Western United to play Australia Day fixture at Whitten Oval

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Image via Fox Sports

On Friday, newly formed A-League club Western United announced that they would host their match against Adelaide United at the Whitten Oval.

The match, set to take place on Australia Day (January 26) will mark the third AFL ground that Mark Rudan’s side has used this season as a home venue.

Previously to this, Mars Stadium in Ballarat and GMBHA Stadium in Geelong have been used.

On paper, this is a perfect move for the expansion club. Their match against the Reds will mark their first official match to take place in western Melbourne, opposed to greater western Victoria.

Their stadium in Tarneit is on course for a 2021 completion, so obviously until then, they need to make do with what’s available.

But now, they finally have a chance to play in front of the people who were their targeted demographic from day one.

The Whitten Oval is a great location in itself, having played host to large scale AFLW games and consistent seasons of the VFL. So the ground will be up to scratch for 90 minutes of A-League football.

Currently, the AFL, AFLW and VFL are in their off-seasons, so there is no risk of any clash between AFL side the Western Bulldogs and Western United.

There was only a minor risk of clash between the match and any pre-season training for the Bulldogs. But thankfully, the 2016 AFL premiers are on a training camp up north on the Sunshine Coast at the time of Australia Day.

In an article from The Age, United CEO Chris Pehlivanis and Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains echoed each other’s thoughts on the prospect of A-League football at Whitten.

“We will continue to be a club for all who call the west home as we take this journey together,” Pehlivanis said.

“Relocating our round 16 fixture to Whitten Oval gives the club’s growing fanbase an opportunity to taste the A-League at another family friendly, community venue in the west.”

“Hosting A-League football at Whitten Oval is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the broad capability of our venue and to connect with a new audience,” said Bains.

“We have been able to create a unique, family-friendly atmosphere for sporting events we have hosted at Whitten Oval, particularly in the summer months at our AFLW matches.”

United’s start to the season has been a mixed bag, both on and off the field.

Many A-League fans would agree in us saying that it’s a nice breath of fresh air to have a new side, boasting new names as well as some familiar faces in the competition.

Their on field performance has been decent. They currently sit in fifth on the A-League table and despite some disappointing results as of late, they remain firmly in contention for a finals berth in their inaugural season.

That in itself is a remarkable achievement, should Alessandro Diamanti and co. get it done.

But off the field, there has been a struggle for numbers, particularly at home games.

They currently hold the second-lowest attendance record in the competition this season, averaging a measly 6,225 per game. They also hold the record for lowest attendance at a single game this season.

In their round nine encounter against Sydney FC, a mere 4,187 fans clicked through the turnstiles in Geelong as the reigning champions of the A-League ran out 2-0 winners.

Understandably, as a new side it’s tough to acquire fans from the get-go and to establish genuine connections with fans will take time. Poor on-field results would go a long way to diminishing any hopes of that.

But with time and the opening of their new stadium in the near future, it’s a simple case of staying the course for Pehlivanis and co.

This match on Australia Day in the heart of Melbourne’s inner-western suburbs could do a world of good for Western. With tickets reportedly going for as little as $6, it could be the beginning of a wonderful new relationship between them and the Western Bulldogs.

Fingers crossed for them that regardless of the on-field result, they have a good showing from their fans and any neutrals who watch them as well.

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Caelum Ferrarese is a Senior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on micro policy within Australasia and industry disruptions at grassroots level.

Football West unveils Football Australia Academy

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Image credit: Football West website

Football West has confirmed its excitement about launching the Football Australia Academy for 2025.

The Football Australia Academy will serve talented boys aged 12 to 15, with a primary focus on player development.

It is in line with Football Australia’s new 10-Year National Technical Strategy and is incorporated into the advanced pathway program nationwide.

The Football West-operated Academy has been created with contributions from various levels of football governance and is aimed at preparing young talent for advancement to higher levels, such as the A-League and national representation.

It has received endorsement from the Football Australia Board, national team Head Coaches, as well as the Football West Board and Game Development Committee.

