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The Western United Thread

Sutherlandbear said:
Is all seating GA ?
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pretty much, sit where you want mate... Its NPL first come first served...

Apart from the corporate rooms and the VIP balcony for sponsors and visiting *cough * cough dignitaries, its all GA.

Even the social club is open to everyone during the season to come in and have a sit down meal and a drink or 6.
 
NoMates said:
Football is pretty much dead in Victoria. The cost to go to park football for a NPL club is a joke. $20 bucks?>
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Don't know about that, paying $20 bucks to watch some effnik Maori team get slapped two years in a row by part time footballers seems pretty good value for money to me.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Its not happening mate..... Pie in the sky dreaming as usual...
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Yeah, I really can't see it happening unless the licence fee is considerably lower. From memory (someone correct me if I'm wrong), but WU paid $18m for the licence. At the time SM also were matching that figure. Licence is worth way less now. Especially considering there is 75% less annual grant money provided to clubs. If either are able to get in for an actually reasonable price then great, but anything above that then their egos are definitely bigger than their brains.
 
someguyjc said:
Yeah, I really can't see it happening unless the licence fee is considerably lower. From memory (someone correct me if I'm wrong), but WU paid $18m for the licence. At the time SM also were matching that figure. Licence is worth way less now. Especially considering there is 75% less annual grant money provided to clubs. If either are able to get in for an actually reasonable price then great, but anything above that then their egos are definitely bigger than their brains.
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This is the issue. The licence fee is ridiculous, given the status of the competition and the fact that joining amounts to a guarantee of losing millions of dollars every year. You need Bill Foley's kind of money to justify an indulgence like that.
 
someguyjc said:
Yeah, I really can't see it happening unless the licence fee is considerably lower. From memory (someone correct me if I'm wrong), but WU paid $18m for the licence. At the time SM also were matching that figure. Licence is worth way less now. Especially considering there is 75% less annual grant money provided to clubs. If either are able to get in for an actually reasonable price then great, but anything above that then their egos are definitely bigger than their brains.
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It was pitched as being the same deal that Pelligra got for "buying" Perth license... $1 dollar up front and a commitment to spend the Salary floor (3 mill per season I think?) which is definitely doable.... I dont think the membership would vote for it this time around.... too much water under the bridge and the board would be foolish to try....

I DID hear a very wild theory that the money bags behind Avondale is trying to work some deal... that might be interesting.
 
Hey Mono - in principle would you personally be the bigger person and back SMH getting into the aleague on the grounds that you could see it as the patch to start fixing our football in general? Without any apologies other than perhaps the unstated obvious that by accepting a bid they have seen that their original decision was not the best long term for our game.

As in, if they allow SMH in they have ditched the offensive and exclusionary race factor and opened the door to the future.

I have no hope of it happening and I also do not believe it will happen because I think that MCG's much loved 'Suits' still have the wrong ideas.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
$1 dollar up front and a commitment to spend the Salary floor (3 mill per season I think?) which is definitely doable....
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26/27 A-League season will have a $3m hard cap, with the only exemption being a single marquee player. Salary floor is yet to be specified, but for the season just passed, the salary floor was $2.25m. So, definitely doable. Not as big of a leap as it was back in the 19/20 season.
Monoethnic Social Club said:
I DID hear a very wild theory that the money bags behind Avondale is trying to work some deal... that might be interesting.
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That would be interesting. They barely have a solution for a venue for the Championship. Then again, money does talk, they got into the Championship pretty easily.
 
RIMB said:
Hey Mono - in principle would you personally be the bigger person and back SMH getting into the aleague on the grounds that you could see it as the patch to start fixing our football in general? Without any apologies other than perhaps the unstated obvious that by accepting a bid they have seen that their original decision was not the best long term for our game.

As in, if they allow SMH in they have ditched the offensive and exclusionary race factor and opened the door to the future.

I have no hope of it happening and I also do not believe it will happen because I think that MCG's much loved 'Suits' still have the wrong ideas.
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@RIMB , a very good question mate that I guess is difficult to answer without caveats.

Let me start by AGAIN clarifying that I am NOT and have never been an NPL supporter, or an NSL supporter or would have any issues with being an Aleague supporter... My support in Australian football extends solely to my CLUB.. It is the Alpha and Omega , the very reason I watch soccer in this country. Which league SMFC plays in is incidental to what I want our club to be able to achieve... Trophies and glory :love:

As you may know, South has attempted to join the Aleague 5 times, predominately due to the fact that the club (staff, players AND supporters) has ALWAYS seen itself as first and foremost as belonging at the pinnacle of soccer in this country. The aspiration has been there, since 1959, for a club that (and yes it was founded as a representation of the Greek diaspora but has morphed over 70 years to be more than that - despite what the haters will claim) can proudly represent our nation on the world stage, producing exciting football and a pathway to promote the sport to Australia and beyond... The whole "Oceania Club of the Century" thing is a bit of a farce to all and sundry sure, but it still brings pride to a bunch of oldies who founded this club in their new land and through it found their place in Australian society... Up until 2018 we constantly knocked on the door to be let in, much to the mirth and derision of the new dawn football world, not as some sort of altruistic Trojan horse to help all the other banished clubs but because we felt we owed to our supporters to be pushing for top tier...

