Victoria’s football community gathered at Parliament House on Thursday for the launch of the Level the Playing Field initiative, bringing together government representatives, councils, administrators and grassroots clubs in a rare show of unity for the game.
Held in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House Melbourne, the event marked the formal introduction of the campaign and highlighted the growing collaboration between football stakeholders and government to support the sport’s rapid growth across the state.
The launch was organised through the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria, a newly established group aimed at strengthening ties between football and policymakers at federal, state and local levels.
Speaking at the event, co-convenor Anthony Cianflone emphasised the significance of bringing the sport’s diverse ecosystem together under one roof.
“This is the very purpose of establishing the Parliamentary Friends of Football Victoria,” he said.
“It’s about bringing together federal, state and local governments with the entire football ecosystem – something that has never been done before.”
Cianflone described the gathering as a historic moment for the sport in Victoria, noting that the state’s parliament had never previously hosted a dedicated football event of this scale.
“Queen’s Hall being booked out for football has never happened before,” he said. “Hopefully it leaves a lasting impression about what football means to local communities and why continued investment and support is so important.”
The event drew representatives from clubs across Victoria, alongside administrators and officials from across the football landscape, reflecting the sport’s deep grassroots foundations and broad community reach.
Leaders from Football Victoria also addressed the gathering, highlighting the role football plays in promoting health, social inclusion and community connection across the state.
The launch comes at a time of significant momentum for the sport nationally, following the record-breaking success of the Australia women’s national soccer team and growing participation numbers at grassroots level.
With football participation continuing to rise across Victoria, organisers said the event represented an important step toward strengthening collaboration between clubs, governing bodies and government to support the future of the game.
