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.

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Football NSW announce price freeze for junior and youth players

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has announced a fee freeze for junior and youth community players in 2027, continuing its pledge to keep the game accessible for everyone across the state. 

In addition, senior players aged 19 and above will see their registration fee increase by just $1.50. Both junior and youth player fees will remain the same at $54.43, whilst senior members will pay $107.50.

The fee freeze highlights Football NSW’s commitment to keeping the game financially convenient for both players and families. 

Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas, said via Football NSW, “Football is the game of the people, and we recognise the importance of keeping participation accessible for families across our state. By freezing our registration fees for junior and youth players in 2027, we are continuing to support the next generation of footballers and help ensure that cost is not an unnecessary barrier to participation.”

The decision comes following similar price freezes at Football Queensland and Northern NSW Football in 2025. 

Despite the governing bodies acting separately, their unity on maintaining affordability throughout the game is a welcome sign. Managing to keep fees at an fair rate for families is a key component in sustaining grassroots football across the country.

“We have worked hard to manage the pressures facing the game, particularly around insurance, while ensuring Football NSW can continue to deliver the services and support our clubs, associations and participants expect,” said Tsatsimas. 

Despite the cost of living crisis, it is important that the game remains accessible for everyone. Football NSW have identified that even during tougher financial times, they can keep it that way. 

Through diligent financial handling, especially with care surrounding insurance and inflation (more of which can be read here), they are prioritising the game long-term over a short financial gain.

This fee freeze will directly impact the senior players and the families of younger members, too. The decision makes football not only more accessible, but provides more opportunities for players to strive for the highest levels of the game. 

Football Victoria demands more Victorian Government support amid grassroots boom

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Marlborough Street Reserve. Credit Football Victoria

Football Victoria is targeting Victorian Government funding for Glen Eira FC, in order to improve the club’s facilities and accommodate a recent surge in participation.

The interest and demand in football across Melbourne is ever growing, and Glen Eira FC is one such example.

Located in Melbourne’s inner south-east, the club has more than 1,100 players with nearly 95% of them aged 18 or under. In the suburb of Bentleigh alone, football participation has increased 18% alongside female engagement growing 76% in recent years.

However, at Marlborough Street Reserve, the conditions of the pitch – specifically during winter – can curb accessibility. Wet weather, non-stop usage and limited capacity make it difficult to accommodate all club members. This results in restricted training and playing opportunities.

Lachlan Cole, Football Victoria’s Head of Government Relations & Facilities, said via Football Victoria: “The story at Glen Eira FC is one we are seeing right across Victoria and specifically in Metropolitan Melbourne. Participation is growing, particularly among juniors, women and girls, but the infrastructure needed to support that growth is buckling under the weight of demand.”

To tackle this, both Football Victoria and Glen Eira FC want to convert the existing pitch to a synthetic surface and provide improved lighting for the ground. This would create a more reliable environment for players and support the growing demand for football in that community.

Speaking to Football Victoria, Glen Eira FC President Odilia Wijburg said, “A new sporting precinct with a synthetic pitch would be a game changer, providing year-round access, supporting participation growth and creating a lasting community asset that will benefit local families for generations.”

These issues are not exclusive to just Victoria, but are instead seen nation-wide. Football NSW recently pledged over AUD 200,000 to three amateur clubs to help upgrade their facilities and support the local communities.

Despite the increased interest in the game, the lack of reliable infrastructure, especially in grassroots football, leaves not only local areas without proper facilities, but creates a complicated road for young players hoping to navigate to the top of the game. 

Without the support of the Victorian Government, grassroots football could suffer an underwhelming fate. If the game is not supported from the bottom, the top might not reap the rewards of the next generation. And if that happens, alongside local communities, both the domestic leagues and the international team may suffer.

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