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Uncovering the landscape of youth football in Western Australia
The recent inclusion of seven Perth Glory NPL players in the extended 28-player Joey squad for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup has sparked curiosity to explore the state of junior football in Western Australia (WA).
In this article, we will delve into the intricacies and nuances of the local youth football scene, shedding light on its current status and inherent flaws.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the system, it is crucial to examine its structure. The JNPL initiates at U13’s. From U16’s, up until senior football, teams are not subject to promotion or relegation. Instead, the league placement solely revolves around the standings of the Men’s first team.
As a result, we often see a jumble of constantly changing allegiances among players, fuelled by the success of clubs in the season prior. This dynamic leads to a lack of loyalty and makes establishing clear pathways into the first team difficult.
Armadale SC’s U18 JNPL team perfectly depicts this problem. They currently occupy 12th place in the table with only one point, having conceded 54 goals in 11 games. It’s clear that they fall short of the playing standard. However, as it stands, they won’t be relegated due to the Men’s first team’s current third-place position.
To address this well-recognised issue, recommendations have been put forth by both the NPL and Junior Standing Committees (last in 2020) to restructure the current framework.
The NPL Standing Committee proposed a solution involving the establishment of two leagues within the JNPL: JNPL1 and JNPL2. The objective is to foster more closely contested competitions throughout the year. This can be achieved by either aligning all NPL teams with senior NPL teams or structuring the leagues based on finishing positions from the season’s previous Championship rounds, followed by divisional stages.
On the other hand, the Junior Standing Committee recommended that the future competition structure of the Junior NPL be merit-based, promoting a meritocratic approach. This would entail clubs being promoted or demoted based on their performance at the end of each season.
Both suggestions were noted but not implemented by Football West at the time.
Returning to Glory’s Academy success, their flourishing talent production line can be attributed to a plethora of reasons, including but not limited to:
A clear elite player development model and age-specific curriculum
Sole professional team in the state
Ample opportunities for youngsters
Talent absorption within the region
High-quality youth coaching
Furthermore, when analysing the cohort of Perth-based players chosen by Brad Maloney for the upcoming Asian Cup, a noticeable pattern emerges; with the exception of two individuals, all of them are current members of the Perth Glory NPL (U21) squad.
This leads us to two significant conclusions. Firstly, it suggests that the overall standard of football in Western Australia is comparatively inadequate, as these 17-year-olds are excelling in the state’s premier competition at such a tender age. Secondly, it highlights the distinct approach of Glory, who are actively providing opportunities for these young talents.
At present, Football West is conducting a comprehensive assessment of junior football in Western Australia, and starting in 2024, implementation plans will be put into motion based on the findings.
Both players and clubs will be eagerly anticipating the rectification of the fundamental deficiencies that have persistently plagued the junior system.
The Junior Review WA Survey 2023 can be found here.
Melbourne's Federation Square. Credit BBC Sport/GETTY IMAGES
Australian football is continuing to grow, with record attendances and TV viewership up year-on-year due to the increasing value and demand of games across the country.
What started as a small ember stoked by a cultural heritage brought from Europe, has borne a league invested in by foreign states and major global equity firms, and a country that consistently supports its national teams at major tournaments globally; the fire is truly alive. But, can it be sustained and given even more life?
Ann-Marie Balliana, secretary of Illawarra club Fairy Meadow United, spoke with Soccerscene. ‘The biggest challenge for football in this country is how to take advantage of huge grassroots numbers and translate this into support for other levels of the game,’ said Balliana, formerly a long-term CEO of Football South Coast.
‘Instead of capitalising on this huge asset of participation numbers, it appears football is unfortunately bound by limited investment and various layers of internal boundaries.
‘There are lots of opportunities for football to rise to the next level, and significant work required to get there.’
The World Cup proves football belongs in Australia:
The success of the Socceroos in reaching the last six consecutive men’s World Cups has greatly boosted the domestic interest in football, with the 2026 World Cup highlighting how far the team has come, and how many people are behind them to succeed. The SBS and SBS On Demand coverage of the tournament reached over 18 million Australians (64% of the population) and over 209 million hours were consumed via these sites. Meanwhile, over 10,000 dedicated fans paid up to AUD $25,000 to watch their country participate live in North America.
I took in the tournament from Melbourne, and the energy among the city was undeniable. Bubbling with excitement were people conversing who usually wouldn’t, and there lay an air of calm between the 90 minutes of euphoric nation-wide highs.
