Independent candidate throws support behind the new Tasmanian Home of Football

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Ahead of this weekend’s Federal Election, Independent Candidate for Franklin, Brendan Blomeley has backed a Home of Football at Wentworth Park which has been welcomed by Football Tasmania.

The Home of Football will offer more fields and facilities to support every level of football in Tasmania, from local grassroots teams to elite talent development and academy programs, and will also serve as the future home base for a potential Tasmanian A-League club.

Blomeley explained the decision behind his support.

“Wentworth Park in Franklin is the ideal location for a purpose-built facility that caters for all levels of all football, from grassroots to elite,” he said in a press release.

“Football is growing and is running out of space in the South of the State, and Franklin should be home to this facility to create football pathways for the future, from MiniRoos to the Socceroos and Matildas.

“Tasmania needs a facility that will benefit the entire football community.”

Football Tasmania is looking for funding to build the $80 million Home of Football, which would feature six full-sized pitches, three synthetic and three grass, along with four five-a-side fields, catering to everyone from local clubs to elite-level players.

The facility would also include modern changing rooms and training areas for both women and men.

Football Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Tony Pignata expressed his excitement about receiving the Independent Candidate’s support.

“We are thrilled to receive Mr Blomeley’s support today. Tasmanians love our football, and the sport continues to grow,” he said in a press release.

“What we need now is for our Federal, State and Local Governments to provide their communities with the facilities they need to participate in the sport that they love.

“The success of our Tasmanian teams, such as the JackJumpers in the NBL and the Hurricanes in the BBL, show what is possible with the support of all levels of government.

“We strive for an elite football presence in the national A-League competition, to rightfully take our place on the national stage and to provide a complete pathway for our footballers who aspire to play professionally.

“I thank Brendan for his support, and will continue to work with Labor and the Liberals to secure their support for this important infrastructure for future generations.”

Last year in Tasmania, participation increased by five percent compared to 2023, reaching a total of 31,278, which includes a three percent rise in outdoor football, with 14,552 participants, 28 percent of whom are female.

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FCA to Host Exclusive Two-Part Goalscoring Workshop Series with Dr Ron Smith

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One of Australian football’s most respected coaching minds shares decades of research ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has announced an exclusive two-part coach education series featuring renowned coach educator and football analyst Dr Ron Smith, offering coaches a rare opportunity to explore the evolving science of goalscoring through the lens of one of Australia’s most influential football thinkers.

The online workshops, scheduled for June 1 and June 8, will examine the historical development, modern trends and future direction of goalscoring in football, drawing on extensive research that formed the foundation of Dr Smith’s doctoral studies.

For FCA, the sessions represent the culmination of more than a year of planning and provide a timely opportunity for coaches to deepen their understanding of attacking play ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

“Ron’s work on goalscoring has been years in the making and continues to evolve,” FCA President Ian Greener said.

“We felt there was no better time to bring this knowledge to the coaching community than in the lead-up to the World Cup, when coaches around the world will be analysing the game’s best teams and players.”

Across the two sessions, Dr Smith will present findings from his extensive research into goalscoring patterns and trends, examining how the game has changed over time and what coaches can learn from football’s biggest tournaments.

Topics covered throughout the series will include:

  • Historical analysis of goalscoring trends
  • How goalscoring has evolved in the modern game
  • Key patterns identified through Dr Smith’s research
  • Scoring trends across the last six FIFA Men’s World Cups
  • Comparisons between men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments
  • The role of pressing, transition moments and direct play in creating goals
  • Practical coaching implications for improving attacking performance

The two-part structure has been intentionally designed to build upon itself. Session One will focus on the evidence, data and research underpinning Dr Smith’s findings, while Session Two will explore the practical applications and coaching interventions that can emerge from that analysis.

Football Australia has accredited both workshops with one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour each, allowing coaches to earn two CPD hours by attending both sessions.

Dr Smith’s coaching and coach education credentials span decades. He has worked extensively with Football Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Socceroos, while also holding coaching roles internationally in Iceland and Malaysia, as well as within the A-League.

His contributions to coach development have helped shape generations of Australian coaches, making this series a valuable opportunity for coaches across all levels of the game.

Event Details

History and Future of Goalscoring – Session One
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Format: Online
CPD: 1 Football Australia-accredited CPD hour

Following the completion of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, FCA is also planning a special panel discussion featuring leading Australian and international coaching voices to analyse the key tactical developments, trends and lessons emerging from the tournament.

Further details regarding that event are expected to be released later this year.

FCA members can attend the workshops free of charge, while guest registrations are available through Eventbrite.

Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

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