Matthew is an experienced sports industry leader, with more than 20 years’ experience in junior and community sport. This includes previous roles as CEO of Equestrian Victoria and Calisthenics Victoria. Matthew’s leadership is characterised by a commitment to stakeholder engagement and communication, strong fiscal management and good governance. Matthew’s experience is underpinned by qualifications including an MBA from La Trobe University Melbourne, and a business degree majoring in Sport Management from Massey University, New Zealand.

Bree brings over 15 years worth of experience at community sports clubs in a range of roles from volunteer to General Manager. Bree comes to the SMJFL from Football Victoria as it’s Club Support Manager, whilst also holding positions at King Performance Events & Oxfam Australia. Driven by a strong administration skill set and passion for grassroots sports, Bree aims to work with your club to build relationships with Councils, sponsors and your community.

Cam has been employed SMJFL since 2017, as the leagues Umpire Academy Manager. Throughout his tenure at the SMJFL, Cam has work extensively within the leagues football department, before joining its business department as General Manager – Member & Business Services at the beginning of 2022. As a former league umpire, Cam was instrumental in the development and implementation of the SMJFL’s Umpire Academy, and now overseas the corporate partnerships program, club development and child safety aspects of the SMJFL. In early 2022, Cam held the title of Interim CEO of the SMJFL. Cam aims to administer the best junior football competition in the country, and provide the best possible support to all of the league’s participants.

Doug oversees the SMJFL Umpire Academy, the largest of its kind in Australia. Coordinating 660 paid umpires in 2021 over 3,500 games annually, the Academy is a revolutionary feat in community sport. Doug has been involved with the SMJFL since 2011, starting as a SMJFL umpire. In 2015, he won the AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award and is apart of the VFL Development Squad.

Nathan comes to the SMJFL having recently completed a PhD through Tennis Australia and Victoria University, assessing the equipment and playing area guidelines of junior sport competitions broadly, with a specific focus on tennis. Prior to this undertaking, he completed an Honours project in collaboration with the Western Bulldogs and Victoria University, where he took on additional performance analysis tasks. Nathan is a former player within the SMJFL with Bentleigh Junior Football Club, and nowadays plays tennis twice a week.

Sarah became involved with the SMJFL in January 2023 whilst working in the AFL’s cross platform transfer team, where she assisted us with our transition to PlayHQ. Sarah re-joins us in the marketing & communications coordinator role and brings a wealth of sport marketing experience from the Deakin Melbourne Boomers, The WNBL, and Netball Australia. Sarah aims to showcase the SMJFL brand by producing engaging marketing content and by running a leading social media account in the industry.

Gab joined the SMJFL in early 2022 as Football Pathways Director. Gab is currently the U15 Girls St. Kilda NGA Head Coach, Southern Saints VFLW Development Coach and a former SMJFL Female Coach of the Year with Prahran Junior Football Club.

Paul, or ‘Jemmo’ as he is affectionately known, has been entrenched within community football across multiple decades, holding positions of Club President, Secretary, Coach, Coaching Director, Auskick Coordinator and even BBQ hand. Paul has an unrivalled passion for community football, especially within coach development and maintains a strong belief in which coaches are the backbone of football clubs. Paul is committed to supporting the ongoing education and development of coaches, helping make junior and youth football coaches reach their full potential. Paul is a Life Member of the SMJFL, Bentleigh Junior and Bentleigh Senior Football Clubs.

David became involved in junior football in 2010 as Team Manager for his sons U9 team. This was the commencement of his footballing journey and has continued his dedicated involvement in junior football. David progressed from a Team Manager’s role to managing the SMJFL’s inaugural U16’s Youth Girls representative team in 2014. In 2016 he became the leagues Program Co-Ordinator, responsible for the managing all the SMJFL’s Interleague teams before being appointed as the SMJFL’s Football Pathway Program Administrator in 2019, assisting and managing the representative programs run in conjunction with the St Kilda Football Club’s NGA programs. David was made a Life Member of the SMJFL in 2021.

Jeremy is the Business Services Manager at Sports Accounting Australia and joined the SMJFL in early 2022.

Anthony has worked with the SMJFL in data analytics since 2017. Anthony works in particular with the Football Department to assist with grading where he is a great asset. Anthony is a graduate of RMIT with a Bachelors Degree in Science (Statistics).

Liam joined the SMJFL at the beginning of 2024 as the league’s Clubs & Community Lead. With a strong administration and operations background in the VFL with both the Northern Blues and Northern Bullant’s, Liam aims to use this experience to ensure the best development and sustainability for our member clubs, whilst also educating and guiding clubs on a community and governance level.

Joining the SMJFL in 2024, Portia’s role as Umpire Administration Officer will see her coordinate and work closely with our league umpires to ensure the smooth operation of matches and promote umpire development. Having worked as a Field Umpire with the SMJFL since 2018, Portia’s ambition to grow the league’s umpiring academy whilst simultaneously developing coaching skills of her own will provide our existing and aspiring umpires with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Max joins the SMJFL as an Administration Assistant, having previously been involved with the league at umpire level, as a junior with St Kilda City JFC, and assisting with our activation in 2023. With a desire to pursue a career in sport, Max will provide administrative support to the league whilst assisting with events, functions and operations broadly.