The Australian Championship Thread

[Kevin Keegan71]

The next season the a-league football league will consist of 2 leagues of 8 teams , the bottom 2 of division 1 go down, and the top 2 of division 2 will go up, therefore all 16 teams will have something to play for rather than a closed 16 team league h&a format.

I like your thinking however my only bug about that is you are going to have 2-3 leagues of just 8 teams its not enough to make it a viable serious comp 14 games H&A BUT taking on your idea if the current A League teams (13) plus the current 7 NST teams start a one off season where top 10 stay in league 1 and bottom 10 stay in league 2 then start prom/rel with NPL clubs with an after season champions league format winner goes into league 2 and bottom league 2 goes into NPL etc that could be something? but it will and always will boil down to money in the end

 

[HappyGuus]

You also DON"T want NSW and VIC in separate conferences because thats where the biggest clubs/rivalries are ... its NOT an easy solution, thats for sure.

I think most of those big clubs and rivalries would already be in the NST, so we can probably get away with not having VIC and NSW together in a third tier conference.

Having them together would be quite lopsided too. If that's the case then we could always give them extra promotion slots, but it might annoy the other member feds.

It should be a nice reward for promotion to NST though, getting to meet the interstate rivals. Kinda like Preston being back in NPL and meeting the old foes once again hehehe.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I think most of those big clubs and rivalries would already be in the NST, so we can probably get away with not having VIC and NSW together in a third tier conference.

Having them together would be quite lopsided too. If that's the case then we could always give them extra promotion slots, but it might annoy the other member feds.

It should be a nice reward for promotion to NST though, getting to meet the interstate rivals. Kinda like Preston being back in NPL and meeting the old foes once again hehehe.

Great point, hadnt considered that

 

[HappyGuus]

Great point, hadnt considered that

I've spent too much time on this they should be paying me

 

[Barca4life]

Its not a bad crack but ANYTHING is better than current state of play...

Cold hard reality is that NONE of this is ever going to happen while franchises remain resistant to being relegated... and the federation backs their desires.

It gets everyone involved, but i agree the current state of play will not get better so something needs to be done.

 

[Barca4life]

I like your thinking however my only bug about that is you are going to have 2-3 leagues of just 8 teams its not enough to make it a viable serious comp 14 games H&A BUT taking on your idea if the current A League teams (13) plus the current 7 NST teams start a one off season where top 10 stay in league 1 and bottom 10 stay in league 2 then start prom/rel with NPL clubs with an after season champions league format winner goes into league 2 and bottom league 2 goes into NPL etc that could be something? but it will and always will boil down to money in the end

The aim of this is so the divisions can grow through pro-rel or even via expansion which you can make an exemption with for certain markets if they need filling like i.e Canberra, Tasmania, North Queensland.
But the teams can come from the NSD pathway via promotion or through expansion but they can start in division 2 and build from there to get promoted.
The aim is division 1 should be the best of the best in the country which should increase the standards off and on the field and aspire teams from division 2 to reach.

It can start with 8 teams which is the same number of teams the a-league started which i'm fine with, as long as the aim to increase the amount of teams so we can get to a stage where division 1 and division 2 have enough teams.
It could reach 12 teams each (24 pro teams) as an example but the overall ultimate aim is to create a full pyramid.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

The aim of this is so the divisions can grow through pro-rel or even via expansion which you can make an exemption with for certain markets if they need filling like i.e Canberra, Tasmania, North Queensland.
But the teams can come from the NSD pathway via promotion or through expansion but they can start in division 2 and build from there to get promoted.
The aim is division 1 should be the best of the best in the country which should increase the standards off and on the field and aspire teams from division 2 to reach.

It can start with 8 teams which is the same number of teams the a-league started which i'm fine with, as long as the aim to increase the amount of teams so we can get to a stage where division 1 and division 2 have enough teams.
It could reach 12 teams each (24 pro teams) as an example but the overall ultimate aim is to create a full pyramid.

