General A Leagues thread (Men and Women) 2025/26 season

[Sutherlandbear]

Double sessions, 5 or 6 days a week I would hope.

Not in the Uk, you are basically playing twice a week. Double sessions would burn them out.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Does the ALW have a future? With the demise of Western United and the probable loss of Canberra and the Mariners it is down to 9 teams. Add to that the apparent disinterest of the Bulls and Auckland in fielding a women’s team the future is indeed looking gloomy.

I’ve seen people say the same about the ALM. Yes, it does have a future. Western were a failed project, Canberra have always been a mess (no men’s team still) and could still stay, and I reckon Mariners will find a way out. CCM had that happen before but I don’t think they’ll go down like they did then, they’ve come a long way. A different owner for the women’s team needs to be found quickly but it may end up being good if the other owners weren’t gonna care about them. A good investor could see them challenge for silverware consistently.

Macarthur (who have an established NPLW team) are another Western United, Wollongong shoulda got their spot instead. I think we’ve learnt that our cities just can’t support more than two pro teams at the moment. Sydney and Melbourne can have two but if you look at who’s surviving it’s clear that Macarthur and Western didn’t.

Auckland only just came into the league but they really shoulda planned ahead. They’ve prioritised the OPL over a Dub team and it’s outrageous. It’s also stupid that they’re putting together a “representative women’s team” to play Chelsea when Wellington Phoenix already has a women’s team who made the grand final.

 

[libelous]

I’ve seen people say the same about the ALM. Yes, it does have a future. Western were a failed project, Canberra have always been a mess (no men’s team still) and could still stay, and I reckon Mariners will find a way out. CCM had that happen before but I don’t think they’ll go down like they did then, they’ve come a long way. A different owner for the women’s team needs to be found quickly but it may end up being good if the other owners weren’t gonna care about them. A good investor could see them challenge for silverware consistently.

Macarthur (who have an established NPLW team) are another Western United, Wollongong shoulda got their spot instead. I think we’ve learnt that our cities just can’t support more than two pro teams at the moment. Sydney and Melbourne can have two but if you look at who’s surviving it’s clear that Macarthur and Western didn’t.

Auckland only just came into the league but they really shoulda planned ahead. They’ve prioritised the OPL over a Dub team and it’s outrageous. It’s also stupid that they’re putting together a “representative women’s team” to play Chelsea when Wellington Phoenix already has a women’s team who made the grand final.

I like your optimism but I think the women’s game at a professional level in Australia is heading down the gurgler.

 

[melbcityguy]

I stand by changing it to a league w being such a stupid mistake everyone knew the w league. But at the same time people aren't going to games including me big changes needed

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I like your optimism but I think the women’s game at a professional level in Australia is heading down the gurgler.

Even if the Dub folded they’d create a new league, like they did when the NSL and WNSL folded.

 

[libelous]

Even if the Dub folded they’d create a new league, like they did when the NSL and WNSL folded.

Any new league would have to be amateur because women’s football doesn’t pay its way, so I’m told.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I stand by changing it to a league w being such a stupid mistake everyone knew the w league.

I really didn’t understand that change. I get that they should be equal but why not just advertise them equally? Make more content like this (yes, Jacko found this hilarious):

But at the same time people aren't going to games including me big changes needed

Sydney were getting good crowds, now we’ve flushed ourselves down the toilet. The Sydney Derby still gets a few thousand but back in 2023 we got 11,471 (which is better than some men’s crowds). Losing Cortnee Vine only for her mental health to deteriorate after barely playing at NC Courage was a big turning point.

Once upon a time we gave away players like younger versions of Aideen Keane, Sienna Saveska and Taylor Ray to other clubs cause we were too good and they weren’t playing enough. Now we haven’t made finals in two seasons and any good players we have move straight away. Even Princess Ibini left us to sit on the bench at Beşiktaş in the KSL which is a farmer's league that sucks compared to the Dub. Now we’re about to go with no Mackenzie Hawkesby and thus only one actual leader (Nat Tobin). I love our youngsters as much as everyone else here does but there needs to also be a couple of experienced players in there.

