Football Australia holds its 21st Annual General Meeting

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Image credit: Football Australia website

The twenty-first AGM of Football Australia Limited was held on Thursday, 30 May 2024, at Football South Australia’s offices at ServiceFM Stadium via videoconference and in Adelaide.

The AGM coincided with the release of the Football Australia 2023 Abridged Annual Review.

At the AGM, members reviewed Football Australia’s Financial Report, which uniquely covered the six months ending 31 December 2023.

This transition period followed Football Australia’s shift to a calendar-based financial year, aligning financial reporting with the operational season. Members also reviewed the FY24 Annual Budget and discussed the organisation’s activities during this period.

The Operating Surplus (Before Grants and Distributions) was at an all-time low for the FA between June 2023 and December 2023, with the value at $6.1m loss.

Interestingly, the report showed that $27.7m in total was invested amongst the national teams, with the Matildas getting the bulk of it at $13.45m. Socceroos were given $6.3mil and the rest was shared amongst National Teams support, Women’s and Men’s junior national teams.

An election for a Director position on the Football Australia Board was conducted as per the Constitution. Mr. Joseph Carrozzi AM, nominated by Football South Australia and seconded by Northern New South Wales Football, was re-elected for a term ending at the 2027 AGM.

Additionally, the meeting ratified Dr. Deidre Anderson AM as a member and Chair of the Women’s Football Council, an appointment that received unanimous support.

Following the AGM, the Board convened and unanimously re-elected Mr. Anter Isaac as Chairman and Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe as Deputy Chair. Chairman Isaac shared his vision for the strategic direction and future ambitions of Football Australia.

“I am delighted to congratulate Joseph Carrozzi on his re-election to the Board, and I warmly welcome Deidre Anderson as a Member and new Chair of the Women’s Football Council,” said Mr. Isaac in his statement.

“Their collective expertise and dedicated leadership are pivotal as we continue to drive our strategic vision and foster growth across all levels of Australian football.

“In my inaugural Chairman’s Report, I am heartened by the transformative journey we’ve embarked on since November 2023. The past six months have been crucial in setting our strategic direction toward sustainability and growth at all levels.

“Our Board has pivoted from short-term, transactional thinking to embrace a strategic, long-term vision, fostering a culture where trust, capability, and capacity thrive.

“This shift is supported by substantial investments in our systems and processes, aligning our operations more closely with the football season to enhance efficiencies. Moreover, strategic appointments like that of Gary Moretti as Head of National Teams underscore our commitment to improving performance and leadership.

“Looking ahead, we are committed to fostering collaboration and unity, essential for the long-term success and growth of Australian football.

“We aim to maintain a formidable, stable, and dependable presence, both locally and internationally.”

The Financial report and statements by the board members suggest the FA are looking to strategically fund the national teams and build off the success of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that saw the Matildas and Women’s football get majority of the investment.

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South Canberra FC Breaks the Mold: Equity-Driven Model Earns ‘Club Changer’ Honour

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Image Credit: SCFC

South Canberra Football Club has been named Club Changer of the Month for April, in a recognition that reflects a broader shift across Australian football toward rewarding clubs that are actively dismantling the structural barriers limiting women’s access to the game.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup has just delivered record crowds and unprecedented visibility for women’s football in Australia, and the Club Changer program is now asking what comes next. Its decision to name South Canberra Football Club as Club Changer of the Month for April signals a clear shift in how the program defines contribution: away from participation numbers alone, and toward the equity frameworks that determine whether women stay in the game once they arrive.

South Canberra FC built that framework from the ground up. Established in 2021, the club set out to give women and female-identifying players a safe, inclusive environment to play football at any level. It runs entirely on volunteers, operates as a not-for-profit, and is governed by an all-female committee with 13 of its 14 coaches identifying as female.

 

Building the infrastructure of inclusion

In 2026, the club secured grant funding and put it to work immediately. Two coaches are completing their C Licence qualification, and ten coaches, players and community members have undertaken the Foundations of Football course, which directly tackles the cost and accessibility barriers that exclude women out of coaching pathways.

The club also commissioned a female-specific strength and conditioning program with sports physiotherapists ahead of the 2026 season, targeting injury prevention and explicitly supporting players returning after childbirth.

SCFC’s leadership team draws from LGBTIQ+ individuals, First Nations people and veterans, strengthening the club’s connection to the communities it was built to represent.

The Club Changer program is backing clubs that do this work- clubs that treat equity as infrastructure rather than aspiration. At a moment when Australian football is under pressure to turn its biggest-ever surge of women’s interest into something lasting, SCFC’s model offers a clear answer to the question of how.

How Husqvarna Is Helping Stadiums Cut Costs Without Cutting Quality

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Image Credit: Husqvarna

At a time when operational costs are rising across global sport, stadiums and football clubs are being forced to rethink one of their most overlooked expenses: turf maintenance.

From diesel consumption to labour hours, maintaining elite playing surfaces has traditionally been both resource-intensive and environmentally taxing. But new data emerging from venues like CBUS Super Stadium suggests a smarter, more sustainable model is already taking hold.

Leading that shift is Husqvarna, whose autonomous turf technology is quietly reshaping how professional venues manage their playing surfaces. Their product delivers measurable cost savings without compromising quality.

Cutting fuel consumption costs

At CBUS Super Stadium, the introduction of Husqvarna’s CEORA™ robotic mowing system has reduced diesel usage by approximately 20–30 litres per week. Over the course of a season, those savings compound into a significant reduction in both fuel spend and carbon emissions. This is particularly efficient for stadiums hosting regular fixtures and large-scale events.

CBUS Super Stadium General Manager Kristian Blundell said the robotic mower was a game-changer for the venue:

“This technology is not replacing staff but rather giving our grounds team the ability to do what they do best by helping to improve turf management processes, better manage fatigue and decrease our environmental footprint”

But the impact goes beyond fuel.

 

Time efficiency

By automating routine mowing, Husqvarna’s technology enables grounds teams to focus on higher-value maintenance tasks, from pitch recovery to detailed surface management. The result is not only greater operational efficiency but also improved turf consistency, which is an increasingly critical factor in elite football performance.

The benefits are being mirrored beyond stadium environments. At Oatlands Golf Club, Husqvarna’s autonomous mowing has delivered savings of up to 60 litres of fuel per week while freeing up staff for precision work. Quiet, round-the-clock operation also ensures surfaces are maintained without disrupting play—an advantage that translates directly to multi-use stadium settings.

Image Credit: Husqvarna

Importantly, Husqvarna’s lightweight robotic systems reduce the wear and tear typically caused by traditional heavy machinery. This not only protects the integrity of the playing surface but also reduces the need for costly repairs over time.

Football clubs navigating tight budgets at grassroots and semi-professional levels could benefit from such cost savings.

With rising energy prices, increasing sustainability expectations, and limited staffing resources, the ability to cut costs while improving performance is no longer optional. Solutions like Husqvarna’s CEORA™ are positioning clubs to operate more efficiently today, while preparing for a more environmentally accountable future.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: the next competitive edge may not just come from what happens on the pitch—but how it’s maintained.

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