Melbourne City Academy Head Coach Anthony Frost on player development and pathways

Anthony Frost is a Qualified A/B/C License Instructor with expertise in player development, and is the Head Coach of the Melbourne City FC Academy.

Anthony Frost is a Qualified A/B/C License Instructor with expertise in player development, and is the Head Coach of the Melbourne City FC Academy. He’s also the Young Socceroos (Australian U20s) assistant coach, and has spent time at Football Victoria as a coaching instructor and skills development coach. He spoke to Soccerscene about Melbourne City’s talented youngsters, disruption to the Victorian football season, and developing better coaches in Australian football.

How did you become involved in coaching and Melbourne City?

Anthony Frost: Firstly, I started coaching after I had a pretty serious leg break when I was 22, and that meant my ambitions to play at a higher level got stopped in their tracks. It turned my attention to coaching, which was something that I had been interested in and enjoyed doing and after working in the UK during gap year I found that it was something that I was good at.  My line of thinking was that if you can’t have a playing career in football then coaching was something I was wanting to pursue. I went head-first into it and I tried to link my studies to football and coaching. I worked through my badges and was fortunate to get an opportunity to work full time as a development officer at Football Victoria which gave me exposure to working in state teams and coach development. From there, I was appointed as the Skillaroos Head Coach, which essentially was the start of the national player development pathway, back in the day before A-League academies were introduced. So I was working with the best under 13 boys in Victoria in a full time program that helped me refine my coaching craft.

Part of my professional development during that period was to get a better understanding of how players progressed from youth to senior football. One of my mentors – Ivan Jolic who was at Melbourne City at the time as an assistant – suggested that I go down to the club and just observe what they’re doing and get involved in whatever way I could. That led me to connect with Joe Palatsides, who was the head coach of the youth program at the time, and he welcomed me in. That was my initiation into Melbourne City, which looking back now was close to six years ago and I’m fortunate enough to now work in a full time coaching and coach development capacity within the academy.

Do you believe that the disruption we’ve seen to football in Victoria in the past two seasons will impact player development?

Anthony Frost: I think undeniably it will. Unfortunately, even despite the pandemic we don’t play enough competitive games so we’re mindful of the impact this could have on a players development but what we’ve tried to do is try is find ways that we can still turn a negative into a positive, and look at ways that we can continue to use this as a as an opportunity to develop other areas of a player’s game, or knowledge. We’ve looked to provide opportunities for individual technical training, tactical analysis, meetings that we’ve done with the group around certain tactical situations, or different types of formations or styles of play, or looking at certain players and their pathway in the game.

But also just from a psychological point of view, I feel as though that if a player can progress through this difficult period and have the ability to persevere despite setbacks and come out the other side stronger mentally, then potentially that’s a plus or a real positive that we might see from the current crop of players that have been impacted by the circumstances that we’re in. So yes, we’d love to be on the park, training, and playing but we have to try and find the positives where we can, and that’s the way we’re trying to frame the last two seasons with our current group.

How important is it to have a real pathway for youth teams into senior teams?

Anthony Frost: I think it’s fundamental. Belief is an incredible thing and if a player sees that others have progressed to that level when they’re given that chance, then players should be thinking, why not me? Why not have the belief that they’re capable of making that jump and being at that level as well. We’re fortunate enough to have seen players from the academy progress recently, and they’re the stories that we look to try and share with the players throughout our academy, and use as real examples that we can shine a light on them and their experiences, their pathway, what they’ve been through.

What we’ve found through the stories that those players have shared with us is that not everything goes to plan, and it’s how you best deal with setbacks, challenges, and hardship that’s going to be the real test of how you can push through to make it to the top level. But I think as we’ve seen in the last couple of seasons in the A-League, the more opportunities that are provided to young players the better, and we’ve found that the increase in match minutes for young players is having a huge impact on the progression of those players, both in the local game and also for our national team, and even those players and seeking opportunities overseas.

So I think if we needed a better advertisement of giving young players a chance, the past two seasons have been unbelievable for the young players taking their chances when time has been provided to them. That’s the key, you just need that chance, and hopefully that continues in the A-League.

How important is educating coaches on best practices and ensuring that young players are receiving the best coaching possible?

Anthony Frost: I think if we have the best coaches, then we’re in the best possible position to support our players to progress and have an incredible experience in the game. We want their time at a club to be some of the best times of their childhood. Football development is important but we also need to make sure that the psycho-social aspect of player development – which isn’t often as front and centre in formal coach development programs – should be a real focus for young coaches because we know that we have a responsibility to develop people and people who are prepared for life away from football.

