Growing Football Grant to Benefit Victorian Clubs

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Alamein FC
Image credit: Adrian Shaw

The Growing Football Grant will provide funding to 16 Victorian football clubs.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has renewed its support for 2025–26, placing a clear focus on boosting women’s involvement in the sport. As a result, the initiative aims to strengthen clubs and associations by improving awareness, safety, and infrastructure for women and girls.

In Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Darebin United, Keilor Park, and Watsonia Heights football clubs will receive support. Meanwhile, in the west, the grant will fund Altona East SC, Balmoral FC, Footscray United Rangers FC, Sunshine Heights Junior FC, Truganina Lions FC, and Werribee City FC. Additionally, Melbourne University Soccer Club and Monash Soccer Club are included in the allocation.

Beyond Melbourne, regional clubs will also benefit. In Gippsland, Gippsland United FC and Trafalgar Victory FC will receive funding. Further east, the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges will see support for Monbulk Rangers SC. Finally, in rural north-eastern Victoria, Murray United FC Inc will be among the beneficiaries.

Overall, the funding aims to expand and strengthen women’s representation in football. Clubs will use the bursary to reduce barriers to participation through equipment subsidies, female-only programs, and introductory sessions for new players. In turn, these initiatives hope to empower young women with mentoring, education, and opportunities on and off the field.

Ultimately, continued investment in women’s football reflects a long-term commitment to growth and inclusion and supports the goal of reaching 50,000 female players by 2026.

This renewed backing not only amplifies opportunities for women and girls but also reinforces a system where community clubs can thrive through stronger pathways, safer environments, and greater accessibility. With these resources, Victorian football is positioned to foster lasting participation and build a more equitable future for players across the state.

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New ‘Unifiltered’ Episode with Paul Klisaris and Oscar Yildiz

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Image Credit: One-Nil Media

The ‘Unfiltered’ podcast by Soccerscene promises honest, thought-provoking conversations about football culture, identity and the stories fans don’t usually hear in mainstream coverage.

In the latest episode, Mihaila Kilibarda sits down with passionate councillors Paul Klisaris and Oscar Yildiz to debate the role of policy in shaping infrastructure, career opportunities and on-field success in the Australian football landscape.

From exposing flaws in policy making, to critiquing the A-League, Paul and Oscar discuss the future trajectory of football in Australia. With strong views on the disconnect between decision-makers and grassroots communities, this is an unfiltered look at the issues holding the sport back—and the urgent need for change.

“Bring back Preston, bring back South Melbourne, bring back that culture into the game. There was nothing wrong with that. Bring it back. Regulate it better, police it better, like they have in Europe. There is rivalry and that’s healthy!” says Paul Klisaris in this episode.

Oscar Yildiz agreed that “We might need to throw a bomb. There is no incentive for clubs to aspire to. You know, you can finish last and still stay in the league. They need to have people from state, from federal, people, again, who know the game, who genuinely know the game. And, it means understanding the politics around the game.”

Listeners can expect Unfiltered to go beyond match reports and transfers. Each episode will dive into the ideas, people and cultural forces that make football one of the world’s most compelling sports. Episode 2 is available now, hoping to challenge, entertain and inspire.

Listen now on Spotify: 

With Unfiltered, Soccerscene is giving fans a space to think, feel and debate about the game they love. Further, it is encouraging conversations that are as engaging as the football itself.

Stay tuned for future episodes, featuring more voices shaping the beautiful game.

Como 1907 and Connectome unite to enhance cognitive analysis

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Image credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Last month, the Lombardy-based club announced the start of a new partnership with Connectome, a neurotechnology company now looking to apply their work to Serie A’s most exciting project.

Cognitive and physical performance

Through this innovative alliance at the heart of a rapidly rising football project, players will benefit from enhanced study and understanding of their own cognitive performance.

Repeated brain measurements will allow staff to analyse how players respond to different playing scenarios – from the training pitch to matchday.

“We already measure the physical and tactical aspects of performance at a very high level,” explained Como 1907 CTO, Mo Dabbah, via Connectome’s official website.

“The real opportunity now is in better understanding cognitive load and decision-making over time.”

Furthermore, Dabbah continued to highlight that cognitive analysis is essential to achieving high levels of performance in sport.

“Brain health isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s fundamental to how players develop, adapt, and perform and it’s an area we’re excited to explore more deeply.”

 

Transferring data to development

Connectome’s work helps athletes and organisations competing at high levels of sport, ensuring recovery, duty of care and preparation are all at the forefront of operations.

Moreover, through a longitudinal approach to collecting data, Connectome strives to create unique, individual profiles for each athlete. Thus, changes or variations are judged against each individual’s baseline, not group averages or one-off tests.

But beyond the technological innovation, is the genuine intent and vision to maximise player performance at Como 1907.

Como 1907 is a club leading by example not just in Italy, but across Europe for unique business models, commercial growth and strategic partnerships. An alliance with Connectome is yet more proof that the club thinks not just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, but the hours spent on long-term player recovery and development.

Both parties align perfectly in values and vision. Player wellbeing, team growth, and technological advancement are the foundations of this partnership.

Como 1907 is a club pushing the future into today’s football landscape, making Connectome a natural partner to bring that vision to life.

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