A couple of these attempts have been a little (in my eyes) shady as to what actual joining of a franchise system would mean? Would it still be South Melbourne Hellas we support, or something sanitised and "owned" by some money bags owner(s)? Many of my fellow members are all in on joining no matter the cost to our identity but I am not so sure anymore.... This past decade, in particular, has me fighting for the "soul" of Hellas and the push, by our club (and the other AAFC) clubs around us clearly reflects our desire to make a "new, new dawn" for ALL clubs... A FULL, connected, H & A pyramid with P&R down to the very bottom, based on sporting endeavour ALONE (albeit with fair and just club expectations around player pay, facilites requirements and governance) is what I think is the ONLY way forward.

To answer your original question:

Do I think that my club being excluded for two decades from the top tier for (at least in my eyes) totally racist and non football related parameters is wrong? Yes of course I do.

Do I want the sport to begin to "mend itself" and build bridges rather than this centuries old divide? Yes absolutely I do.

Do I think, that South playing in the Aleague would help extend some sort of olive branch between old soccer and new football? Well I guess I did once upon a time but now Im not so sure.

Would I support a South Melbourne team in a stand alone, closed off Aleague? - Sure, as long as the club IS South Melbourne and I am still a participating member in its governance, it is not some owned and paid for corporate shill that deviates from the members based sporting, not for profit football club that represent me, my family and my friends... sure I would.

Do I think that IF the Aleague allowed South in that this will placate the hundreds of other clubs around Australia with their own ambitions and agendas? - Absolutely NOT, Marconi, Adelaide Juve, APIA, all the Croatian teams, Preston, the Bergers and so on and so on, will all, JUSTIFIABLY be enraged with the fact we "bought" our way in and will continue to hate the Aleague both on and off the pitch.... and I would NOT for 1 second blame them at all...

It is a complicated question with a muddy answer. If you ask 10 South fans their opinion you will get 25 differing, conflicting answers :)

I pray for the day when conversation on this forum and in all avenues of football discussion in this country is based purely on CLUBS and NOT what side of the franchise fence a fan is or where their parents were born

Sorry for the rant, I hope it makes sense?
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
@RIMB , a very good question mate that I guess is difficult to answer without caveats.

Let me start by AGAIN clarifying that I am NOT and have never been an NPL supporter, or an NSL supporter or would have any issues with being an Aleague supporter... My support in Australian football extends solely to my CLUB.. It is the Alpha and Omega , the very reason I watch soccer in this country. Which league SMFC plays in is incidental to what I want our club to be able to achieve... Trophies and glory :love:

As you may know, South has attempted to join the Aleague 5 times, predominately due to the fact that the club (staff, players AND supporters) has ALWAYS seen itself as first and foremost as belonging at the pinnacle of soccer in this country. The aspiration has been there, since 1959, for a club that (and yes it was founded as a representation of the Greek diaspora but has morphed over 70 years to be more than that - despite what the haters will claim) can proudly represent our nation on the world stage, producing exciting football and a pathway to promote the sport to Australia and beyond... The whole "Oceania Club of the Century" thing is a bit of a farce to all and sundry sure, but it still brings pride to a bunch of oldies who founded this club in their new land and through it found their place in Australian society... Up until 2018 we constantly knocked on the door to be let in, much to the mirth and derision of the new dawn football world, not as some sort of altruistic Trojan horse to help all the other banished clubs but because we felt we owed to our supporters to be pushing for top tier...

A couple of these attempts have been a little (in my eyes) shady as to what actual joining of a franchise system would mean? Would it still be South Melbourne Hellas we support, or something sanitised and "owned" by some money bags owner(s)? Many of my fellow members are all in on joining no matter the cost to our identity but I am not so sure anymore.... This past decade, in particular, has me fighting for the "soul" of Hellas and the push, by our club (and the other AAFC) clubs around us clearly reflects our desire to make a "new, new dawn" for ALL clubs... A FULL, connected, H & A pyramid with P&R down to the very bottom, based on sporting endeavour ALONE (albeit with fair and just club expectations around player pay, facilites requirements and governance) is what I think is the ONLY way forward.