Federation Square was at full capacity (7,500) for many of the group games and the knockout match against Egypt- despite the 4.00am kick-off time.
Alongside that, AAMI Park held 6,000 more spectators in the early hours of the day for the knockout game. Despite the time zone killing any convenience, the fans diligently showed up. The post-World Cup glow also took effect: Queensland selling out both recent friendlies against Brazil.
World Cup 2026 TV ratings
Match
Overall reach
Average audience viewership
Key detail
Final: Spain vs France
5.26m (peak)
2.69m
Most watched World Cup match in SBS history
Australia vs Paraguay
4.84m
3.09m
Highest viewed fixture for Socceroos
Australia vs Turkey
4.78m
3.04m
Top performing early fixture
The rise of the domestic game persists:
Domestically too, figures show Australian football is continuing to grow. October’s 2026 Australia Cup final betweenSouth Melbourne and Melbourne Victory was not only a match that will be remembered by fans for its entertainment and underdog storyline, but for investors and governing bodies that can clearly see the growing market for football in this country. AAMI Park had its record attendance broken as 29,911 spectators packed in to watch the game. Furthermore, the TV viewership of the Cup final had a 56% increase from the previous year. The demand for football is growing significantly.
A-League Stats and Records 2025/26 season:
3 sold out finals games- 22% increase on attendance last season.
27% increase in digital viewership on Paramount+ and 17% on 10 Streaming.
For the last four seasons, over 1.3 million fans have attended games throughout the campaign
TV viewership exceeded 11 million views.
Social media reached over 7 million people (10% increase).
Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United and Perth Glory all broke their previous attendance records.
The Cup final saw a non A-League club win the trophy for the first time in competition history.
South Melbourne fans. Credit SMFC
‘It also showed that NPL clubs such as South Melbourne have a fantastic support base, and this shows the potential of football to really capitalise on the community support that does exist for clubs,’ said Balliana.
‘The costs of running an A-League club are clearly the biggest issue in growing our national competition, and without significant investment through broadcast, government and other revenue streams, there are limited opportunities to take advantage of huge grassroots numbers.’
England is widely regarded as having the best domestic competitions on the planet, largely due to its impact on communities right across the country. However, its most attractive quality is competitiveness, and this is best showcased in the FA Cup. Teams across all divisions have the chance to play against each other, which occasionally sees semi-professional ‘non-league’ sides the opportunity to play against a giant, such as Manchester United or Liverpool.
Often referred to as the ‘magic’ of the cup, there is a belief that any team can win on any given day – even if their odds of succeeding are the football equivalent of what David had in beating Goliath.
The magic is in the upsets, and that competitiveness is what ties the whole football pyramid together. For the game in Australia to grow, and to sustain itself, matches must be competitive from the first minute to the last, from the A-Leagues to the grassroots pitches all across the country.
The importance of grassroots football:
To understand football- from financial investments, market growth, popularity or simply emotional attachment – you have to start at the bottom of the pyramid. The base of football in every country is the grassroots game. It lays the foundation, and both the future of the A-League and the Soceroos & Matildas is entirely in the hands of the grassroots level.
Globally, amateur matches are played everyday. Those clubs have a youth system, in which the talent pool is small, and so more established clubs recruit players from that pool. This process continues all the way to the world’s elite. Domestic talent comes from grassroots football, and without domestic talent, the game is nothing. Once a fire is lit, it needs a constant fuel source to keep it alive. If the wood is wet or rotting, the fire will slowly dissipate into ash. To keep that from happening, the fuel needs to be re-supplied so it steadily grows. Neglecting grassroots football is the quickest way for the game to decline and it is why it is imperative that it is well-funded.
‘Grassroots football is where children start their journey in football. It’s where players fall in love with the game and develop a passion for playing,’ said Balliana. ‘This not only applies to players, but also administrators, coaches and referees. Grassroots football creates opportunities for all roles across football providing pathways across all levels of the game.’
Recently, Football NSW pledged over AUD $200,000 to three amateur clubs. The funding will allow them to upgrade facilities, create more inclusive and accessible environments and improve the fans match day experience.
Additionally, since 2020 the Dickinson Foundation set up the Active Kids Grant and has provided over AUD $5.5 million worth of equipment and uniform to support over 1000 community clubs. In 2026, 40 football clubs were supported nationwide.
