Fiorina Iaria, a Shepparton export and former GV Suns product, has signed her first professional contract with A-League Women’s club Melbourne Victory.
The electric 18-year-old winger was scouted by Victory after a standout campaign for Football Victoria Academy in the National Premier League Women, where she scored seven goals in 22 matches this season.
Iaria was signed alongside fellow bright sparks Jessica Young, Sienna Techera, Payton Woodward and Chloe McKenzie, with Victory Women’s head coach Jeff Hopkins rapt to announce the incoming swathe of talent.
“Sienna, Jessica, Chloe, Payton and Fiorina are talented footballers who have the opportunity to flourish in our expanded football programs moving into 2025/26 and beyond,” he said.
“They have the opportunity to continue to experience the professional environments and standards of our senior squad which is an important part of the continuing development of their careers.
“They are personalities that made great contributions to the change room and I look forward to seeing their progress into next season.”
Penning a pro deal is the biggest development in Iaria’s career to date.
The ex-St Mel’s student progressed through the GV Suns ranks before moving on to the NPLW, and just two years ago, was called up to a Young Matildas training camp as one of the 28 best young talents across the nation.
Yet, a former GV Suns talent elevating to the professional level isn’t new, either.
The club has a sparkling track record when it comes to ex-juniors kicking on: Sophia and Leia Varley, Garang and Alou Kuol, James Nieuwenhuizen and Gianluca Iannuci to name a few.
GV Suns coach Craig Carley waxed lyrical about Iaria’s commitment to the sport and wished her well on the next chapter of her career.
“I’ve known Fi since she was a real young girl ... I know the sacrifices her family have made for her to get to where she’s at, so to see her now sign a professional contract with Melbourne Victory is brilliant,” he said.
“I hope she just follows on in the footsteps of the success we’ve already had in regards to the Varley sisters in the women’s game and then the Kuols.
“Hopefully she can become another household name and then establish herself in the W-League and then push for a Matildas spot one day.”
Carley went on to make a wider point about the Goulburn Valley’s ability to punch above its weight when it comes to producing top talent.
“The club is only getting bigger and bigger; we’ve got some great plans with the junior component of the club in terms of the academy and building on that which Rob (Harmeston) and myself will take more of a lead in,” he said.
“Hopefully we can have the whole club going in one direction.
“What a lot of people don’t really understand is that we are a small regional city of 50,000-plus people and we do only have four main clubs we can choose players from.
“We always bat above our average, and the area is only going to get better and thrive with football moving forward.”
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