Football Australia and LEGO launch ‘OUR GAME Unstoppable’

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Image credit: WSW website

Launched to mark the International Day of the Girl and aligned with its theme, “Girls’ vision for the future,” the five-part “Talia takes on… Play Unstoppable Mentorship” series expands on LEGO’s “PLAY UNSTOPPABLE” campaign, highlighting the endless opportunities for girls when they can play freely.

This digital series, created by the award-winning production company Visual Domain, highlights opportunities for girls in Australian football, narrated through the voice and perspective of 15-year-old Talia Younis, a midfielder for the CommBank Junior Matildas and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

Released over 15 days, each episode follows Talia as she engages with and receives mentorship from women in various roles within football, including:

  • Administration – featuring Alyssar Narey, the only female CEO in the A-Leagues.
  • Medical – with insight from CommBank Junior Matildas’ physiotherapist, Dr. Stella Veith.
  • Media – in partnership with sports and lifestyle photographer Kelsey Zafiridis.
  • Coaching – alongside Zainab Jaber, head coach for community girls’ football.
  • Refereeing – mentored by Football NSW community referee Chloe Gray.

Each mentor shares her personal journey, offering Talia and the audience a deeper understanding of her career path and unique role within the game.

Girls are given the resources to begin their own football journey through online materials available on the OUR GAME website and social media, along with the chance for schools to host visits from the OUR GAME mentors for in-school sessions.

Talia Younis shared that the Play Unstoppable Mentorship provided valuable insight into the work of thousands of women who contribute to football each week, while also exploring her own journey beyond the field.

“As a player, you don’t always get the chance to see first-hand the incredible work so many people do that allows us to play the game we love,” she said via press release.

“Alyssar, Stella, Kelsey, Zainab and Chloe have shown me that there are so many more ways that I can be part of football beyond the pitch.

“From my experience during this Play Unstoppable Mentorship, I want girls to know that anything is possible for us in football. That we can be whatever we want to be with so many strong women leading the way as they make football better every day for girls like me.”

Although the number of women and girls playing football in Australia increased by 20% over the past year, women continue to lag behind in off-field roles within the sports industry, both in Australia and worldwide.

Justine McKenny, Senior Director and Head of Marketing for LEGO Australia and NZ, stated that highlighting these off-field roles is essential for empowering girls and expanding their vision for the future.

“The LEGO Group has been dedicated to inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow through play for over 90 years and we know that the skills developed through LEGO play are equally relevant to all children,” she said via press release.

“We’re excited to partner with Football Australia to help champion and stand up for girls’ creativity. Through the new OUR GAME content series, we hope to inspire and empower girls to explore the transformative impact of their creativity both on and off field.”

It will be widely promoted through digital channels and PR, utilising the strength of the women’s sports fanbase. The series will be available on Football Australia’s Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X accounts, with the first episode launching on October 11 and the final episode airing on October 25, 2024.

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AC Milan and Puma Unveil New 2026/27 Away Kit

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Image Credit: AC Milan S.p.A.
AC Milan and Puma have officially unveiled the clubs the new 2026/27 away kit, a timeless white kit that celebrates resilience, heritage and the winning mentality that has defined the Rossoneri for generations.

Inspired by the phrase “after Istanbul, there is always Athens” the kit pays tribute to AC Milan’s triumph in the 2007 Champions League Final in Athens following their defeat in Istanbul in 2005. The message printed on the back of the collar, reflects the club’s enduring spirit and serves as a reminder that every setback can become the foundation for future success.

Leading the campaign is club legend Filipo Inzaghi who scored two goals to lead AC Milan in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, embodying the determination, resilience and hunger that continues to define AC Milan’s identity.

Every detail on this years away kit reinforces this story. Gold accents and a laurel wrapped club crest celebrates a storied history of success, while the authentic version features the Greek inscription “Δύναμη Ψυχής” (“Strength of Spirit”) inside the collar. A subtle phoenix wing woven into the fabric symbolises renewal, resilience and the Club’s commitment to continually rising to new challenges.

The authentic jersey is engineered with PUMA’s advanced ULTRAWEAVE fabric, complemented by dryCELL and ThermoAdapt technologies to deliver lightweight feel and optimal performance. The replica version brings the same identity combining the same striking design with everyday wearability and is made with RE technology, incorporating 95% recycled polyester sourced from textile waste.

The new AC Milan 2026/27 Away Kit is available now through AC Milan Official Stores, the Club’s online store, PUMA and selected retailers worldwide.

Football NSW builds life‑saving network as cardiac safety push expands

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has distributed 20 defibrillators to associations and regional clubs through its Every Beat Matters campaign, part of a broader push to improve cardiac emergency preparedness across the state’s football network.

Sixteen of the devices were presented to participating associations at the inaugural Football NSW Association Championships in Mudgee. A further four went to regional clubs: Cowra and District Soccer Club, Westside Panthers, Yerrinbool Bargo Soccer Club and Narooma Football Club.

The rollout builds on the Heartbeat of Sport AED Mapping Project, which is mapping defibrillator placement at sporting facilities across NSW with funding from the Minns Labor Government. Twelve football associations have joined the effort, including Eastern Suburbs, Manly Warringah, Granville, Southern Districts, Nepean, Northern Suburbs, Football Canterbury, Bankstown, Hills, Sutherland Shire, North West Sydney Football and Football South Coast.

Data collected through the mapping project is being fed into NSW Ambulance’s GoodSAM emergency response system and NSW Health’s public AED map, enabling first responders to locate nearby defibrillators in real time.

The initiative responds to a gap that had gone largely unexamined. More than 2,400 defibrillators have been deployed across NSW sports facilities through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $3,000 to eligible organisations. But a device not registered in emergency response systems provides significantly less value than one that is accurately mapped and immediately locatable.

The urgency is not abstract. At Doyalson Wyee Football Club, a 70‑year‑old player survived a sudden on‑field cardiac arrest because an AED was available on site. Survival rates drop by about 10 per cent for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is also establishing a long‑term defibrillator register to track equipment distribution, access and maintenance across all 636 clubs and 31 associations. The Every Beat Matters campaign, supported by Toyota and St John Ambulance, aims to raise about $240,000 through a raffle to fund an initial rollout of 65 defibrillators to clubs currently without access, prioritising regional and lower socio‑economic areas.

The #HeartHealthMatters Program is delivering CPR and AED familiarisation training to sporting organisations, with a particular focus on regional communities where ambulance response times are often longer and volunteer bases smaller.

The ambition, in the words of project organisers, is straightforward: that no preventable death occurs on a football ground because the right equipment was not there, or could not be found.

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