Commitment to grassroots is necessary, nation-wide. With it, clubs can grow and give players the opportunity to improve and be noticed by more established teams. Investing in grassroots football is investing in the future.
Finance and infrastructure:
As the game has grown throughout the pyramid, so too has investment in it. Globally speaking, football is an industry that has boomed in the digital age, and grown beyond what was previously conceived as possible. Some investors were early; others are riding the wave hoping it never breaks, but inevitably it will. Everything has to peak, yet that doesn’t mean all conclusions are negative Whatever the fate of the financial wave, neither a tsunami nor shallow brake will impact people’s true love of the game. The game may take many forms, but the fans will be there for generations to come.
In 2021, US private equity firm Silver Lake acquired a 33.3% minority stake in the A-League for AUD 140 million that valued the whole organisation at AUD 425 million. The finances of the APL have been an issue in the years since, and what becomes of their relationship with Silver Lake remains to be seen. In positive news, Network 10 & Paramount+ recently renewed their broadcast deal worth AUD 100million for an additional two years, so interest is there. Domestically, football has plenty of space to grow.
‘There is always a direct relationship between World Cup success and increased participation given the exposure of football is heightened and more people want to play,’ Balliana continued. ‘However, this also comes with challenges as infrastructure is clearly not to the level it needs to be to support the size and growth of football across our region and the country.’
As audiences grow – particularly when it comes to our national teams – the fire will continue to need fuel, and that can only be sourced organically from the ground up. Through the continued development of grassroots football, football can still grow to be the dominant sport in this country.
Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) on Tuesday announced a three-year alliance with respected Australian mental health advocacy group R U OK? The alliance seeks to strengthen support structures and education around mental health within the football community, giving players the confidence and ability to recognise when someone might be struggling, and the tools to start an R U OK? conversation. The PFA’s most recent Player Development Program Report revealed demand for mental health services among its players continues to grow, with 992 confidential counselling services accessed by players in the past financial year – indicating both that professional football’s pressures remain, but also that player awareness on the means to seek support is trending in the right direction. PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch welcomed the alliance. ‘Professional footballers face unique pressures throughout their careers, and it’s clear from our data that more players are reaching out for support than ever before,’ said Busch. ‘The growth in confidential counselling sessions shows both the scale of the challenge and the importance of ensuring players have access to trusted, independent support.
‘Working together with R U OK? allows us to build on that work by empowering players with the tools to look after each other, and to lead conversations that can have a genuine impact.’ R U OK? CEO Lach Searle told the PFA his organisation feels their partnership will build on values that those playing the game inherently understand.
‘Football is built on connection, teamwork and looking out for each other. This alliance is about building on those strengths and making meaningful conversations part of the culture of the game. ‘We want players, clubs and communities to feel confident to notice when someone might be struggling, trust their gut and ask, ‘are you OK?’. Because a conversation can change a life.’
Former Australian professional footballer David Clarkson lived the ups and downs of the game through his twelve-year career in the local National Soccer League. He is one of fifteen former players who have become R U OK? Football Champions, who will work inside A-Leagues clubs towards enacting meaningful conversations on wellbeing. ‘I remember the day very well. It was while I was still playing. Being asked, ‘are you OK?’ made me feel noticed and cared for at a time when I was finding things difficult,” said Clarkson. ‘It gave me permission to be honest instead of simply saying I was fine. Having someone listen helped me feel less alone and reminded me that I didn’t have to manage everything by myself.
‘It also taught me the importance of checking in with others. Asking R U OK? may seem like a small gesture, but it can open the door to an important conversation and let someone know that their wellbeing matters.’ Other Football Champions include Lucas Pantelis, Kirsty Yallop, Rosie Sutton, Michael Thwaite, Maddy Whittall, Andrew McDermott, Doug Hodgson, Tash Rigby, Chris Harold, Julia De Angelis, Brendan Renaud, Tessel Middag and Emma Stanbury. In addition to Football Champions, free evidence-based tools and resources from R U OK? Will be embedded into PFA programs, helping players build more connected and supported club environments across all levels of the game. About R U OK?
R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that aims to inspire and empower people to meaningfully connect with friends, family and colleagues who might be struggling with life. Throughout the year, R U OK? provides practical tools and resources to help Australians recognise when someone might be struggling, start a meaningful conversation and lend appropriate support.
