The Australian Championship 🇦🇺🏆

[Sutherlandbear]

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.

Lachie Rose is one of the things wrong with football in this country.

I can only say what i see at Sydney, and they prefer to develop their own young players, hence why they don't buy many youngsters.

I also think the relatively short season in Australia is also not advantageous to young players getting many minutes. Only my thoughts.

 

[SMFC1959]

yer I hear you - can't trust anything on this - it boggles me we never see any PR or a peep from the FA who afterall are behind it in the first place......
Or is it the Feds who should be more visible PR support - I just don't know.
All we can do is back it which is frustrating not seeing anything from our Orgs.

Perhaps they feel threatened by the fact that there are other teams outside the A League that can attract crowds over 5,000.

I take it as a compliment.

Imagine if these matches were on in prime time and not 1pm.

 

[SMFC1959]

Put the A league games on at 1 and 3pm and all the championship games at prime time and watch the gap in crowd numbers between the 2 dwindle. No A league game in Australia starts before 5pm let alone the timeslots the championship gets.

Totally agree

Our kick off times are not great. Most likely driven by SBS to fit us into their live TV schedule.

If Central Coast Mariners had a kick off at 1pm, I very much doubt they would have half the crowd they usually get.

 

[grazorblade]

Totally agree

Our kick off times are not great. Most likely driven by SBS to fit us into their live TV schedule.

If Central Coast Mariners had a kick off at 1pm, I very much doubt they would have half the crowd they usually get.

a lot of these communities would be quite religious too, so there might be some religious people who can't make it at that time

in any case the crowds probalby end up averaging around the 2k mark after the end of finals which is way above what we need

most countries have way smaller nst crowds

 

[SMFC1959]

Playing 1pm & 3pm in summer is even more fucking stupid than when Sydney or CCM play at 5pm. These times may be a TV requirement I suspect.

Imagine we get a 30 degree weather day and there’s a 1pm kick off… I’d hate to be the players in that sweltering heat.

 

[grazorblade]

Imagine we get a 30 degree weather day and there’s a 1pm kick off… I’d hate to be the players in that sweltering heat.

to be fair made up by the fact you get to play your favourite sport on a national stage

 

[southmelb]

Imagine we get a 30 degree weather day and there’s a 1pm kick off… I’d hate to be the players in that sweltering heat.

Horrible for players and not ideal for spectators either.

 

[SMFC1959]

to be fair made up by the fact you get to play your favourite sport on a national stage

Full kudos to SBS showing the matches live. It is very much appreciated and has given the competition a platform to promote itself.

Perhaps the semi finals and grand final could be moved to prime time. This would boost tv audience and crowd attendance.

 

[tsf]

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

 

[Glenardo]

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

APIA v metrostars

 

[tsf]

Perhaps they feel threatened by the fact that there are other teams outside the A League that can attract crowds over 5,000.

I take it as a compliment.

Imagine if these matches were on in prime time and not 1pm.

There are more posts on Football Australia's facebook for the championship recently than there is for the a-league?

 

[tsf]

APIA v metrostars

Ah ok ta. Only saw a screen shot up close

 

[HappyGuus]

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

Nah, it's just decent attention for the competition and the club. They actually had near skills. Any Hollywood star, influencer or singer I've never heard of at the AFL is cringe.

 

[biggiemic]

Perhaps they feel threatened by the fact that there are other teams outside the A League that can attract crowds over 5,000.

I take it as a compliment.

Imagine if these matches were on in prime time and not 1pm.

In the last two rounds, 10 of the 16 games have had crowds well below 1,000.

Apart from Souths and Preston, the majority of crowds have been poor.

For what ever reasons, I think the majority of existing NPL teams have very limited ability to attract new/casual fans.

It starting to appear like there is either a small appetite for a 2nd division, or a small appetite to support the existing teams.

 

[HappyGuus]

It starting to appear like there is either a small appetite for a 2nd division, or a small appetite to support the existing teams.

Definitely the latter. That could change with sustained participation in a second division. But being locked in NPL, the lack of substantial growth is what it is. And the non-foundation clubs under 1,000 don't bother me in the slightest, nearly all of them wouldn't be part of a league, at least in the early years.

 

[SMFC1959]

There are more posts on Football Australia's facebook for the championship recently than there is for the a-league?

I reckon there's a lot of us are still stunned by that. Not used to Football Australia being so supportive of traditional clubs.

 

[Hellenic_blue&white]

In the last two rounds, 10 of the 16 games have had crowds well below 1,000.

Apart from Souths and Preston, the majority of crowds have been poor.

For what ever reasons, I think the majority of existing NPL teams have very limited ability to attract new/casual fans.

It starting to appear like there is either a small appetite for a 2nd division, or a small appetite to support the existing teams.

Same old same old, you guys dont tire at all hey? Id argue the same, given the numbers (not the fake 'officially' fudged) for most the AL sides and what we all see live from the stands via tv, seems clear there is a small appetite left for that comp, so should we kill it and its sides?

 

[SMFC1959]

In the last two rounds, 10 of the 16 games have had crowds well below 1,000.

Apart from Souths and Preston, the majority of crowds have been poor.

For what ever reasons, I think the majority of existing NPL teams have very limited ability to attract new/casual fans.

It starting to appear like there is either a small appetite for a 2nd division, or a small appetite to support the existing teams.

Disagree

There are some smaller clubs that wont get over 1,500 to a match. They are not the clubs to initially form part of a NST.

For the most part, you've seen decent crowds at South, Preston, APIA, Marconi, Wollongong, and to a lesser extent Avondale. There is genuine interest in this type of competition, but also from other clubs who were initially nervous about committing will now go out to apply for a future round of NST applications. Interesting to see what Heidelberg does if they wish to proceed to becoming a foundation club.

 

[biggiemic]

Same old same old, you guys dont tire at all hey? Id argue the same, given the numbers (not the fake 'officially' fudged) for most the AL sides and what we all see live from the stands via tv, seems clear there is a small appetite left for that comp, so should we kill it and its sides?

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.

 

[biggiemic]

Disagree

There are some smaller clubs that wont get over 1,500 to a match. They are not the clubs to initially form part of a NST.

For the most part, you've seen decent crowds at South, Preston, APIA, Marconi, Wollongong, and to a lesser extent Avondale. There is genuine interest in this type of competition, but also from other clubs who were initially nervous about committing will now go out to apply for a future round of NST applications. Interesting to see what Heidelberg does if they wish to proceed to becoming a foundation club.

Yeah that’s why I think a proper 2nd division should start of with say 8 teams. Who cares if it’s 6 teams from Melbourne and 2 from Sydney etc.

Overall, the non Victorian teams minus APIA have been disappointing.