Football West release comprehensive Junior Football Review

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Image credit: PxHere website

Football West confirmed the final outcomes of its Junior Football Review, along with the proposed implementation plans for the 2025 season.

The extensive review, which was initiated in early 2023, was led by independent consultants in collaboration with Football West’s Game Development Committee and technical football staff.

According to the infographic breakdown, the review had an initial focus of boys and girls junior competition pathways for u13-u18 including the Junior NPL Boys competition.

Overall, the review covered a broad scope, including competition structure, player development, opportunities and pathways, and standards for club youth development.

Recommendations were shared late last year, paving the way for Phase Two of the review, which took place this year and included a series of workshops with technical staff from across the state, as well as input from clubs, coaches, and the public.

After consultation and a strenuous reviewing process, Football West pledge to make six changes that will be implemented as soon as possible.

Changes:

– A unified Junior Development League for both Junior Boys and Girls U13-U16 competitions, replacing the current Junior NPL structure for boys.

– Two top tier divisions will be created with multiple feeder divisions below, similar to the Football Victoria structure (Introduction of a promotion and relegation system for juniors).

– Creation of a Junior Development Cup and a Junior Community Cup to replace the existing Junior Cup tournaments.

– A strong emphasis on coach education and development across all competitions.

– Establishing of a Junior Community League for teams and players who prefer to participate in local football, replacing the current community junior leagues.

– Separate Boys and Girls Youth Club Championships, open to clubs that excel in youth development and whole-of-club criteria.

The objectives of the new format are to:

– Enhance player growth.

– Guarantee equal competition.

– Offer well-defined and organised competition pathways for junior footballers in WA.

– Motivate, acknowledge, and reward clubs for comprehensive player development, well-being, and fostering a positive club culture.

– Support regions and enable their participation

Conclusion:

This new combined system will help flow the separate divisions and finally create a clear pathway for junior clubs and players to move up based on league results.

The Junior Development League now becomes the premier league for youth players in WA, with a purpose to enhance player development and promote long-term success. It also requires coaches to get a C-Licence minimum in coaching to take over one of the teams, encouraging more people to become licenced coaches and get involved.

Whilst the Community League focuses more on inclusivity, engagement and participation with less of a focus on the player or coach development.

In the consultation report, Football West also confirmed that they will conduct a comprehensive review of the league competition and Youth Club Championship structure at the conclusion of the 2025 season and implement any changes needed to improve the competition for future seasons.

It’s a great, modernised structure that combines coaching education and the higher and lower leagues with a new relegation and promotion system, which gives Football West a chance to target both a serious and more laid back audience that wants football to be their number one sport in WA.

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The only road to the national stage: FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival 2026

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Image Credit: Brook Desbois

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed Mackay Football Park as the host venue for the 2026 FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival, scheduled for the 14th to 17th of April.

Backed by the Mackay Regional Council, the event unites FQ’s five Regional Academies across the Northern and Central Conferences. This expanded four-day schedule marks a significant shift in regional programming. It allows for a greater volume of match play and enhances talent identification windows for technical staff.

Strengthening the Regional Pathway

The Carnival serves as a critical junction in the state-wide pathway. FQ Technical Director and Player Development, Tom Laxton, emphasized the event’s role in exposing players to new competitive environments.

“The Inter-Conference Carnival remains a key foundational element of the regional FQ Academy pathway,” Laxton said. “Expanding the Carnival in 2026 to four days reinforces our commitment to delivering more meaningful opportunities.”

Importantly, the FQ Academy stands as the only pathway in Queensland recognized by Football Australia for national selection. This event ensures equity amongst regional talent whom often fly under the radar of high-performance scouts. The extended format also benefits referees and coaches, providing a longer window for development and assessment.

Economic and Regional Impact

The partnership with Mackay Regional Council highlights the economic value of youth football tourism. Mayor Williamson noted the expanded timeline benefits the local visitor economy.

“By expanding the carnival to four days, it gives visitors a much better opportunity to explore what our region has to offer,” Williamson said.

The event draws players, support staff, and families from across the northern half of the state. It positions Mackay Football Park as a central hub for elite youth development in Queensland.

