffe Reserve in Corio – ten minutes away from Geelong CBD.

“This is a brilliant result for the sport in Victoria and the start of something truly exciting for football in Geelong and the surrounding area,” said FV CEO, Dan Birrell, via press release.

But despite the obvious anticipation over site approval, there remains one more bridge to cross to bring this project from blueprint to building block: securing funding.

 

What is the GRFH?

Beyond a mere community football centre, the GRFH will become a world-class hub for playing opportunities, development pathways and venue for several of FV’s most popular competitions.

The proposed site will include five pitches, of which two will boast seated stands, as well as two pavilions, social spaces, kitchen and bar areas, media spaces, and facilities for players and match officials.

Such extensive, thorough infrastructure will therefore ensure the site can host an array of competitions for players across the landscape to showcase their talent. From supporting everything from school competitions to NPL VIC Men’s and Women’s games, the GRFH will be a place for player growth, opportunity and community engagement with the beautiful game.

And as Geelong Mayor, Stretch Kontelj, highlighted, the current demand requires investment of this nature as soon as possible.

“With more than 7,370 registered players across the Geelong region, the scale of demand is undeniable. A regional football hub would be genuinely transformational,” Kontelj said via press release.

“It would drive participation across all genders, abilities and levels of the game, strengthen education and development pathways, attract major events and tournaments and deliver lasting social and economic benefits for Geelong and the broader region.

The demand is there. The support is unwavering.

All that remains is the financial backing to bring about real, tangible results for those driving this vision forward.

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