NicCarBel said:

Absolutely fuming today I had to write a song after this news.

May I remind you that Canberra Juventus - one of Canberra's most successful senior men's clubs through the history of Capital Football/ACT Soccer Federation - were denied an exemption under the NPL Review of 2025, with this being the public reasoning:

Canberra Juventus FC – Junior Pathway Exemption Denied
Canberra Juventus’ request for a junior pathway exemption has been denied. The Board expressed concern over the feasibility of establishing a full junior pathway within a 12-month timeframe. The club is encouraged to plan for future NPL promotion by developing its youth structure.

This evening, Canberra Juventus has announced the following (which yes, isn't a full pathway yet, but already has made a mockery of the NPL Review exemption announcements in my opinion):


Oh, Capital Football's bureaucracy...

Click to expand...

you wrote a song???? Please share.

Monoethnic Social Club said:

you wrote a song???? Please share.

Click to expand...

Well.. it's just a parody - was trying to find if I could get some sort of AI cover of it, but no avail...

Monoethnic Social Club said:

you wrote a song???? Please share.

Click to expand...

NicCarBel said:

Well.. it's just a parody - was trying to find if I could get some sort of AI cover of it, but no avail...

Click to expand...

Capital Football's bureaucracy

Look in my eyes, what do you see? Capital Football's bureaucracy.
They'll cut off some clubs, but other teams? Getting pathway passes with such ease!
Ohhhhh it's Capital Football's bureaucracy.

Like Mussolini, with hypocrisy,
it's Capital Football's bureaucracy.

Exemption fights, a board that sighs,
When Juventus speaks, the answer's 'denied'
You won't get equality, all you'll get is secrecy...

They tell us things we need to be,
But won't even follow their policies!
Ohhhh, it's Capital Football's bureaucracy.

They'll exploit you, make you pay fees,
And claim the Review' was made fairly,
Ohhh, it's Capital Football's bureaucracy.

They'll shift the goalposts, and ignore the pleas
It's Capital Football's bureaucracy.

Exemption fights, a board that sighs
The leader won't speak, but will pass off lies
You don't have to follow me, But you should speak up for your team

They want the fortune, they want the fame
But they won't travel for a football gaaaame,
Destroying pathways we hope to seeee
Ohhhh, it's Capital Football's bureaucracy

grazorblade said:

Click to expand...

I wonder how well I came across

Hindsight now thinking back, I threw myself when we hit that little tech snag, and held myself back a little on Capital Football because - since Monaro were kind enough to be the only club to jump on - I wanted to give them the airspace to speak their part

grazorblade said:

yeah it was a bit gentler on capital football than I thought haha
but it made it clear what everyones perspective was

sorry about the delay, we had technical problems with your vid feed, did you like our solution?

Click to expand...

No problems at all - thanks for having me on

Yeah, close enough haha

NicCarBel said:

I wonder how well I came across

Hindsight now thinking back, I threw myself when we hit that little tech snag, and held myself back a little on Capital Football because - since Monaro were kind enough to be the only club to jump on - I wanted to give them the airspace to speak their part

Click to expand...

I thought you were making a political protest type declaration mate... having the Yoogali logo on the screen and all

Monoethnic Social Club said:

I thought you were making a political protest type declaration mate... having the Yoogali logo on the screen and all

Click to expand...

Tried to do that with both the Wagga and Yoogali shirts in the background to start with - so I'm glad grazor found a way to carry it on once the camera got cut haha

Are we forgetting that football at the NPL level is the competitive development pathway?

Yoogali
NPLM - Second Last
No junior NPL but Second last in u23s

Wagga
CPLM - Second Last
NPLB - Sixth in Club Championship (deserves to stay and will stay after appeal)
hey do play first grade players down in he u18s....I don't know about how sustainable that is.

