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The Australian Championship Thread

The stupid thing with the current alignment aswell is that the a league youth teams are in the npl so it's and for the most part not aligned. These kids only get the chance to prove themselves at training and don't get proper match fitness.
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
With you here, none of us seem to understand the continued delay
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Do you know if it's on the table and actually being discussed by the member federations? I haven't heard it raised before, so that's good that others here already feel the same haha.

Looking at different models of seasons and how they overlap each other, we can rule out a few ideas pretty quickly because they just won't be feasible. I'll post some numbers later for illustration.
 
HappyGuus said:
Do you know if it's on the table and actually being discussed by the member federations? I haven't heard it raised before, so that's good that others here already feel the same haha.

Looking at different models of seasons and how they overlap each other, we can rule out a few ideas pretty quickly because they just won't be feasible. I'll post some numbers later for illustration.
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Nothing ive heared to be honest but given it was a directive/requirement at some point im sure it got a mention in, but to what extent it was, well as always it wouldve been based on each feds interests at that time...
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Nothing ive heared to be honest but given it was a directive/requirement at some point im sure it got a mention in, but to what extent it was, well as always it wouldve been based on each feds interests at that time...
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It's due to happen shortly isn't it? Can you have a chat with your club president and let us know?
 
southoftheyarra said:
October 2025 *allegedly*
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Yeah, but what is being done between now and then? That isn't long away, and with every re-announcement of the date, what is being done? Sponsors? TV Deals? Player signings? None of these have been mentioned and we are now months away from the first kick.
 
TheSelectFew said:
Yeah, but what is being done between now and then? That isn't long away, and with every re-announcement of the date, what is being done? Sponsors? TV Deals? Player signings? None of these have been mentioned and we are now months away from the first kick.
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Mate the whole operation is so dodgy, I find it kind of funny that you have an expectation of that kind of news considering their past track record with announcements...

The only things I know NPL starts in feb, so thats what I'm guessing clubs will be 'focusing' on, doesn't give them a whole lot of time come October but thats why they kicked up a fuss hey. Player signings ... I would't hold my breath on anything at this stage considering the current NSD format (not an actual league / division) and NPL player registration rules (u23 bs), maybe clubs will loan in a couple of senior players (from non NSD NPL clubs) in but thats just what I would do.
 
Looking at the seasons again, these are the four options as I see it:

1. If NST aligns with A-League (summer):
NPL clubs promoted to NST have a 36 week off-season.

NST clubs relegated to NPL - 40 week off-season.

This could mean that a team that is promoted to NST then relegated back to NPL would only be able to play one season of football over 113 weeks. It won't work.

2. If NST aligns with NPL (winter):
NST clubs promoted to A-League - 56 week off-season. NST would actually finish 4 weeks before the next A-League season starts, but as the NST (and all leagues) need a mandatory 6 week post-season rest break, it would be impossible to join A-League that season (and would require at least some sort of pre-season training as well).

A-League clubs relegated to NST - 40 week off-season.

This could mean that a team that is promoted to A-League then relegated back to NST would only be able to play one season of football over 125 weeks. It won't work.

3. If we sit the NST season between current A-League and NPL, then pro/rel with reasonable off-seasons are achievable:
NPL clubs promoted to NST - 26 week off-season.
NST clubs relegated to NPL - 10 week off-season.

NST clubs promoted to A-League - 26 week off-season.
A-League clubs relegated to NST - 10 week off-season.

4. The pyramid aligns neatly with Asia, Europe and A-Leagues, and we can head off to lunch early.


3 and 4 are the only realistic options as far as I can tell. Obviously, option 4 is a piece of piss. So I thought I'd have a crack at a calendar for option 3. This is if the Member Federations want to stay in winter and APL want to stay in summer.

I've done my best to consider transfer windows, Asian competitions, seasons, breaks, finals, cups etc. and I think it flows pretty nicely. I've moved A-League to start during the pre-AFL finals bye round; they can play all the low drawing matches during this period and sharpen their game in time for the Asian comps kicking off. The A-League finals conclude before the AFC finals start, somewhere around Anzac Day.

