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The Australian Championship Thread

BA81 said:
As grating as the NSWcentric-ness of 🇦🇺⚽️ can be at the best of times, it does mean that they’ll give the game’s burning issues the time of day👍🏼

Contrast this to the VIC branch of SEN where it’s wall-to-wall AFL🏉 and 🏏 24/7, 365 days a year…🤯
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Its a HUUUUGE issue that it takes an SEN to ask and get (some) answers to the hard questions... where have the actual football centric reporters gone?
 
Currently as it stands:

Group A: South Melbourne FC, Sydney Olympic FC, NPL Premier (Football QLD), Broadmeadow Magic

Group B: Marconi Stallions FC, Wollongong Wolves FC, Heidelberg , South Hobart

Group C: Avondale FC, Preston Lions FC, NWS Spirit, NPL Premier (Capital Football)

Group D: APIA Leichhardt FC, Sydney United 58 FC, Metrostars, Bayswater City.

Queensland and ACT are going to the wire, Vic , NSW and WA look decided barring some major miracles!
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Currently as it stands:

Group A: South Melbourne FC, Sydney Olympic FC, NPL Premier (Football QLD), Broadmeadow Magic

Group B: Marconi Stallions FC, Wollongong Wolves FC, Heidelberg , South Hobart

Group C: Avondale FC, Preston Lions FC, NWS Spirit, NPL Premier (Capital Football)

Group D: APIA Leichhardt FC, Sydney United 58 FC, Metrostars, Bayswater City.

Queensland and ACT are going to the wire, Vic , NSW and WA look decided barring some major miracles!
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Group B :love: :love: will be fascinating to watch.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Group B :love: :love: will be fascinating to watch.
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The Marconi v Heidelberg and Avondale v APIA cup game will be good gauges of the strengths of npl vic and nsw. hopefully a turn around in form by Marconi before then. Obviously Marconi v Heidelberg being a home and away tie potentially a more accurate gauge than Avondale v APIA being a one off game mid week with a home advantage
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Currently as it stands:

Group A: South Melbourne FC, Sydney Olympic FC, NPL Premier (Football QLD), Broadmeadow Magic

Group B: Marconi Stallions FC, Wollongong Wolves FC, Heidelberg , South Hobart

Group C: Avondale FC, Preston Lions FC, NWS Spirit, NPL Premier (Capital Football)

Group D: APIA Leichhardt FC, Sydney United 58 FC, Metrostars, Bayswater City.

Queensland and ACT are going to the wire, Vic , NSW and WA look decided barring some major miracles!
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underwhelming draw for us, was hoping to get one of the melbourne big boys in our group.

do we know which group plays each other for those who advance?
 
Beretta said:
underwhelming draw for us, was hoping to get one of the melbourne big boys in our group.

do we know which group plays each other for those who advance?
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Metrostars from SA whilst not a particularly interesting opponent off the field are looking like a tough opponent, looking like a strong team. On current form Sydney united will have to be careful they don’t miss out on a finals spot. Is it top two who go through?
 
Glenardo said:
Metrostars from SA whilst not a particularly interesting opponent off the field are looking like a tough opponent, looking like a strong team. On current form Sydney united will have to be careful they don’t miss out on a finals spot. Is it top two who go through?
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CCM Academy who are in the relegation playoff spot at the moment in NSW NPL have beaten them 3-0 and then 3-1. Mariners Academy side for the most part is an U20 side and their U20 side is basically an U18 side. I suspect they will struggle. That said I love a game at King Tom as much as I love a game at Club Marconi. Throw in an APIA game or two and I think I will be well catered for.

I get leave passes for CCM and CCM Academy games. I wonder how many games I'll be able to swing!! When is the initial draw?
 
Beretta said:
underwhelming draw for us, was hoping to get one of the melbourne big boys in our group.

do we know which group plays each other for those who advance?
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Glenardo said:
Metrostars from SA whilst not a particularly interesting opponent off the field are looking like a tough opponent, looking like a strong team. On current form Sydney united will have to be careful they don’t miss out on a finals spot. Is it top two who go through?
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Top two from each group I think I saw somewhere that groups A vs C and B vs D will have 1st plays 2nd and vise versa, but cant find the reference to it??? Anyone else know?

The Format​

The competition format will include a group stage – four groups of four teams playing home and away matches – with the top two in each group qualifying for the elimination Finals Series, culminating in the inaugural Australian Championship Final in early December.
 
Beretta said:
underwhelming draw for us, was hoping to get one of the melbourne big boys in our group.

do we know which group plays each other for those who advance?
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We will just have to be patient now for the finals rounds.

Quarter Finals: A1 v C2, B1 v D2, C1 v A2, D1 v B2

Semi Finals & Grand Final: All matches to be staged at a neutral venue, culminating in the Championship Final on either 6 or 7 December 2025.
 
Semi Finals & Grand Final: All matches to be staged at a neutral venue...

Some question marks as to what exactly this means! Any clues anyone?
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Semi Finals & Grand Final: All matches to be staged at a neutral venue...

