INSIDE AVONDALE | FEBRUARY 2026

OUR COMMUNITY

It’s been a busy and exciting month off the pitch at Avondale FC. From sustainability initiatives to youth leadership and inclusive programs, our club continues to grow its impact in the community. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been working on throughout February.

Community Cans & Bottles Initiative

We were proud to officially launch our Community Cans & Bottles program during match days this month. With recycling bins placed around the ground, including near the Marnong Bar, food trucks, canteen and corner flag, supporters were encouraged to recycle their bottles and cans while contributing to a meaningful cause.

Funds raised through the program will go toward supporting members of our community who may be doing it tough. It’s a small action with a big impact, helping us combine environmental responsibility with social support.

To make things even easier, we’ve also begun developing clear signage and messaging so everyone knows how their recycling can make a difference.

All Abilities Soccer Program – Building the Foundations

This month also saw important progress in developing our All Abilities Soccer Program, designed to create opportunities for children of all abilities to enjoy the game.

Our goal is simple: ensure every child has the chance to participate in football within a supportive and welcoming environment.

Stay tuned as this program starts to kick off in the month of March.

Youth Leadership Pathways

At Avondale FC, community impact goes beyond playing the game — it’s also about developing the next generation of leaders.

In February we:

  • Shortlisted candidates for Youth Leader roles
  • Sent out interview invitations
  • Designed a practical assessment process at Wingate Avenue Community Centre

These opportunities aim to empower young people in our community, particularly those from multicultural and public housing backgrounds, by giving them real leadership pathways within sport.

We’re excited to see these young leaders grow both on and off the field.

THE TD CORNER

Key Highlight of the Month

  • Two players from our U17 Development Squad promoted to the U17 NPL squad over the past few games
  • U13 NPL remain unbeaten – With coach Andrew Buttigieg doing a great job
  • U13 Development Squad winners of the Hobson Bay Cup
  • U17s 2 wins in a row looking forward to Southern United this weekend – Led by Davor Trifunov after a slow start
  • Training for u7-u17/18 development pathway girls teams have commenced training
  • Training for u7-u15 Development pathway Boys teams have commenced training
  • Our u7s boys teams first ever tournament at Youth Super Cup (Photos to be provided)
  • Our u8-U12 academy teams all competed and performed well at the Youth Super Cup in the first weekend, second weekend to commence next Saturday, 14th of March

SPORTS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

As the NPL season progresses, our High Performance Department continues to work closely with coaching and medical staff to ensure players are physically prepared for the demands of competition. Modern football requires repeated high intensity actions such as sprinting, accelerating, decelerating, and changing direction, and our role is to prepare players to perform consistently while carefully managing workloads to reduce injury risk and maximise availability.

Across the week, players follow a structured program combining gym based strength work, field conditioning, recovery protocols, and individual preparation strategies. Ongoing collaboration between performance and medical staff ensures clear communication, effective injury management, and defined return to play pathways. At Avondale, high performance is not just physical preparation, but building professional standards and creating an environment where players can perform at their best every week.

SENIOR WOMEN

Senior Debuts for Four Rising Stars

Avondale was proud to see four players from our Senior Squad (Under 18s and under) make their senior debut for the club. Congratulations to Olivia, Alana Bogus, Georgia Trainer, and Merve on this fantastic achievement.

Making your senior debut is a significant milestone, and it’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment each of these players has shown throughout the season. We look forward to seeing their continued development and contributions to the club in the years ahead.

Well done.

The way it stands:

Upcoming home matches:

  • Round 7 | Bentleigh Greens | Saturday 28 Mar | 12:00 pm
  • Round 9 | Heidelberg United | Saturday 18 Apr | 12:00 pm
  • Round 11 | Box Hill United | Saturday 2 May | 12:00 pm

SENIOR MEN

The way it stands:

Upcoming matches:

  • Round 7 | Oakleigh Cannons | Saturday 28 Mar | 3:00 pm
  • Round 9 | Melbourne City | Saturday 18 Apr | 3:00 pm
  • Round 12 | Altona Magic | Saturday 9 May | 3:00 pm

#lafamiglia