Fixture announced for 2015/16 A-League season

It's not that hard to figure out. You get crap timeslots because no one wants to watch your crap club play boring football. It doesn't matter slot you'd get anyway, you will always have an excuse.

So let me get this right - the salary cap will rise (proportionate to the rise in the broadcast deal), and the salary floor will rise by even more than that?! It's like the FFA wants to kill off Cenny Coast. Thanks for nothing, de Bohun.

'Tis not a troll. Hardly anyone watches the W-League, and feel-good sentiments about gender equality aren't going to make it any easier to watch.

That seems like a fair summary. I guess what it comes down to is Victory are lucky CCM wanted to take the deal so they get a game relatively close to home compared to travelling interstate which is what they would need to do if CCM chose to play their 14th game closer to home. The article seems to suggest Victory were looking to directly reimburse clubs themselves, but whether this was the case or whether CCM just dealt directly with Geelong council I'm not sure of.

Thanks for that link. It certainly explains a lot. So, the article says: 1. MV has deal to play 3 matches in Geelong 2. These matches need not be in consecutive years, so MV can play the 'floating' 14th home match in Geelong in every alternative season when they are given the 14th floating home match 3. CCM obviously need the money so they're willing to play the match in Geelong & get $100k rather than play it another venue & they may break even or lose money.

MVFC have 13 home games. We play 8 at AAMI Park & 5 at Docklands. MVFC has never given up any of these 13 home games. What it's done is take the 14th home game to a regional venue. This is what all the teams are meant to do with the 14th match. MelbCity took a game to Woodonga a few yrs ago. As far as I know MV have nothing to do with CCM taking the game to Geelong. That's a deal between CCM & Skilled Stadium in Geelong. Geelong is 70 kms away from Melbourne. I notice Gosford to Newcastle is 90kms. Would you consider CCM playing at Hunter Stadium to be a home game?

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/local-sport/melbourne-victory-looks-for-another-a-league-team-to-play-at-simonds-stadium/story-fnjuhs0b-1227384963143 That's what I'm going off. Perhaps it's more a lack of foresight by Victory management, but it seems that Victory have enticed CCM to play in Victory's back yard in order to not break their conflicting commitments.

What I mean to say is that playing in Geelong is almost like a home game for Victory, but maybe you see it differently so I can understand why you don't agree. If Victory had kept their contract with Geelong council then they would swap one of their home games this coming season for a game in Geelong, resulting in 12 home games, 1 at Geelong and 14 away. Instead they have have organised for CCM to take that game and Victory retain 13 home games, 1 at Geelong and 13 away, which will be the case for 3 consecutive years. That's how I understand it at least, if I've got it wrong please let me know. So, in all it seems Victory have ended up with 3 straight years with 14 home games, if you consider Geelong essentially a 'Home' game. But if not I see why you disagree.

The Melbourne Cup Eve match has turned the lowest drawing away team in the Pheonix into one of the highest for the Victory outside traditional rivals. Very strong away support for this fixture too. 2012/13: 20,863 @ Etihad Stadium 2013/14: 23,226 @ Etihad Stadium 2014/15: 23,827 @ AAMI Park

Where have you got this information about MV buying an extra home game? 1. MVFC is playing 13 home matches 2. CCM is playing 13 home matches. 3. Every year, 5 teams have a notional home match which is meant to be played at a regional venue. In the past, CCM has 'sold' this match & played in Adelaide, North Sydney. MVFC has in the past taken their notional 14th home match to Hobart because they got a good deal from the local council. Last year MV took the 14th home match to Geelong because Geelong Council offered them a deal. CCM have decided to play in Geelong & get paid $100k by the Geelong City Council, who own the stadium in Geelong. But, if you have evidence that MV has bought this match, I'll stand corrected.

Gotta say I'm not too fond of Victory being able to buy what is essentially an extra home game this season. From what I understand they signed a deal to play a game at Gosford 3 years running knowing full well that one of those years would include one less home game. So now that the year has come around they've decided to buy out of the contract they signed to get 3 straight years of 14 home games. For all the talk of a level playing field in a salary capped leagued, it looks like Victory have found a way to buy home advantage. And while I'm on it, is anyone able to confirm the Victory were able to resign FBK under the cap by paying part of his salary as a "coach" which falls outside the cap?

A remarkably glib and superficial response to a complex and multifaceted issue, completely ignoring market context.