Registration and scheduling details regarding the 2026 FQ Academy Inter-Conference Carnival will be released here as they emerge.

Pignata’s OAM Signals a New Era for Football Administration

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

In the Australian sporting landscape, administrative longevity is a rare commodity. The burnout rate for executives in the A-Leagues and state federations is notoriously high. It’s driven by the unique friction between commercial imperatives and grassroots politics. Consequently, the awarding of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) to Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata is symbolic of more than individual recognition.

Pignata joins PFA founder Brendan Schwab, former Soccer Australia CEO Ian Holmes, and Alen Stajcic on this year’s Australia Day honour roll. However, Pignata offers a distinct blueprint for the modern sports executive. His trajectory moves from the banking sector to the Football Victoria boardroom, through high-pressure A-League franchises, and finally to the developing frontier of Tasmania.

A “Turnaround” Specialist

To understand Pignata’s executive philosophy, observers must look past the A-League. The mechanics of the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF) in the mid-2000s tell the real story. Following the sudden departure of Damien Bown in 2004, Pignata inherited an organisation in crisis. Then-Chairman Manny Galanos described the body as being “on our hands and knees financially.”

Pignata leveraged a 17-year background in legacy financial institutions including NAB, AXA Australia, and HSBC. He applied corporate discipline to a chaotic sporting balance sheet. His tenure at the VSF (now Football Victoria) restored solvency and aggressively pursued commercial assets.

Pignata’s transition to the A-League demonstrated that these fundamental business principles could scale. His tenure across three clubs showed adaptability to different market conditions. Yet, his legacy remains inextricably linked to a singular, market-shifting transaction: the signing of Alessandro Del Piero.

In 2012, the A-League faced a relevance crisis. At its helm, Pignata executed a high-risk strategy that fundamentally altered the competition’s valuation. The Del Piero acquisition proved the league’s capacity to attract global brand equity. Pignata demonstrated that commercial viability requires bold capital investment backed by operational stability.

Bridging the “Old Soccer” Divide

Crucially, the OAM citation acknowledges a contribution that bridges the often-toxic divide between the “old soccer” NPL system and the “new football” professional era. Pignata is not a corporate outsider. His journey began as a junior at Salesian College and a player for Westall Inter and Box Hill Inter. He featured in the Reserves as the club ascended to the Premier League.

This “proximal” relationship with the grassroots gave him a unique license to operate. Long before the ubiquity of social media, Pignata engaged directly with stakeholders on public fan forums. He understood the importance of monitoring the digital pulse of its supporters when most administrators relied on press releases.

His unique ability to speak the language of both volunteer committee and corporate board drove organisational reforms in Victoria. He oversaw the rebranding to Football Federation Victoria and streamlined the V-League Academy by recruiting Eric Hollingsworth. His move to admit the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) into the Premier League ensured elite youth talent had a vehicle for competitive match minutes. He prioritised technical development over short-term club politics.

The Tasmanian Mandate

Now 61, Pignata shows no signs of slowing down. His move to Football Tasmania in September 2023 signals a shift in the state’s ambition. Tasmania currently sits at a critical juncture, aggressively lobbying for A-League expansion and the requisite stadium infrastructure.

By appointing Pignata, Football Tasmania signalled to government partners that they are operationally ready for professionalisation. His presence de-risks the expansion proposition. He knows what a viable A-League licence looks like because he’s ran three of them.

His current focus on “high-performance pathways” addresses the state’s most pressing structural deficit: the talent drain to the mainland. Pignata’s mandate is to build an ecosystem where a Tasmanian junior sees a clear line of sight to professional football without leaving the state.

Ultimately, the OAM recognises a career defined by resilience and ROI. Pignata navigated the transition from the semi-pro era to the corporate demands of the A-League. He consistently delivered commercial growth and organisational stability.

“Football is more than a sport… it is a community, a pathway and a powerful connector,” Pignata said upon receiving the honour.

For the industry, Tony Pignata’s OAM is a benchmark. It rewards the “business of winning” off the pitch just as highly as the results on it. As he steers Football Tasmania toward a potential A-League future, the industry watches with interest. The “Pignata Effect” may yet deliver one final, historic expansion victory.

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