West Canberra
NPLM - Last Place (relegation spot any other year)
NPLB - Third Last in Club Championship (regulation spot as stated before the season)

Monaro Panthers
NPLM - Super competitive and deserve to stay (lots of money spent though....)
NPLB - Fourth Last in Club Championship (regulation spot as stated before the season)

I understand Yoogali's frustration, but for all the Canberra and adjacent based teams, why is there a huge issue with building up their community league to be competitive and then apply to rejoin the NPLB competition. NPL is not the only development pathway in the region. Are they after the NPL title to put on their social media or do they actually care about the players development? Nothing is stopping those clubs refocusing on the Junior Division 1 competitions and developing young players there.

The NPL relegation spots were made clear before the season and these teams were not competitive enough to survive. Regroup, reinvest and gain back their spot in the NPL when the programs are ready, cause those programs are clearly not ready right now. If anything, the clubs should be asking Capital Football for assistance on how to improve the Junior Community Leagues in preparation for next season.

Common Sense said:

Are we forgetting that football at the NPL level is the competitive development pathway?

Yoogali
NPLM - Second Last
No junior NPL but Second last in u23s

Wagga
CPLM - Second Last
NPLB - Sixth in Club Championship (deserves to stay and will stay after appeal)
hey do play first grade players down in he u18s....I don't know about how sustainable that is.

West Canberra
NPLM - Last Place (relegation spot any other year)
NPLB - Third Last in Club Championship (regulation spot as stated before the season)

Monaro Panthers
NPLM - Super competitive and deserve to stay (lots of money spent though....)
NPLB - Fourth Last in Club Championship (regulation spot as stated before the season)

I understand Yoogali's frustration, but for all the Canberra and adjacent based teams, why is there a huge issue with building up their community league to be competitive and then apply to rejoin the NPLB competition. NPL is not the only development pathway in the region. Are they after the NPL title to put on their social media or do they actually care about the players development? Nothing is stopping those clubs refocusing on the Junior Division 1 competitions and developing young players there.

The NPL relegation spots were made clear before the season and these teams were not competitive enough to survive. Regroup, reinvest and gain back their spot in the NPL when the programs are ready, cause those programs are clearly not ready right now. If anything, the clubs should be asking Capital Football for assistance on how to improve the Junior Community Leagues in preparation for next season.

Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with Wagga playing first grade players down in the U18s - provided they are U18 of course.

Yoogali had offered solutions to their youth pathway to compete in Canberra (and Capital Football also rejected an application for multiple years from an arguably stronger youth development base in that region from Hanwood FC) - so in the instance of Yoogali/Griffith - it very much seemed to be a case of removing the region all together, rather than stating that there needs to be stronger link to the youth base.

NPL is very much the only elite development pathway for the Riverina - without creating their own competition of course.
Just remember that during 2017-2018, the 3 major arms of the Riverina branch (Wagga, Griffith and Albury) each had an NPL program competing in 3 different member federations (Murray United in Victoria, Riverina Rhinos in CF, and Wagga City Wanderers in NSW). There is no closer program to this area than Capital Football's (except perhaps Victoria for Murray United - given that is primarily Melbourne based)

And - don't lie and say that the relegations spots were stated/confirmed before the season. This is the most up to date Competition Regulations from Capital Football (dated 16 April 2025)

The promotion and relegation mechanism for the 2026 season is currently under final review as part of the NPL/CPL review, conducted in 2024. The final mechanisms for promotion and relegation in 2026, will therefore be confirmed in due course, and communicated with clubs once known.

Click to expand...

The review itself is heavily flawed and hypocritical - and that's where the issue lies:

Many things hypocritical about this review - and that's just the document itself:

• Riverina excluded mostly on the basis that 'community and junior players are not willing to travel beyond the previous Capital Football region limits of Cooma, Yass and Goulburn and will subsequently forfeit matches, which significantly impacts on the integrity of the competition and the experience had by all participants' - including a rejection to join the league by Hanwood FC (who arguably has a stronger youth set up than Yoogali SC). Nontheless, Wagga was given an exemption for only the youth team, despite the review stating that it's youth teams that have/will struggle to travel.
• In addition to travel, it was cited that "there is an ongoing challenge for all clubs with the distance, cost, player availability and availability of referees to travel to the Riverina." I know for a fact that referees in the Riverina are crying out for courses/training to be qualified at that level - and it's not like Capital Football has turned a blind eye in allocating 'unqualified' referees at this level - I was at the lowest end of the Capital Football totem pole while refereeing (Level 4), and had been assigned AR duties for 3 NPL/CPL games in a season, which would generally require Level 3 qualifications. Was this a one-off because I had been involved in NPL/CPL on the dugout for the previous 3-4 seasons? Perhaps. But nonetheless, the resources are there if eyes are opened. If clubs are so worried about travel, why are they entering in competitions such as the Hahn Australia Cup and Australian Championship which will require cross-country travel and larger expenses?
• Introduction of a preseason competition involving the Illawarra Premier League - stated as having NPL teams playing 4 matches against IPL clubs (2x home and 2x away), which goes against the reasoning for excluding Riverina clubs due to travel time - as a 10 club NPLM competition including Yoogali would have been less travel for clubs than this slated preseason competition
• Reduction of NPLB to 10 teams (overall a reduction due to this year's combined competition), with clubs now being cut from the competition. However, the review states that a longer 27-28 round season for NPL Boys and Girls will take place, citing that "The longer season was allocated to the Boys and Girls competition as it will have the greater impact on the player development pathway and it is also where ground allocations are more flexible." Wouldn't it make more sense to keep the current larger competition, where a home and away season would still provide that longer season?
• Then you also have one section of the review's Final Report that completely contradicts itself within two sentences: 'The Review Committee don’t believe it is required to link competitions. However, it is recommended that it is a requirement for all NPL Men’s and Women’s clubs to have a junior pathway and teams entered in either the NPL or in each Junior League Div 1 competitions that are aligned to their first grade program.'

And that's not to mention the integrity concerns that have cropped up across the perceived lack of communication and consultation, and censorship of some people speaking out against this review - myself included - which include:

• A current club committee member being 25% of the review panel (and seemingly the largest beneficiary of this review) with no conflict of interest being tabled or mentioned in the review.
• The Capital Football President seemingly ignoring (or not checking his email) to pass on a letter recommending the implementation of this review be paused for 12 months - signed off on by 75% of the NPLM + CPLM clubs - with the CEO of Capital Football only acknowledging receipt of this letter the day after exemptions were announced - 4 weeks after it was sent (with this acknowledgment of receipt also confirming that this letter was not looked at until this point).
• Capital Football censoring/blocking select users on social media from commenting on items relating to this without following their social media policy, then trying to apply sanctions based on this social media policy to clubs (probably rightly to be honest, but is very hypocritical when they won't stick to their own policy), and only overturning this as a "gesture of goodwill" when mentions of Football Australia's Integrity Unit were raised.

Please read my comments again and notice that Yoogali is not included in "but for all the Canberra and adjacent based teams". I completely understand why Yoogali is upset and believe they do have a case. That said, I definitely don't agree with the social media behaviour.....

All I said about Wagga playing players down is that it might not be a sustainable practice if they kept their First Grade.

The Canberra based teams in Woden Valley, West Canberra and Monaro all have the pathway to compete and develop in Community League. Given how those clubs performed this season, that is probably the level they need to be in for now. Capital Football has communicated to clubs that there will be future opportunities for those clubs to get back into the NPL.

I have involvement in an NPL club and it was clearly communicated what we needed to do to survive relegation. So there must have been some communication from CF.

I agree CF is far from perfect, but some of the clubs relegated because of there clubs position on the ladders need to have a look at their performance this season and ask if they could of and should have done more.

Common Sense said:

The Canberra based teams in Woden Valley, West Canberra and Monaro all have the pathway to compete and develop in Community League. Given how those clubs performed this season, that is probably the level they need to be in for now. Capital Football has communicated to clubs that there will be future opportunities for those clubs to get back into the NPL.

I have involvement in an NPL club and it was clearly communicated what we needed to do to survive relegation. So there must have been some communication from CF.

I agree CF is far from perfect, but some of the clubs relegated because of there clubs position on the ladders need to have a look at their performance this season and ask if they could of and should have done more.

Click to expand...

