My name is Victoria Morton. Most people won’t have seen me up close in football. If you recognise me at all, it’s probably from the sideline, camera in hand, standing a little away from the crowd. I tend to watch more than I shout. I’ve always preferred to see the whole field before forming an opinion.

Football has been my life for over 20 years. I’ve been in committee rooms and board meetings, but I’ve also been the person unlocking gates, standing in the rain, and trying to make things work with limited resources and a lot of goodwill.

I’ve seen football at its best, powered by volunteers who give more than they have, and by young players whose dreams are big. I’ve also seen it struggle, slowed by bureaucracy, distracted by politics, and shaped by decisions that feel far removed from the people who actually play, coach and volunteer.

More recently, I’ve stepped down from my presidency of South Hobart Football Club. That wasn’t because I stopped caring. It was because I wanted the space to reflect and to speak honestly, without the constraints that come with holding office. Leadership requires caution. Writing independently allows clarity.

This blog exists for that reason. I’m not writing to provoke outrage or to settle scores, but to record what I’ve seen, what concerns me, and what I think is worth thinking about if football is to remain meaningful, fair and grounded in community. I am also writing to remember.

You won’t find gossip here. You won’t find personal attacks. You may find uncomfortable questions.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I do believe the questions matter.

Sometimes the best place to understand the game is from the edge of it.