At City, we want to make sure that’s a big part of how we support our coaches and that they’re aware of how to best equip young players not only on the park but also off it as well. We offer a lot of professional development opportunities, we have individual coach development plans that we consistently review, and we support coaches with their ambitions, their goals, and the things that they set out to achieve in the game. We’re also lucky enough to be a part of the City Football Group, where we have support from people within the group to help our coaches as well. We’ve seen in the last few years in particular that the club and group is not only committed to developing players, but also developing coaches who can progress to help achieve their ambitions, whether that’s being the best possible youth coach they can be, whether that’s the best possible assistant or senior coach, or a coach or working at international level. Our coach development program is fundamental to what we’re trying to do as a club. I said before that the players are only as good as the coaches that we have.

What needs to be done to ensure we develop better quality coaches at a national and state level?
 
Anthony Frost: There’s a number of factors involved there, including the formal and in-formal support systems in place for coaches at all levels of the game, but at the elite level I think it comes down to opportunities for coaches. I think it’s critical that there are more opportunities for coaches to work professionally within the game. What I found working in coach development is that if there’s no foreseeable pathway for developing passionate coaches, then fewer coaches will be able to commit themselves to the craft or see coaching as a long term career choice. The more professional opportunities there are and the more time a coach can commit to their own development, the better the coach.
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A-League records strong viewership and attendance in New-Zealand

In recent news the A-league viewership on sky sports has climbed significantly in New Zealand.

Official A-League media sources have identified that 1.31 million people have watched the A-League through Sky Sports media channels this season.

This confirms an impressive 40% increase in viewership for the 2024-25 season.

To add to this an additional 228k, a 46% increase, and 167k, a prominent 115% increase, have also streamed on Sky’s digital platforms.

This amounts to a huge increase in viewership of the sport for New Zealand and also a large portion of the respective nation’s population, displaying football’s huge popularity in Australia’s close neighbour.

Sky Sports extended their exclusive rights for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women at the beginning of this season and this deal will be the sole provider for 2 more seasons.

Both Leagues through this season are available not only on Sky Sports but also Sky Sport Now and Sky Go.

This upward trend in popularity can be attributed to the addition of a second New-Zealand team in Auckland FC, who currently sit at the top of the A-League and look positioned to win the minor premiership.

To match this news with viewership Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix have both recorded some of the highest game attendance in the league throughout most of their home games.

Auckland FC has had the overall highest attendance with a total of 211,095 so far and an average of 17,591. With the biggest attendance their derby against Wellington Phoenix at just above 27,000.

Auckland FC worst attendance at around 13,000 is almost double the next most attended team, Sydney FC. Wellington Phoenix have also recorded high attendance with 99,677 up to this point.

Though down averagely from last season, to maintain these numbers after a title chasing seasons shows fan dedication from the Kiwis.

The introduction of a new team from New Zealand’s biggest city has turned out to be a successful investment by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

It has increased viewership, attendance and all round enjoyment in the A-league, helping the APL increase in value and quality this season.

The APL and New Zealand must now build on this momentum to keep viewership strong and continue growing the beautiful game across Aotearoa.

Building from the Ground Up: Banyule City SC’s Ambition to Grow

Six years ago, Banyule City Soccer Club had big ambitions and a whole lot of challenges. Taking the reins during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee worked behind the scenes to keep the club connected, focusing on long-term goals that are now beginning to take shape.

Under his leadership, the club has seen the return of a senior women’s program — one that’s rapidly climbed the ranks to the Victorian Premier League and the growth of a strong junior base with nearly 200 players. As Banyule prepares for major upgrades at two of its key grounds and sends its U16 girls’ squad to the Borneo Cup in 2025, the club is entering a new chapter.

Speaking with Soccerscene, President of Banyule City SC Nasr Said reflects on his leadership journey, the club’s community-first values, and how Banyule is building pathways that support players from grassroots to elite levels all while staying true to its inclusive, family-oriented roots.

Can you share some insight into your role as President and how Banyule City SC has evolved since the beginning of your presidency?

Nasr Said: I took over running the club six years ago, after playing at Banyule for about four years. I’ll be honest it hasn’t been easy. The first couple of years were tough, especially with COVID hitting just as I stepped into the role. We couldn’t even get a proper season going, but we did what we could off the field — sharing content on social media, keeping the kids engaged with soccer drills from the coaches we had. It was a difficult time for every club.

Once we got through that, I had goals and ambitions for the club one of the biggest was to rebuild the senior women’s program as there hadn’t been a women’s team here for over a decade. Since then, we’ve had incredible success. The women’s team went from State League 4 up through the ranks — State 3, State 2, and then straight into the Victorian Premier League (VPL). They won the league four years in a row, went undefeated during that time, and now they’re playing in the second-highest division in Victoria, just under the NPL.

Image Credit: Banyule City SC Facebook

On the men’s side, we’ve had our ups and downs, one year we nearly got relegated, and other years we were close to promotion but we continue to push forward.

