Momentum is gathering for the establishment of the AFF Super League in 2015. The AFF’s desire is for two Australian teams to join the competition.
One of them should be from Darwin.
The AFF Super League is a concept that has been on the ASEAN drawing board for a long time.
The current plan is for the league to kick off in 2015 with two teams each from Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and one from Cambodia, Philippines, Brunei and Laos. It is only logical that East Timor would also be included at some point.
Whether this is achieved from the beginning is doubtful, however some form of the competition is likely to kick off in 2015 with teams in a number of these countries already preparing themselves to meet the minimum entry requirements.
What this presents to the Top End is an opportunity.
The costs of running a viable A-League side are beyond the current demographic and economic capacity of the NT, as are the costs of offering domestic professional football at any level.
The costs of competing in the AFF Super League, however, may not be.
Support from the ASEAN region in terms of television revenue and corporate sponsorship will be available. Costs of flying to and staying in the ASEAN nations will be covered.
Jetstar’s usage of Darwin as a hub has provided affordable, direct links throughout the region.
The AFF Super League provides the opportunity for a talent pathway for young athletes in far Northern and Central Australia, a pathway that has too often been overlooked by this code.
The club could operate in a similar fashion to the NYL sides, playing predominantly younger athletes from the Top End.
This would encourage the identification, development and promotion of youth from some of our most remote communities.
This would also allow for the club to use players with lower wage demands to improve the viability while remaining competitive.
A club in the Top End would become a hot bed of indigenous talent and prove a treasure trove for scouts from A-League clubs.
Attempts at professional football in the NT have been made before.
A side in the then Singapore Premier League, the Darwin Cubs, folded in 1995 after less than two years despite on-field success.
A subsequent approach by interested parties from the Top End to enter a side in the S-League was rebuffed by the FFA.
The Top End has a limited number of people from which to draw large crowds and while this has changed dramatically in the intervening years the population remains low. Gate takings and merchandise are unlikely to make any significant contributions to the bottom line.
Care will needed to be taken with the business model.
The mistakes of the past need to be carefully considered as even with the economic buoyancy of SE Asia providing support, there are no guarantees.
Yet for all this the people of the Top End will support their own side with enthusiasm and will bring pageantry and true character to the game.
The AFF Super League offers an opportunity that the A-League nor NPL are able to provide. It is one that we should grasp, as unless the FFA is prepared to support a NYL side in Darwin then the alternative is no professional football for the Top End.
And that is no answer.
Ballymore
Guest
Great read, thanks Ben. If a team in Darwin isn't economically sustainable / holds no interest to the SE stakeholders and doesn't go ahead, I can cop that on the chin. However, I will be disappointed if the FFA intervenes and arbitrarily prevents a team from being involved for some mickey mouse reason (see MV and MHT in the Mirabella Cup for precedent.) If they won't support it fine, but do not ban it.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I am glad someone posted this as it was exactly this attitude from decision makers in the Eastern states that drove Perth and Darwin to the S.League in the mid 90's. Perth's subsequent success proved that an NSL side was viable in WA and hence Perth Glory was formed (after applying since 1977). This ignorance of football outside of Australia's main centres still remains within much of our footballing community. This is exactly why the AFF presents an opportunity for the Top End that is unlikely to afforded it through more conventional domestic footballing structures.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I would not be surprised at all if Fury have been contacted. They and Darwin would be the two logical choices.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Gripping. Dozens of people have been crying out for this for yonks!
Mike
Roar Guru
Not too sure why people are so against Asian expansion. Of course there are cons, such as regional Australia towns/cities missing out on a license. But if we have one or more Asian teams, it will really open up the competition. Or are people just afraid that it was no longer be a solely Australian comp? Australia is limited with what it can work with. Low population, huge geographical area, and a highly competitive sports market. Asia can help transform the A-League is the biggest football league on the continent, so I'm for all it. Besides, it's the Asian century, and every other corporation is looking at Asian integration, so why not us too?
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Sounds like a good idea but I'd be wary that this could lead to further momentum for Asian expansion in the A-League... which is a definite no.
rookoz
Guest
Yes, Perth participated at the same time and competition as the Darwin Cubs (mentioned in the article), Perth came first Darwin second. Would have thought NQ Fury would be interested as well.
Kasey
Guest
Sounds very interesting. Darwin is a boom-town at the moment, perhaps there exists the capital required to fund this? Its not without precedent...didn't Perth at one stage in the Pre-Glory (NSL) days have a team in a SE Asia comp?
Mike
Roar Guru
I like the idea Ben! Sounds like there's a lot of potential with the Super League, and I'm excited to see it kick off. News is hard to come by at the moment, but I've found bits and pieces on google. I'd love to see an Aussie team take part in the competition. I'd be happy for one the NYL teams to do the job, as they'd already have a fanbase. Haven't heard much from FFA regarding it, so maybe it's not a priority at the moment. They're probably focused on A-League consolidation and Asian Cup preparations. But then maybe the Asian Cup is some sort of trial for the viability of a pro Aussie team taking place in the comp. But then again, it doesn't look like any ASEAN teams will be the Asian Cup this time around. Malaysia and Singapore are still in qualification, but they're looking doubtful. I definitely do agree with more engagement with Asia though. I'm pumped to hear about the Malaysian team taking part in the Queensland NPL. That's a huge step forward for us and the region. At this point, I really wouldn't be surprised if there was team from Kuala Lumpur playing in the A-League by the end of the decade. Some hate the idea, but I'm all for some cultural and economic diversity in the league. Homogeneity is a thing of the past in this globalised world.
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
Well I'm convinced! haha. Perhaps they could also play in the Australia Cup (FFA Cup)? That would provide a linkage to the Aussie comp as well.