Football Victoria to celebrate first ever Indigenous Round

Liam Watson

Round 21 of NPL Victoria will be the inaugural Indigenous Round between July 12 and 15.

All clubs and competitions from Victoria will take part in an Indigenous Round that recognises past contributions.

With 2019’s NAIDOC Week falling between the 7th and 14tn of July, it marks a time where people can celebrate the history, culture and achievements of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The focus being a week to respect those from all walks of life.

A feature of the Indigenous Round is having the cultural artwork, created by Stan Yarramunua. Its significance begins with the white representing the milky way, while the two rings separating the white and brown dots represent both males and females. The brown dots signify community and the inner circles represent land with the blue characterising waters.

This historic round will start a new tradition and something that can build for years to come. Current Hume City player James Brown is also Football Victoria’s Indigenous Programs Co-ordinator and is just one of many indigenous Australians taking part in the game.

To commemorate Indigenous Round, the following will be able to take place:

  • A pre-game Acknowledgement of Country.
  • A photo of teams and match officials together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
  • Sharing of Indigenous Round content on club’s social media platforms and websites.

Clubs can also add #FVIndigenousRound to their posts and share any related content to all their social media outlets.

Previous ArticleNext Article

New initiatives advancing girls’ and women’s football participation

Avatar
Image credit: Adelaide United FC

A Government program designed to increase female participation in sports will provide almost 50 clubs and organisations with support to upgrade and develop sporting facilities, programs and equipment.

Around $5.4 million has been allocated for the 2024-25 round of The Power of Her – Infrastructure and Participation Program (IPP), which aims to create more inclusive spaces for girls and women in sports.

The funded projects include things like unisex clubrooms, better lighting and playing surfaces, new uniforms and equipment, and opportunities for professional development.

The South Australian Government led by Peter Malinauskas launched the program to build on the success of the Matildas and the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To support the growth of girls’ and women’s football, 14 football clubs will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding this round.

Other sports also benefit from the program, such as basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and Australian Rules Football, providing more chances for girls and women to get involved and succeed in their chosen sports.

For example, Norwood Basketball Club is receiving $14,600 to launch their ‘Rising Flames’ program, helping girls progress to elite senior levels and develop local talent.

Other projects funded through the program include:

  • Metro United Women’s Football Club, Pooraka: $25,000 for new uniforms.
  • Booleroo Centre Tennis Club: $80,000 to resurface three tennis courts, replace fencing, and build a new equipment shed for their drought-affected club.
  • Cove Netball Hub: $392,700 to build four new netball courts in Hallett Cove.
  • Elizabeth Grove Soccer Club: $750,000 (through the council) for a new clubroom, synthetic soccer pitch, and multi-purpose oval at Munno Para Regional Sportsground, Davoren Park.

So far, over $7.6 million has been distributed through the IPP, with the second year providing more than twice the amount of support compared to the first round.

Nearly half of the infrastructure project recipients this round – including Jervois Bluds Netball Club and Murraylands Gymnastics Academy – are located in regional and greater metropolitan areas, showing the broad impact on communities across South Australia.

The State Government has committed $18 million to the IPP over three years, with $10 million specifically set aside for football.

This effort is part of a wider push to eliminate barriers to female participation, including support for clubs with period products and menstrual health training.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily MLC Bourke highlighted the importance of supporting women in sport at a grassroots level.

“Our Government recognises the importance of supporting grassroots sports to ensure girls and women have opportunities to thrive in whichever sport they pursue,” she said in a press release.

“Having the right facilities, programs and equipment in place gives girls and women the space and confidence they need to get involved and stay active with their local club.

“As The Power of Her investment continues to grow, it’s inspiring to see clubs and organisations finding new and creative ways to grow female participation and facilitate high performance pathways in their communities.”

For more information, you can find the full list of 2024-2025 IPP grants here.

Midea enters multi-year agreement with AFC

Avatar
Image Credit: AFC Website

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has embraced Midea in a new global partnership which will see the Chinese white goods company support the AFC’s club competitions.

Through the deal, Midea will enter into a multi-year agreement and become a “Global Supporter” of the AFC Champions League Elite™ for the remainder of the current 2024/25 season until the 2028/29 season, and the AFC Champions League Two™ and AFC Women’s Champions League™ across the 2025/26 to 2028/29 period.

In entering the partnership, Midea will hold exclusive rights to advertise its products across all AFC club competitions, giving Midea prime access to billions of consumers across Asia.

AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John explained how the addition of Midea into the AFC family was emblematic of the AFC’s immense growth.

“The inaugural season of the AFC’s transformative new era of club competitions have proved to be an undoubted success, and they are set to grow even further in the coming years,” he said via press release.
“We are delighted to welcome Midea as a Global Supporter onboard this exciting journey, which further underlines the global appeal of the AFC’s world-class club competitions, and are excited to work closely with them to create more unforgettable moments for our passionate Asian football fanbase.”
President of Midea International Business, Lewis Fu expressed the company’s excitement for the partnership.
“Midea is excited to partner with the AFC as a Global Supporter of the AFC Champions League Elite™, AFC Champions League Two™ and AFC Women’s Champions League™,” he said in a press release.
“These AFC club competitions offer Midea an unique opportunity to reach a large global audience while also speaking directly to fans and consumers locally all across Asia and the Middle East.”
“At Midea, we are strong believers that the AFC club competitions are among the fastest-growing events in the sporting world and we cannot wait to start working together with AFC to create unforgettable moments for football fans and home appliance consumers alike for the next four years.”
Together, Midea and the AFC will continue to expand their reach across the Asian continent.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend