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The Australian Championship 🇦🇺🏆

libelous said:
The argument that we should just GO NOW regardless doesn’t make sense.
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Correct, a proper H&A Championship should not go ahead if there are a bunch of indicators that strongly predict failure. If the FA communicated those issues clearly and transparently, most people would be frustrated but would be totally fine with that. What I (and many others) have a problem with is the severe lack of planning from the FA. They hit a bump in the road and just stop. They do this all the time. Then it's just vagueness and non-commitment from them. Everything is always half-arsed because there is never any real analysis or planning. Set a season start date, doesn't matter when (26, 27, 35), just set one. Explain exactly what is required from the clubs for this comp to happen. This give clubs a timeline and something concrete to work towards. Everyone is on the same page. Some clubs will step up, some won't. When there is a real finish line with real rewards, ambitious clubs will make it happen. This approach of "we'll try this half-arsed comp and see how it goes and then maybe go proper league at some undetermined point in the future when clubs are ready" is never going to produce results.
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Its funny bc all.of a sudden "sustainability and feasability" are the buzz word for all those from that brought us the likes of WU and all those other gems that are have done or are doing so well...

But hey, lets keep applying the same criteria of the failing aleague to the new comp bc that will work out fantastically!
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As pointed out on the pod posted earlier. This may not be an attempt to stop the Championship but rather to set it up for success. The A-League started with 8 clubs. They have expanded to 13 teams over 20 years - with 3 clubs going under as they strive to get to 14 or 16 clubs. Do we still want to be at 8 clubs in 20 years or do we bite the bullet now and ensure that at least 12 teams are viable before we go to H&A in 2027?

In my mind we have to start with at least 12 clubs across at least 4 states, preferable all of them and an extra Vic team. I want to have that commitment by the clubs, Federations and the FA by the beginning of next years Australian Championship. This would give the newer clubs time to strengthen before the start of a proper 22 or 26 round competition in 2027.

We know that this years and next years comp will be a Champions League model. That hasn't changed in spite of the bluster over the last couple of weeks. The challenge now is to not complain about slights (whether real or imagined) and work toward the 2027 H&A model. If we are struggling to get there in the smaller states then the FA and the State Federations (who have much more clout than a club) need to work with state governments to make them compliant. This may be in the form of a guarantee to cover the $500,000 or grants to upgrade facilities - whatever form it doesn't matter - but the case has to be made in a professional consistent manner and that's where the FA has to partner with the Federal counterparts.

The areas I have most concern with are Tasmania where Pignata is after a Tasmania FC in the A-League and won't support South Hobart (but may support a State government guarantee) and Qld where the Federation has been less than helpful.
 
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LFC said:
hey no argument from me from its start to high and no matter Wilson/Gallop there was NO planB but to keep in the same line process.
A business as such today cannot live on one product, thats its prob plain as day and more complicated for the game is not a retail commodity its far more than that in the big picture.
I'm dealing with many business's that have/had changed their company DNA to expand their offerings otherwise your left behind.
AL/APL lifeline full stop period is the NPL and grass roots.
Then it could prosper (I'm not wishing for this unless they bent over big time :)) for the entire game on the same path.
That will enhance football interest, not using sales gimmicks, competition thats what its about.
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Exactly the problem. Businesses thrive on innovation. The A league was and is primarily a business. Football is primarily a sport. The A League approach may work for a while but it quickly becomes stale. In reality there should have been a national semi-pro league established in the earlier years.
 
LFC said:
hey no argument from me from its start to high and no matter Wilson/Gallop there was NO planB but to keep in the same line process.
A business as such today cannot live on one product, thats its prob plain as day and more complicated for the game is not a retail commodity its far more than that in the big picture.
I'm dealing with many business's that have/had changed their company DNA to expand their offerings otherwise your left behind.
AL/APL lifeline full stop period is the NPL and grass roots.
Then it could prosper (I'm not wishing for this unless they bent over big time :)) for the entire game on the same path.
That will enhance football interest, not using sales gimmicks, competition thats what its about.
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It all comes down to the suits mate the bloke in charge will set it up we just don't have one that's been capable
 
patjennings said:
Exactly the problem. Businesses thrive on innovation. The A league was and is primarily a business. Football is primarily a sport. The A League approach may work for a while but it quickly becomes stale. In reality there should have been a national semi-pro league established in the earlier years.
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But a league could have been ok if we expanded earlier and not the two joke teams there's been a lot of mistakes
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
If thats the case then they dont get an NST spot until they can prove otherwise and the rest take a smaller hit on travel costs!

