2027 FQ Academy & Pre-Academy Teams Information and registration

Thank you for your interest in our 2027 Academy program. All our Junior and Youth Academy teams are listed below, as are the benefits of being a Mitchelton FC Academy player. Pre-Academy options for players aiming to become a future Academy player are also provided. You will find more information about the purpose of these Pre-Academy teams at the bottom of this page.

Junior FQ Academy Boys:
• U10 (Born 2017), U11 (Born 2016) & U12 (Born 2015)

Junior FQ Academy Girls:
• U11 (Born 2016) & U12 (Born 2015)

Youth FQ Academy Boys:
• U13 (Born 2014), U14 (Born 2013), U15 (Born 2012), U16 (Born 2011) & U18 (Born 2009/2010)

Youth FQ Academy Girls:
• U13 (Born 2012), U14 (Born 2013), U15 (Born 2012), U16 (Born 2011) & U18 (Born 2009/2010)

Junior Pre-Academy Boys:
• U8 (Born 2019), U9 (Born 2018), U10 (Born 2017), U11 (Born 2016), U12 (Born 2015)

Junior Pre-Academy Girls:
• U9/10 (Born 2017/2018)

All our trials are by invitation only and will take place in October. Please review our timetable if want to pencil-in dates, subject to receiving an invite...https://www.mitchiefc.org.au/WebSitePageDesign.aspx?enc=0HWnsGSCR55KC4MGoarV10p6qaXnl0Fj

We'll email you in late September or the start of October (depending on age-group) stating whether or not you’ve been invited to trial.

Players must trial in their own age group in the first instance, based on year of birth e.g. a player born in 2017 must initially trial as an U10 (2027). Academy trials take place prior to Pre-Academy trials, but all begin in October. The Pre-Academy team trials happen soon after Academy trials are complete. Those who do not get offered an Academy spot may in some circumstances be immediately offered a Pre-Academy place, or take advantage of the opportunity to take part in a further trial for a place in a Pre-Academy team.

Please note, the current registration process for Academy places is for existing MFC players only. However, anyone can log their interest in a Pre-Academy spot from today. We will advertise the Academy teams with available places remaining to external players from 21st September 2026.


EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE OFFER MFC ACADEMY PLAYERS (INCLUSIVE OF MEMBERSHIP FEE):

• QUALIFIED COACHING - Our experienced and certified coaching staff are dedicated to helping each player reach their full potential. Each ‘Head Coach’ holds either a ‘C’, ‘B’ or ‘A’ Diploma, as do all ‘Assistant Coaches’ in the Youth space.

All coaches and players are overseen by our AFC/FA 'A' licensed Technical Director, Sam Griffin. Sam has two decades of coaching experience ranging from community football, through to Senior Assistant Coach for the Newcastle Jets A-League Women's First team, and NNSW Football Technical Advisor for Football NSW. Sam is also a Pro level Tactical Analyst.

Our Academy also benefits from a group of highly qualified technical leads.

Mark Boyd (Youth Development Manager) is an Advanced ‘A’ Diploma Football Coach with >30 years full-time coaching and administrative experience. His past experience includes being a member of the National Technical Panel, a State Director of Coaching, and a State Coach for Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales. Mark has also held Technical Director roles at club’s such as Brisbane City, and was recently appointed Mitcheton FC’s new Senior Football Director responsible for the Men’s and Women’s first team.

Jason Powell (Junior Development Manager) is a ‘B’ Diploma Football Coach and Coach Educator, specialising in advanced Junior player development pathways and programs. Jason has over 30yrs experience. This includes being a Director of Coaching and Technical Director (Skills Acquisition Program ages) at clubs such as Eastern Suburbs, Wynnum Wolves, Holland Park, and Brisbane Strikers; an FQ Male and Female State Coach; Head of Women’s Program at Brisbane City and Wynnum Wolves, as well as being the Senior Women’s Head Coach at Wynnum Wolves.

Jason Tomins (Female Development Manager). Jason's an AFC 17 FQ Licenced Futsal Coach, as well as holding an Advanced ‘C’ Diploma. His main focus over the last decade has been player pathways within the female football space. Whether that be a community player moving into an academy environment, or creating/transitioning youth female players into a senior women's environment. Jason’s served as the Female Technical lead (U10-U18) at River City FC and has coached right through from Community football to Senior level in FQPLW2. He’s a Queensland State Futsal Coach and Selector (U13 – U18 Girls), and an FQ Lead Coach delivering Sporting Schools programs and holiday clinics.

Our Head of Goalkeeping, Caleb Smith, a former Australian Youth International Keeper, provides specialist coaching for all our budding keepers, including individual video analysis.

 • STRUCTURED DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY - We provide a clear pathway for progression, from junior to youth levels and onwards to senior competition. Our curriculum and 36-week training program is overseen by our Technical Director, and designed to develop well-rounded, technical players and leaders, both on and off the pitch.

