Football Victoria and School Sport Victoria unite to bring more football and Futsal to schools

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Football Victoria (FV) have announced a significant partnership with School Sport Victoria (SSV) that will see opportunities to participate in football and futsal enhanced for school students across the state.

Pending COVID Safe guidelines, three tailor-made programs are set to kick-off in Term 4 which are designed for students of different ages and abilities to get involved in the world game.

FV CEO Kimon Taliadoros was excited to be teaming up with SSV to launch the initiatives, which will provide students a range of new and exciting pathways into football.

“Our partnership with School Sport Victoria continues to grow, with our united goal of providing more sporting opportunities for students, not only as players but as officials through our new Referees Academy program,” he said.

“With an objective of achieving 50/50 participation by 2027, the partnership with SSV enables us to provide equal access for boys and girls to kick-start a lifelong love of football for many who have not yet played our beautiful game.

“We look forward to guiding more young Victorians on their football journey.”

With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand on the horizon, there has never been a better time for young women and girls to try football.

FV and SSV will partner to host Gala Days for primary school students in Grades 4, 5 and 6. These events will be exclusively girls-only so participants can shine in a fun and safe environment.

In addition, FV in conjunction with SSV are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from SSV Primary and Secondary Schools who wish to participate in ‘Futsal’ 5-A-Side Indoor Football competitions in 2021 and 2022.

The program will be kicking off in December with a Futsal Gala Day at La Trobe Sports Stadium located in Bundoora.

A Futsal Champions Cup is also being proposed for Runners-Up and Champions who qualify from any SSV Divisional and Regional Futsal events that can be held in 2021.

Finally, FV and SSV have offered their Refereeing Academy program to students who are aged between 15 and 18.

The program will take students through the Level 4 Refereeing Course, which includes an online component that teaches the laws of the game and a practical component, where students will be trained by a qualified instructor out on the pitch.

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Football Victoria Begins New Era under Unified Structure

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Image credit: Rachel Bach/By The White Line

Following an announcement made on Tuesday by Football Victoria, seven former Associations will now be brought under a new model aimed at uniting clubs across the state. 

The move comes after engaging with regional clubs and volunteers in the 2023-24 Regional Football Review, the results of which helped to form a new model aimed at improving support for clubs, streamlining administration, and making Victorian football more connected going forward.

Who Will be Affected? 

Seven regions will now be brought under the umbrella of Football Victoria, including: 

  • FV Greater Ballarat (formerly Ballarat District Soccer Association)
  • FV Greater Bendigo (formerly Bendigo Amateur Soccer League)
  • FV Gippsland (formerly Gippsland Soccer League) 
  • FV Latrobe Valley (formerly Latrobe Valley Soccer League)
  • FV Shepparton (newly formed) 
  • FV South West (formerly South West Victoria Football Association)
  • FV Sunraysia (formerly Football Federation Sunraysia)

These seven former Associations will join FV Geelong, who has been a part of the FV family since 2010. 

Why Has the New Model Been Introduced? 

By bringing the majority of clubs in Victoria under a united model, players and volunteers alike will benefit hugely from streamlined administrative support and improved pathways. 

Although these regions will now become a part of the Football Victoria banner, they will nevertheless be granted the ability to maintain their community identity. To ensure that this objective is realised effectively, Regional Advisory Panels will collaborate with Football Victoria, alongside the help of a Regional Football Team who will help to carry out a smooth transition for the regions involved in the change.

FV CEO, Dan Birrell, has expressed his excitement for the developments and the positive impact they will have on the future of Victorian football. 

“Our regions have always played a wonderful and defining role in shaping football in Victoria. We are excited to honour that legacy while working side-by-side to build the next chapter – one that strengthens connections and creates a more unified and sustainable future for football across the state,” he said via press release.

How Does the Model Align with the 2023/24 Regional Football Review?

The review aimed to analyse previous reports, the current operating model, feedback from stakeholders and best practice governance models in sports to form recommendations which would be most beneficial to the future administration, development and overall experience of Victorian football. 

The ten fundamental recommendations found within the Regional Football Review were: 

  1. Professionalising the regional development workforce 
  2. Committing to the long-term service delivery to regional football 
  3. Re-aligning resources to ensure effective administration and advocacy 
  4. Consolidating the core functions of the Associations 
  5. Protecting the assets and history of the Associations 
  6. Standardising competition delivery 
  7. Aligning disciplinary processes 
  8. Increasing youth engagement through school programs 
  9. Improving access to play, coach and referee pathways 
  10. Delivering the annual Country Championships 

Therefore, bringing the former Associations under the banner of Football Victoria is the first essential step towards a more streamlined, professionalised and unified football structure designed to distribute resources fairly across clubs in the state of Victoria. Behind the model is not only the desire to improve efficiency off the pitch, but to ensure that players, coaches and referees have a future in the long-term development of Victorian football. 

Playing for the Future

The new model represents an exciting new era for Football Victoria, as well as for fans, players and staff associated with the changes due to come into effect in 2026. Ballarat Regional Advisory Panel Chair, Lucy Brennan, has backed the move as immensely positive for the region’s footballing future. 

“As a past player and coach, I could not be more excited to help provide these opportunities for the Ballarat Football Region and look forward to the support, input and discussion to ensure we are setting our region up for success now and in the future,” she said via press release. 

As Australia looks to develop football across the country, laying secure foundations within the state for current and future participants is an important first step. With an aligned and sustainable footballing structure, fans and clubs can remain optimistic about nurturing the next generation of Victorian talent and providing accessible pathways for all to achieve their sporting ambitions.

Shake2Go by Optislim Named Major Sponsor of Oakleigh Cannons

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Image credit: Oakleigh Cannons FC

Shake2Go, by Optislim, has been named major partner of the Oakleigh Cannons for the 2026 season, with the brand to feature prominently on the front of the club’s playing shirt. The sponsorship brings together a fast-growing Australian nutrition brand and one of the country’s most respected grassroots football clubs.

Meet Shake2Go – Australia’s first high protein + vitamins shake packed into a can . Each ready-to-drink can delivers 30g of premium protein, essential vitamins and minerals, is low in sugar, gluten-free, and packaged in eco-friendly cans. No mixing. No mess. No compromise. Just grab, shake, and go. With its smooth, milkshake-like taste, it delivers proper nutrition without slowing anyone down.

“We’re proud to welcome Shake2Go by Optislim as our major sponsor for the 2026 season,” said Aki Ionnas, General Manager of the Oakleigh Cannons. “To have such an innovative brand on the front of our shirt is a major endorsement of our club. This sponsorship is about more than logos  it’s a real investment into our players, our programs, and our wider community. At a grassroots level, that kind of support makes a genuine difference.”

The sponsorship will directly support player development, community programs, and the ongoing operations of the club. Shake2Go will have a strong presence across matchdays, community events, and player initiatives throughout the season.

At its core, this sponsorship reflects shared values of performance, wellbeing, and giving back to the football community that helps shape the future of the game.

For more information on Shake2Go, click here.

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