The full-time boys’ program will run alongside Football West’s girls’ NTC program, which has recently produced graduates like Georgia Cassidy, Ruby Cuthbert, and Ischia Brooking who have competed in the A-League Women’s league and earned selections for junior national teams.

Football Australia Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick stated that the Football Australia Academy provides a clear pathway for identifying and developing Australian talent.

“The timing for the Football Australia Academy to be implemented in Western Australia as a full-time program has never been more important,” he said via press release.

“This aligns with the National Technical Strategy and direction with the launch of the Football Australia Academy model integrated with our Member Federations.

“Working with young players, Football West, supported by Football Australia, can create a positive developmental environment for both coaches and players that will assist this cohort in progressing their football journey and continuing the strong record of development in Western Australia.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell mentioned that the new Academy would provide talented boys with the best chance to elevate their game to the highest level.

“Football West is thrilled to launch the Football Australia Academy and we look forward to working directly with Football Australia in developing the next generations of West Australian talent,” he said via press release.

“This wasn’t a decision made lightly but made with the best interests of the game as a whole, both for WA and Australia.

“The Football Australia Academy will operate to enhance the technical skills, tactical understanding and high-performance behaviours of players in WA. There is a clear development focus throughout the program. The Football Australia Academy also allows for the identification and progression of coaches, both those in the program and those with the local clubs.

“The Football Australia Academy will expand opportunities for young players across metropolitan, regional and rural areas, ensuring a broader and more inclusive pathway for talent. This approach is designed to complement, not compete with, local club programs.”

To find out more information about trials, click here.

AC Milan and New York Yankees unveil exclusive lifestyle collection

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Image credit: Christian Pulisic Instagram

AC Milan and the New York Yankees, two of the most famous sports teams globally, have teamed up to launch an exclusive lifestyle collection called the ACM x New York Yankees. The collection includes outerwear, headwear, youth items, and accessories.

Both teams are globally recognised not just for their sporting achievements but also as cultural symbols of huge cities in Milan and New York.

The collection features the iconic logos of both clubs, with sleek designs showcasing the Yankees’ “NY” logo and AC Milan’s red-and-black crest. The items blend Milan’s elegant style with the street-savvy vibe of New York, appealing to a broad international audience.

Fans can purchase the collection at Yankee Stadium, MLB Flagship Store in Manhattan, San Siro Stadium, AC Milan stores, and both of the clubs online store as well as the MLB website.

This collaboration builds on the connection between AC Milan and the Yankees’ ownership group, RedBird Capital Partners, founded by Gerry Cardinale. Yankee Global Enterprises acquired a minority stake in AC Milan in August 2022.

AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani emphasised the significance of the collaboration.

“With the introduction of the ACM x New York Yankees collection, we celebrate a unique moment in the history of our two iconic brands… The entirety of this collaboration is an homage to the transcendent impact that the cities of Milan and New York maintain on fashion and culture around the world, and we are eager to see that cross-cultural spirit reflected as people enjoy the collection,” Furlani said in a joint press release.

Yankees President Randy Levine echoed this sentiment.

“The New York Yankees and AC Milan are each synonymous with their respective sports and cities… Bringing them together for this project made sense on so many levels, especially considering how our brands resonate among fans of both sports and fashion,” Levine mentioned in a press release.

“We are also thrilled to deepen the ties between our teams and congratulate those who provided input in the design for making a collection that has style and substance.”

The collection’s standout piece is a varsity jacket, along with other items like t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, and New Era baseball caps and beanies.

Co-branded items such as baseballs, playing cards, and notebooks are also available for both sets of fans.

This is an extremely smart business decision by RedBird Capital Partners who utilise their partnership connection for the first time in the two years it’s been acquired.

Combining two of sports’ most iconic teams and brands from sports that are extremely historic and prestigious is going to be popular amongst not only just the fans of the two clubs but of pop culture where the branding is seen in everyday streetwear.

Being from two iconic cities in the world and New York’s very heavy Italian heritage, it capitalises on major markets that will certainly sell these limited edition items in bulk.

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