Football Queensland reveals top hosts for the Football Convention

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Football Queensland is introducing four nationally recognised hosts for the inaugural Queensland Football Convention, led by top football journalist Vince Rugari, with co-hosts Daniel Garb, Heather Garriock, and Amy Chapman.

The statewide convention, themed ‘Elevate the Debate,’ will bring together clubs, coaches, referees, and football enthusiasts from across Queensland to discuss key issues shaping the future of the sport on Saturday, 2 November, and Sunday, 3 November 2024, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Vince Rugari, the author of Angeball: The Definitive Biography of Ange Postecoglou, is celebrated for his detailed coverage of major events like the FIFA World Cups, Asian Cups, and A-League Grand Finals. His insightful reporting has been featured in prominent outlets such as The Guardian, Australian Associated Press, Stan Sport, and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Daniel Garb, a seasoned football presenter and reporter with over 20 years of experience covering national teams, domestic leagues, and international matches in Australia, will join Vince at the inaugural convention.

Heather Garriock, a revered Matilda and member of the Football Australia Hall of Fame, brings over 25 years of experience, including playing in three FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Olympic Games. She currently serves as a Football Australia Board Member and Vice President of Football Coaches Australia.

Amy Chapman, a former Matilda and Westfield W-League player, is recognised for her extensive commentary and analysis with Optus Sport, FIFA, Channel 10, and Channel 7. She has also made significant contributions to football by negotiating the W-League Collective Bargaining Agreement and leading player support initiatives.

“We are excited to welcome Vince as our host, and Daniel, Heather and Amy as co-hosts of the inaugural Queensland Football Convention and are confident that their expertise and unique perspectives will be crucial as we address key themes including Growth, Sustainability, and Technology within the game,” Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said via press release.

“Their diverse backgrounds and experiences in the sporting world will help guide discussions as we strive to harness the excitement and growth surrounding the game in recent years and use that momentum to build a promising future for football both within the state and across the country.

“The two-day convention will serve as a crucial forum for innovative dialogue and collaborative exploration, offering attendees the chance to engage in transformative discussions, discover innovative solutions, and partake in interactive and insightful sessions.

“With a comprehensive agenda that includes exploring governance and administration structures, sustainable club models, and the role of technology in football, the Queensland Football Convention promises to be an essential event for anyone eager to be at the forefront of our game’s evolution.”

Alongside two days of convention sessions, the Queensland Football Convention will feature a cocktail networking event at the Brisbane Roar Men’s home opener at Suncorp Stadium and the football in Queensland Awards Night at Brisbane City Hall.

Click here to get additional information on the Queensland Football Convention.

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

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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.

Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

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