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:
- Professionalising the regional development workforce
- Committing to the long-term service delivery to regional football
- Re-aligning resources to ensure effective administration and advocacy
- Consolidating the core functions of the Associations
- Protecting the assets and history of the Associations
- Standardising competition delivery
- Aligning disciplinary processes
- Increasing youth engagement through school programs
- Improving access to play, coach and referee pathways
- 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.
