The Australian Championship 🇦🇺🏆

[Kitwally]

well thats understandable Sutho - I have seen also.
I'm sure there is many thoughts there and it would be interesting to get a AL clubs outlook but that again would be their own POV, how AP clubs percieve the cheap investment, do they see all the years investment in their academy players having pref ? is the NPL player welcomed feel at home ? is he looked down on ? is he given time to learn and melt into their system ? <<< I think this one is very impirtant, do they the buyer have the patience ? I don't think so.
Hardly think a guy early 20's can't adapt being full time.
Plus they don't buy U20's that I have seen much they buy tried/up and coming proven, is it under injury stress they buy ? and expect bonus great buy performance in short time.
That top scoring SMH forward Sawyer bought by Bulls, he's disappeared for eg, why ?
APIA player Jordan Murray - 18/19 the guy couldn't put a foot wrong, 23 goals 19 games - overall record 63 games/43 scored, something doesn't add up - he's since been in India/Thailand/Brunie making a good buck
Another top performing NPL player went to CCM if I recall right similar to above, didn't last as well.
Therefore its not just about the NPL player/buy - why do they not kick on - it can't be just the NPL players very quick demise there's more to it.
Surprisingly Lochie Rose - came from NPL2 plucked from where my son played with him.
He was magic there got to say and friggin good luck to him, he's lasted now 4 getting onto 5 seasons in AL.
Why whereas others not.

Sawyer is scoring goals for the Bulls. He was injured for a while.
Sabit Ngor scored last weekend for CCM after transferring from Heidelberg right before the Australia Cup final.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Horrible for players and not ideal for spectators either.

Sydney was humid as balls all day, hated it.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

What game were those sooshi mango guys at - Marconi? Pretty cringe getting them to go out with the players and refs.

Saw them at the airport on Saturday, one of the blokes is farkin machine... huge unit.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

After 2 rounds I was calling this comp a success, but now I’m not sure.

A second division looks like it needs much more strategy behind it rather than just chucking NPL teams in it.

With all the shit thrown at the Aleague, an 8k average is quite impressive imo.

I can't say I disagree entirely... I still choose to see this year as a bit of an "experiment"

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

The problems i have seen at Sydney with players signed directly from the NPL, is they struggle to adapt to being full time. They shine in the first few games, then tail away and end up back in the NPL.

You'll see this less and less. Many NPL squads are now training 3-4 times a week...

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

For those who have watched the Marconi games thus far, what do people think of the south Sudanese international akio? Imo he’s been getting better with every game as he settles in, great signing, no idea what he was doing playing in the act npl, no disrespect. Hopefully Marconi can secure him for a decent little stint and he doesn’t just move on after this comp is over

I thought he was Canadian? I like him, but sometimes tries too much and that extra touch often takes him mour wide or on the wrong angle fro a shot...

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

As it stands:

View attachment 4026

If we have to beat Preston then Bergers to face Marconi in the final that would be Football Australia's wet dreams all coming true.

 

[Glenardo]

I thought he was Canadian? I like him, but sometimes tries too much and that extra touch often takes him mour wide or on the wrong angle fro a shot...

Parents from and played for South Sudan, born I believe in Kenya after his parents fled the war, can’t remember which off the top of my head, the a refugee to Canada as a kid

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Freak accident and didn't look good

Best wishes to luc jeggo

Speedy recovery to the lad, that looked terrible...

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

This might be a strange analogy and I’m not sure if people will know what I mean but I’ve always the “vibe” of Olympic felt like something in between south Melbourne and Heidelberg (obviously not Heidelberg this year who are having a well above average season, but Heidelberg in a normal year)

Thats a pretty astute comment... I was underwhelmed on Saturday, the whole "Greek" thing was totally overcooked... Coupled with a tiny crowd, it just seemd less a celebration of glories past and more a clinging on to an uncertain future. I hope Olympic turn it around. Their people seemed like decent folk, were pretty welcoming.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I saw faces in the away end at South that i havent seen at an npl game for over 15 years!

We are very much a summer football club.

I hate to have to agree with you but facts are facts....

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

For those who went to the game, how was the vibe/atmosphere? What do people think of the venue itself? Good facility obviously but probably too big for Olympic imo. Everyone here knows Olympic have always jumped from ground to ground and I’m not saying they have another obvious next best option having been booted from belmore. Again, would have been akin to a Melb nsl team playing out of Olympic park

1.4K the official crowd.

As a side note, I wonder why offical figures and figures being given by clubs don’t necessarily line up. Case in point; Marconi last night

Pitch looked like a carpet but the facility itself is old and run down... I haven't been to too many NRL grounds but it just looks tired and way way way too big for Olympic from the sound of things... The "away day" was fun the matchday experience was um, perplexing at best...

 

[Glenardo]

Thats a pretty astute comment... I was underwhelmed on Saturday, the whole "Greek" thing was totally overcooked... Coupled with a tiny crowd, it just seemd less a celebration of glories past and more a clinging on to an uncertain future. I hope Olympic turn it around. Their people seemed like decent folk, were pretty welcoming.

