The Victorian Amateur Football Association has commissioned an independent strategic review of the competition, with former AFL footballer and leadership consultant Dean Anderson appointed to lead the process, the VAFA announced on Friday.
The review is part of the VAFA's commitment to reassess its strategic objectives every four years, the association said. Anderson was chosen after the VAFA Board interviewed three shortlisted organisations for the role.
VAFA president Paul Newton said the competition's growth over the past decade had created pressure across the board.
"The rapid growth of the VAFA over the past decade has put a lot of strain on clubs, players, volunteers and supporters, as well as footballing and community facilities," Newton said.
"We are pleased to have attracted Dean Anderson to conduct our Strategic Review," he said.
Anderson has spent the past five seasons as senior coach of Old Scotch Football Club's women's team, the Old Scotch Stars, and has played and coached in both men's and women's VAFA football. He was most recently chief executive of Leading Teams and spent 30 years in corporate and commercial banking before that. He also served ten years as a non-executive director at St Kilda Football Club and now consults to the corporate sector on leadership and strategy.
"Having been heavily involved in the VAFA as a senior women's coach these past five years, I have seen first-hand both the issues and opportunities this great competition endures and enjoys," Anderson said.
The review will examine the VAFA's current strategic plan and involve consultation with clubs, management, the Board and other relevant stakeholders. Anderson will make recommendations on the association's strategic priorities and report on its capacity to deliver them.
VAFA vice-president Sarah Delbosc, who chairs the Football and Community Subcommittee, pointed to the scale of growth in the women's game as part of the backdrop to the review.
"Over the past decade, courtesy of the vision, passion and commitment of clubs, volunteers, administrators, coaches, umpires and players, VAFA women's football has grown to become the largest women's community football competition in Australia," Delbosc said.
The strategic review will run alongside the VAFA's existing Women's Football 10-Year Anniversary Working Group, the association said.
The review will take place through October and November 2026, with a final report due to the Board in early December. The Board and chief executive Jason Reddick will update the VAFA community on the findings at the association's AGM.
The VAFA was founded in 1892 and now runs 61 teams across six divisions, with its headquarters at Elsternwick Park.