Nathan Perrone on Western United’s Science in Sport extension: “It’s a privilege to be able to continue with them”

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Image credit: Western United website

Western United have recently agreed a two-year extension with Science in Sport (SiS) to remain as its Official Performance Nutrition Partner.

This confirmation will allow the club and its academy players to continue to gain access to SiS’s award-winning sports expertise and nutrition products such as their energy gels and recovery powders.

Since collaborating in November 2020, the pair has seen success together with Western United being crowned as A-League Men champions in 2022.

Soccerscene spoke with Commercial Partnerships Executive at Western United, Nathan Perrone, who discusses the journey with SiS, the reasons to extend its partnership with the global nutrition brand and what the future holds for the pair over the next two years.

How did Western United and SiS initially come together as partners in November 2020?

Nathan Perrone: It came together through our Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach at the time, Andrew Rondinelli.

“Rondo” as he’s known, currently works for the GWS Giants and left Western United at the end of the 2022/23 season. He was a big advocate for SiS and had used them in the past at other clubs.

It worked within Australia and the sporting landscape and Andrew Pirchan (former Commercial Partnerships Manager at Western United) managed to organise a deal.

They’ve been a fantastic partner and contributor to the high-performance side for our A-League teams, and I know the strength and conditioning staff really appreciate what they can provide.

SiS have not only collaborated with other football clubs across the world but have worked in other sports such as cycling and rowing. What made SiS stand out from other nutrition brands?

Nathan Perrone: They’re a global brand that works with some of the top performers in the world.

Seeing the likes of Spurs that they work with and hearing their involvements, I think it bodes well for our high-performance team because they want our players to be provided with the best nutrition possible, the supplements and whatever is needed to help increase their performance and recovery.

I’m not the expert in this space and with a lot of these football related partnerships, I play an element from a business lens but a lot of it comes down to the players and staff.

If it’s a product that they like and support, I take their best practice and their advice, and they’re all key.

They’ve acknowledged to us that they wanted to try and keep one club in the A-League, and they didn’t want to support other clubs in Victoria or interstate.

It’s nice to hear from them overseas that they want to just back us and go all in on one club. It’s a privilege to be able to continue with them.

SiS nutrition products. Image credit: Brentford FC website

What are the factors that led to this extended partnership with SiS and would you say Western United winning the A-League Championship in 2022 contributed to that?

Nathan Perrone: I’d like to think Tom (Global Head of Elite Sport at SiS) would think it’s part of it. Ultimately it has an impact, and you don’t want to provide the players with products that aren’t top standard.

For us, it was a no brainer coming to the end of the last agreement and there wasn’t really any doubt from my mind, the football staff or Tom’s for that matter.

For both of us, we just want to get better at trying to elevate the partnership and we’re doing what we can to help promote and support them in Australia, especially.

We can continue to expose ourselves to other clubs they work with as well and learn best practice.

What will we see next in this partnership between Western United and SiS and could we see the latter having an increased role as a partner of the club?

Nathan Perrone: The scale of going to jersey branding is probably unlikely at this point. I know they’ve recently done a big deal with Rugby Australia, for example, so they’re definitely wanting to increase their footprint.

We have a new contact, Sean Morley, who works at Nutrition APAC, playing a key role in distribution of SiS in Australia.

He’s going to be more hands on with us to try to do some more giveaways or digital content with the players to really enhance it on that level.

That’s their big play in trying to break into local clubs and the NPL, but they really want to become top of mind in Australia for professional athletes and others as well.

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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.

Melbourne Victory’s reaffirmed partnership backs local businesses

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Image credit: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

In an announcement made on Tuesday, Melbourne Victory revealed their continued alliance with the Committee for Melbourne. The partnership aims to unite and support local businesses, and grow sporting communities across Victoria.

The intersection for business and sport

The partnership between Melbourne Victory and the Committee for Melbourne stands as a reflection of the city’s leading culture for both business and sport.

The Committee for Melbourne strives to provide Melbourne with a better present and future, focusing on affordability, livability and sustainability. It is the result of a merger between two organisations – the Committee and the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce – resulting in an oragnisation backed by 200 years of combined expertise.

Furthermore, Melbourne Victory, through the Victory in Business (VIB) network, proudly presented by AGL, have facilitated over $225 million in transactions between member companies. It is one of Australia’s largest corporate sporting network groups with over 100 members.

Thus, uniting two organisations of such prestige and past success is an exciting development for business leaders and Victoria’s wider sporting landscape.

Together, they represent something far more important than business partners. Reflected in their extensive support network, they show that connection, success and identity can all be delivered at once.

 

Representing the best of Melbourne

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the connection with the Committee for Melbourne is so important for members and for the city as a whole.

“Melbourne Victory is proud to represent the whole of Victoria – and proud to partner with the Committee for Melbourne to strengthen the link between sport and business,” Carnegie explained.

“Together, we’re building a network that connects people, creates opportunity and celebrates everything that makes Melbourne great.”

Moreover, Committee for Melbourne Chief Executive, Scott Veenker, reflected on the partnership’s connection to Victoria’s culture for business, sport and a united community.

“Business and sport are fundamental to Victoria’s identity and sucess. This partnership connects those worlds – from the boardroom to the pitch – creating real pathways for collaboration, innovation and growth,” Veenker said.

 

A meaningful partnership

As symbols of the city’s passion for sport and business, Melbourne Victory and the Committee for Melbourne have therefore built a connection which benefits all.

It is an alliance built on a shared identity, culture and dedication to making Melbourne an even more united, inclusive and competitive place.

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