Zaparas Lawyers Extends Deal with Melbourne Victory

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Image credit: Zaparas Lawyers

Zaparas Lawyers extended its long-standing deal with Melbourne Victory, a club synonymous with excellence, ambition and strong community values within Australian football.

Zaparas Lawyers is a Victorian-based law firm with over 40 years of experience specialising in personal injury and compensation law. The firm was founded in 1981 by Peter and Lia Zaparas and has grown from a family business into a larger team of legal professionals dedicated to helping people recover after injuries and get their lives back on track.

They focus on areas such as WorkCover, TAC (road accident) claims, superannuation and insurance matters, public liability and occupational disease claims including asbestos, silicosis and hearing loss. The firm combines legal expertise with a compassionate approach, taking time to understand each client’s story to provide tailored support and a smooth, stress-reduced legal process.

At its core, Zaparas Lawyers believes in the importance of supporting the community both on and off the field. The firm’s involvement across all levels of the game reflects its broader commitment to giving back and fostering long-term growth within the communities it serves. From grassroots football through to the professional stage, Zaparas Lawyers is dedicated to supporting every step of the football journey.

Zaparas Lawyers Partner, Yianni Zaparas said the continued partnership reflects the firm’s strong commitment to both elite sport and grassroots development, with a focus on supporting individuals and programs that create lasting impact within the community.

“We’re very proud to be supporting Melbourne Victory, Besart Berisha, and the academy and to continue our support for sport and the community,” he said via official media post.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie highlighted the importance of the ongoing partnership and its expanded focus on youth development, acknowledging the long-standing support Zaparas Lawyers has shown to both the club and the wider football community.

“At Melbourne Victory, we are incredibly excited to continue our partnership with Zaparas Lawyers. They’ve been long time supporters of both the club and football in general, but to have them this year on board supporting our academy teams is fantastic,” she added via official media post.

“We know they’re huge in the community but to really support and sponsor the next generation of Melbourne Victory and A-League players is amazing for us and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

This agreement with Melbourne Victory represents more than a sponsorship, it is a shared vision built on development, opportunity and long-term impact. Zaparas Lawyers is proud to stand alongside the club and its Academy as they continue to shape the future of Australian football and inspire the next generation.

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Football QLD to team up with Restore Function Physiotherapy

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Football Queensland announced last week it will be partnering with Restore Function Physiotherapy in a multi-year collaboration.

Elite preparation and performance

By establishing a long-term partnership with a business dedicated to supporting athletes in the region, Football Queensland are showing their commitment to supporting current and future players in their physical preparation.

Furthermore, by ensuring injuries are kept at bay through physiotherapy, strength and conditioning services, Restore Function Physiotherapy will help Football Queensland to keep their most talented players fit and firing throughout the season.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, expressed his delight at establishing the alliance and what it means for Football Queensland’s football development going forward.

“Our partnership with Restore Function Physiotherapy is a key step in continuing to raise the standard of FQ Academy and State Team programs,” Cavallucci said via press release.

“Restore Function Physiotherapy will deliver a range of services across our boys’ and girls’ pathways, including training and match coverage, injury screening, rehabilitation and high performance support,” he continued.

“The experience everyone at Restore Function Physiotherapy bring from elite sport will help to further professionalise our programs and support the long-term development and wellbeing of Queensland players.”

 

Supporting long-term development

As Football Queensland looks to build a sustainable footballing future across the region, prioritising players’ health will be essential. With training partners like Restore Function Physiotherapy, clubs can help their players become elite athletes, ultimately improving the footballing standards on the pitch.

Restore Function Physiotherapy Owner and Founder, Miranda O’Hara, revealed her pride at having established an alliance with Football QLD for the upcoming season and beyond.

“We’re proud to partner with Football Queensland and support its Academy and State Team players with high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy and high performance programs,” O’Hara said via press release.

“Our role is to work closely with players and staff to deliver injury prevention, rehabilitation and S&C programs that support sustainable high performance and long-term athlete development.”

It is clear that the impact of a partnership between Football QLD and Restore Function Physiotherapy goes far beyond a mere commercial venture. It is an alliance which can help a local business, as well as nurture future talents coming through the Football QLD system.

Ultimately, by providing Queensland players with elite training and support networks, a distinct culture of excellence and professionalism is created before they step onto the pitch.

 

Read more about Restore Function Physiotherapy and the services they provide here.

 

Is the FW Regional Girls Training Camp bridging the access gap for talent?

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Image Credit: Football West

In Western Australia, the tyranny of distance has historically functioned as the primary barrier to talent identification.

For regional footballers, the logistical and financial burden of accessing elite pathways often renders the concept of “equal opportunity” a theoretical ideal rather than an operational reality. However, the recent Regional Girls Training Camp, hosted at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, suggests that Football West is moving to operationalise the structural changes announced in its 2026 academy overhaul.

Earlier this week, nearly 100 players aged 10 to 17 converged on the State Centre for Football in Cannington. The three-day camp invited participants from the previous year’s Country Week carnival, represents the first tangible application of the “real-match” and high-performance philosophy outlined by Football West Development Manager Gareth Naven late last year.

While the previous announcement of the Regional Academy model focused on the structural shift from training camps to competitive “State Carnivals,” this current initiative addresses the resource gap. For stakeholders and policymakers, the camp serves as a case study in how centralised infrastructure assets can be leveraged to service a decentralised demographic.

Infrastructure as an equity lever

A lack of high-performance environments defines the economic reality of regional football. The facility gap between metro NPL setups and regional clubs is often vast. Football West uses the Sam Kerr Football Centre to subsidise the “professional experience” for regional talent.

Sarah Carroll, Female Football & Advocacy Manager, notes the purpose extends beyond simple engagement. The curriculum fused on-pitch technical training with athlete development workshops.

Geography usually blocks access to this sport science for a 14-year-old Pilbara or Goldfields player. By centralising this education, the governing body helps standardise the player pool’s knowledge base. Naven’s alignment strategy demands closing the “knowledge gap” alongside the technical one.

The economics of the “Legacy”

Critically, the WA Government funds the camp through the Female Community Legacy Program. This highlights the Legacy Program’s ROI for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

A stated aim to “enhance club capability” acknowledges that player development requires an ecosystem. The funding mechanism here is significant. Without state intervention, the cost per head would prohibit many families from attending.

Targeted funding bridges the gap between community participation and elite commercial viability. Regional Lead Tanya Amazzini calls these opportunities “essential” for player growth and confidence.

Strategic alignment with the 2026 pathway

Observers must view this camp alongside the Regional Academy system overhaul. The new “State Carnival” model demands players physically prepared for elite competition. This camp functions as the preparatory phase for that new competitive reality.

Football West uses elite exposure to mitigate the shock of transitioning to state programs. Furthermore, involving players from the Pilbara to the South West keeps the talent net wide. Maintaining sight on remote talent requires constant investment.

The residual challenge

However, the long-term impact warrants caution. The “re-entry” phase remains the primary challenge. Players return to clubs with significantly fewer resources than the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Success depends on the “trickle-down” effect of the education provided. If players transfer this knowledge locally, the aggregate standard of regional football rises. If isolated, the experience may simply make the regional gap feel more pronounced.

Integrating 100 regional girls into the state’s premier facility executes the strategic plan. It signals that the Centre delivers dividends to the broader ecosystem, not just the elite.

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