Thats an interesting option ... What are everyones thoughts if, for example, the Championship (or heaven forbid the Aleague if it ever accepts pro/rel) had a rule that there must be at least 1 x club per "region" in the league, so for example if Adealide City is to be the only SA club in season 2026 and they finish last, relegation club is the the second last club on the table, or third last or whatever..... I dont really like this as an option but is the onlyu way I can think of to keep some sort of semblance of "geography" to appease the mainstream...

For the record I want 100% pro/rel based ONLY on points per season from day dot... If, in 10 season the whole league is ONLY NSW clubs then good luck to them.... and up to the other states/clubs to do better . just spitballing ideas.

 

[libelous]

In May 2022 Football Australia unveiled ‘first ever domestic club licensing regulations for Australian Professional Leagues’.
In looking at the regulations (mostly in lawyer speak) it would seem that FA have the power to change the duration of the A Leagues club licences which were granted by FFA in 2014.
As there’s still 10 years left in this arrangement it would seem there is ample time to set the up the pyramid to cater for pro/rel in all its forms and to shorten the time if necessary.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

In May 2022 Football Australia unveiled ‘first ever domestic club licensing regulations for Australian Professional Leagues’.
In looking at the regulations (mostly in lawyer speak) it would seem that FA have the power to change the duration of the A Leagues club licences which were granted by FFA in 2014.
As there’s still 10 years left in this arrangement it would seem there is ample time to set the up the pyramid to cater for pro/rel in all its forms and to shorten the time if necessary.

Sure, but is the WILL there from the FA to make such a drastic move? And then surely fight the APL in court over it?

 

[LFC]

Thats an interesting option ... What are everyones thoughts if, for example, the Championship (or heaven forbid the Aleague if it ever accepts pro/rel) had a rule that there must be at least 1 x club per "region" in the league, so for example if Adealide City is to be the only SA club in season 2026 and they finish last, relegation club is the the second last club on the table, or third last or whatever..... I dont really like this as an option but is the onlyu way I can think of to keep some sort of semblance of "geography" to appease the mainstream...

For the record I want 100% pro/rel based ONLY on points per season from day dot... If, in 10 season the whole league is ONLY NSW clubs then good luck to them.... and up to the other states/clubs to do better . just spitballing ideas.

well the strongest prevail right ?
It no matter from where, thats competition the way I see it.
People here/our general pop keep harping on fairness/balance, and some sports are trying to gain "parity" I view like F1 but its impossible to achieve.
The only way to have 100% parity is that you clone humans, 11 v 11 and they sure would be the same but for the kit.
Then you can have every state involved haha

This can't be all NSW or Vic or combined, lets face it thats where the majority of the pop bloody live !
How can this change, it can't, it is what it is, survival of the fittest, conferences isn't a bad idea but I leave this work etc as we see posts from grazor and HG they get the big picture idea and its good reading.
Wonder if FA get on here - wonder If they have come up with these scenarios.

 

[libelous]

Sure, but is the WILL there from the FA to make such a drastic move? And then surely fight the APL in court over it?

Sure, but is the WILL there from the FA to make such a drastic move? And then surely fight the APL in court over it?

I’m sure the WILL is there and these club licensing regulations are FIFA regulations so I doubt the APL would win any court challenge.
But the gist of my post is that there is 10 years to put it all in place, again compromise is the key to ensuring that football moves forward.

 

[Kevin Keegan71]

For the record I want 100% pro/rel based ONLY on points per season from day dot... If, in 10 season the whole league is ONLY NSW clubs then good luck to them.... and up to the other states/clubs to do better . just spitballing ideas.

Definitely only on merit

 

[HappyGuus]

What are everyones thoughts if, for example, the Championship (or heaven forbid the Aleague if it ever accepts pro/rel) had a rule that there must be at least 1 x club per "region" in the league

I thought about that for all of two seconds haha, just don't like it. If we have 32 teams in the top two divisions, there's a good chance that most of the regions would be covered. If they can't crack the top 32 then they really shouldn't be there dragging things down. It's merit for me. Also need to follow the standards/licensing etc. Get those stadium upgrades going.

And I think we need those smaller regions' clubs amalgamating to represent their region as a whole, or new clubs in those locations. Like Tassie FC coming from South Hobart and anyone else. Or Canberra United. One for Sunshine Coast. There's a greater chance of these new entities surviving and representing important regions. Even that three/four club NST entity from SA was interesting. I guess it's about pooling resources in smaller areas.