To answer your original question:

Do I think that my club being excluded for two decades from the top tier for (at least in my eyes) totally racist and non football related parameters is wrong? Yes of course I do.

Do I want the sport to begin to "mend itself" and build bridges rather than this centuries old divide? Yes absolutely I do.

Do I think, that South playing in the Aleague would help extend some sort of olive branch between old soccer and new football? Well I guess I did once upon a time but now Im not so sure.

Would I support a South Melbourne team in a stand alone, closed off Aleague? - Sure, as long as the club IS South Melbourne and I am still a participating member in its governance, it is not some owned and paid for corporate shill that deviates from the members based sporting, not for profit football club that represent me, my family and my friends... sure I would.

Do I think that IF the Aleague allowed South in that this will placate the hundreds of other clubs around Australia with their own ambitions and agendas? - Absolutely NOT, Marconi, Adelaide Juve, APIA, all the Croatian teams, Preston, the Bergers and so on and so on, will all, JUSTIFIABLY be enraged with the fact we "bought" our way in and will continue to hate the Aleague both on and off the pitch.... and I would NOT for 1 second blame them at all...

It is a complicated question with a muddy answer. If you ask 10 South fans their opinion you will get 25 differing, conflicting answers :)

I pray for the day when conversation on this forum and in all avenues of football discussion in this country is based purely on CLUBS and NOT what side of the franchise fence a fan is or where their parents were born

Sorry for the rant, I hope it makes sense?
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Well said Mono.

I chuckled at the image of all those other clubs you listed hating on you as being part of the plastic franchise world.

The subject had me thinking bigger thoughts so I started another thread - you will see that anyway.
 
Mono well said generally.
From my own opinion from the sideline NO NPL Club should take the bait from the franchise ogarlords whatsoever - this will only add them more time and for what future ? And also like any platoon if someone breaks the ranks you’ve caused more carnage and added to the resistance.

The way I see it right now whilst our FA are silent and meek the whole NPL are on the high ground as we currently stand.
We have our grounds, we have survived 20yrs and learnt to survive to this day, now is not the time to give in by any Club.
Stay together the grass is only greener for a short time in APL land.
I just can’t see it prosper without accepting the olive branch and the FA taking control and also pulling the Feds in as well.
It’s a perfect time to capitalise on their failure and bring the game together the next few years.
 
LFC said:
Mono well said generally.
From my own opinion from the sideline NO NPL Club should take the bait from the franchise ogarlords whatsoever - this will only add them more time and for what future ? And also like any platoon if someone breaks the ranks you’ve caused more carnage and added to the resistance.

The way I see it right now whilst our FA are silent and meek the whole NPL are on the high ground as we currently stand.
We have our grounds, we have survived 20yrs and learnt to survive to this day, now is not the time to give in by any Club.
Stay together the grass is only greener for a short time in APL land.
I just can’t see it prosper without accepting the olive branch and the FA taking control and also pulling the Feds in as well.
It’s a perfect time to capitalise on their failure and bring the game together the next few years.
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I agree with you.... but...... I have a feeling that one club or another will "break ranks" sooner rather than latter. The APL is running out of room to "expand" and they must expand if they wanna increase their proft margins... Already hearing rumblings of one of your paisano clubs wanting to buy the WU license... sadly there is NO solidarity amongst the old clubs anymore...
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
I agree with you.... but...... I have a feeling that one club or another will "break ranks" sooner rather than latter. The APL is running out of room to "expand" and they must expand if they wanna increase their proft margins... Already hearing rumblings of one of your paisano clubs wanting to buy the WU license... sadly there is NO solidarity amongst the old clubs anymore...
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Nick G should get our clubs all together and encourage a stance for the door is looking promising
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
AAFC is STILL waiting for a seat at the table with FA I believe..... AAFC is just a bystander now.
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They are currently a qualifying member (ie nothing). Next step is a provisional member. Then it's a full member.
If you fell like reading legal nonsense, pages 19-20 📄 https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/sites/ffa/files/2025-03/25-0321 - FA Constitution - Adopted 21.03.25.pdf
From memory, at the end of the process it still goes to a vote. Can't imagine the State Feds and APL are too fond of new members joining.
 
Not gonna lie I'm getting really over the off field stuff. Npl a league FFA don't care somebody just organize something without any drama and I'll watch it
 
melbcityguy said:
Not gonna lie I'm getting really over the off field stuff. Npl a league FFA don't care somebody just organize something without any drama and I'll watch it
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Im not sure why you are concerned mate? Youve got something to watch every season, your club will ALWAYS be in the Aleague, so just watch that.... why do you even know about "the drama" if it doesn't effect you?
 
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