With the NST I originally had them breaking for the Christmas-New Year period. But then I thought, they'll be professional, so they can play through it like the other professionals. But the option is there to have that break, it won't affect the calendar. The NST has to start before the A-League season, not after, otherwise there won't be enough off-season (1 week in my calendar!) if a team is promoted. The transfer window mightn't be ideal for the NST, it's more in line with what APL want with extra time after Europe closes. But this isn't critical and the window can be shifted a few weeks earlier if required.

The League Cup (optional) and Australia Cup can be flexible around that time of year. When the League Cup group stage is finished and half the clubs are kicked out, then the Aus Cup can start. I've put the Aus Cup final during the week off after the NPL regular season and before their Champions League. The NPL season starts just a couple of weeks later, but this won't affect the federations too much.

If anyone has any thoughts or feedback let me know. I might be overlooking something really simple.

Here's a two year overview of how it could look:


1735932396068.png
 
southoftheyarra said:
Mate the whole operation is so dodgy, I find it kind of funny that you have an expectation of that kind of news considering their past track record with announcements...

The only things I know NPL starts in feb, so thats what I'm guessing clubs will be 'focusing' on, doesn't give them a whole lot of time come October but thats why they kicked up a fuss hey. Player signings ... I would't hold my breath on anything at this stage considering the current NSD format (not an actual league / division) and NPL player registration rules (u23 bs), maybe clubs will loan in a couple of senior players (from non NSD NPL clubs) in but thats just what I would do.
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But if you were a dodgy character, you'd want this to succeed because more dodginess could come from it.

You make some good points. It would have been easier if it were a second division based on merit through p & r.
 
TheSelectFew said:
But if you were a dodgy character, you'd want this to succeed because more dodginess could come from it.

You make some good points. It would have been easier if it were a second division based on merit through p & r.
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haha I personally don't see how it could get more dodgy...more suits maybe, more Aki *cough* *cough*
 
HappyGuus said:
Looking at the seasons again, these are the four options as I see it:

1. If NST aligns with A-League (summer):
NPL clubs promoted to NST have a 36 week off-season.

NST clubs relegated to NPL - 40 week off-season.

This could mean that a team that is promoted to NST then relegated back to NPL would only be able to play one season of football over 113 weeks. It won't work.

2. If NST aligns with NPL (winter):
NST clubs promoted to A-League - 56 week off-season. NST would actually finish 4 weeks before the next A-League season starts, but as the NST (and all leagues) need a mandatory 6 week post-season rest break, it would be impossible to join A-League that season (and would require at least some sort of pre-season training as well).

A-League clubs relegated to NST - 40 week off-season.

This could mean that a team that is promoted to A-League then relegated back to NST would only be able to play one season of football over 125 weeks. It won't work.

3. If we sit the NST season between current A-League and NPL, then pro/rel with reasonable off-seasons are achievable:
NPL clubs promoted to NST - 26 week off-season.
NST clubs relegated to NPL - 10 week off-season.

NST clubs promoted to A-League - 26 week off-season.
A-League clubs relegated to NST - 10 week off-season.

4. The pyramid aligns neatly with Asia, Europe and A-Leagues, and we can head off to lunch early.


3 and 4 are the only realistic options as far as I can tell. Obviously, option 4 is a piece of piss. So I thought I'd have a crack at a calendar for option 3. This is if the Member Federations want to stay in winter and APL want to stay in summer.

I've done my best to consider transfer windows, Asian competitions, seasons, breaks, finals, cups etc. and I think it flows pretty nicely. I've moved A-League to start during the pre-AFL finals bye round; they can play all the low drawing matches during this period and sharpen their game in time for the Asian comps kicking off. The A-League finals conclude before the AFC finals start, somewhere around Anzac Day.

