The PFA is run by the players, for the players.
To ensure the players remain at the forefront of the organisation’s decision-making, PFA Delegates in the A-League, W-League and for Australia’s national teams serve as a vital link between their teammates, colleagues and the PFA.
PFA Delegates are charged with the responsibility of engaging their teammates, providing timely updates on collective bargaining negotiations, sharing information on player support services and outlining the structural conditions in which players are employed.
Along with helping players influence the game’s key decision-makers, delegates help their fellow footballers to shape their lives off the pitch and careers on it.
For the 2020/21 season, the PFA have never had so many delegates to call upon. The PFA has appointed three Delegates at all 12 A-League clubs, with the addition of a ‘youth’ delegate at some clubs to help connect the younger players within A-League squads with their mentors and the union.
In our second profiles of A-League Delegates for the 2020/21 season, we look at the appointed delegates at Melbourne City FC, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory below.
MELBOURNE CITY FC
Rostyn Griffiths
A player with a wealth of experience overseas and in Australia, Rostyn has played at four clubs in the A-League, as well as Uzbek Champions Pakhtakor Tashkent, Netherlands outfit Roda JC and Guangzhou R&F in China.
Given the depth and varied nature of his football experience, Rostyn has been able to support his fellow footballers not only through his work as well-travelled footballer, but also by sharing his own experience of anxiety through the PFA’s partnership with Movember in the ‘Talking When Times Get Tough’ video series in 2018. Rostyn also opened up about the individual and collective sacrifices the players made during the COVID-19 enforced shut-down, demonstrating he is an uncompromising voice for the players.
Scott Jamieson
Similarly to Rostyn, Scott has acquired a huge amount of experience in the A-League, having played at five different clubs and amassed over 250 appearances in Australia’s top flight. Scott has also gathered valuable overseas experience with Bolton Wanderers and IFK Göteborg in Sweden.
Whether it’s keeping up with the latest news, playing football manager for tactical knowledge or sharing his view in the media or on social media, Scott Jamieson has an opinion to share on football.
“I’ve always had a great interest in reading about football. I’ve always had a great interest in reading the papers. I just think that it’s important to hear different opinions of people and forge your own. I think it’s good to keep reading and keep learning about the game.” Scott Jamieson talks to the PFA in Copa Coffee.
Tom Glover
In his early 20s, Tom is already shaping as a leader of tomorrow. The Sydney-born Olyroos shot-stopper progressed through Tottenham Hotspur’s youth system and the club’s Under-21 and Under-23 sides. He is likely to be an important conduit between the more experienced Delegates in Rostyn and Scott, to connect with City’s youth contingent and sharing the importance of the PFA to their careers.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Leigh Broxham
Leigh is synonymous with Australian football and thus with the PFA. His experience with the players’ union goes back over a decade. He was part of the PFA Heroes High School mentoring program launched in 2009, was named in the PFA Team of the Decade series in 2019 and continues as a vital PFA Delegate to this day.
Leigh is community-minded and during the COVID-19 enforced lockdown in Melbourne, he and his wife Sam offered Victory players, staff, members and fans and PFA Members free online workouts via Zoom through their business, Broxham Fitness to keep people healthy and motivated.
Leigh is currently undertaking a graduate certificate in community sports, alongside former teammate Carl Valeri. A born leader on and off the pitch, Broxham has always strongly defended the rights of the players through his role with the PFA.
Matt Acton
Matt recently recovered from serious injury to stake his claim as Victory’s number one, after he dislocated his left shoulder in training in September 2019. Matt shared his journey back to fitness via his personal Instagram account and also through an interview with Melbourne Victory, where he shared the meticulous nature of post-surgery exercises and the mental and physical challenges associated with rehabilitation. Matt is currently undertaking a PFA ‘Beyond the 90’ placement, centred on Player Management.
Marco Rojas
A player of immense experience for club and country, Marco has developed into a vital mentor for his teammates and has displayed the character and qualities of a talent who has reached the height of the game – whether it be in international tournaments with the All Whites or in the German topflight.
