Melbourne Victory is pleased to announce the expansion of its youth development pathway into Canberra, with the introduction of a new Pre-Academy Centre (PAC) due to commence in Term 3.
This expansion is a further move in strengthening the Club’s national footprint and providing pathway opportunities to emerging talent across Australia. To ensure a close connection to the local football community, a key component of the rollout is partnering with Tigers FC, to ensure there is ongoing local support to all players.
Open for both boys and girls aged seven to 13, the key features of the Melbourne Victory PAC are:
- The PAC will operate as a weekly training program, delivered from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) on Friday evenings.
- Overseen by Victory’s Football Pathway’s Manager, AFC Pro-Diploma coach, Gareth Turnbull.
- Designed to focus on high-level technical development, aligned closely with Melbourne Victory’s established Academy curriculum.
The PAC represents a critical stage within the Club’s talent pathway, providing a direct link into Victory’s NPL Academy programs for both boys and girls.
Participants will benefit from ongoing training and match opportunities, with additional exposure through tour invitations and future identification prospects within the Club’s elite development system.
Player selection for the PAC will be conducted through a dedicated identification day, with participants nominated from local clubs.
Melbourne Victory Football Pathways Manager, Gareth Turnbull:
“The Club is committed to supporting talented players in the Canberra region by creating a clear and structured pathway into an A-League academy environment. We recognise the strength of the local football community and want to provide greater access to high-performance development opportunities.
“Widening our identification bracket and creating a pathway for talented youth players into an A-League system is highly beneficial and rewarding for all parties, including exposing players to our football methodology and philosophy.”
Tigers FC Director of Football, Ali Efe, said of the partnership:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our club and for the wider football community in Canberra. Having a year‑round player development program delivered alongside such a successful A-League club will provide a valuable opportunity for young players in our region. Tigers FC is pleased to partner with Melbourne Victory to support the growth of young talent and strengthen development pathways across the region.”
Those coaches interested in coaching for the PAC at the Canberra Hub should complete an expression of interest by clicking below.