 

[libelous]

I really didn’t understand that change. I get that they should be equal but why not just advertise them equally? Make more content like this (yes, Jacko found this hilarious):




Sydney were getting good crowds, now we’ve flushed ourselves down the toilet. The Sydney Derby still gets a few thousand but back in 2023 we got 11,471 (which is better than some men’s crowds). Losing Cortnee Vine only for her mental health to deteriorate after barely playing at NC Courage was a big turning point.

Once upon a time we gave away players like younger versions of Aideen Keane, Sienna Saveska and Taylor Ray to other clubs cause we were too good and they weren’t playing enough. Now we haven’t made finals in two seasons and any good players we have move straight away. Even Princess Ibini left us to sit on the bench at Beşiktaş in the KSL which is a farmer's league that sucks compared to the Dub. Now we’re about to go with no Mackenzie Hawkesby and thus only one actual leader (Nat Tobin). I love our youngsters as much as everyone else here does but there needs to also be a couple of experienced players in there.

I almost feel sorry for Sydney.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I almost feel sorry for Sydney.

It’s not JUST our fault that crowds have gone down. But our decline did definitely play a part. We advertise our games quite well and unfortunately other teams don’t as much.

I recall hearing you were a Mariners fan (you can set a club on here by the way), right? Mariners should capitalise on being the only major sports team on the Coast to hook people in. If it were a local community thing that would really help grow the club.

I must say though @melbcityguy, City get some pretty crap crowds despite their success. They need a better marketing team across the men’s and women’s sides.

Overall I want the best for every club, cause clubs being run well is vital for the stability and growth of the league. Clubs folding is genuinely sad.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Emma Pijnenburg to Hera United in the Vrouwen Eerste Divisie!

 

[libelous]

It’s not JUST our fault that crowds have gone down. But our decline did definitely play a part. We advertise our games quite well and unfortunately other teams don’t as much.

I recall hearing you were a Mariners fan (you can set a club on here by the way), right? Mariners should capitalise on being the only major sports team on the Coast to hook people in. If it were a local community thing that would really help grow the club.

I must say though @melbcityguy, City get some pretty crap crowds despite their success. They need a better marketing team across the men’s and women’s sides.

Overall I want the best for every club, cause clubs being run well is vital for the stability and growth of the league. Clubs folding is genuinely sad.

I don’t think it’s down to individual clubs necessarily, there is just this total disconnect between the Matildas following and the domestic league.

 

[HappyGuus]

Does the ALW have a future? With the demise of Western United and the probable loss of Canberra and the Mariners it is down to 9 teams. Add to that the apparent disinterest of the Bulls and Auckland in fielding a women’s team the future is indeed looking gloomy.

Since the push for professionalism I've been thinking that they should reduce the numbers of women's clubs anyway.

Make the league professional and only have one team in each of the capitals, maybe two each in Melbourne and Sydney. That's eight Aussie teams plus any NZ and Tassie teams.

10 professional women's teams, 27 rounds (or 18) plus finals. Longer contracts, higher transfers, hopefully more sustainable with the growth of the women's game.

 

[patjennings]

I’ve seen people say the same about the ALM. Yes, it does have a future. Western were a failed project, Canberra have always been a mess (no men’s team still) and could still stay, and I reckon Mariners will find a way out. CCM had that happen before but I don’t think they’ll go down like they did then, they’ve come a long way. A different owner for the women’s team needs to be found quickly but it may end up being good if the other owners weren’t gonna care about them. A good investor could see them challenge for silverware consistently.

Macarthur (who have an established NPLW team) are another Western United, Wollongong shoulda got their spot instead. I think we’ve learnt that our cities just can’t support more than two pro teams at the moment. Sydney and Melbourne can have two but if you look at who’s surviving it’s clear that Macarthur and Western didn’t.