Yes, I see your point - but it leads back to one of the contradictions I picked up on in the review:

NicCarBel said:

• Reduction of NPLB to 10 teams (overall a reduction due to this year's combined competition), with clubs now being cut from the competition. However, the review states that a longer 27-28 round season for NPL Boys and Girls will take place, citing that "The longer season was allocated to the Boys and Girls competition as it will have the greater impact on the player development pathway and it is also where ground allocations are more flexible." Wouldn't it make more sense to keep the current larger competition, where a home and away season would still provide that longer season?

Click to expand...

Will this longer season still be in place for next season in the NPL Youth categories? Because if that's the case then I think there's more of a point to have kept the competition as it was this year.

I can kind of see the point in relation to youth football in the region - but Capital Football has made this an issue for for senior clubs, despite even saying in the review that it shouldn't be:

The Review Committee don’t believe it is required to link competitions. However, it is recommended that it is a requirement for all NPL Men’s and Women’s clubs to have a junior pathway and teams entered in either the NPL or in each Junior League Div 1 competitions that are aligned to their first grade program.

Click to expand...

It appears as if Capital Football has attempted make a 'catch-all' for requirements, but allowed certain clubs to be exempt and/or rise through the cracks.

For example, Canberra Juventus haven't been granted an exemption:

Canberra Juventus’ request for a junior pathway exemption has been denied. The Board expressed concern over the feasibility of establishing a full junior pathway within a 12-month timeframe. The club is encouraged to plan for future NPL promotion by developing its youth structure.

Click to expand...

Even though the Exemption Guidelines place this as a requirement to build towards meeting criteria for the 2027 season. If they're able to establish their pathway by the end of next season (and they've already put in place steps to do) - the fact that they won't be promoted to NPLM next season ahead of Brindabella Blues (3rd in CPL Club Championship v 5th) will be a joke. But that's a watch this space I suppose.

Common Sense said:

Please read my comments again and notice that Yoogali is not included in "but for all the Canberra and adjacent based teams". I completely understand why Yoogali is upset and believe they do have a case. That said, I definitely don't agree with the social media behaviour.....

All I said about Wagga playing players down is that it might not be a sustainable practice if they kept their First Grade.

Click to expand...

This again leads me to my 'catch-all'. There is quite a deep perception out that way that a lot of these changes have been made purely to remove Riverina clubs from the senior pyramid. This is now the 3rd time that this has happened to the region in the past 55 years (and of those, at least 2 were against the will of the Riverina region). You did mention your club was made aware and had communication, but it appears as if Yoogali and Wagga did not until the last minute.

Of the 9 seasons that Yoogali, Riverina Rhinos and Wagga City have competed in the men's senior pyramid, only once have any of them finished last (Rhinos in 2019, which led to Yoogali being introduced in the second tier for 2020).

Wagga realistically can do what they want with their players in their age groups for as long as they can sustain it. As you said, they've finished 6th in the club championship for NPL Boys this season, so it's still sustainable for them.

Capital Football want to champion growth of this league, and overall - these changes do more to hamper it than help.

I hope to god its not a longer season!! Play 18 games, a finals series, a Cup competition open to all clubs in Canberra including community league and do a pre season tournament. All up about 24-30 games over 3 competitions.

What clubs accepted to NPL are breaking the junior requirement rules? Pretty sure they all have NPL or JL to meet the requirements. Happy to be corrected if wrong there.

Pretty sure Club Championship doesn't matter in CPL promotion, it's first grade results only. So we are talking about 4th vs 5th and 1 championship point.

Brindabella have been a high quality development focus club for over ten years, are always in or around the finals on a tiny budget of home grown players and have just won the u18s grand final. Pretty sure they are exactly what we want in Canberra football, I have no complaints with them being included and I think a lot of Canberra would agree.

The smaller pool of 10 teams will increase the quality of the competition and promote further development at the top end of football in Canberra. The smaller comp needs to happen and teams will be squeezed out, sadly that's just how it has to be.

Wagga playing players down shows they have a strong development pathway but not a suitable or sustainable first grade team, finishing second last. So them having NPLB but not NPLM makes sense to me.

