The Australian Championship 🇦🇺🏆

[No Totti No Party]

they'll bring nothing to the championship, we already had NWS Spirit, dont need a manly.

Re; Association clubs, like SD Raiders who are not far behind.

But Sutherland has already wrapped it up.

More like Gino reserves these days amirite brate

 

[HappyGuus]

Now then, what happens without South Melbourne?
Will this upcoming Championship be their last?
If they play NPL next year then they won't be finished before their A-League starts. Unless it's a youth team in NPL like Melbourne City?
Would they stay in OFC Pro as well?
How will it affect the Championship losing it's biggest club and going towards a league format?

 

[Glenardo]

You wonder whether the door then hypothetically shuts behind them or whether it’s the catalyst for other traditional clubs to be ambitious and also try to apply if they’re up to it

 

[SMFC1959]

Now then, what happens without South Melbourne?
Will this upcoming Championship be their last?
If they play NPL next year then they won't be finished before their A-League starts. Unless it's a youth team in NPL like Melbourne City?
Would they stay in OFC Pro as well?
How will it affect the Championship losing it's biggest club and going towards a league format?

We South fans have seen this movie on repeat way too many times to take it seriously. Unless I see the APL come out and acknowledge there are serious conversations occurring, I'll be largely ignoring these types of news articles.

We'll be playing Australia Championship and NPL Victoria next year.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Now then, what happens without South Melbourne?
Will this upcoming Championship be their last?
If they play NPL next year then they won't be finished before their A-League starts. Unless it's a youth team in NPL like Melbourne City?
Would they stay in OFC Pro as well?
How will it affect the Championship losing it's biggest club and going towards a league format?

Why would the back to back Australian Champions not play the following season?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

We South fans have seen this movie on repeat way too many times to take it seriously. Unless I see the APL come out and acknowledge there are serious conversations occurring, I'll be largely ignoring these types of news articles.

We'll be playing Australia Championship and NPL Victoria next year.

Exactly....

 

[No Totti No Party]

Now then, what happens without South Melbourne?
Will this upcoming Championship be their last?
If they play NPL next year then they won't be finished before their A-League starts. Unless it's a youth team in NPL like Melbourne City?
Would they stay in OFC Pro as well?
How will it affect the Championship losing it's biggest club and going towards a league format?

I don't think it's as simple as letting South in for vibes, not when they got 20m out of Auckland

 

[SMFC1959]

I don't think it's as simple as letting South in for vibes, not when they got 20m out of Auckland

APL wants $15 million from South.
South does not have $15 million.

 

[Beretta]

You wonder whether the door then hypothetically shuts behind them or whether it’s the catalyst for other traditional clubs to be ambitious and also try to apply if they’re up to it

No Thanks.

You can have your A-league and $15mll licenses

 

[HappyGuus]

Well they answered my question pretty quickly haha

Importantly, South Melbourne does not see participation in the A-Leagues as replacing its existing football commitments.

The club’s ambition is to maintain its presence in the Oceania Professional League, Australian Championship and NPL Victoria while exploring the opportunity to add A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s teams to its football structure.

If anyone can do it, they can! I suppose they can run teams in multiple, calendar conflicting leagues because the pyramid isn't open yet!

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Well they answered my question pretty quickly haha



If anyone can do it, they can! I suppose they can run teams in multiple, calendar conflicting leagues because the pyramid isn't open yet!

I wonder what next weeks story line will be?

 

[erogenouszone]

No Thanks.

You can have your A-league and $15mll licenses

This has always been the deliberate impediment since day dot placed in front of football clubs throughout the pyramid wanting to join the A League. The APL ( and the FFA/FA )will never let promotion/relegation happen for that reason because they haven't paid their way in.

 

[Glenardo]

This has always been the deliberate impediment since day dot placed in front of football clubs throughout the pyramid wanting to join the A League. The APL ( and the FFA/FA )will never let promotion/relegation happen for that reason because they haven't paid their way in.

I seem to recall that being the offical barrier to entry which excluded many traditional clubs at the league’s foundation only for a few of the new entities not ending up being able to pay it themselves but having the fee waved

 

[MoorePark]

I think South will pay a lesser amount but still a good amount for license if what the Breaking Barriers bloke said was true in his doco. South raised 15mil+ capital if they were successful. This again kind of leans in that it would be a completely seperate entity.

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

APL wants $15 million from South.
South does not have $15 million.

Correction, SMFC wont give $15mill, getting it isnt the problem!

And why should we give it! We gets paid for the premium of our participation in their shitty league, not the other way around!

No thanks, they can keep their AL.

 

[patjennings]

Then it won't be SMFC

 

[MoorePark]

South Melbourne Football Top Tier Club Pty LTD will pay the license fee.

 

[HappyGuus]

If you have time listen to the entire pod. But here's 12 minutes of the PFA's stance on an NST:

 

[New Horizon]

everyone else can fuck off, association clubs

Just curious, if the rep teams made a concerted effort to act and operate like a community club would your opinion change?

 

[Beretta]

Just curious, if the rep teams made a concerted effort to act and operate like a community club would your opinion change?

No, i'm a strong believer that association clubs should not participate in NPL.

Take SD Raiders for example who is the NPL club for SDSFA.

2025 annual report - 10,000 registered players across 38 local clubs, Fees per player (U5-U14 $150, U15 & U16 $170, Seniors $190+) total revenue is roughly $1.54mill. (these fees have increased dramatically in 2026 since SD Raiders have come into NPL1 to fund their first grade squad)

thats the major grudge i have with them.