Ideally writing them off from the get go is a little problematic for me, that is what im saying! It needs to be open and accessible to all that can fully buy in even if some trip and stumble and fall off along the way! Why should we not be able to do it that way when aleague is doing exactly the same? Why does our version need to be perfect to start as opposed to the aleague we so humbly hear how successful it remains?
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There is absolutely nothing to indicate current NPL clubs attract new fans on national stage.

Preston, Souths and maybe Knights, maybe Sydney United? Have history and respectable fan bases, but apart from them, that's it.
 
someguyjc said:
Correct, a proper H&A Championship should not go ahead if there are a bunch of indicators that strongly predict failure. If the FA communicated those issues clearly and transparently, most people would be frustrated but would be totally fine with that. What I (and many others) have a problem with is the severe lack of planning from the FA. They hit a bump in the road and just stop. They do this all the time. Then it's just vagueness and non-commitment from them. Everything is always half-arsed because there is never any real analysis or planning. Set a season start date, doesn't matter when (26, 27, 35), just set one. Explain exactly what is required from the clubs for this comp to happen. This give clubs a timeline and something concrete to work towards. Everyone is on the same page. Some clubs will step up, some won't. When there is a real finish line with real rewards, ambitious clubs will make it happen. This approach of "we'll try this half-arsed comp and see how it goes and then maybe go proper league at some undetermined point in the future when clubs are ready" is never going to produce results.
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Do you mean ‘communicated to the clubs or to the fans’.
I believe the FA have indicated to the clubs through the RFP what is required and are assisting them in achieving that.
 
melbcityguy said:
Btw everyone goes on about p and r what about a domestic transfer system?? Npl getting money from a league teams buying players
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I thought the same. But someone else said that there IS a transfer system between our leagues, just not WITHIN the A-Leagues. That's why players always leave mutually between A-League clubs, kinda an unspoken agreement between the clubs.
 
melbcityguy said:
It all comes down to the suits mate the bloke in charge will set it up we just don't have one that's been capable
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I think we all agree there and at the sametime some others need to stand up but I suspect many are scared to lose their gigs/jobs.
For eg the Feds ?! not just those in the FA corridors in their offices.
I'm sure not all those involved in the Feds see all the issues/hold back/vested interests.
1 CEO suit can't do it alone, seems JJ saw the writing on the wall as well.
This current one won't put her neck out that is for sure ?!
I don't see her as a leader but will remain focus on the money bringing NT's and tournaments till they find this new CEO they are have put the search out for.
Then we start all over again and whoever it is will get the rope pulled back unless they really know how to manage snakes and bite their heads off.
 
someguyjc said:
Both. Fans are a very important factor in the success of any football league.
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True ... but - you don't want to react to every bit of commentary on twitter. The FA made a perfectly clear statement from there perspective.

TBH I'd be happier if the clubs outed themselves and said they were involved in the third round as South Hobart did. But then go further and say

1) the FA reviewed are EOI and these areas still need to be addressed before we resubmit; and
2) we continue to work with the FA and other parties in a view to be included in the 2027 home and away Australian championship.

I don't believe it is the right of the FA to public elucidate to the general public where an individual club is coming up short. That responsibility, if it lies anywhere, lies with the club. Whether they want to share their weknesses with the general public is their decision.
 
melbcityguy said:
But a league could have been ok if we expanded earlier and not the two joke teams there's been a lot of mistakes
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They did. They had Gold Coast and Townsville - both gone along with the original Auckland team. Expansion is problematic and always has been. The A League should have started larger and if we had a clean slate now I suspect it would be. We shouldn't make the same mistake with the Australian Championship.
 
someguyjc said:
Both. Fans are a very important factor in the success of any football league.
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FA put out a statement on July 27 regarding the conclusion of the 3rd RFP and indicated that they are assisting clubs in reaching the standards required for entry into the NST.
It may be that the benchmarks are high but I believe that it has to be that way to prevent the whole thing falling apart.
 
libelous said:
FA put out a statement on July 27 regarding the conclusion of the 3rd RFP and indicated that they are assisting clubs in reaching the standards required for entry into the NST.
It may be that the benchmarks are high but I believe that it has to be that way to prevent the whole thing falling apart.
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Let's get that checklist published. The fans want transparency.
 
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