Common Sense said:

I hope to god its not a longer season!! Play 18 games, a finals series, a Cup competition open to all clubs in Canberra including community league and do a pre season tournament. All up about 24-30 games over 3 competitions.

Click to expand...

Are you talking Mens or Youth here though? I don't think there's going to be a longer season for Men's, but for Youth there very well certainly could be

Common Sense said:

What clubs accepted to NPL are breaking the junior requirement rules? Pretty sure they all have NPL or JL to meet the requirements. Happy to be corrected if wrong there.

Click to expand...

According to Capital Football:

NPL
Quanbeyan City (exemption approved)
Yoogali SC (exemption denied - although obviously has their juniors playing in Griffith)

CPL
ANU (don't think they applied for an exemption tbh, otherwise they'd be the extra promoted club for seniors)
Canberra Juventus (exemption denied)
White Eagles (exemption approved)
Wagga (exemption approved, but sort of falls down a different rabbit hole)

However, like I've pointed out, there's a very conflicting point from Capital Football and the review document where they say they don't recommend it, but apply it anyways. If anything, personally, the two tiered "Premier Leagues" have been more of a success since the youth/senior decoupling occurred in 2020, than it was in the few years prior to that. Closing clubs off from the top tier does nothing for progress - and that's what this proposed system does.

The review championed the way promotion/relegation has meant more meaning for games in the top tier, but then have also subsequently closed it off by only having a conditional system that means clubs like Olympic, and Belconnen never get relegated again.

Common Sense said:

Pretty sure Club Championship doesn't matter in CPL promotion, it's first grade results only. So we are talking about 4th vs 5th and 1 championship point.

Click to expand...

And clearly, a committee member as well.

Common Sense said:

Brindabella have been a high quality development focus club for over ten years, are always in or around the finals on a tiny budget of home grown players and have just won the u18s grand final. Pretty sure they are exactly what we want in Canberra football, I have no complaints with them being included and I think a lot of Canberra would agree.

Click to expand...

The complaints I have with them being included, are particularly around the end of my previous post.

Common Sense said:

The smaller pool of 10 teams will increase the quality of the competition and promote further development at the top end of football in Canberra. The smaller comp needs to happen and teams will be squeezed out, sadly that's just how it has to be.

Wagga playing players down shows they have a strong development pathway but not a suitable or sustainable first grade team, finishing second last. So them having NPLB but not NPLM makes sense to me.

Click to expand...

However, they have been using home grown players and have been in or around the finals at all other levels (except first grade) for the past 6 years, so the point still remains as to why the decision was made to remove them geographically (mostly based off travel concerns for the youth teams), but then only allow them in to play at youth level.

Are you talking Mens or Youth here though? I don't think there's going to be a longer season for Men's, but for Youth there very well certainly could be

Click to expand...

Youth and I hope it doesn't

NPL
Quanbeyan City (exemption approved)
Yoogali SC (exemption denied - although obviously has their juniors playing in Griffith)

CPL
ANU (don't think they applied for an exemption tbh, otherwise they'd be the extra promoted club for seniors)
Canberra Juventus (exemption denied)
White Eagles (exemption approved)
Wagga (exemption approved, but sort of falls down a different rabbit hole)

Click to expand...

Queanbeyan have been putting together a decent youth pathway for the last few year (expecting this rule I assume) so I would imagine they wouldn't have been far off meeting the rules. That might have been a small exemption and would make sense.
Yoogali makes sense to be denied.

ANU never stood a chance so why bother to apply haha.
Canberra Juventus currently have little to no juniors that can support the club so makes sense.
White Eagles are the exemption I can't understand, unless they have said the Woden Clubs are their catchment area.
Wagga should have an NPLB but they don't have the structure to hold a NPLM team. All the best players leave for University or Academy's and its hard for them to attract players.

The review championed the way promotion/relegation has meant more meaning for games in the top tier, but then have also subsequently closed it off by only having a conditional system that means clubs like Olympic, and Belconnen never get relegated again.

Click to expand...