• HIGH QUALITY TRAINING ENVIRONMENT & TOOLS - Our program utilises an advanced Athlete Management System, and extensive training facilities (including a FIFA certified synthetic pitch). Academy players train 3 nights a week, leading to match days. We emphasize a player-centric approach to training, including individual development plans and mentorship. Academy players also benefit from videography (all home games are recorded); injury assessment/triage by a qualified physio, and ‘return to play’ guidance; Player ‘maturation’ testing/tracking, educational seminars and workshops; tracking/monitoring of mental wellbeing and physical loading.

• COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES - Players will compete in high-level regional competitions and carnivals, providing exposure and valuable match experience. Mitchelton FC is audited as a ‘strong’ Silver ranked academy that competed in FQA2 this season and is ultimately targeting a place in FQA1

• APPAREL – Full ‘Home’ kit, ‘Alternate’ kit, & ‘Training’ kit; Match Day shirt for travelling to games; and a club tracksuit.

A full list of inclusions and the associated fee/deposit are supplied with offer emails.


WHAT IS A PRE-ACADEMY TEAM?

Our Academy teams begin at U10 for boys and U11 for girls. This is dictated by Football Queensland rules.

We prepare players to become Academy footballers in our U8 and U9 Pre-Academy teams for boys, and our U9/10 Pre-Academy team for girls. These teams are effectively our club’s ‘top’ level in these age categories.

Once the Academy age groups begin, there is always the possibility that a young player with excellent potential initially misses out. All players develop at different rates. We also appreciate the challenge to keep pace developmentally, and bridge the gap to become an Academy player at a future date if in the ‘Metro’ system training less hours, and not benefiting from the support, infrastructure and opportunities offered at academy level. This is why we introduced Pre-Academy teams to close the gap between standard Junior ‘Metro’ football and ‘Academy’ football, and give kids the best opportunity to make a subsequent Academy team.

Pre-Academy teams feature certified coaches, who are also on a high-performance pathway to progress their qualifications to the next level, and, like the players, they work under the guidance of our highly experienced Junior Development Manager (Jason Powell) who specialises in advanced Junior player development pathways and programs. Pre-Academy teams will access as much of the Mitchelton FC Academy program benefits and support as possible during the week, and follow the same coaching curriculum, whilst we aim to keep player fees between the traditional ‘Metro’ level and our full Academy offering.

Other Pre-Academy player benefits include:
• Program oversight and ad-hoc input from our Advanced 'A' Diploma Technical Director
• Apparel i.e. Full (shirt, shorts, socks) 'Home', 'Alternate' and 'Training' Kits
• 30-week training schedule (term 1 until end of term 3) following the coaching curriculum and associated session plans adapted from our Academy Program to allow players the opportunity to develop the core skills necessary to step up
• 2-3 nights a week training depending on the team. U8 & U9 K2 Boys train 2 nights a week as standard, and get a third night's training once a month. U9 K1 Boys & U9/U10 Pre-Academy Girls prepare for the change to 3 nights a week training at Academy level the following year by training a third night every other week; and the U11 & U12 Pre-Academy Boys follow a similar schedule
• All Pre-Academy teams get regular opportunities to mix with Academy players. This provides an excellent opportunity for Talent ID, as well as development in a more challenging environment. U8-U10 Pre-Academy mix with the U10 Academy Boys at training once a month. The U9/10 Pre-Academy Girls do likewise with the U11 Academy Girls. Our U11-U12 Pre-Academy Boys mix with the U11-U12 Academy teams every other Friday
• Specialist weekly goalkeeping training, as appropriate, from a qualified keeper coach
• Opportunities for selected shadow squad members to gain experience training with academy teams to cover illness/absence
• U9 Pre-Academy K1 Boys and U9/10 Pre-Academy Girls get entry into FQ’s flagship mid-season 3-day state carnival (Winterfest)
• Video recording of all home matches.
• Video analysis may be provided by coaches, but is not guaranteed at Junior level. However, AI video analytics is available.
• Access to our Athlete Management System (XPS) to:
      - Notify, log and track training and match day attendance
      - Capture and monitor mental wellbeing
      - Capture training/match loading, which is assessed by our Head of Sports Science & Medicine
      - Capture weekly ‘individual development goals’, and self-reflections on match day performance
      - Communication with players and families
      - Team and individual calendar
• Individual player reviews & development recommendations at the end of terms 1 & 2
• Parent information session(s)
• Regular educational seminars on e.g. diet, injury prevention, personal development planning.
• Team photo
• Post season opportunity to represent Mitchelton as a Pre-Academy team at Premier Invitational (supplementary fee circa $140pp). This is the biggest football competition in Australia for players (U6-U17)


If you have questions, please contact our Technical Director, Sam Griffin – technical.director@mitchiefc.org.au