Junior Football Retention Project
Fostering a Love of the Game: The Gippsland Junior Football Retention Project
Welcome to an important initiative dedicated to the future of junior football in Gippsland!
The Gippsland Junior Football Retention Project is a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the foundations of our local game. We believe in a thriving Gippsland junior football landscape where every young player feels connected, supported, and deeply passionate about the sport. Our goal is to work alongside our community – clubs, leagues, players, parents, coaches, and volunteers – to develop and implement effective strategies that enhance the enjoyment, participation, and long-term retention of junior footballers across the region.
Our Vision: A vibrant and inclusive junior football community in Gippsland, nurturing a lifelong love of the game for all young participants.
Download the Background and Methodology Report below:
The Journey Ahead:
To achieve our goals, we’ll be following a structured yet flexible four-step framework:
- Discover (Currently Underway – May 2025): This initial phase is all about listening and understanding. We are actively gathering comprehensive insights into the current state of junior football in Gippsland, identifying both the successes we can build upon and the challenges we need to address. This involves in-depth consultation and a thorough analysis of existing data.
- Define (June 2025): By synthesizing the information gathered during the Discover phase, we will work together to clearly define the key focus areas and priorities for the project.
- Develop (July 2025): In this phase, we will co-create practical and innovative solutions and strategies, working collaboratively with dedicated working groups from our football community.
- Deliver (Ongoing from August 2025): This final stage will see the implementation of the developed solutions across Gippsland, followed by ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure their effectiveness.
Phase 1: Discover – Your Voice Matters!
We are currently in the Discover phase, and your input is crucial! To truly understand the current landscape of junior football in Gippsland, we are undertaking a comprehensive research effort, which includes:
Community Consultation – Let’s Connect in May!
- We are excited to announce an open consultation period throughout May. This is your opportunity to share your valuable perspectives, experiences, and ideas about junior football in Gippsland. Whether you’re an individual player, a dedicated parent, a passionate coach, a hardworking club committee member, or a representative from a league, we want to hear from you!
- How to Connect: We have set up a user-friendly online booking system to make it easy for you to schedule a 60-minute consultation appointment with our project team. During these sessions, we’ll be asking open-ended questions to understand:
Book Your Consultation Now! Simply select a date and time that suits you, your Club or League:
> Book an Appointment with AFL Gippsland
- Background Data Analysis: Alongside these important conversations, our research team is also delving into existing statistics related to junior football participation across Gippsland. This includes:
- Analysing registration numbers and trends from 2019 to 2025.
- Examining year-on-year retention data at club and league levels.
- Investigating participation trends across different age groups.
- Understanding player movement within the region.
- This data analysis will help us identify key trends and potential areas of concern, providing a solid foundation for our work.
- A package of information will be available to download from this webpage early in May.
- Key Areas of Exploration: Our initial research and consultation will focus on understanding various factors that contribute to junior football success and retention, including:
- Coaching Quality and Development
- Parental Involvement and Support
- Club Culture and Environment
- Competition Structure and Flexibility
- Game Day Experience
- Training Programs and Skill Development
- Communication and Engagement
- Volunteer Recruitment and Retention
- Transition to Senior Football
- Accessibility and Affordability
- Community Engagement and Partnerships
- Player Wellbeing and Safety
- Rule Modifications and Innovation
- Marketing and Promotion of Junior Football
Meet the Project Team:
This project is being led by AFL Gippsland Region Manager, Tim Cotter and supported by a dedicated team including:
- Mark Answerth, President, Churchill FNC
- Ken Hutchinson, Junior Development Officer, MGFNL
- Damian Blackford, President, Combined Saints JFC
- Nicole Bertuna, AFL Gippsland Club Development Lead
- Clinton Taylor, Football Operations, Moe FNC
- James Blandford, Vice President, Lindenow FNC
- Luke Short, Commitee, Inverloch-Kongwak Junior JFC
- Shara McAuley, President, Warragul & District JFL
- Wayne Langford, Committee, Sale City Junior FC
- Bobbie Lee Blay, League Operations, West Gippsland, South Gippsland and T&DJFL
We are passionate about the future of junior football in Gippsland and committed to working collaboratively with you to achieve lasting positive change. If you are interested in joining the Project Team please contact for more information info@aflgippsland.com.au
Stay Connected:
We will be regularly updating this website with project progress, key findings, and opportunities for further involvement. Be sure to check back for updates! You can also follow AFL Gippsland’s social media channels for the latest news.
Have Your Say on Local Football in Gippsland!
AFL Gippsland is committed to strengthening football in our region, and your feedback is essential! We’re now seeking your views on local football through four dedicated surveys:
These surveys are designed to gather valuable insights from your specific perspective, helping us to identify what’s working well and where we can improve. Your participation will directly contribute to the development of strategies to enhance the football experience for everyone involved. We encourage you to take the time to complete the survey that best reflects your role in our football community.
We look forward to connecting with you in May and working together to foster a deeper love of the game for our young footballers in Gippsland!
