Football Victoria (FV) is delighted to announce that the South West Victorian Football Association (SWVFA) will transition under FV management in 2025.
This strategic unification marks a new era for community football in South-West Victoria, promising enhanced support and greater resources for clubs across the region.
FV CEO Chris Pehlivanis congratulated the SWVFA on this pivotal step.
“It’s great to see the SWVFA, its clubs, and FV moving forward in unity, aligned with our Football Victoria Strategy to deliver and grow the game. This is just the start of our journey with each other, and it is a journey that we are all going to go on together, for the benefit of football across the South-West.”
SWVFA President Nathanael Amartey also expressed his enthusiasm for FV's alignment with the region's vision to support clubs, develop football programs and foster future pathways within the region.
"FV’s support will help us achieve these goals and bring more football to more kids in the South-West.”
As the first region to implement FV’s Regional Review Recommendations since the Geelong Region’s transition in 2010, this move builds on a foundation of hard work by local clubs, committees, and volunteers. FV’s Head of Growth & Development, Lachlan Cole, acknowledged these contributions.
“This process allows the region to build on the hard work of its clubs and current committee, but also the great volunteers that built the foundations of the SWVFA, such as Ollie Hodson, Mark Hawkins, Sean Mueglitz, Peter Lim, Tony Francis, and others.”
The transition to FV governance will bring SWVFA clubs access to enhanced resources, streamlined administration, and reduced volunteer workloads. These improvements will enable the growth of football across all levels, from grassroots to elite pathways, ensuring opportunities for players of all ages and backgrounds to thrive.
Outgoing SWVFA Executive Member and Women’s and Girls Representative Bonnie Lucas highlighted the importance of supporting women’s and girls’ programs.
“With this support, I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to continue growing participation in our women’s and girls' programs… The potential for our players is enormous, and we’re just getting started.”
SWVFA Secretary Melissa Condo echoed the commitment to inclusivity, particularly for female and junior players.
“We’ve prioritised giving as many players as possible the chance to participate in high-level competitions, recognising that while they may not always bring home trophies, their skills and confidence grow tremendously. FV’s involvement will only enhance our ability to provide these opportunities.”
Condo also highlighted the success of programs like the SWVFA U16 Girls Representative team, which recently won the Plate at the Western United Cup, as an example of the region’s focus on development.
The partnership with FV will also bring support for facility development, access to grant funding, and expanded competition opportunities with neighboring regions, such as Geelong and the South Australian-based Limestone Coast Football Association.