The Victorian football community assembled at Spring Street on Thursday 11 September, in a powerful show of unity for the official launch of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Football; a new bipartisan group advocating for the world game across the state.
Hosted at Parliament House, the historic event brought together stakeholders from all levels of the game to champion football’s growth and highlight the infrastructure investment needed to sustain it. The extraordinary cross-section of Victoria’s football family included MPs from across the political spectrum, local council representatives, partners including La Trobe University and Nike, Sport and Recreation Victoria, as well as representatives from Football Australia, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.
The event reflected the shared commitment across both major parties to supporting football’s rapid rise and its impact on Victorian communities.
Football is already Victoria’s largest and fastest-growing club-based team sport – and demand continues to surge. Our game has experienced a 43% increase in registered traditional club football participants since 2022, reaching 115,946 in 2024 and is projected to well and truly exceed that number in 2025.
Across all forms of traditional, social and indoor football/futsal, over 391,000 Victorians played our game in 2024.
MiniRoos participation has grown by 65% and junior participation by 39% in the same period, highlighting the extraordinary growth in grassroots football.
By 2035, an additional 22,500 players are expected to take up the game. Yet with just one pitch for every 7,000 people; and increasing stress being placed on the existing network of football venues; the facilities gap is undeniable.
FV’s Facilities Strategy 2025–2035, launched on October 1, sets out a clear pathway to meet this demand.
The launch of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Football showed what can be achieved when the game speaks with one voice and government listens with bipartisan support.
Football Victoria warmly thanks every MP, council, club and football friend who joined us in celebrating this landmark occasion and for adding your voice as an advocate for our game.