Key Points
- Award-Winning Recognition: Croydon Junior Football Club was named the 2026 EFNL Gordon Parker Best Conducted Club.
- Coaching Excellence: Under 8 Girls coach Courtney Bird was awarded Junior Coach of the Year, while the Under 11 team secured a premiership title in 2026.
- New Off-Season Academy: The club is launching an eight-session fortnightly Sunday program to develop skills, game sense, and football IQ during the off-season.
- Elite Leadership: The Academy will be led by Dean Jones of Future Footy Performance, an experienced state-level and talent pathway coach.
- Community Inclusivity: Program registration is open to existing members as well as new local players aged from Under 8s up to Under 17.5s, alongside the opening of 2027 season registrations.
Croydon (South London News) October 12, 2026 – Fresh from being named the 2026 EFNL Gordon Parker Best Conducted Club, Croydon Junior Football Club has announced the launch of a new off-season Training Academy designed to invest directly back into the local football community. The initiative, established by the Croydon Football Netball Club, will feature an eight-session development program aimed at providing young athletes with high-quality coaching, skill enhancement, and structural footy education throughout the break. The launch follows a notable 2026 campaign for the organisation, which celebrated multiple achievements including Under 8 Girls coach Courtney Bird being named Junior Coach of the Year and the Under 11 team securing a premiership victory.
Addressing the purpose behind the new initiative, Croydon Junior Football Club Co-President Marc Oettinger explained that the academy was established to maintain momentum and support the local community:
“We might be a smaller club, but we feel we punch above our weight in the way we support our players and families. Being recognised as the Best Conducted Club was something we were incredibly proud of because it reflects the culture we have worked hard to build. Now we want to keep building on that. We’re investing in our kids and giving them more opportunities to develop their skills, confidence and love of footy throughout the off-season. We want Croydon to be a place where families feel welcome and where every child, regardless of their ability or experience, has an opportunity to develop and enjoy their football.”
The development curriculum will be directed by Dean Jones of Future Footy Performance, whose coaching career encompasses experience as a Victorian Football League (VFL) Senior and Development Coach, a Talent Pathway Coach, and Head Coach across multiple Interleague Programs. Commenting on his appointment to lead the inaugural program, Dean Jones outlined his objectives for the young participants:
“This is an opportunity to connect, inspire and positively influence a generation of players for many years to come. I’m incredibly honoured to be appointed the inaugural leader of the Croydon JFC Academy and can’t wait to make a difference both on and off the field.”
The program is structured to run across eight fortnightly Sunday sessions, catering to junior players of all age categories and skill levels. The core curriculum focuses on core technical skills, individual confidence, game sense, and tactical awareness. Registrations have been opened to both current Croydon participants and outside junior footballers ranging from the Under 8 age group through to Under 17.5s, alongside general player registrations for the upcoming 2027 season.
What is the background of this development at Croydon Football Netball Club?
The establishment of the off-season Training Academy comes directly on the heels of one of the most successful periods in the recent history of Croydon Junior Football Club (JFC). Competing in the Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)—one of the largest and most competitive Australian rules football community leagues in Victoria—the club achieved league-wide recognition during the 2026 season by receiving the Gordon Parker Best Conducted Club award. This honour is presented annually to the club that demonstrates exemplary administrative standards, sportsmanship, courtly behaviour, and positive culture across all participating teams and supporter bases.
In addition to administrative and cultural accolades, Croydon JFC saw success across its coaching and playing ranks over the course of 2026. Under 8 Girls coach Courtney Bird was named the league’s Junior Coach of the Year, acknowledging excellence in player retention, engagement, and foundational development. On the field, the Under 11 side captured a premiership, demonstrating competitive progress alongside the club’s broader cultural focus. The launch of the Academy represents an operational shift towards formalised off-season player pathways, leveraging elite coaching expertise to maintain participation rates and build sustainable skill levels across all age brackets ahead of the 2027 season.
What is the prediction for how this development will affect local families, junior players, and the wider league?
The implementation of an off-season academy program led by an experienced VFL and talent pathway coach is anticipated to have several key effects on local players, families, and the surrounding football community:
- Enhanced Player Retention and Development: Junior athletes within the Croydon area will gain access to structured, state-level coaching methods typically reserved for elite pathway programs. This provides local participants with a continuous skill development trajectory, reducing the typical skill drop-off that occurs over the multi-month off-season break.
- Increased Community Recruitment: By opening registration to external players up to Under 17.5s alongside offering incentives for the 2027 season, Croydon JFC positions itself as an attractive destination for families seeking structured development programs, potentially increasing player enrollment numbers across mid-tier and senior junior age brackets.
- Elevated Competition Standards in the EFNL: As grassroots community clubs adopt professionalised development structures during the off-season, overall competition standards within the Eastern Football Netball League are likely to rise, encouraging neighbouring clubs to offer comparable development opportunities to retain local talent.