Some question marks as to what exactly this means! Any clues anyone?
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Probably means they havent booked a stadium yet and, being in December, they are hoping to shuffle it around one of the Aleague clubs availabilities... Semis and Final will be at some soulless 50k Aleague ground with maybe 10K in attendance and the cries of "see I told you it wont work" ringing in our ears....
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Semi Finals & Grand Final: All matches to be staged at a neutral venue...

Some question marks as to what exactly this means! Any clues anyone?
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I'd assume if sat Marconi and Spirit were playing they would play at Leichardt or King Tom. If one of the smaller state teams qualifies that far that may just mean not at their home stadium but maybe in their city.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Not political at all... I have supported every single NPL club we have faced and, in the last decade alone, I reckon Ive been away to over 20-25 different NPL clubs around Victoria, paid my entry, bought food and drink, engaged with the home fans, had a laugh, cheered on my team and been made to feel welcome and respected... Clubs who are dreaded rivals, with fans who give us a very very hard time and often hostility during the match tend to be the most authentic, respectful people and I will happily spend my dollar at Somers St, BT O'Connor, Paisley park, Frank Holohan, OV, Dandy Thunder, Hume City etc etc etc...

Oakleigh, once upon a time, was a small community club backed by Greeks. No different to others like Port, Box Hill, Malvern City, Northcote, Bentleigh etc etc.. - Shit I even played two season of juniors there in the 90s. You're right in that most of their curent baord and fans where once regulars at Middle PArk or Bob Jane and visitng Oakleigh was a friendly match and atmosphere.... WAS.

Something happened to them about a decade ago. Visiting their ground is NOT enjoyable and if their self awareness is so lacking that they think it is ONLY South Melbourne fans that think this, perhaps your club should ask members of most other clubs around the NPL VIC why they feel the same way towards Oakleigh that we do?
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Yes that is also why i support Oakleigh, used to play juniors with them too in the 90s. I remember back then, everyone was a South Melbourne fan. Now when i go to the games, i see familiar yet older faces, who once were South fans, but have dedicated time and effort over the years on this club, most of them had their kids, cousins, friends kids etc play here, so i can understand why they chose to stick with Oakleigh post nsl days.

I think the majority of Oakleigh fans are the ones who used to play at the club as kids, now grown up and still support the club every now and then, or have their own kids playing for Oakleigh. Every now and then I'll see someone i recognise from the past.

Maybe everyone does hate us, I don't know, i dont interact with opposition fans. I don't go to every single game Oakleigh plays, I'm not a die hard fan, more of a casual these days. I'll usually just go to home games and whatever away game is close to home and that's if i got company to go with.

It's weird because growing up i had cousins and relatives that played for both Oakleigh and South, still have relatives that have something to do with South, i just remember if you supported Oakleigh you most likely supported south, so it's weird seeing the disjoint these days.

I've never even seen any arguments or anything at the games, i thought we probably just had a friendly rivalry until id seen the animosity on this forum.
 
Oakleigh said:
Yes that is also why i support Oakleigh, used to play juniors with them too in the 90s. I remember back then, everyone was a South Melbourne fan. Now when i go to the games, i see familiar yet older faces, who once were South fans, but have dedicated time and effort over the years on this club, most of them had their kids, cousins, friends kids etc play here, so i can understand why they chose to stick with Oakleigh post nsl days.

I think the majority of Oakleigh fans are the ones who used to play at the club as kids, now grown up and still support the club every now and then, or have their own kids playing for Oakleigh. Every now and then I'll see someone i recognise from the past.

Maybe everyone does hate us, I don't know, i dont interact with opposition fans. I don't go to every single game Oakleigh plays, I'm not a die hard fan, more of a casual these days. I'll usually just go to home games and whatever away game is close to home and that's if i got company to go with.

It's weird because growing up i had cousins and relatives that played for both Oakleigh and South, still have relatives that have something to do with South, i just remember if you supported Oakleigh you most likely supported south, so it's weird seeing the disjoint these days.

I've never even seen any arguments or anything at the games, i thought we probably just had a friendly rivalry until id seen the animosity on this forum.
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Don't worry I doubt anyone here mistook you for a die hard supporter of any club. You came looking for some :banter: without truly understanding the animosity from those who bleed for their clubs ... it happens. No "type" of football fan is more or less worthy than the other but perhaps understand the position you are defending before throwing words around unceremoniously.

As I said, something weird happened to the people at Oakleigh... how or more importantly why, who knows?
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Probably means they havent booked a stadium yet and, being in December, they are hoping to shuffle it around one of the Aleague clubs availabilities... Semis and Final will be at some soulless 50k Aleague ground with maybe 10K in attendance and the cries of "see I told you it wont work" ringing in our ears....
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I fear that also, here's hoping its not the case in the end!
patjennings said:
I'd assume if sat Marconi and Spirit were playing they would play at Leichardt or King Tom. If one of the smaller state teams qualifies that far that may just mean not at their home stadium but maybe in their city.
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This works for local but the issue will be if they from different states, perhaps they can wait for quarters to see who and when and dependent on the qualifiers then just alooctae to city with highest placed semi team from the run in... or something similar to AU championship shouldve been done where the pathway is clear reageding hosting rights via a redraw each stage?
 
As the majority of teams are from NSW and Victoria. Most logical place to play finals would be Canberra.
 
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