Push for regional facility could open new doors for local footballers

WITH rising player numbers and declining facilities, Football Victoria Geelong has renewed its push for a dedicated regional facility.

Joining with its counterparts statewide in advocating to level the playing field at state parliament, the campaign calls for greater investment in football infrastructure across Victoria.

There has been a 57 per cent increase in player participation in the sport since 2022, with women and girls’ participation more than doubling since 2019.

But in Geelong, facilities are struggling to keep pace.

Football Victoria Geelong chair Mike McKinstry said the region was playing catch-up compared to other areas that already have established regional centres.

“The big picture is to establish a regional facility,” McKinstry said.

“What we’re looking for in the upcoming state election is a commitment by state government, potentially with some funding put in by the federal government.”

With the benefit of lessons learned from facilities already developed across the state, McKinstry said now was the right time for government to invest in Geelong.

He said the project would not only secure the sport’s future locally, but also create a venue capable of attracting higher-level matches and teams to the region.

Geelong will host the Football Victoria Country Championships this June for the second time in four years.

Without a regional facility, the event – which brings more than 5,000 people into the city for four days of competition – must be split across several venues.

“If we had a regional facility, we would go straight in there,” McKinstry said.

“You can get the double whammy with the economic benefit and major events.

“If we have it in the north of the city, the proximity to the freeways gives access to Melbourne audiences and it makes it a lot easier for other ongoing major events as well as local training and competitions.”

McKinstry and his team are working closely with local councils and state representatives to advocate for the facility, acknowledging it would require support from all levels of government.

Discussions have been positive, with momentum building ahead of the 2026 state election.

He said expectations remained realistic, noting a project of this scale would take time and likely require staged investment over a number of years, similar to the long-term development of GMHBA Stadium.

In line with Football Victoria’s 2025-2035 facilities strategy, the proposed regional facility could contain up to eight pitches and a main pitch with a 2,000-seat grandstand, which could be expanded to 5,000 seats for major events.

City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Eddy Kontelj announced his support for the project in late 2025, echoing McKinstry’s calls for investment from multiple levels of government.