David Gallop must be feeling a little besieged. As the chief executive of the FFA, an organisation that seems to dig deeper into its beleaguered foxhole every week as mortars crash down around, it is his face that appears plastered on the agitprop.
This is the visage of the man apparently responsible for stunting the world game in Australia.
Well, that might be a little dramatic. But the situation has cranked up a few notches over the last few months; the FFA are taking fire from all sides, and the manner in which they’ve dawdled around mediating these issues has only served to draw more of it.
Obviously, the delays – or the impression of delays – in the process of clarifying and mobilising the expansion of the A-League is the most visible and risible problem.
Their latest comment on the issue – namely, the lack of urgency they’ve shown in providing a clear blueprint, setting out the criteria for prospective outfits looking to submit expansion bids – was bathed in the same irritating reluctance, a stymied coyness as to when their criteria would arrive.
“FFA will have more to say on this in the coming weeks after engaging with external experts and consulting with the clubs, member federations and other stakeholders.” Gallop said, in a statement.
“With the certainty provided by the new broadcast deal, FFA has been analysing the commercial position of the sport to determine both the feasibility of A-League and W-League expansion and the process to determine where and when expansion should occur”
“Has been analysing”? The mootings, rumbling around for a while now, have been that the FFA would have their criteria ready to release this month.
Now statements loosely referring to “the coming weeks”, that amble lazily around even the idea that expansion would be feasible, are being released.
There are a number of bids so eager to submit – namely those coming out of Wollongong and Tasmania – they’re practically trembling, fingers hovering above the send button on their keyboards, confident in their suitability even in lieu of specific criteria.
Are the FFA waiting for the bids they want to prepare sufficient financial backing? Gallop prefaced the comments above by reasserting the need for any bid to have significant financial support. At this point, with the sentiment leaning in the direction it is, it would be a surprise if any significant progress was made this month.
Meanwhile, red hot shrapnel is flying in from a slightly different direction, as the AFLW’s sudden and raucous rise casts the floundering, unsupported W-League into an even more unflattering shadow. Yes, the handsome television figures for the AFLW’s opening round, as well as the hugely encouraging attendance numbers will not be representative of the averages as the season goes on.
But the concerted marketing campaign, the hugely positive atmosphere surrounding it, and the way the AFLW has been woven neatly into the men’s side of things makes it almost seem as if there is a concerted effort to make the W-League as clunky and hindered as possible.
The fact that the W-League doesn’t play a full home and away season is bad enough. The fact that the players are all criminally underpaid – a worldwide problem in the women’s game – exacerbates things as well.
Adelaide’s women didn’t click into gear until after round 11, and then proceeded to score 17 goals in their next three games. But, tragically, those three wins came in the final three rounds of the regular season, and it all was too little, too infuriatingly late.
There is a serious risk, perhaps not immediately, but eventually, that the W-League will wither away – certainly in the minds of young women eager to pursue a professional sporting career – in the face of the vibrant, bold new AFLW rival.
The FFA hierarchy made a visit to FIFA earlier this month, and released a statement a few days ago, stating that they confirmed with FIFA president Gianni Infantino that they are seeking to expand the FFA congress.
After news announcing the visit was released in late January, the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association issued a stern warning that if the intention of the visit was to delay any congressional revamp, that there would be dire consequences. This was one of a number of veiled threats over the past year or so, each one thickening the tension between the professional clubs, the league itself, and the FFA.
Thankfully, the FFA have not escalated this issue, and the March deadline appears to be agreed upon. The changes ought really to dramatically expand the influence the A and W-Leagues have on the democratic process at the FFA, as well as expanded representation for the Matildas. The changes that are made had better take this into consideration, if the FFA want to avoid fighting on a third or fourth front.
As the professional clubs simmer, a new rival looms up, and A-League expansion stumbles, the FFA appears as the pencil-moustached villain of multiple melodramas. How they act in, as they say, the coming weeks, will have a huge say in the immediate and long-term future of football in this country. They’d better get a move on.