Auckland only just came into the league but they really shoulda planned ahead. They’ve prioritised the OPL over a Dub team and it’s outrageous. It’s also stupid that they’re putting together a “representative women’s team” to play Chelsea when Wellington Phoenix already has a women’s team who made the grand final.

I suspect you are right about the CCM ALW team. To be fair the state federations originally funded the womens teams. The NSW federation decided they would only fund one (this is before WSW) and pulled the plug on the Mariners.

TSG own the ALW license but are looking for investors for the women. I suspect it will be bundled into a bigger 20% stake that will lok at making money through property around the stadium

I also think Auckland wanted to come in this season but was pushed back by the APL.

 

[HappyGuus]

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Since the push for professionalism I've been thinking that they should reduce the numbers of women's clubs anyway.

Make the league professional and only have one team in each of the capitals, maybe two each in Melbourne and Sydney. That's eight Aussie teams plus any NZ and Tassie teams.

10 professional women's teams, 27 rounds (or 18) plus finals. Longer contracts, higher transfers, hopefully more sustainable with the growth of the women's game.

Agree that we need full-time professionalisation in the Dub but contraction of the league will only be more detrimental from a competitive balance perspective.

 

[HappyGuus]

Agree that we need full-time professionalisation in the Dub but contraction of the league will only be more detrimental from a competitive balance perspective.

I think it would be more competitive and higher quality as you're not diluting the talent over more clubs, and it's arguably necessary to cut clubs to make it financially achievable to reach professionalism. The dropped clubs can still play locally and be reinstated at a healthy time. We can't have everything tomorrow, something has to give to get there. Only my thoughts though.

 

[melbcityguy]

Well the a league and npl should all pat themselves on the back. They have contributed to the socceroos success and we should all be proud

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I think it would be more competitive and higher quality as you're not diluting the talent over more clubs, and it's arguably necessary to cut clubs to make it financially achievable to reach professionalism. The dropped clubs can still play locally and be reinstated at a healthy time. We can't have everything tomorrow, something has to give to get there. Only my thoughts though.

Interestingly they cut the number of teams in the Liga BPI (Portugal) and the Vrouwen Eredivisie (Netherlands) from 12 to 10. Both of those leagues are professional.

 

[HappyGuus]

Interestingly they cut the number of teams in the Liga BPI (Portugal) and the Vrouwen Eredivisie (Netherlands) from 12 to 10. Both of those leagues are professional.

Do you know if the standard is higher there now with fewer teams? Are things generally on the up? I'd say more and more players might be getting poached to the bigger leagues as well.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Do you know if the standard is higher there now with fewer teams? Are things generally on the up? I'd say more and more players might be getting poached to the bigger leagues as well.

Neither are as good as the Big Six or NWSL but possibly? They both also have a drop in quality (as does Liga F in Spain and the Première Ligue in France, plus even the Frauen-Bundesliga in Germany alongside many other worse leagues). Benfica always win Liga BPI (the Campeonato Nacional) with only Sporting coming close (even Braga sucked this season). The Vrouwen Eredivisie drops off later but it’s clear that PSV, Ajax and Twente are much better.

To put it into perspective, Levante finished bottom of Liga F (which has 16 teams) while Barça finished top. While Barça would’ve at least used to have been the favourites to win the WSL if they played in England, Levante would probably be relegated from the WSL 2 if they played in England. This season, Barça in a “financial injury crisis with only 17 players” won Liga F by 15 points, scored 130 goals in 30 games and only lost one game (1–0 to Real Sociedad). They also won the quadruple with three draws (1–1 with Chelsea and Bayern in the UWCL, 0–0 with Badalona in the Copa de la Reina) and one loss. Real Madrid have an advantage with better signings and Barça losing several players but I still doubt any other team will challenge for any silverware and Barça will still probably win two or three trophies.