Dear Victorian Football Community,
We hope this update finds our football community well and filled with excitement, as the 2024 football season progresses, and the excitement and passion surrounding football creates an electrifying atmosphere both on and off the pitch.
We extend a warm welcome to all participants, both new and returning. I know we can all agree that there is nothing like the sight and sound of football pitches filled with people of all ages enjoying our wonderful game – we’re so excited to be back!
We are also thrilled to share that as a result of your dedication and passion, for the second year in a row, we have achieved record-breaking registration numbers for players, referees, and coaches.
Over 86,600 players have registered so far this season, and we’re so pleased to be able to share that women and girls’ registrations have grown by almost 30% compared to 2023! A big welcome to all new participants joining the football family in 2024, this is just the beginning of what we know will be a lifetime love of our game.
Our game does not exist without coaches and referees – two of the most challenging, yet rewarding roles in football. Referee registrations have increased over 70% in 2024, with female referees increasing a whopping 180% on this time last year.
Coach registrations have increased almost 50%, with a massive 70% increase in female representation.
This overwhelming response is a testament to the passion and dedication of our football community here in Victoria, supported by thousands of volunteers serving their local communities. The hours that football volunteers commit to serving their clubs are often not seen or recognised - but your contribution genuinely shapes our game. We thank you for your tireless dedication to your football communities. Your enthusiasm fuels our commitment to continuously improve and enhance the football experience for everyone involved.
This ethos forms the backbone of Football Victoria’s proposed 2024-2028 strategy, which will set the course for the next era of Victorian football. This strategic roadmap will guide our efforts in fostering growth, inclusivity, and excellence within the sport, shaping a vibrant future for football in our state. We look forward to sharing more details and collating feedback from our community and football stakeholders to help shape its final release mid-year.
Our 2023 Annual General Meeting date will shortly be announced. This will be our last AGM under our previous governance structure, with elected Members representing our football community. Moving forward, Football Victoria will operate under a new governance structure, the result of long planned constitutional reform that was recommended as part of the Constitutional Reform Group (CRG) and formally ratified by voting members at the Special General Meeting held in November 2023.
This reform includes a Constitutional change to our voting structure to a one club, one vote model, with all eligible Clubs receiving voting rights. In addition to the change in voting structure, Football Victoria will be transferring our registration from an incorporated association under Consumer Affairs Victoria to a company limited by guarantee under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
In relation to the Directorship of Football Victoria, it was resolved by the members at the Special General Meeting in November 2023 that the Directors at that time would remain the initial officeholders of the organisation on registration as a company. There would then be no election for Directors at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, with a number of elections to take place for the 2024 Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held in May 2025.
These changes will ensure that our governance structure aligns with the evolving needs of our community.
Following the release of the Discussion Paper and Stakeholder Survey Results on January 29th, Football Victoria’s Regional Review continues to progress, as we work closely with our regional stakeholders and key internal personnel to identify opportunities for growth and development in grassroots football. Community consultation sessions will continue throughout June and July, with final recommendations to be formed to conclude the project in the third quarter of the year.
Furthermore we can provide an update on the recently announced NTC review which underscores our focus on nurturing talent and creating environments for success and excellence within a supportive environment. A partner for the review has been appointed in Gemba, with the consultation phase commencing in coming weeks, with a report and recommendations due before the end of August, and considerations for implementation by October 2024. This comprehensive assessment will play a pivotal role in enhancing our development pathways and ensuring that every aspiring footballer has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
In pursuit of ongoing improvement and alignment with best practice, we have also commenced an analysis of our Junior Boys Advanced (JBNPL) competition structures and program, partnering with Solucio, to ensure we have the optimal structures to achieve high-quality, developmental pathways for young athletes across the state. We look forward to engaging with our community and providing further updates on the process shortly.
As you would have recently read, the Football Victoria Board has been bolstered by the appointment of Dr Angela Williams, who fills a casual vacancy left by Joanna Bladen. In addition, we are in the final stages of appointing two new FV Senior Leadership roles - Executive Manager of High Performance and Pathways, and Executive Manager of Commercial. We look forward to announcing these appointments in the coming weeks.
Our State Football Centre, The Home of The Matildas at La Trobe University, continues to support the pursuits of our community. Every night and weekend, the pitches are alive with training, matches, courses and gala events. Many Victorians have already achieved their first qualifications, kicked their first goal or officiated their first game on our pitches – and we know many more will enjoy the opportunity to utilise these world-class facilities this season.
Construction will shortly commence on our third synthetic pitch at the facility, which, combined with our two hybrid pitches, brings the footprint of the precinct to five pitches.
Football Victoria’s premier fixtures will be hosted at the facility this year, including the NPL Men’s and Women’s Finals, Nike FC Cup and Dockerty Cup Finals. With the Dockerty Cup marking its 100th edition in 2024 and female football celebrating 50 years since the first women’s organised match, we’ll be elevating these events to new levels.
We will welcome representatives from Newcastle United to our facility this month, during their upcoming tour in Melbourne, hosting technical and community sessions at the precinct. This collaboration showcases our world-class facilities and cements our place amongst the best training facilities available.
Our game is supported at all levels by like-minded partners who are passionate about our game. To the myriad of partners, both within FV and at Clubs, we thank you for supporting our game and underpinning its sustainability.
In closing, we would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to football in Victoria. Together, we will continue to build a vibrant and thriving football community that enriches the lives of all who participate.
Wishing you all ongoing success and an enjoyable 2024 season.
Warm regards,
Antonella Care
Football Victoria President
Chris Pehlivanis
Football Victoria CEO