Liberal commits to building a home ground for Western United if elected

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Melbourne’s western suburbs will be home to a brand-new sporting and community precinct in its heartland, if Liberal win the upcoming Victorian state election.

Liberal has committed to invest $100 million towards the construction of this key new “Wyndham Stadium and Community Recreation Precinct” as step one in a major investment to support the basic infrastructure needs of Melbourne’s growing western suburbs long neglected by the Andrews Labor Government.

The centre piece of the new precinct is a 15,000-seat unique three-sided stadium, based on similar NFL stadiums in the USA, that will be the new home of the Western United Soccer team – the current A-League champions.

Following extensive discussions with the local community, this funding commitment will enable the establishment of significant grassroots sporting and community facilities including:

An indoor arena with up to 8,000 seats for basketball, netball, concerts, and cultural events,

  • A multi-level multi-sports centre, with levels for basketball, netball, futsal, combat sports, cricket and tennis,
  • A swim school,
  • Childcare providing up to 300 places,
  • Community meeting spaces,
  • Open access outdoor tennis, basketball, netball and futsal courts.
  • A new train station, which will be constructed within a short walk from the action.
  • More than 800 jobs will be supported during construction of the precinct and up to 6,500 jobs once completed.

The new open-ended stadium will also have capacity to other sports including rugby league, rugby union and major concerts.

Leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy, said the announcement was a key pillar to the Liberals and Nationals’ commitment to ensuring the growing western suburbs have the infrastructure it deserves.

“Melbourne will now be the Australian home of soccer and that’s fantastic. Building this precinct is not only a winner for the western suburbs, but a winner for all Victorians,” Guy said in a statement.

“This project will put thousands of locals in jobs, and provide a space for the community to use and be proud of for decades to come.”

Western Melbourne Group Chairman, Jason Sourasis, added via Liberal Victoria it was a proud moment for everyone involved.

“The impact that this facility and the broader precinct will have on not only the local Wyndham community, but the whole of the West of Melbourne, will be enormous and we are so proud to have this commitment from the Victorian Liberals and Nationals.”

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

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Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

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