Neil
Guest
Agree
j binnie
Guest
Waz - In this "department" nothing much has changed. My own experience with officialdom mirrors what you are suggesting. Around 1973 a couple of mates and I financed the visitations of Sydney teams (and the Socceroos) to Brisbane for a one off game. The visitors arrived early on match day, played a game,had tea ,and went home ,all on the same day. Those teams were Hakoah, St George -Budapest and Rasic's Socceroos. The NSL started some 4 years later.The men credited with the "idea" were the then presidents of ---Hakoah and St George. Strange coincidence.?. Around 1982 I wrote an article suggesting that our premier football league ,the then NSL, be played in the summer months. It was adopted, (with variations to suit certain people), 5 years later. In 1984 ,while a member of the QSF management committee, we talked players,coaches and referees into trying out a "no pass back rule" in a pre- season competition called the XXXX Cup .It was begrudgingly allowed but when presented with the evidence of 30% more goals being scored over previous XXXX Cups, the then ASF delegate for Queensland scoffed at the idea ,saying FIFA would never pass an alteration to their laws. As you are aware FIFA introduced the same rule in 1992.,,8 years later. That my friend is my experience in trying to change the status quo in our great game. Cheers jb.
lesterlike
Guest
God that mate me laugh. Never read something so funny on here.
Midfielder
Guest
Waz Grow up I have posted maybe 20 or more times over the last two days or so that the chair at FFA is at the core of the problem.
Paul
Guest
It could fund some of these competitions by halving the executive salaries of the FFA board and management team. Gallop is on $1m for doing what, attacking those who support Football and what else? #Gallop_Out
Paul
Guest
What does it cost to play AFL or rugby league for grassroots. Next to nothing because the TV money flows down. It should not cost hundreds or even thousands for the elite juniors to play Football (the round ball) Football Federation Australia is not there to make its executives rich, it is there to grow and administer the game at ALL levels. This can only be achieved by changing the system from bottom up approach to a top down approach to funding
Lionheart
Guest
thanks pauly Fox has said that a couple of times, but you are right, thanks
Lionheart
Guest
Melbourne? Sydney? all the same mate, when it comes to the Brisbane Times I can assure you. Bingo!
Nemesis
Guest
A National 2nd Division will be up & running in 2018/19. There is absolutely no doubt about that. I've just had a look at RL. Seems they only had 8 to 12 teams for around 50 years? And all in one State. How did people cope? I guess they didn't have social media & they were more patient back in the day?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Sorry for the late reply to your considered response. I think you're getting carried away or distracted by the people who want a 2nd Div and 16 team ALeague asap. Ignore them. They're dreamers and all power to them. But the realists are not thinking beyond 12 teams at the moment. I know season ticket holders of both Sydney clubs whose approach to A-League now is "oh Wellington again this week *rolls eyes*". Some people will question their passion but those people are avoiding the truth that the league is getting stale. I have no criticism of the FFA for the W-League although I am very critical of how they manage the Matildas who should be playing in Aus a lot more than they currently are.
pacman
Guest
You are digressing. My observation of "quaint' stands. Check the definition.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Agree with you here Rob Gremio - why in general the fear about many organisations not communicating? Stuff happens. Back to my point on leaving the vacuum of inaction open to speculation. Cut off speculation and just come out with it. It would be a refreshing change.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Although Melissa Barbieri, the decorated former Matilda, makes a very good case that it's not just about resourcing, it's about community acceptance and respect, and the W-League has had neither from the soccer community. She gives some examples of the sorts of things that she has seen in the AFL Women's: - media releases of the men's coaching team taking sessions with the women's team; - media releases of the male players handing out numbers to the women; - media releases of joint training sessions; - interviews with the women players. She doesn't mention this, but I can recall that the A-League recently revamped its logo, including the W-League logo, was this turned into a big media event? No, it wasn't, why not? I can recall one day Frank Lowy turning a bit of minor news into a bit of a media event by inviting all the soccer journos to a presser. He mentioned how the FFA had just signed up a new sponsor, and even though absolutely no details were provided, the soccer journos gave him a standing ovation.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It certainly risks creating that impression, MF, and every day of delay reinforces that perception.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
True, but: - it was the FFA itself that publicly announced they would be releasing the criteria, round about now; - with rumours circulating that there is no bid from the city the FFA is most interested in terms of expansion, it does appear to reinforce the view that this notion of criteria is a bit of a sham (as it was when the Canberra bid was knocked on the head).
Cameron
Roar Guru
Agree with you, Fadida.
Cameron
Roar Guru
If these interested parties are serious about being included in expansion, they'll have met with the FFA already and will be doing everything behind the scenes to gain support.
SVB
Guest
MF The women's AFL competition needs to go for 30 weeks. AFL needs to show some guts.
SVB
Guest
MF The AFL needs to play in a real international competition to be the real thing.
SVB
Guest
MF The women's AFL competition should go for 30 weeks if it wants to be the real thing. The AFL should show some cajones and make it a 30 week competition. Stop hiding behind those "sugar hits" and then do a disappearing act just like the BBL. Show that there is some substance to this competition, otherwise it will disappear in no time just like the BBL did.