This is a new thing for them the really going hard on the Greek identity thing, smacks of desperation imo. They weren’t doing this in the npl. They don’t know what to do and seem like they’re starting to panic, they see other traditional clubs doing a good job of re engaging fans and dont seem to know how to do it themselves.

I don’t think the venue is the right fit for them, it’s simply too big and they don’t have enough historical connection to the venue despite it being in an area where a lot of Greeks live. but I don’t think right this very second they have another obviously better option, Belmore suits them Better but it’s being taken over by bulldogs nrl

In my experience the main thing which their support responds to more than anything else is success.

I don’t know what the answer is for them, but I still maintain there’s potential there to be much better, very recently they were able to get much better crowds for big games so I don’t think it’s a lost cause.

Sydney united is a different thing, even this year they’ve had good support and a boycott whether you agree with it or not due to overpolicing and disagreements with the board aren’t exactly comparable to Olympics situation. Despite them being similar on face value

 

[Glenardo]

Sydney was humid as balls all day, hated it.

Wasn’t a very pleasant weekend weatherise, cloudy/showery and humid

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

If we have to beat Preston then Bergers to face Marconi in the final that would be Football Australia's wet dreams all coming true.

Id be happy with that run!!

 

[Glenardo]

This is a new thing for them the really going hard on the Greek identity thing, smacks of desperation imo. They weren’t doing this in the npl. They don’t know what to do and seem like they’re starting to panic, they see other traditional clubs doing a good job of re engaging fans and dont seem to know how to do it themselves.

I don’t think the venue is the right fit for them, it’s simply too big and they don’t have enough historical connection to the venue despite it being in an area where a lot of Greeks live. but I don’t think right this very second they have another obviously better option, Belmore suits them Better but it’s being taken over by bulldogs nrl

In my experience the main thing which their support responds to more than anything else is success.

I don’t know what the answer is for them, but I still maintain there’s potential there to be much better, very recently they were able to get much better crowds for big games so I don’t think it’s a lost cause.

Sydney united is a different thing, even this year they’ve had good support and a boycott whether you agree with it or not due to overpolicing and disagreements with the board aren’t exactly comparable to Olympics situation. Despite them being similar on face value

Imo one of the first questions to ask for them is why did they have less than half the people in attendance on the weekend vs a couple of years ago for a preseason friendly for what was a much more important game v the same opponent at the same ground. Yes the weather was better that day but still. What has changed so dramatically since then

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

This is a new thing for them the really going hard on the Greek identity thing, smacks of desperation imo. They weren’t doing this in the npl. They don’t know what to do and seem like they’re starting to panic, they see other traditional clubs doing a good job of re engaging fans and dont seem to know how to do it themselves.

I don’t think the venue is the right fit for them, it’s simply too big and they don’t have enough historical connection to the venue despite it being in an area where a lot of Greeks live. but I don’t think right this very second they have another obviously better option, Belmore suits them Better but it’s being taken over by bulldogs nrl

In my experience the main thing which their support responds to more than anything else is success.

I don’t know what the answer is for them, but I still maintain there’s potential there to be much better, very recently they were able to get much better crowds for big games so I don’t think it’s a lost cause.

Sydney united is a different thing, even this year they’ve had good support and a boycott whether you agree with it or not due to overpolicing and disagreements with the board aren’t exactly comparable to Olympics situation. Despite them being similar on face value

I think you have hit the nail on the head here... Its baffling...

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

I think you have hit the nail on the head here... Its baffling...

My understanding from my family supporters there is that they lost faith in the club after the financial issues came to light few years back.. since then the handling has been viewed as conspicuous from Hanlin also who they dont believe in, coupled with the haliti divide which i didnt quite understand fully as to the reasons for it.. but put simply the 'saving white knight' hasnt been as 'saving' as he shouldve!

 

[Sutherlandbear]

This is a new thing for them the really going hard on the Greek identity thing, smacks of desperation imo. They weren’t doing this in the npl. They don’t know what to do and seem like they’re starting to panic, they see other traditional clubs doing a good job of re engaging fans and dont seem to know how to do it themselves.

I don’t think the venue is the right fit for them, it’s simply too big and they don’t have enough historical connection to the venue despite it being in an area where a lot of Greeks live. but I don’t think right this very second they have another obviously better option, Belmore suits them Better but it’s being taken over by bulldogs nrl

In my experience the main thing which their support responds to more than anything else is success.

I don’t know what the answer is for them, but I still maintain there’s potential there to be much better, very recently they were able to get much better crowds for big games so I don’t think it’s a lost cause.

Sydney united is a different thing, even this year they’ve had good support and a boycott whether you agree with it or not due to overpolicing and disagreements with the board aren’t exactly comparable to Olympics situation. Despite them being similar on face value

Belmore has always been for the Bulldogs. When they moved to Homebush, they had Belmore developed into their Headquarters and training venue.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

Sydney was humid as balls all day, hated it.

Sadly, this has only become common in the past 20 or so years.