Interesting for those running the anti FFA line re the PFA ... FFA and the clubs have just released what is on offer... if the PFA seriously say this is so poor they have called off talks then we need new management in the PFA... Football Federation Australia (FFA) and the 10 member clubs of Hyundai A-League today convened via teleconference to discuss the new Hyundai A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current CBA expires tomorrow, Tuesday 30 June 2015. FFA and the A-League clubs today reaffirmed that the new CBA offer remains on the table and is ready for immediate acceptance by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), on behalf of A-League players. The key features of the new CBA for the A-League; · A six-year commitment offering sustainability, stability and increased player payments · Immediate introduction of new Salary Cap exemptions and flexibilities that amount to a forecast increase of 12% in player payments for next season · A 30% share for players of any uplift in the next domestic broadcast rights deal · An increase in the Salary Floor to 90% of the Salary Cap · An increase in the Minimum A-League Salary to $55,000 · Further investment in the PFA Player Development Program Speaking on behalf of the A-League clubs, Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin said the new CBA was the best package of salary, benefits and certainty ever put to A-League players. “The CBA proposal improves the career of A-League players in terms of salaries, longer-term contracting and contract security,” said Griffin. “That’s what players have been asking for and that’s why we believe it’s a compelling offer. “At the same time, the clubs remain disappointed that the PFA executive continues to push totally unrealistic demands after six months of transparent and detailed negotiations. “In an environment in which the majority of clubs are making ongoing investments while running operating deficits, the CBA proposal is a common sense outcome for all parties.” Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun said that the CBA proposal continues the trend of rewarding A-League players for their commitment. “Over the life of the A-League, the Salary Cap has increased by an average of more than 7% each year, and there is scope for a further 12% uplift next season,” said de Bohun. “It’s not just about the salaries, as the CBA proposal provides greater flexibility for clubs in retaining players and invests in players’ well-being. “Any suggestion that there has been, or will be, a salary freeze is simply not accurate. Over the past three years Hyundai A-League players have received a 13% increase in total payments, while at the same time most clubs have continued to run operating deficits and also invest heavily in upgraded facilities, youth development programs, and improving conditions for players.” The A-League clubs have today reaffirmed their support for FFA to progress implementation of the improvements contained in the CBA proposal by regulation if a formal agreement with the PFA can’t be reached. “We are determined to make sure that the players will not be left worse off by the stance the PFA is taking,” said Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun. “A new CBA would provide certainty for all, but we could put these initiatives in place by other means if necessary.” Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/article/joint-statement-from-ffa-and-hyundai-a-league-clubs/kdn6qg4pyza21e4va8ecpi3yj#jIhlEUmkTg0hC20r.99

It's a quirk of the draw that our three biggest pulling competitors (SFC, Wanderers, and Victory) have the same sequence of 2 away games this season so yes, a weak set of draw cards early doors. However, I disagree we'll see falling attendances just because of this draw in the same way it didn't guarantee a rise in attendances last season; Roars home average held up quite well last season until the AC break at about 14,000 - then we had a big run of home games, overlapping ACL games, bad weather and 75% of games being played midweek on a Monday to Thursday slot. And of course our poor form came early season diminishing crowds and even when we started playing well enough not to lose we hardly set the world alight. So yes, weak draw but if we play well we should see a modest increase, play well and score we'll hit 13,500+ and if we look to be in the frame for the title we'll get close to 15k. This assumes the bakries don't find the self destruct button in the meantime, they seem to be doing their level best to destroy us from the inside!!

All I'm going to say us at LEAST you are recruiting. Roar can't even afford bus fares at the moment ;-)

I never understand complaints about the fixture. Every year every team plays every other team at home once. And, every 2nd year every team plays 4 of the other teams at home a 2nd time. One fixture is set aside for a neutral regional venue (or that's the plan). I don't care who MVFC plays 1st, 2nd, or 23rd. I buy a season ticket & turn up to all home games. Last season NIX were flying high & pulled big crowds in Melbourne. If fans enjoy football they'll turn up to watch their team.

Agree 100% with you Josh , gee if Popa isn't foxing and has a few surprises planned we are in a lotta trouble. -The Club keeps on recycling news about re-signing good Youth players they should have done anyways as a matter of course yet fail to mention the disaster of letting go Mr Kosownovski i to go to Melb City .The Club is missing at least 3/4 of a team of frontline players( I'm not counting Mr Cole as frontline)-either Popa has a plan or this is going to be one helluva disaster of a season from Day 1 :-(

real - the thinking is obvious. The mariners get the lowest crowds in the comp so the FFA don't want to waste the popular slots on a team which hardly anyone will actually go and support anyway.

This is an awful home draw for Brisbane Roar. Have a look at the names on the run of home games in the first half of the season. CCM, Adelaide, Melbourne City, Phoenix, Perth. None of these teams pull big crowds at Suncorp. Adelaide only appeals to the purists. As for the other 3 - forget it. CCM and Phoenix have never interested Brisbane. Which, I admit is a problem wherever they go, but you would have thought that one game at home against Victory or Sydney FC would have been a logical and smart idea. And by March, of course, we have 2 rugby codes in action and the pitch is completely trashed. We're all parochial, but from a Brisbane point of view, this draw stinks. I can only hope that Melb City come out firing from game 1 to inject some interest into proceedings. This draw virtually guarantees a second successive season of falling attendances at Suncorp - which in current circumstances is remarkably unintelligent on the part of FFA.

It's a troll. Ignore!