A Torquay women’s soccer club has signed a “major” partnership with the TAC 10 weeks after it dumped a $250,000 Cats sponsorship over skipper Joel Selwood’s lost licence.
The deal is the TAC’s second arrangement with women’s sport since Selwood was caught driving at 127km/h on the way home from Warrnambool in February.
A week later the TAC announced a partnership with the AFL’s under-18 women’s competition.
The new deal with Torquay-based Galaxy United FC would promote road safety among drivers aged 18 to 25, said TAC boss Joe Calafiore.
Soccer was popular among the age group, which also accounted for the most road fatalities in Victoria, Mr Calafiore said.
“The TAC’s partnership with Galaxy United FC is about creating road safety awareness and conversations among young Victorians and their families,” he said.
“It’s important we keep finding new ways to engage with young drivers about risk-taking and help them get the experience they need to be safe on our roads.”
Under the sponsorship deal, TAC’s logo appears on Galaxy United uniforms and at its home ground in Torquay’s Banyul Warri Reserve. Galaxy United is Victoria’s only regional club in Women’s National Premier League.
“The Galaxy players are already leaders on the field, and this partnership will help them lead other young people to become safer on our roads,” Mr Calafiore said.
The TAC dumped its 11-year deal with the Cats in early March after Selwood lost his licence for a month after police caught him driving at 127km/h.
Other player driving indiscretions had strained the sponsorship relationship before Selwood, who was due to receive back his licence late last month.
“In January 2015, the GFC (Cats) stated publicly that in the event of any further serious incidents, the partnership would be relinquished, and the TAC respects the club’s integrity,” the TAC said in a statement announcing the split.
