’Strategic plan’ for female soccer reveals poor quality of grounds in Victoria

A push to capitalise on the Matildas’ World Cup heroics is facing a major hurdle in Victoria compared to other states, according to a new report.

The Women’s World Cup has been described as ‘the greatest marketing campaign in Australian sports’ history’. Picture: Getty

Victorian girls inspired by the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup heroics are chasing their own soccer dreams on some of Australia’s worst grounds.

A Football Australia “Legacy 23” report charting the expected impact of this month’s major event found Victoria had “the second lowest field conditions ranking nationally’’.

The “strategic plan’’ for female soccer revealed Victoria had just 48 per cent of fields rated ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ and many identified as below average for ‘good’ drainage (49 per cent) and irrigation (50 per cent).

It found more than 60 per cent of Victoria’s spending on the tournament was designated for “high performance facilities’’, less than 30 per cent for ‘’community facilities’’ and about 20 per cent for “stadia upgrades’’.

Matildas fans watching the action in Federation Square. Picture: Ian Currie

The Andrews Government allocated $25 million to upgrade AAMI Park with new LED field lighting, enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity and “innovative curved LED video screens’’.

But nothing was spent increasing seating capacity so more fans could attend blockbusters at Victoria’s biggest rectangular stadium.

Victoria holds the largest Federal and State Government investment at $155.5 million (43.5 per cent) of Australia’s total World Cup funding, largely due to construction of a high performance facility at Bundoora.

“The most notable investment has been directed towards the Home of the Matildas, which serves as both the new home for Football Victoria and women’s National Team,’’ the report said.

But Victoria scored just one Matildas match for the tournament and the facility has been used primarily by the Jamaican women’s team while our national squad has been based in Brisbane.

Alanna Kennedy celebrates after scoring against Canada – the only game the Matildas are playing in Melbourne. Picture: Mark Stewart

The state government’s $101 million and federal government’s $15 million funding of La Trobe University Sports Park, where the Home of the Matildas is based, was by far Victoria’s biggest World Cup “legacy” spend.

The report found the government spent $452,000 on Victorian training sites and bases for the tournament.

But the government was unable to estimate what sort of economic impact the six World Cup matches in Melbourne, including Monday night’s thrilling Matildas win over Canada.

In a statement, the Victorian Government said the Home of the Matildas would “transform women’s football in Victoria’’ and “grow the game”.

More than 60 per cent of Victoria’s spending on the tournament was designated for ‘high performance facilities’. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The Home of the Matildas is a crucial piece of legacy infrastructure to ensure female athletes have access to world class facilities for years to come,’’ it said.

But it ignored questions about Victoria’s poorly rated pitches and own goals on community facility investment and upgraded AAMI Park seating.

Football Federation Victoria chief executive Kimon Taliadoro told the Herald Sun 900 new pitches were needed to meet demand in the next 10 years even before the Matildas stoked renewed interest in the sport.

“The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is the greatest marketing campaign in Australian sports’ history,’’ he said.

“The legacy must be to embrace this inflection point and drive the beauty and diversity of this sport deeply into our Australian culture and communities as a positive, inclusive and joyful part of our Australian DNA.”

The report found Victoria had the best female-friendly change room compliance (69 per cent) in Australia.

NSW had the lowest percentage of ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ pitch standards at just 44 per cent but has allocated $5 million to a dedicated community facility legacy fund to be spent by the end of next year.

Victoria had not established such a fund.