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

[HonestSpursFan]

Not sure if anyone on here saw from the Dub thread but speaking of teams disappearing, Canberra United (Michelle Heyman’s team) could be folding too. Their elimination final against Melbourne Victory could be their last ever game. Hope everyone in Canberra gets behind the girls even if it’s just for one last time. Really sad to see such an old club be in this mess.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

I think you just explained our your Pro football without realising

I would support pro/rel, but am open minded enough that it will not work properly in this country due to logistics and politics.

Example: after seven seasons we have in a 16-team league ,7 from NSW, 7 from Victoria and 2 from the rest, interest is out the door from the relegated sides and only 4 of 8 from the states and territories. That was only one of my many reasons.

 

[grazorblade]

I would support pro/rel, but am open minded enough that it will not work properly in this country due to logistics and politics.

Example: after seven seasons we have in a 16-team league ,7 from NSW, 7 from Victoria and 2 from the rest, interest is out the door from the relegated sides and only 4 of 8 from the states and territories. That was only one of my many reasons.

which season was that?

the 7th season i believe was in 1984 which had more than 16 teams

looking at previous seasons 1982 had 5 of the 16 teams outside vic/nsw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_National_Soccer_League,
same with 1983

1983 National Soccer League - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Of Australian teams today 7 out of 10 clubs are from nsw/vic anyway.

Former 442 poster voice of reason looked at the geographic spread of p&r and argued it does better for geographic representation than a closed system

Embracing the Global Standard

There’s a lot of football discussion happening within the game around Australia at the moment, and it’s brilliant. Many issues from how to revitalise the Aleague to the high junior fees are on the …

adamhowardvor.wordpress.com

in the section "Representation- The first division will be only Melbourne and Sydney teams"

I'd be interested to look at geographic spread carefully, I personally don't put much weight on it but could see it as being politically important since all member feds get the same number of votes

 

[NoMates]

So is Western United back in the League next season??

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

So is Western United back in the League next season??

We haven't heard anything from APL about Western United returning to the comp, nor about what's happening with Canberra United heading into Dub season 2026-27 unfortunately so we may well end up having a 12-team A-League Men and 10-team A-League Women next year assuming that both teams fold.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

which season was that?

the 7th season i believe was in 1984 which had more than 16 teams

looking at previous seasons 1982 had 5 of the 16 teams outside vic/nsw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_National_Soccer_League,
same with 1983

1983 National Soccer League - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Of Australian teams today 7 out of 10 clubs are from nsw/vic anyway.

Former 442 poster voice of reason looked at the geographic spread of p&r and argued it does better for geographic representation than a closed system

Embracing the Global Standard

There’s a lot of football discussion happening within the game around Australia at the moment, and it’s brilliant. Many issues from how to revitalise the Aleague to the high junior fees are on the …

adamhowardvor.wordpress.com

in the section "Representation- The first division will be only Melbourne and Sydney teams"

I'd be interested to look at geographic spread carefully, I personally don't put much weight on it but could see it as being politically important since all member feds get the same number of votes

I was hypothetically talking about the future.

How would the pyramid be structured ?

 

[grazorblade]

I was hypothetically talking about the future.

How would the pyramid be structured ?

depends, if you made me dictator or the most likely politically viable outcome the answer would be different

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Why is that? I would rather clubs survive even if they shouldnt have been born in the first place. There is a small community now attached to that club.

Is there though? They don't seem to get much of a crowd in the NPL?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I was hypothetically talking about the future.

How would the pyramid be structured ?

like all pyramids, wide at the bottom and pointy up the top?

 

[melbcityguy]

Would you just rather have them not exist?

Why is that? I would rather clubs survive even if they shouldnt have been born in the first place. There is a small community now attached to that club.

Its really sad this is even a question. The AFL and nrl must be laughing their arse off they have completely killed the league. Ten years ago we were averaging under 13k. The lowest average was Wellington 6k now we're at the stage where we are advocating for a club that's lucky to get 3k

 

[Sutherlandbear]

I was looking more at level two, and who decide which state league is on that level.