Here’s a little article I wrote on this very topic:
https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/04/15/golden-boot-contenders-deserve-a-place-in-popas-socceroos-over-struggling-stars-he-has-a-soft-spot-for/
Don’t mind them calling themselves “Tasmania”. They don’t have a pro football team, no NRL, no union, maybe an AFL team, recently got an NBL team, had a cricket team for a while. There will be a Tasmania v Mainland/Us v Them mentality for sure.
Where are the cities/groups splashing cash for teams in Australia? Auckland had someone prepared to do that. Australia does not (currently, some fool may part with $20 million one day though).
Until someone or some group of people put their hands in their pockets and fund a team or teams in Aus - which hasn’t happened - I’m happy for Wellington and Auckland to be in the A-League. Christchurch too. And in an ideal world, P & R is introduced in future, so Wellington’s mediocrity would...
I was impressed with Holly McNamara. I know she has been tearing it up for Melbourne City for a while now, and has had 3 ACL ops even though she is only 22. Good pace and direct running.