- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
You probably wouldn’t know it, but the round of 32 fixtures of the brand new FFA Cup are set to kick off in under two weeks.
The first set of fixtures start on Tuesday the 29th of July, with the A-League sides joining the competition a week later on August 5th.
Strangely, the round of 32 games will not wrap up until the 20th of August, meaning a round of competition will take almost a month.
Worryingly, tickets have not been made available yet for games, and in all honesty, if I wasn’t already a member of an A-League club, I probably wouldn’t even know the top tier were about to join the competition.
For those who haven’t heard of the FFA Cup, it’s a competition that mirrors the knockout system of England’s famed FA Cup. Semi-professional state teams have played off to be involved in the round of 32, where the 10 A-League teams gain automatic entry.
It begins in the A-League pre-season, and will continue to run midweek during the A-League proper, with the final to be played on Tuesday the 16th of December.
Unfortunately for the opening competition’s credibility, the A-League All Stars clash with Italian heavyweights Juventus will rob the round of 32 fixtures of star players. Players will be unavailable for Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide and Wellington. Players from Melbourne City, Sydney FC and the Wanderers will have to back up two days after the All Stars clash if they are to take part for their club.
For those hoping to tune in, Fox Sports has committed to showing at least one round of 32 match, likely Melbourne City versus Sydney FC, although they have the option to show more if they choose. Obviously the all A-League clashes are likely to attract television coverage, however fans of the local sides shouldn’t hold their breath for coverage of their sides unless they advance.
Fox Sports will also show two round of 16 matches, and all games from then on in the competition. The draw guarantees at least nine state teams will progress, while three all A-league fixtures means three teams won’t pass the round of 32.
It will be interesting to see just how seriously the A-League sides take this competition. In front of the cameras, club representatives have said all the right things, however until the team sheets are submitted, we won’t know whether clubs see this as a priority.
Whereas the professional sides are just starting their pre-season training, the majority of the state sides are heading towards their finals series, meaning an upset cannot be discounted.
I for one hope for some quality football to silence those who have not yet bought into the competition.
The romance of the FA Cup is the opportunity for lower league sides to upset the big guns of English football. It may take an Adelaide or Bayswater win over the Wanderers or Victory to truly kick this competition into gear.
Despite the rushed nature of the competition, and the fact it has not been overly well advertised, I am excited to see what it brings.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.