Gavin de Football
Skill, confidence & fun for ages 5–18 — coached by a former River Plate player.
Frederick Watcher Oval · Melbourne
The program
The proof
The GDF belief
No dreams
too big
Gavin went from a Melbourne pitch to River Plate in Argentina — and that belief is exactly what he coaches, on and off the ball.
GDF Academy × South East United — secure your spot for the term.
| 1 session / week$40 per session | $400 |
| 2 sessions / week$35 per session | $700 |
| 3 sessions / week$30 per session | $900 |
South East United players train at reduced rates: $350 / $600 / $825.
Weekly term sessions focused on technique, decision-making and game understanding — players grouped by age and ability. Full term dates and fees are in the Term 3 details just below.
1-to-1 and small-group sessions for focused work on a specific part of your game — ball mastery, goal scoring, position-specific detail.
High-energy camps during the school breaks — games, skills challenges and plenty of ball time. Next: 29 Sep – 1 Oct at Mount Hira College.
GDF is led by Gavin de Niese — a Melbourne footballer whose journey through the game is anything but ordinary. At just 13 he moved to Argentina to play for River Plate, one of the most competitive football environments in the world, before playing on in Portugal and across Europe, with tournaments in China, Turkey and Mexico.
Back home, he's played 100+ games in the NPL — for Avondale FC, Dandenong City, Dandenong Thunder and South Melbourne FC — and has trained and played alongside players who went on to win the 2022 World Cup.
Three major surgeries — two ACLs and a hamstring tendon — never kept him from the game. Now he pours that experience into the next generation: consistency, repetition, and an environment where kids love to train. His motto? No dreams too big.
“The best coaches I had growing up in Argentina and Portugal were elite communicators and obsessed with small details that most people overlook.” — Gavin de Niese
As featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and Olé (Argentina).
We coach players aged 5–18, grouped by age and ability so everyone trains at the right level.
Term training is at Frederick Watcher Oval on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5pm. See the registration page for current term dates.
Term fees start at $400 for a 10-week term (one session a week), with discounts for more sessions and for South East United players. Full pricing is on the registration page.
Football boots, shin pads, a water bottle, and clothing suitable for the weather. We provide the balls and equipment for sessions.
Tap Register Now to book term training, or open the Programs menu for the School Program and Holiday Camps. For a quick question, reach us by WhatsApp, email or Instagram in the Contact section.
Keysborough VIC 3173
Term training Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 5pm.