 

[patjennings]

I thought about that for all of two seconds haha, just don't like it. If we have 32 teams in the top two divisions, there's a good chance that most of the regions would be covered. If they can't crack the top 32 then they really shouldn't be there dragging things down. It's merit for me. Also need to follow the standards/licensing etc. Get those stadium upgrades going.

And I think we need those smaller regions' clubs amalgamating to represent their region as a whole, or new clubs in those locations. Like Tassie FC coming from South Hobart and anyone else. Or Canberra United. One for Sunshine Coast. There's a greater chance of these new entities surviving and representing important regions. Even that three/four club NST entity from SA was interesting. I guess it's about pooling resources in smaller areas.

That's it - as long as the clubs meet the standards and licensing arrangements for the division they are going to (automatically) then merit should be the only issue. I would put in 1 proviso. If a club does not meet the requirement then the team below them that does meet the requirement should have a playoff against the team that would go down. i.e. They weren't good enough to win so they shouldn't go up automatically.

 

[grazorblade]

I thought about that for all of two seconds haha, just don't like it. If we have 32 teams in the top two divisions, there's a good chance that most of the regions would be covered. If they can't crack the top 32 then they really shouldn't be there dragging things down. It's merit for me. Also need to follow the standards/licensing etc. Get those stadium upgrades going.

And I think we need those smaller regions' clubs amalgamating to represent their region as a whole, or new clubs in those locations. Like Tassie FC coming from South Hobart and anyone else. Or Canberra United. One for Sunshine Coast. There's a greater chance of these new entities surviving and representing important regions. Even that three/four club NST entity from SA was interesting. I guess it's about pooling resources in smaller areas.

I can't imagine p&r happening without some serious politics and compromises (whether we like it or not). For instance a league clubs not being relegated below tier2 is probably a best case scenario in the near term. That would mean you have at least perth in the top two

 

[TheSelectFew]

Fuck your an absolute bummer

Sorry buddy did I ruin your train set?

 

[HappyGuus]

I can't imagine p&r happening without some serious politics and compromises (whether we like it or not). For instance a league clubs not being relegated below tier2 is probably a best case scenario in the near term. That would mean you have at least perth in the top two

Absolutely. It might be the only way to get this pro/rel going as early as possible. In the short term, align NST with A-League. Immediate pro/rel between the two. No relegation out of NST. Selective club additions to NST (both from member feds and new APL franchises) for a few years until we have 16 in each of div 1 and 2. Some clubs might pull out over time, they will get replaced. Maybe even expand both to 18 clubs if it's going really well.

Then when the APL licenses expire in 2034, full pyramid pro/rel baby!

 

[NicCarBel]

Thats an interesting option ... What are everyones thoughts if, for example, the Championship (or heaven forbid the Aleague if it ever accepts pro/rel) had a rule that there must be at least 1 x club per "region" in the league, so for example if Adealide City is to be the only SA club in season 2026 and they finish last, relegation club is the the second last club on the table, or third last or whatever..... I dont really like this as an option but is the onlyu way I can think of to keep some sort of semblance of "geography" to appease the mainstream...

For the record I want 100% pro/rel based ONLY on points per season from day dot... If, in 10 season the whole league is ONLY NSW clubs then good luck to them.... and up to the other states/clubs to do better . just spitballing ideas.

Yeah, I don't really like this - this is kind of what I was alluding to about the arbitrary regions/borders holding us back.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I can't imagine p&r happening without some serious politics and compromises (whether we like it or not). For instance a league clubs not being relegated below tier2 is probably a best case scenario in the near term. That would mean you have at least perth in the top two

Sorry I dont get the difference.....

So your happy with No relegation for Aleague geographic franchises but NOT for Geographic NPL clubs??? I don;t follow.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Yeah, I don't really like this - this is kind of what I was alluding to about the arbitrary regions/borders holding us back.

Yeah mate, I dont like it either, just throwing it out there to appease the "football will die if there are no clubs in .... ... " insert city here mob.