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The Australian Championship Thread

What difference does 5 weeks make?

We're getting 6 weeks of nonsense then 3 weeks added on for 9.

Starting off with 8 teams and doing H/A FPP would've been 14 weeks.

Or they could've done 8 weeks for 27 rounds. Not perfect but about a light year closer than this nonsense.

8 teams and 27 rounds sound familiar? That's HAL season 1. It was good enough then, but isn't now. Move the goalposts, do whatever you have to do to stop an NST.
agreed, I guess the only mitigating factor for the fa was apia and another sydney club getting cold feet for 2025
 
Thanks for sharing Muz
Thoughts
1) yes it makes sense for no p&r before it is a full h&a. But why does it have to be fully pro first? Unless they mean p&r between a league and 2nd tier (rather than npl)
2) the lack of transparency on minimum thresholds is another bugbear
3) don't care about relegation from a league. Need promotion first until both leagues have enough clubs
4) Spring is better to build towards p&r with a league, winter better for p&r with npl
I've also wondered why it is a REQUIREMENT to be FULLY PRO, even later on. Players are earning more money semi pro in NPL than a lot being fully pro in A League, especially younger players. If you can work a part time / full time job and still train as much as you need to, why can't you do that? Happy to have it explained to me.
 
I'd be curious to know what the foundation clubs are now paying to be foundation clubs. You'd assume it would be far less than for a proper league. Unless there is some sort of private agreement that the H&A league is definitely coming it seems like they'd be almost better off taking their chances winning the NPL to qualify. Also seems to be a bit of a raw deal for Preston. Their team will be a tier below everyone else as far as I can tell (at least for the first season).
 
I've also wondered why it is a REQUIREMENT to be FULLY PRO, even later on. Players are earning more money semi pro in NPL than a lot being fully pro in A League, especially younger players. If you can work a part time / full time job and still train as much as you need to, why can't you do that? Happy to have it explained to me.
If i were to guess i wonder if it is harder these days to transition from semi pro to pro?
 
Warren Buffett who for those that don't know is a highly successful investor in the US.

On a number of occasions, he has said he prefers things that grow steadily rather than big boom jumps...

The league has been steadily growing over the past two to three years off quite a low....

This year to date growth is well up...

This announcement after many months OK years of analysis is the epitome of slow and steady wins the race and we can't have this fail as the chance may not come again for a long while...

Further I am always reminded of what the late great Johnny Warren said and that was we need financial stability more than anything else so we can grow.
EXACTLY RIGHT Mid... so you wanna wonder why it was set up to fail right?
 
I'd be curious to know what the foundation clubs are now paying to be foundation clubs. You'd assume it would be far less than for a proper league. Unless there is some sort of private agreement that the H&A league is definitely coming it seems like they'd be almost better off taking their chances winning the NPL to qualify. Also seems to be a bit of a raw deal for Preston. Their team will be a tier below everyone else as far as I can tell (at least for the first season).
What do you mean? Preston is in NPL VIC next year and have spent the first part of the off season signing Aleague players :)
 
This was what JJ wanted from day 1 without listening to anybody. Actively railing against the clubs and forcing this down our throats.

Clubs: "we're thinking of do...."

JJ: OOOO big job mate...... BIIIIG job...

View attachment 89
Never wanted a fucking bar of a H/A season.

The question is: is it for old times sake with CFG, or is he this much of a defeatist? Either way, fuck him off from FFA and start the search again.
Its gone mate,, will never be "started again" JJ fucked us..... Took 8 x clubs to the cleaners financially and we are so Stockholm Syndromed int his country that we are just going to run along with this farce, play in front of 300 people in summer and then just meekly crawl away when the Rugari articles comes out at Christmas 2025 decrying "poor crowds stifle NST growth" "We tried, claims FA boss, there is no appetite for a second divison"...

I'm so ashamed, South came out with a weak as piss statement about being disappointed and remaining hopeful... its a dark day today....

 
Did I read somewhere that JJ's contract is up for renewal next month?
 
EXACTLY RIGHT Mid... so you wanna wonder why it was set up to fail right?
You also gotta wonder why they continue calling it the National Second Tier. It's simply not a tier.
I don't think it will fail (well not exactly), but there is no way it will capture the same level of attention that a proper league would have. Other than a couple of good matchups, I can't see any game pulling much more crowd than the regular NPL games.

Anything that can't be explained in a sentence is always going to be a hard sell.
How it should be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's the second tier league of football in Australia, similar to the EPL and EFL Championship in England, only without P&R"
Person A: "ok, that makes sense, shame about the lack of P&R"

How it will be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's a cup competition involving 8 pre qualified clubs and the 8 winners of the state league NPLs, played in Spring after the NPL comps end."
Person A: "Why are there 8 clubs already pre-qualified?"
Person B: "They are paying to be pre-qualified."
Person A: "That doesn't seem fair, can other clubs pay to qualify?"
Person B: "Not really. Maybe. Sort of. They would need to go through a lengthy process which still may be rejected."
Person A: "Will the pre-qualified clubs still be competing in their NPLs?"
Person B: "Yes."
Person A: "What if they win their NPL?"
Person B: "I assume they will use the runners up"
Person A: "Why are the 8 clubs paying to qualify? Why wouldn't they just try and win their league?"
Person B: "Short answer. They ordered a burger with the lot with chips & a coke, but were given a salad sandwich."
 
