Football South Australia announces financial relief package

Football South Australia has announced the Whole of Football Financial Relief Package to support clubs and help with the resumption of competitions.

Alongside the South Australian government, Football South Australia (SA) has announced the Whole of Football Financial Relief Package to support clubs and help with the resumption of competitions.

An $840,000 package will see a range of costs covered for the 2020 season. Senior men’s and women’s club affiliation fees for clubs competing in semi-professional leagues will be credited against their club’s account. Club’s Public Liability, Directors and Officers and Player Insurance will also be covered.

Team registration fees for junior and women’s community teams will not be charged and clubs competing in the Men’s National Premier League and Women’s National Premier League will be given the opportunity to advertise their sponsors for free on the live stream for home matches.

Match official fees have also been reduced, with semi-professional competitions having a 30 per cent reduction in fees while community leagues match official fees will be reduced by between 10 and 15 per cent.

The South Australian Government provided $490,000 from its Community and Jobs Support Fund while Football SA has made a $350,000 contribution.

CEO of Football SA, Michael Carter said that the relief package would help football in the state recover after the suspension of games due to COVID-19.

“Football SA is appreciative of the economic and social impact COVID-19 has had on our football community. The financial relief package is designed to assist the code reboot itself as we return to competitions later this month for juniors and community competitions and early in July for the semi-professional men’s competition,” he said.

“The total financial package has been significantly underpinned and made possible as a result of the South Australian State Government’s continued support for Football in the State, and I know you will join me in sincerely thanking them on behalf of the football community.

“The support and cooperation of clubs, associations and Referees within the State has been first-rate. The considered and unified approach of leaders within the code has ensured we are very well placed to provide much-needed activity for all participants and clubs in the 2020 season.”

Football South Australia has thanked the support of their clubs, associations and referees to ensure they are well prepared for a return of football.

Image credit: Football Queensland

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index (CVR) has just been released.

This aggregated metric measures the value for money that each club delivers with respect to their SHIELD weighting and performance output. Over the last five years, the 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index has provided valuable insight to parents and stakeholders by offering a transparent, evidence-based, and non-partisan evaluation of which clubs are effectively converting resources into high-quality development programs.

Understanding the Club Rank Score (CRS)

At the heart of the program is the Club’s Rank Score (CRS), which ranks clubs according to a longevity-focused framework. It analyses key criteria, such as opportunities for progression, equity, and safety, producing a merit-based reflection of FQ Academy Club quality. While the CRS reliably examines a club’s overall performance, it does not consider cost-efficiency or gender inequalities.

How the Club Value Ranking Index Improves Analysis

The Club Value Ranking Index fills this gap. Using the CRS as a foundation, the CVR transforms the data by including additional variables such as gender, registration fees, and SHIELD weightings (gold, silver, bronze) to more accurately quantify cost-efficiency. FQ categorises clubs based on their CRS placement:

Gold clubs: 1–10
Silver clubs: 11–24
Bronze clubs: 25–32

The data offers a unique assessment of how clubs perform relative to their SHIELD tier and costs, including performance by gender. This year’s data shows that clubs investing in both male and female player development perform significantly better.

Correlation Between SHIELD Tier and CVR

When transformed, the Club Value Ranking still shows a correlation between SHIELD tier and higher ranking:

Of 10 gold-tier clubs, 7 make the top 10 in the CVR.
Of 8 bronze-tier clubs, 6 are in the bottom 10 in CVR.

As such, the algorithm is particularly relevant to silver-tier clubs, which are dispersed more widely in the CVR.

Outliers and Key Findings

Notable examples include:

Samford Rangers: 21st in CRS → 1st in CVR
Brisbane Strikers: 14th in CRS → last in CVR
Brisbane City: 5th in CRS → 17th in CVR
North Lakes United: 26th in CRS → 10th in CVR

These results highlight clubs that deliver high-quality outcomes relative to their resources, isolating both overperformers and underperformers.

Changes From Last Year

Since last year, 12 more clubs were added. Examples include:

Redlands United: 1st in last year’s CVR → now falls to 27th
Gold Coast Knights: rose from 20th in CVR to 8th in 2025

This demonstrates the CVR’s ability to provide nuanced assessments beyond pure CRS performance.

Implications for Families and Stakeholders

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index offers a more complete picture of club performance by balancing quality, cost efficiency, and gender-inclusive development. While limitations remain cultural and demographic differences between clubs affect outcomes, the index gives families, coaches, and stakeholders an empirical tool for informed decision-making.

Image credit: Adrian Shaw

The Growing Football Grant will provide funding to 16 Victorian football clubs.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has renewed its support for 2025–26, placing a clear focus on boosting women’s involvement in the sport. As a result, the initiative aims to strengthen clubs and associations by improving awareness, safety, and infrastructure for women and girls.

In Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Darebin United, Keilor Park, and Watsonia Heights football clubs will receive support. Meanwhile, in the west, the grant will fund Altona East SC, Balmoral FC, Footscray United Rangers FC, Sunshine Heights Junior FC, Truganina Lions FC, and Werribee City FC. Additionally, Melbourne University Soccer Club and Monash Soccer Club are included in the allocation.

Beyond Melbourne, regional clubs will also benefit. In Gippsland, Gippsland United FC and Trafalgar Victory FC will receive funding. Further east, the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges will see support for Monbulk Rangers SC. Finally, in rural north-eastern Victoria, Murray United FC Inc will be among the beneficiaries.

Overall, the funding aims to expand and strengthen women’s representation in football. Clubs will use the bursary to reduce barriers to participation through equipment subsidies, female-only programs, and introductory sessions for new players. In turn, these initiatives hope to empower young women with mentoring, education, and opportunities on and off the field.

Ultimately, continued investment in women’s football reflects a long-term commitment to growth and inclusion and supports the goal of reaching 50,000 female players by 2026.

This renewed backing not only amplifies opportunities for women and girls but also reinforces a system where community clubs can thrive through stronger pathways, safer environments, and greater accessibility. With these resources, Victorian football is positioned to foster lasting participation and build a more equitable future for players across the state.