A crucial player in Victory’s leadership team, Marco was praised by coach Grant Brebner for mentoring his squad’s young players while the team was in the NSW-based hub during the A-League’s restart this year. Away from the pitch, Marco has just commenced a Bachelor’s Degree in community engagement and has indicated a desire to work within that space in the future.
Jay Barnett
At 19 before the start of the 2020/21 season, Jay will take on a youth leadership role as PFA Delegate, alongside Matt, Leigh and Marco. Already an experienced junior with exposure to the Australian national teams (with two appearances for the Young Socceroos), Jay has complemented his progress on the football pitch with studies on small business development.
NEWCASTLE JETS
Jason Hoffman
Having played over 200 games in the A-League, Jason is not only a stalwart of competition but has been a long-standing advocate for the players. Jason has spent a huge amount of his football career developing himself off the pitch, having tried his hand at teaching and psychology before undertaking a Bachelor of Sport Management through Swinburne Online. Jason has always been involved in off field pursuits, undertaking a PFA ‘Beyond the 90’ work placement at Nike while he played for Melbourne City, and has been an Ambassador for The Greater Bank in Newcastle.
“I’ve found studying such a rewarding outlet; it’s helped me build my knowledge of the sports industry, helped develop my learning and broaden my horizons. Hopefully it sets me up well for life after football, which is something as professional players we always have to look towards.”
Ben Kantarovski
In 2008, Ben became the youngest player ever to sign in the A-League and is now in his 13th season with the Newcastle Jets, his hometown club. Ben went straight from high school to university to study a Bachelor of Psychology and graduated in 2018. Ben has received accolades from both the PFA in the form of the Kimon Taliadoros Scholarship and the University of Newcastle Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Not one to be complacent off the field, Ben has unskilled for the family business, obtaining a Cert IV in Scaffolding from Hunter TAFE. He continues to work with the Player Development Manager to look for opportunities off the field in areas of professional development.
Lachlan Jackson
Lachie is studying a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering online from University of Southern Queensland. He’s about to begin his third year of study with an imminent internship to gain practical experience in the field. Lachie has been a delegate since he joined the Jets in 2015 and continues to advocate for the players.
Noah James
The Jets’ youngest delegate at just 19, Noah is a hometown Newcastle Jet, having come up through the Jets’ Youth system. He was called up to the U20 Australian squad in 2019 and soon after made his starting debut for the Jets in the last game of the 2019/20 season. Last year Noah studied digital media and is also interested in property and real estate – his family’s business.
PERTH GLORY
Liam Reddy
Liam is undoubtedly one of the most experienced players in the A-League so it comes as no surprised the 300+ gamer is one of the most robust voices for the players. Alongside his playing career, Liam has shown a keen interest in goalkeeper coaching, having completed his FFA C-Licence and taken on the role as the first-team Goalkeeper Coach at Western Australia’s Christ Church Grammar.
A family man – with three young boys who all play soccer – Liam and his wife Christie look after all of Perth Glory’s new players who arrive to the club and welcome them to the city.
Neil Kilkenny
Like Liam, Neil is passionate about coaching; the former Socceroo and Arsenal youth product has completed his UEFA A Licence and has coached in Perth Glory’s youth system. Meticulous in his preparation, Neil is leader on and off the pitch, leading by example in the way he maintains his fitness and prepares for training and matches.
Jonathan Aspropotomidis
In his mid-20s, Jonathan – or Aspro as he is known in A-League circles – has a smart head on his shoulders and is already an exceptional role model for his fellow professionals. Having served most recently as a PFA Delegate at Western United in their inaugural campaign, Aspro continues to share with his teammates the importance of understanding the environment in which they are employed.
“As a player, you really want to know what’s happening at all times. You’re talking about player’s futures and proposed livelihoods. They really want to know. It’s up to us to make sure that they have all the right information and we cover all bases with them. There’s going to be agreements, disagreements, but it’s our job as delegates to fill the players in with all that knowledge on what’s happening to help them make the best decision.”