Two tiers of NPLM was the best thing to happen to football in Canberra and should have stayed. But NPLB needed to merge and be smaller.

Brindabella (a far south team) need to be and deserve to be in the NPLM. Enough said on that.

Wagga does not have the ability (not their fault) to be a consistent and competitive team with the proposed squad roles that I have seen. All their best young players leave Wagga for work, study and other opportunities, it can't be helped, its just their reality.

Common Sense said:

Youth and I hope it doesn't

Click to expand...

There's a Canberra wide cup for youth now? I haven't come across that yet..

Common Sense said:

Queanbeyan have been putting together a decent youth pathway for the last few year (expecting this rule I assume) so I would imagine they wouldn't have been far off meeting the rules. That might have been a small exemption and would make sense.
Yoogali makes sense to be denied.

ANU never stood a chance so why bother to apply haha.
Canberra Juventus currently have little to no juniors that can support the club so makes sense.
White Eagles are the exemption I can't understand, unless they have said the Woden Clubs are their catchment area.
Wagga should have an NPLB but they don't have the structure to hold a NPLM team. All the best players leave for University or Academy's and its hard for them to attract players.

Click to expand...

Can't really disagree with this other than:
* Like you said, White Eagles exemption doesn't really make sense if Juventus was denied. You'd expect either both, or neither.
* Yoogali put motions in place to meet criteria - but I think it's been made obvious that Capital Football just don't want to go there. Yoogali have juniors playing in Griffith. Which - as Capital Football rightly pointed out - travel for youth football is an issue. Which is a shame, because as I mentioned earlier - to compete at this level, Riverina clubs either have Melbourne or Sydney to travel to - both further than Canberra. So from a regional development perspective - being in the Canberra pyramid makes the most sense. But more on that later.
* Wagga does have the structure to hold a CPLM team though, which leads wonderfully into the next section of your post:

Common Sense said:

Two tiers of NPLM was the best thing to happen to football in Canberra and should have stayed. But NPLB needed to merge and be smaller.

Click to expand...

That's about spot on - I think I can agree with that. It's precisely why (as far as my understanding goes) that the system was decoupled (Youth and Senior) in 2020. Considering the review also recommended against it, I'm not sure why Capital Football is insisting upon it...

Common Sense said:

Brindabella (a far south team) need to be and deserve to be in the NPLM. Enough said on that.

Click to expand...

Not if they're finishing 5th in the second tier... But the Brindabella thing specifically a thing for another conversation.

Personally, Capital Football - if they're going to be bandying exemptions around for a 2027 implementation, should have implemented this 10 club/single tier approach to begin from 2027, rather than 2026. And it's clear a majority of the clubs thought this too - and probably would have been an acceptable middle ground.

It would alleviated the criticism they've copped from the Riverina (and other clubs in Canberra that are affected), and given clubs in Canberra to either address the criteria or not - or in the situation that Yoogali and Wagga have found themselves in, more time to find themselves a sustainable home.

Common Sense said:

Wagga does not have the ability (not their fault) to be a consistent and competitive team with the proposed squad roles that I have seen. All their best young players leave Wagga for work, study and other opportunities, it can't be helped, its just their reality.

Click to expand...

And again, that would still work for them in the two-tiered Premier League. They've never finished on the bottom of the second tier. They won the Championship in 2020. They won the U23 Championships in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and also lost the Grand Final and 2023.

Going back to what I spoke about earlier - if I had my perfect world: Capital Football would absorb the 'Riverina Branch' and some surrounding associations that Football NSW just don't care about (Southern Tablelands as one example). Let the associations exist on their own merit, holding their own competitions, etc locally like they do now - but allow each association the ability (like they had with Wagga, and previously with Southern Tablelands United for Goulburn) compete in the Premier League structure (which is why a two-tier pyramid is perfect - even if it still has that conditional promotion/relegation) through an association team. If those associations have their own politics that hold things back (looking at you Griffith with Riverina Rhinos), then so be it - they can deal with that on their own level before they get into the structure. And if things fall apart - then they're removed until they sort their shit out.

But - ultimately - that last paragraph is dreamland and will never happen.