Persistence Pays Off: Oakleigh Cannons Celebrate $14.7m Upgrade at Jack Edwards Reserve

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Image Credit: Oakleigh Cannons

Oakleigh Cannons officially unveiled their new $14.7 million grandstand and facilities at Jack Edwards Reserve after years of planning and development.

It’s an exciting time for the Cannons who have been yearning for this project for over 25 years, when it was just a long-shot concept and a dream.

Club President Stan Papayianneris and Chairman Kon Kavalakis spearheaded the deal and were the masterminds behind eventually securing the mega project that will play a big part in the club’s future of player development.

Grandstand unveiling. Image Credit: Oakleigh Cannons

Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and a member for Oakleigh spoke with great passion about getting this project over the line after many important conversations.

“I feel very emotional because it is a life’s work for a lot of people and it’s for a whole community but this has happened because of the leadership of senior Greek-Australians in Melbourne, it’s their legacy.” Dimopoulos said to club media.

“This is a legacy and it’s an overused word but this is absolutely a legacy and what I mean by that is; it secures the future of hundreds of thousands of kids to play here [Jack Edwards Reserve] for the next 50 years. That is legacy.

“The people with bold ideas, the ones who make it versus the ones who don’t make it, the missing ingredient is persistence and this club, especially Kon Kavalakis, had persistence.

“It wasn’t about them; it was about the kids and yes I did have doubts at one point but it all worked out.”

The grandstand was first used in August for their remaining NPL fixtures including the finals match against Preston Lions which garnered a big crowd. A taste of what is to come in 2026 and beyond.

For the foreseeable future, the new developments at Jack Edwards Reserve will serve well for the growth of the club and Victorian football whilst also playing a big part in the club’s top-tier youth system, with fantastic facilities aiding their development.

Kids on the pitch during the day. Image Credit: Oakleigh Cannons

Oakleigh Cannons Club President Stan Papayianneris was a major player in this project and spoke about its importance for the stature of the club.

“This is a culmination of a lot of work over many years and a big plus for the club, something we’ve dreamed about. This is the fruition of what is a dream and it’s an amazing facility for our children.” he said to club media.

“This stadium has elevated the stature of the club and the clubs ability to provide the infrastructure necessary for the development of our children in an environment that is magnificent, it’s safe and will be here for a few generations.”

The new $14.7 million development represents a defining moment for Oakleigh Cannons, rewarding decades of persistence and community effort.

It stands as a testament to the club’s vision and the vital support of local councils and the Victorian Government in driving football infrastructure forward.

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Central Coast Mariners Women secure future under Holman Barnes Group

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Image Credits: Central Coast Mariners

The future of the Central Coast Mariners Women has been secured after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) reached an agreement to become the new operator of the club’s A-League Women program. The deal ends uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation in the 2026/27 season.

The agreement between HBG, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) ensures the Mariners will remain in the Ninja A-League Women competition. It also introduces a new operating model designed to provide long-term stability.

The uncertainty emerged following TSG’s acquisition of the Central Coast Mariners’ men’s side and academy in June. The women’s program was excluded from the original takeover. TSG already owns English football side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and MLS club Los Angeles FC. The omission placed the future of the 2025 A-League Women champions in doubt. It also prompted the APL to seek a sustainable solution ahead of the new campaign.

A new operating model

Under the new arrangement, HBG will oversee all operational aspects of the women’s team. This includes the football program, staffing and day-to-day management. TSG will retain the club licence and continue overseeing the men’s program and academy. It will also support the women’s operation through its broader football network.

The agreement represents an innovative partnership between the three organisations. It has been designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of professional women’s football on the Central Coast. HBG’s plans extend beyond the senior team. They include a strong focus on developing participation pathways and creating greater opportunities for female footballers throughout New South Wales.

Attention turns to the new season

The transition comes at a crucial time with preparations for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season underway ahead of its October 16 start. The new operators are expected to begin managing the program immediately. This remains subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory processes. The team currently has no sponsors and games are expected to be moved away from Central Coast Stadium.

The A-League had previously set a July 31 deadline for new owners to be found to secure a place in the upcoming competition. With that now achieved, HBG will be on the clock to ensure the season begins without disruption and becomes a commercial success.

For the Central Coast Mariners Women, the agreement delivers certainty after a turbulent off-season. It also allows the club to shift its attention to the 2026/27 campaign and the team’s on-field performance.

South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

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