The Australian Championship 🇦🇺🏆

[RoyalDave]

Just a reminder that Yoogali SC - a club that Capital Football has kicked out of their NPL for being 'too far to travel to' (despite not finishing last in the league - the usual relegation slot) beat this side (Canberra Croatia) when they still had 12 of their matchday 18 from this match. 5 of the other 6 are post-season signings from across the Capital Football NPL. Nothing against Canberra Croatia - great club - but an indictment on Capital Football.

That's pretty poor.

Over in WA there's an AMATEUR team based in Geraldton that causes a similar travel issue - and its about the same distance. If the amateurs can put up with it surely semi pro NPL can?

 

[RoyalDave]

It’s because the fans have requested to have the Olympic rings in the clubs crest for a long time because it originally included them. but it was a copyright issue with the international Olympic committee or whoever that they couldn’t do it. So it was speculated that maybe they got it over the line with some weird little one off deal but not ongoing usage.

The IOC is very protective of its IP - wasn't smart to think they would get away with it.

 

[NicCarBel]

That's pretty poor.

Over in WA there's an AMATEUR team based in Geraldton that causes a similar travel issue - and its about the same distance. If the amateurs can put up with it surely semi pro NPL can?

Bingo! There's also a multitude of regional clubs in Victoria competing in their Premier League pyramid (Bendigo, Shepparton, Ballarat, to name a few - Gippsland too I think?).

Please feel free to write to Capital Football and table your concerns.
disciplinary@capitalfootball.com.au
CEO@Capitalfootball.com.au
Info@capitalfootball.com.au

Or better yet, Football Australia's integrity unit (integrity@footballaustralia.com.au), after everything else that's been covered on this site:

Article 'The saga of Capital Football's banishment of regional football.'

It's been yet another disappointing removal of Riverina from football pathways, after Capital Football have elected to remove Griffith's Yoogali Soccer Club from the NPL Men's competition from 2026, and Wagga City Wanderers from the CPL Men's competition as well. Wagga City's youth academy...

• NicCarBel
• Aug 1, 2025
• 8 min read
• Reaction score: 5
• Comments: 18
• Category: NPL

Article '📢 CAPITAL FOOTBALL DECLARATION OF LEAGUES 2026 - TRANSPARENCY NOT INCLUDED'

Capital Football have gone and done what many have perceived as the unthinkable, and confirmed a 10 team NPL for the 2026 season. This includes the removal from Capital Football for the club that finished 7th in an eight team competition in 2025 (Yoogali SC) - which would normally save them...

• NicCarBel
• Oct 2, 2025
• 8 min read
• Reaction score: 6
• Comments: 8
• Category: NPL

 

[NicCarBel]

The IOC is very protective of its IP - wasn't smart to think they would get away with it.

Yeah, I reckon they would have thought they could get away with it due to them having used it 'historically' or something. I think that only covers the name "Olympic" for them. I wonder how many of the "Olympic" clubs in Australia have this in writing? I know Canberra Olympic has the rings. I wonder if we can get them expelled from the NPL for copyright infringement? Might be one way to get Yoogali back in.

 

[Glenardo]

For those who maybe weren’t impressed with the ~1.5k turn out at Olympic on the weekend. Understand this is the vibe in the stands at the moment. As I says, fortunes change there are always good and bad periods at clubs, but this is the current vibe. They’re not currently firing on all cylinders

 

[superpolska]

Yeah Bulleen and Green Gully pretty much the only similar in Melbourne I can think of.

CS George Cross, Western Eagles Polonia & Sunbury United as well. Would be 1 or 2 in Geelong too, or at least was

 

[oranges]

CS George Cross, Western Eagles Polonia & Sunbury United as well. Would be 1 or 2 in Geelong too, or at least was

Breakwater Eagles were until they moved out of the Polish Club and became Geelong City. Bell Park Sports Club are the other one although they're more sports club first and venue second. In Melbourne there's also Casa d'Abruzzo (Epping City) that's pretty big

 

[superpolska]

Breakwater Eagles were until they moved out of the Polish Club and became Geelong City. Bell Park Sports Club are the other one although they're more sports club first and venue second. In Melbourne there's also Casa d'Abruzzo (Epping City) that's pretty big

Yeah they moved just this year though. Barely a Polish club now. Big change in just 2 years. Forgot about epping, and also Werribee City now that I think of it. Must be an Italian/Maltese/Polish thing. Other groups haven't caught on for some reason...

 

[Glenardo]

Worth noting the Marconi club is probably the biggest example of all in an Australian soccer context. Was founded as/still is a general Italian social club, with multiple sports including bocce etc briscola (Italian cards), hosts community events, has a reception centre/events space, multiple hospitality outlets including pizzeria, sit down restaurant, bar, gelateria etc. obviously the soccer has for a long time been it’s most famous/main component but that’s not all it is. And that’s probably what’s allowed it to be such a strong, sustainable members based organisation for so many decades.