You also gotta wonder why they continue calling it the National Second Tier. It's simply not a tier.
I don't think it will fail (well not exactly), but there is no way it will capture the same level of attention that a proper league would have. Other than a couple of good matchups, I can't see any game pulling much more crowd than the regular NPL games.

Anything that can't be explained in a sentence is always going to be a hard sell.
How it should be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's the second tier league of football in Australia, similar to the EPL and EFL Championship in England, only without P&R"
Person A: "ok, that makes sense, shame about the lack of P&R"

How it will be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's a cup competition involving 8 pre qualified clubs and the 8 winners of the state league NPLs, played in Spring after the NPL comps end."
Person A: "Why are there 8 clubs already pre-qualified?"
Person B: "They are paying to be pre-qualified."
Person A: "That doesn't seem fair, can other clubs pay to qualify?"
Person B: "Not really. Maybe. Sort of. They would need to go through a lengthy process which still may be rejected."
Person A: "Will the pre-qualified clubs still be competing in their NPLs?"
Person B: "Yes."
Person A: "What if they win their NPL?"
Person B: "I assume they will use the runners up"
Person A: "Why are the 8 clubs paying to qualify? Why wouldn't they just try and win their league?"
Person B: "Short answer. They ordered a burger with the lot with chips & a coke, but were given a salad sandwich."
last point is a damn good one... So if South, Avondale or Preston finish top of NPL VIC next year do we (they) get our 500k funds released and we get paid back the application fees and license fee we have already paid to that Saudi backed arsehat JJ?
 
You also gotta wonder why they continue calling it the National Second Tier. It's simply not a tier.
I don't think it will fail (well not exactly), but there is no way it will capture the same level of attention that a proper league would have. Other than a couple of good matchups, I can't see any game pulling much more crowd than the regular NPL games.

Anything that can't be explained in a sentence is always going to be a hard sell.
How it should be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's the second tier league of football in Australia, similar to the EPL and EFL Championship in England, only without P&R"
Person A: "ok, that makes sense, shame about the lack of P&R"

How it will be:
Person A: "What's the Australian Championship?"
Person B: "It's a cup competition involving 8 pre qualified clubs and the 8 winners of the state league NPLs, played in Spring after the NPL comps end."
Person A: "Why are there 8 clubs already pre-qualified?"
Person B: "They are paying to be pre-qualified."
Person A: "That doesn't seem fair, can other clubs pay to qualify?"
Person B: "Not really. Maybe. Sort of. They would need to go through a lengthy process which still may be rejected."
Person A: "Will the pre-qualified clubs still be competing in their NPLs?"
Person B: "Yes."
Person A: "What if they win their NPL?"
Person B: "I assume they will use the runners up"
Person A: "Why are the 8 clubs paying to qualify? Why wouldn't they just try and win their league?"
Person B: "Short answer. They ordered a burger with the lot with chips & a coke, but were given a salad sandwich."
Sounds like Clarke and Dawe!
 
I completely understand the sentiment of disappointment. However, I look at trying to get agreement on a way forward with all parties as akin to trying to get an energy policy in Australia that everyone agrees on. Whatever is done - no-one is happy.

I'm hoping (probably naively) that this is just a stepping stone and that in the not too distant future we have a 16 team ALM, a 16 team NST and pro/rel between all levels.

I would definitely have preferred a full home and away for the NST from the get go. However, I did not like that the 8 teams were only from NSW and Vic. I think for a NST you need more than 2 states. So I, like many, disagree with what was implemented, and with what was proposed.
 
I completely understand the sentiment of disappointment. However, I look at trying to get agreement on a way forward with all parties as akin to trying to get an energy policy in Australia that everyone agrees on. Whatever is done - no-one is happy.

I'm hoping (probably naively) that this is just a stepping stone and that in the not too distant future we have a 16 team ALM, a 16 team NST and pro/rel between all levels.

I would definitely have preferred a full home and away for the NST from the get go. However, I did not like that the 8 teams were only from NSW and Vic. I think for a NST you need more than 2 states. So I, like many, disagree with what was implemented, and with what was proposed.
What’s the old saying…..damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
 
I completely understand the sentiment of disappointment. However, I look at trying to get agreement on a way forward with all parties as akin to trying to get an energy policy in Australia that everyone agrees on. Whatever is done - no-one is happy.

I'm hoping (probably naively) that this is just a stepping stone and that in the not too distant future we have a 16 team ALM, a 16 team NST and pro/rel between all levels.

I would definitely have preferred a full home and away for the NST from the get go. However, I did not like that the 8 teams were only from NSW and Vic. I think for a NST you need more than 2 states. So I, like many, disagree with what was implemented, and with what was proposed.
Sounds like a stepping stone, not sustainable for years on end. It's a start.
 
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