The Championship Finals are too long

yes but no more than I would be enjoying South Melbourne vs Melbourne Victory at ( now Ive gone and forgoted SM's stadium ) South Melbourne's Home ground in a quarter final of the national cup competition.

The concept of the right teams in the ACL seems like a beautiful dream........... :)

I love you author of this article, i too believe that the true champions are the ones we call "premiers" . As I see it, there is about 0.34% chance the FFA will actually put this in to action. Although I disagree with the ACL thing. If this was Europe maybe, but playing in front of empty stadiums home and away doesn't instill me with a large sense of importance, never the less all clubs should aspire to win it. This is my theory based on the concept of sibling rivalry. If Adelaide won the cup instead of going out in the final, Melbourne fans would become jealous ( tho they would never admit it, obviously ), and strive to win the comp. If CCM wins Newy wants it and so forth :)

After last night, I'd have to say that Premier's Plate is better than Champions plate, Premier's Plate is a truer test of who's the better team. The game last night reminded me of a World Cup Quarter Final, sometimes the better team doesn't get through, and that if you can't beat your opponent in 90 minutes, then you should replay the game. The game last night was devised to get a 'result'...it wasn't necessarily the best result though.

Ditch the finals series, bring on the FFA cup open to anyone who wants to enter. Seed the A-league teams into the last few rounds which start at the end of the premiership. Seperate 1 and 2 into opposite sides of the draw so that they can only meet in the final...Sorted

The thread so often comes back to the FFA. The performance of Buckley and his team this season has been a disgrace. While they have turned their attention to an improbable WC bid, the A-League has been left rudderless, without promotion or marketing. I hold on to the forlorn hope that they are planning a grand media blitz for the start of next season after the WC in South Africa. This does make some strategic sense, but actually I don't believe it. I think Buckley is failing and that Fraser only does crisis management. As for their marketing and promotions people, perhaps they died at their desks and no one noticed. Merciades left for a good reason, and I think that reason has to be that she could no longer work under Buckley's incompetent regime. Please, Ben, surprise me next season. At the moment I think you are an utter disaster.

Good point - it does seem to have done good things for AU. And I suppose the jury is out for Melbourne - they haven't had much of a chance to show what they or their supporters can do. However, over the WHOLE comp, if you look at attendances, with exception of knockout games (and even some there) they are very poor. I suppose it depends on how you define "working".

I do like the finals series but for that extra Asian Cup spot. At the moment its just a case of " we are the best", and "there is always next year" . The FFA will still get their gates revenue and probably more interest from fans if we were only educated to what is on offer. It was said earlier that the ACL dosnt have that punch about it...yet. I agree. But it is a higher standard of Competition, with cash incentive. It is also a chance to display an Australian City/Club to the international audience. I couldnt imagine too many people waking up at 2 in the morning to watch for ex. Urawa Reds V Pohang Steelers in an ACL match. I would even struggle to name more clubs and players. What I dont understand is if Fox have the rights to the ACL then why wouldnt they release non Australian games to SBS. This would educate the Football fan of Clubs and players competing in Asia. Therefore making it more interesting and in time, more in demand.

the ACL isn't just about gate sales. There is prizemoney up for grabs and the prestige can entice clubs from around the world to consider aleague teams suitable venues for pre-season tours, and if you can entice well known clubs out here for preseason matches theres plenty to gain there as well. The grandfinal is an FFA money spinner which appeals to the casual fan or looky-loo. I understand it's neccessity, but I prefer to watch my team at home or the pub and write a cheque for my club instead. After the woeful lack of marketing this year I really see no reason to shell over cash to the FFA while players paid my club take the field.

Whilst I would call myself a fully fledged football fan, adopting a european style structure would be the death of the a-league. You can argue about what types but a salary cap and a finals system is a must in australia.

Nice try.

Here is my proposal for a new final 6. First week of finals: 1st vs 6th, 2nd vs 5th, 3rd vs 4th - the higher ranked team gets the home final. The three winners and the highest ranked loser go through to the semi finals (thus 1st can't get eliminated, but need to win to maintain the home ground advantage, and 2nd can ony get eliminated in exceptional circumtances). Second week - semi finals: Winner of 1st v 6th plays the highest ranked loser from the previous week the winners of the other two games play off. Third week - grand final oops - just realised that that doesn't work, becuase if 6th beats 1st, it must play 1st again as the highest ranked loser - ok forget that one.... or - if we get to a situation where there are 14 teams, why not a top 8 where it's knock out from the first week: 1st vs 8th, etc, so three weeks of finals consisting of quarters, semis and the grand final.

I would go a step further then that of the OP. I would get rid over the final series altogether. With the FFA wanting (and needing to pull in line with AFC) an nation cup competition, I would disband the final series comp and form a FFA Cup that also allowed the state teams to play. Most players accept the first past the post as the real winners as does a lot of the fans. Unfortunately, the FFA felt it needs to follow the AFL and NRL to try and please those sports fans and hope the jump on the football bandwagon. The FFA has dropped the pre-season cup (similar to that of the AFL thingy) after realizing it isn't what the clubs nor fans wanted, so who knows, maybe with a proper nation comp comes along, with will lose the final series comp - One can only hope anyways. --- The ACL should be (and I think it is for the clubs) of real importance. The prestige and money for the competition is to big not to take seriously. With added exposure around the world can only be good for the domestic game. But in saying all of that, I personally won't cheer on the likes of Gold Coast, Sydney or Newcastle against Asian opponents, as I don't like those three clubs mentioned. I would still watch the match but would cheer for their opponents :D --- As for 'Dogz R Barkn' comments about - soccer purists – if it was left to them, they would immediately introduce 4 divisions, get rid of the salary cap, scrap finals, have a cup competition that involved every soccer club in Australia. 4 division?? no - 2? Yes. Get rid of the salary cap? No - Raise the Cap? Yes Scrap the finals ? Yes Have a national Cup competition? - Yes

The Chinese are backing Perth Glory in the final though http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/glory-in-the-money-20100318-qihk.html

Agree, the Prelim final is a lame idea - and the attendances sure reflect that. This "double chance" idea is silly. The Premiers are already the Premiers. Throw all the 6 teams up in the air and see what happens. The way the system is structured now we have far too many instances of the same teams matching up 3 times in 4 weeks.

The ACL isn't working. It isn't just crowds here - with the odd exception and finals elimination matches, the attendances are disappointing to say the least. I don't know how you build tradition over such a vast area of wildly disparate cultures with no real connection to each other. Well, actually, yes I do - you spend money. Gazillions of dollars and make it a comp that is so rich that no one can ignore it. Will that happen? No. Football as a sporting culture is pretty thin in Asia compared to Europe or the Americas. The ACL is going to take a long time to embed itself, if ever.