 

[Glenardo]

I know Avondale play out of the Reggio Calabria club but I’m not sure what their relationship is with it. I think one of the Brunswick juventus’ might have an association with the abruzzo club. Also Sydney united have the king tomislav Croatian club, and I’m pretty sure Melbourne knights have a little Croatian social club attached too called “Melbourne Croatia soccer club” i believe the nickname is “the bat cave”

 

[superpolska]

Avondale hire out the pitch, the people who back the club financially are not Italian. They groundshared Knights Stadium before that. MCSC isn't like the others on the list it's only open for matches and events I believe. The closest to what Marconi have in VIC would probably be at Werribee City/ISCW or Bulleen/Veneto Club

 

[grazorblade]

Worth noting the Marconi club is probably the biggest example of all in an Australian soccer context. Was founded as/still is a general Italian social club, with multiple sports including bocce etc briscola (Italian cards), hosts community events, has a reception centre/events space, multiple hospitality outlets including pizzeria, sit down restaurant, bar, gelateria etc. obviously the soccer has for a long time been it’s most famous/main component but that’s not all it is. And that’s probably what’s allowed it to be such a strong, sustainable members based organisation for so many decades.

Marconis stadium and history of youth development is top class

One thing that surprised me is that their crowd averages have historically been quite weak

 

[Glenardo]

Avondale hire out the pitch, the people who back the club financially are not Italian. They groundshared Knights Stadium before that. MCSC isn't like the others on the list it's only open for matches and events I believe. The closest to what Marconi have in VIC would probably be at Werribee City/ISCW or Bulleen/Veneto Club

I think the Melb Croatia one might be open for events, but you’re right I think it’s not open on non match days.

Yea have been to Veneto club many times, it’s probably the most similar thing to Marconi club but on a smaller scale

 

[NicCarBel]

Worth noting the Marconi club is probably the biggest example of all in an Australian soccer context. Was founded as/still is a general Italian social club, with multiple sports including bocce etc briscola (Italian cards), hosts community events, has a reception centre/events space, multiple hospitality outlets including pizzeria, sit down restaurant, bar, gelateria etc. obviously the soccer has for a long time been it’s most famous/main component but that’s not all it is. And that’s probably what’s allowed it to be such a strong, sustainable members based organisation for so many decades.

Avondale hire out the pitch, the people who back the club financially are not Italian. They groundshared Knights Stadium before that. MCSC isn't like the others on the list it's only open for matches and events I believe. The closest to what Marconi have in VIC would probably be at Werribee City/ISCW or Bulleen/Veneto Club

Not Victorian, but dont forget Hanwood in Griffith

8K views · 70 reactions | A special message from our friends from Club Marconi. We appreciate your well wishes and look forward to you visiting in future! Thanks Gaetano Jack Belardo for organising! clubmarconi marconistallionsfc | Hanwood Footbal

A special message from our friends from Club Marconi. We appreciate your well wishes and look forward to you visiting in future! Thanks Gaetano Jack Belardo for organising! clubmarconi...

www.facebook.com

 

[Beretta]

I want to watch both - how dare you limit my viewing.

only then you'd get a true reflection of crowds in my opinion.

 

[Beretta]

I don't get the hate. Looks good to me:

its rubbish, the Olympic rings needed to be taken off.

just with us, we can never use the opera house logo anymore, or they'd sue us.

 

[Beretta]

Worth noting the Marconi club is probably the biggest example of all in an Australian soccer context. Was founded as/still is a general Italian social club, with multiple sports including bocce etc briscola (Italian cards), hosts community events, has a reception centre/events space, multiple hospitality outlets including pizzeria, sit down restaurant, bar, gelateria etc. obviously the soccer has for a long time been it’s most famous/main component but that’s not all it is. And that’s probably what’s allowed it to be such a strong, sustainable members based organisation for so many decades.

100% agree with all of that.

However club Marconi now just houses Arabs & Asian with Gambling problems. More of them go their then Italians do.

 

[Glenardo]

100% agree with all of that.

However club Marconi now just houses Arabs & Asian with Gambling problems. More of them go there then Italians do.

Well that’s part of the reason for the clubs success to be fair, an Italian club with Italian roots, but all are welcome. Go to an Italian restaurant on any given night and you’ll find people of all backgrounds. Thats part of why the Italian community have been so successful in this country more broadly. And to be fair its still clearly Italian, it hosts events for major Italian festivals, there’s Italian school there etc

 

[Glenardo]

Marconis stadium and history of youth development is top class

One thing that surprised me is that their crowd averages have historically been quite weak

At the end all the traditional clubs that were left in the nsl were getting averages of 2-3k, apart from South Melbourne who were the exception getting 6-7k . Remember Sydney had 5 clubs in the nsl at that point. In the 90s which was the peak for average crowds Marconi was averaging around 5k. There’s 3 random seasons from the 90s.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Thats actually a promising stat.