As President, I work closely with our committee, the Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and support them however I can. My role is about bringing in resources, building a strong structure, and making sure the club runs smoothly. I’ve put in a lot over the past six years. We’re in a good place now, but there’s always room to grow.

The Council’s planned upgrades at Banyule Flats Reserve and Yallambie Park are exciting milestones. What kind of impact will these developments have for your players, members, and the broader community?

Nasr Said: Yallambie Park has been meant to get rebuilt for the last 25 to 30 years. We haven’t had a proper home ground for the past two years and it’s had a big impact on the club. Banyule Flats Reserve isn’t suitable for matches it has two cricket pitches which make the ground too small for football. And Yallambie Park has been deemed unsafe for play both this year and last year. 

The good news is Banyule Flats Reserve is scheduled to be rebuilt in September, and that’s a massive step forward. The council built a new pavilion there five or six years ago, it’s state-of-the-art, on par with NPL-level facilities. Once we have a proper ground there, it’ll be huge for the club.We’ve got an industrial-grade canteen and proper change rooms that will help us attract spectators, generate revenue, and give us a real home base.

As for Yallambie Park, the council has said for years they’ll fix the facilities and just recently, a council rep told us work will begin within weeks. All we can do now is hope. If both grounds are upgraded, it’ll be a game-changer financially and in terms of creating a safer, stronger environment for our members and players.

With nearly 200 junior members and growing senior squads, how do you ensure that every player has access to a clear development pathway from grassroots to competitive football?

Nasr Said: We have around 200 junior players, which is a great number for us it allows us to manage things properly and ensure quality across all levels. As a community club, we’re open to everyone. We don’t hold trials; anyone who wants to play is welcome, regardless of their experience. We’re not at NPL level, so we focus more on inclusion and development than elite selection at the junior stage.

That said, we still place a strong emphasis on growth. Our junior coordinator and technical director work closely with coaches to identify areas for improvement both for players and coaches. We have kids at all levels: some very talented, some still learning the basics.

This year, I’m starting to run the Banyule City Academy that is run through the club to support players who are more advanced and want to pursue football more seriously. It’s not about excluding others, but offering additional development to those aiming to go further. We teach our coaches, aid them in gaining proper accreditation through coaching courses. Through that, we guide them in working with these players in smaller groups, helping them refine their skills and understand our playing style. 

One of our key goals is consistency from juniors through to seniors. We guide our coachesby saying ‘This is what we want your players to do’ and teach a playing style that mirrors what our senior teams use, so when juniors progress, the transition is smoother. Ultimately, we want to give kids who are serious about football every chance to succeed – and maybe even play professionally one day.

Image Provided by Nasr Said

The U16 girls heading to the Borneo Cup in 2025 is a big moment. How did this opportunity come about, and what does it signal about the club’s ambitions in developing female footballers?

Nasr Said: The Borneo Cup opportunity actually came about through a good friend of mine, who was coaching at Watsonia Soccer Club. He’s really well connected in Australian football and knows a lot of players who’ve played internationally. He mentioned his under-16 girls’ team was looking for a better environment and that they weren’t happy at their current club. So we had the conversation, and those girls ended up coming across to Banyule.

Now we’ve got a strong under-16s girls squad around 17 or 18 players and while there’s still plenty of development ahead, they’ve got a great opportunity in front of them. The Borneo Cup is a serious international tournament, with high-level academies and teams from all over. We’ll be one of the only Melbourne clubs — possibly one of the only Australian ones taking part.

It’s a big deal. For many of these girls, it’ll be their first international tournament. There’ll be an opening ceremony – we’ll be walking under the Australian flag it’s going to be unforgettable. And more than that, it’s a huge step forward for the club. Not many local teams get the chance to represent on an international stage, so this says a lot about where we’re heading and what we want to build for female footballers at Banyule.

Looking ahead, what are your key priorities as President for continuing to build a club that’s competitive, inclusive, and deeply connected to its community?

Nasr Said: My number one priority is making sure the club’s doors are open to everyone—no matter who they are. Inclusivity is massive for us. I really want to build a strong foundation for our junior players, because at the end of the day, they’re the future of the club. My goal is to see our men’s team reach NPL or VPL level, and our women’s side competing in the NPL too. But more than that, it’s about creating a club where families and members genuinely feel welcome.

I make it a point to connect with parents whether that’s at training on a Tuesday or Thursday, or just having regular conversations to check in. I’ve seen clubs where that connection is missing, and I never want that to be us. The role of President isn’t about being above anyone—it’s about building a culture and a reputation that people talk about in a positive way.

Of course, growing our sponsor base is another key part of the vision, because to compete at higher levels, you need the right support structures in place. But whether it’s juniors or seniors, men’s or women’s football we treat every team the same here. It’s all part of the bigger picture. We’re not there yet, but I really believe we’re on the right track. These things take time. You can’t build something lasting overnight but we’re getting there.

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