With the NST I originally had them breaking for the Christmas-New Year period. But then I thought, they'll be professional, so they can play through it like the other professionals. But the option is there to have that break, it won't affect the calendar. The NST has to start before the A-League season, not after, otherwise there won't be enough off-season (1 week in my calendar!) if a team is promoted. The transfer window mightn't be ideal for the NST, it's more in line with what APL want with extra time after Europe closes. But this isn't critical and the window can be shifted a few weeks earlier if required.

The League Cup (optional) and Australia Cup can be flexible around that time of year. When the League Cup group stage is finished and half the clubs are kicked out, then the Aus Cup can start. I've put the Aus Cup final during the week off after the NPL regular season and before their Champions League. The NPL season starts just a couple of weeks later, but this won't affect the federations too much.

If anyone has any thoughts or feedback let me know. I might be overlooking something really simple.

Here's a two year overview of how it could look:


View attachment 703
Click to expand...
They should slowly stagger the A-League seasons over the next few years to have a shorter off-season (I.e, start earlier, and then earlier again the next season, etc), until it aligns with the NPL/NST, and then when they finally align, that's when P/R to the A-League/NST begins.
 
NicCarBel said:
They should slowly stagger the A-League seasons over the next few years to have a shorter off-season (I.e, start earlier, and then earlier again the next season, etc), until it aligns with the NPL/NST, and then when they finally align, that's when P/R to the A-League/NST begins.
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Is that moving A-League to winter? In FA's pillars document they state that they're aligning with Asia, so I havent gone into detail on a winter A-League.
 
NicCarBel said:
They should slowly stagger the A-League seasons over the next few years to have a shorter off-season (I.e, start earlier, and then earlier again the next season, etc), until it aligns with the NPL/NST, and then when they finally align, that's when P/R to the A-League/NST begins.
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Happyguus has most of it spot on.. as do you here!

This would be the most logical/viable pathway. It allows the NST (and its member teams) to PROPERLY establish itself/themselves as a precursor for those teams viable to then go up to any "premier" comp, while also giving those with troubles the best opportunity to perhaps step back until they become viable again rather than fold.

IMO this should also have certain precursors like any future expansion will need to be only via NST first (ie Tasmania, Canberra etc)

Also just as importnatly we worry less about competing directly (calendar) with other codes (i highly doubt that there are that many people that will drop one code for the other either way to continue with that long held fear) or even venue wise, as its better to have a full albert park venue and others than an empty aami.. (5k at one vs 5k at the other looks very different in media) if perception plays such a big role..

Its the little things that we can get right from the get go and keep the ball rolling towards what should be the norm and along the way act against resistence from whatever the source openly, publicly to keep everyone honest!
 
HappyGuus said:
Is that moving A-League to winter? In FA's pillars document they state that they're aligning with Asia, so I havent gone into detail on a winter A-League.
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Issue is - what constitutes aligning with Asia? A lot of their major leagues run in our winter (or by calendar year)
 
NicCarBel said:
Issue is - what constitutes aligning with Asia? A lot of their major leagues run in our winter (or by calendar year)
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You got me looking up all of it haha.

Here are the AFC nations and their league dates. "Intra" means calendar year. "Inter" means over two years, like A-League.

1736099591670.png

As @MoorePark mentioned, Japan is switching to inter next year. Korea is also commencing plans to switch to inter.

Within a few years that only leaves, of any note, China that would be playing during our winter. Switching to intra/winter is something we could've already done years ago, but not a chance of doing now.

And I will keep saying that we should be starting A-League late August. Does that count as a "winter" league too? 😄 But you can see on that list that we are the third latest league to commence. Only Syria and Bangladesh are later!

The first six seasons of A-League commenced during August, and that period had our best average attendances! I'd love an answer from APL as to why they aren't moving back to August.
 
I wonder if there is a crowd drop moving to winter now we have the big bash league to compete with and go deep into the nrl and afl seasons anyway

Has someone done an analysis on how much crowds compare if big bash, nrl/afl is on vs a weekend of clear air?
 
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