Football Victoria set to benefit Dockerty Cup Final move in Ballarat

Liam Watson19/08/2019 7:00 am04/08/2021

It’s the most historic and long-lasting soccer competition in Victoria, but the Dockerty Cup Final in 2020 will pave the way for future growth for the game.

For the first time in its 110 year history, the competition’s final will move to a regional Victorian venue, the inaugural one being Morshead Park in Ballarat.

Football Victoria CEO Peter Filopoulos announced the decision at the 2019 final between Melbourne Knights and Hume City, which could be the start of an exciting change up to capitalise on what the whole of Victoria has to offer.

Holding a cup final in a regional city like Ballarat is something we haven’t seen before, but the possibilities are endless to attract greater exposure to NPL Victoria clubs.

With most clubs based in metropolitan areas, going far and wide to regional areas is a positive switch which can clearly mix things up.

And in turn, those in the regional areas will get a rare chance to see the very best of NPL Victoria right in their own local ground.

While it may be seen as a one-off or an experiment, this is definitely something that can be prolonged as one of the showpiece games for FV.

Before the next final takes place in August, FV have committed to work with the City of Ballarat to get themselves ready for a groundbreaking occasion.

When you think about it, you’ve got to think this can be a real success with the neutrals from Ballarat and fans travelling from far and wide to support their club.

Take the Western Bulldogs in the AFL for example, who play a couple of home-and-away games each season at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

It’s been proven that locals in Ballarat can get behind a team and sport, so for FV’s Dockerty Cup Final it shouldn’t be any different.

Previous ArticleFootball NSW announce funding for community ground lightingNext ArticleFootball Victoria looking to grow women’s football into the future

Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

Declan Chan12/05/2026 6:05 am11/05/2026

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

Football NNSW Releases Infrastructure Strategies as Participation Growth Outpaces Facilities

Declan Chan11/05/2026 6:05 am10/05/2026

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Northern NSW Football has unveiled bespoke infrastructure strategies for each of its seven member zones, providing an evidence-based roadmap for facility investment across the region as continued participation growth exposes critical gaps in the sporting infrastructure available to support it.

The Member Zone Infrastructure Strategies draw on data across participation rates, population growth and existing facility conditions to map what each zone has, what it needs and where investment will have the greatest impact. Identified gaps include drainage, lighting and inclusive changerooms – the foundational infrastructure that determines whether facilities are functional, safe and accessible year-round.

NNSWF Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the strategies represented a significant step toward smarter, more targeted investment across the region.

“By bringing together key data on participation, population growth and existing infrastructure, these strategies give us a stronger understanding of where the needs are greatest and where investment will have the most impact,” Fisher said. “Ultimately we want to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone involved in the game while building stronger, more sustainable clubs and communities for the future.”

Northern NSW Football has previously noted that participation across the region is at record levels and still rising, with women’s and girls’ football a significant driver of that growth. Infrastructure that was built for a smaller and less diverse participation base is increasingly unable to meet current demand, let alone accommodate future growth.

The strategies are also designed to strengthen NNSWF’s alignment with government funding priorities, providing the evidence base needed to support grant applications and long-term facility planning across all seven zones.