During the back half of the season, the Football Geelong Committee (ie. all Geelong Region clubs), held workshops to review and plan improvements to MiniRoos participation and Junior competitions.
These workshops were chaired by Mike McKinstry (Chair) and Rob Palmaricciotti (Deputy Chair), with consultation and support from Football Victoria’s Competitions team and the Regional Development Coordinator.
Following thorough discussion, a number of key changes were voted on and endorsed by clubs, aimed at supporting participation growth, player development, and more effective use of facilities across the region.
Key Outcomes:
MiniRoos – U7s and U9s
- U7 and U9 MiniRoos will no longer operate in a Hub format.
- Due to strong growth in participation, these age groups will move to a Home and Away fixturing model.
- Football Victoria will be able to create fixtures as soon as team entries are finalised, allowing families to plan well in advance.
- This change aligns Geelong with all other regions and metropolitan areas.
- Clubs will also benefit from earlier and more regular engagement with volunteers.
MiniRoos Age Groups
- Age groups are now confirmed as:
U7, U8, U9, U10 and U11
Apologies for any confusion, to clarify:
– Girls age groups are U7, U9, U11
– Mixed age groups are U7, U8, U9, U10, U11
(article updated Feb 2026) - This structure is expected to:
- Create fairer grading within age groups
- Help coaches better identify players who may benefit from moving up or down an age group
- Improve overall enjoyment and development for participants
- Participation levels of Joeys, Wallabies and Kangas will continue where applicable.
- All MiniRoos age groups will operate under a Home and Away format.
MiniRoos Girls & Junior Girls
- All girls’ participation and competition matches will be played on Saturdays, aligning with Women’s competition days.
- This alignment supports a clearer female participation pathway and strengthens the connection between junior and senior female football.
- All girls’ age groups will operate under a Home and Away format.
Junior Competitions
Junior Boys
- Age groups will remain unchanged:
U13, U15 and U17
Junior Girls
- The 2026 season will replicate the 2025 structure, with competitions at:
- U13
- U15/16
- At the time of the workshops, there was not strong confidence that a standalone U17 Girls competition would be viable.
- Football Victoria will allow team entries for U17 Girls, and if sufficient numbers are received, the structure may be adjusted to align with the boys’ competition model.
Advanced Players in Local Competitions
- This includes players involved in:
- NPL
- Metro Boys
- CPL Girls
- Football Victoria’s Competitions team will confirm the rules early in 2026.
- If participation is permitted, a games cap is expected to apply.
Looking Ahead
Football Geelong and Football Victoria believe these changes will:
- Maximise participation opportunities
- Support player development at all levels
- Improve planning and use of field capacity across the region
Further information, including team entry details and competition guidelines, will be shared with clubs as planning for the 2026 season continues.