In an effort to keep the best players in the A-League on the pitch for the entire season, the FFA has decided to pause the A-League during international windows next season.
In years prior, there were times when Socceroos matches (and other internationals) would interfere with squad selection for A-League games. Given the competition struggles at times to get support, this settlement will hopefully lead to more views and consistently exciting play from Australia’s premier league.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon announcing the news, the FFA revealed the season will start on October 19th, 2018, a bit later than normal, to avoid the international window earlier in the month.
There will be two other pauses in the league from November 12th-20th and March 18th-26th. Due to the pushback of the entire schedule, the grand final will take place during the weekend of May 18.
In addition to the A-League, executives have been exploring a possible break for the W-League and its correlation with Matildas’ play.
The same thought process applies, as fans and teams alike are trying to keep their most prized performers on the pitch for the whole season.
“Given there are also two FIFA windows for women inside the W-League this coming season, we are also looking at the Matildas program and possible ways this could apply to the W-League calendar,” A-League boss Greg O’Rourke said.
FFA chief executive David Gallop praised Fox Sports for agreeing to the breaks in the season.
“With our broadcasters and commercial partners we have been conscious always of the need to balance the benefits of week to week continuity in the league against the benefits of stopping for international breaks,” Gallop said.
“After extensive discussions with the clubs and with Fox Sports over recent weeks we have all agreed to incorporate the international breaks.”
Further details will be released pertaining to both the A-League and W-League in the future.
Bob
Guest
@Nemesis #ALTFact what proof do you have that Fox Sports have been stopping the FFA from introducing intl breaks? Your just making things up as you go along aren’t you!
chris
Guest
Ben the problem is that just about all of the players that play W-League play for an NPL club (in NSW this is the case).
Waz
Roar Rookie
More evidence the FFA is listening, albeit after the event. Ticket prices reduced for the Semi-Finals and GF after last weekend’s poor crowds: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-drops-ticket-prices-for-finals-in-response-to-poor-crowds-20180425-p4zbn9
LuckyEddie
Guest
Nothing in football at the top level (HAL) happens without the approval of FOX. It defies common sense that anyone could thing otherwise.
jimakos
Guest
fkn finally..now time to rid the ffa nxt steps abolish the caps introduce new teams south melb, wollongong for starters and yob off gallop/lowy we need a new start league is dying, pushing more ppl to gayfl and cricket pfft is that even a sport??.. still confused about allianz hell the nrl and aleague combined cant even fill it so why arnt they reducing it to 35k atleast im lost...
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. And it’s another differentiator on our code in what is becoming a marked battle ground for hearts and minds. We are in competition with AFL, Netball, Basketball, the two Rugby codes and numerous other sports to get girls/women in to our code and the romance of the FFA Cup has reinvigorated many of the teams below the HAL and I’d hope it would do the same in the women’s game.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Given the number of clubs involved in the women's state leagues there is sufficient capacity in terms of both players and clubs to make it an engaging competition. There certainly is the interest and it has the added benefit of increasing the number of competitive games played by W-League sides.
Nemesis
Guest
It defies any common sense to think FoxSports are the ones driving this. FoxSports are the ones who have stopped this happening over the years. Now they've finally understood they were wrong.
Nemesis
Guest
The priority for women footballers would be to have proper change rooms at every community venue. Women's FFA Cup. Give me a break. Apart from this Discussion, I've never heard anyone suggest this is a burning priority & an FFA failure. As a fan of the Women's Game, my Top 3 priorities would be: 1) Full H&A competition for WLeague 2) Expand the WLeague to 12-14 teams 3) Minimum individual player wage same as the ALeague; the market decides all other wages
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. And it’s what the women want as well, players and fans have expressed a desire to see this happen ?
Waz
Roar Rookie
@ buddy Correct. VAR is an optional tool - not all countries have the ability to fund it (some don’t even televise all games or have sufficient cameras at the games they do televise so just can’t implement it). So VAR is not mandatory and the FFA can choose to implement it or not. It’s exactly the same as the extra official behind the goal, the laws make provision for it then it’s up to the local Association to decide whether to use it or not. If the FFA is listening to fans the evidence suggests the vast majority are against VAR.
Nemesis
Guest
Regardless, VAR is an IFAB/FIFA initiative. FFA is not some lone wolf maverick going on this journey on its own. We have VAR being used at the World Cup tournament in June! Stop blaming FFA for everything.
Buddy
Guest
I’m not convinced VAR is a permanent fixture. Only a week or so ago the EPL announced they don’t wish to use it still. They wish to observe the use in cup competitions and hope to see refinement and improvement. In Germany they look like they will riot on the subject - not happy. It is optional and experimental. I’d like to see some analysis at the end of the season. It may well be that it has improved the decisions made overall but it doesn’t come across that way.... anything but!
LuckyEddie
Guest
So FOX made the decision. Why do we bother paying Gallop and all the other clowns?
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Mid October is too late, the off season is already long enough. Aleague players won’t be able to impress to get picked for the September or October internationals and they’ll only get a couple of games to impress for the November internationals. Start the season late August or early September (preferably during the afl bye week before the finals) That way you get international breaks without congesting the fixture. You could also throw in a couple split rounds to accomodate acl teams as well as a stand-alone weekend for the FFA cup final.
Tom Simon
Roar Pro
About time, common sense prevails! A step in the right direction from the FFA, need a few more to come! Removing the salary cap, a second division and more football on free-to-air need to be on their agenda, hopefully before 2180!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Women's FFA Cup would be a good idea as it could tie in directly with the regional women's club competition the AFC are currently exploring.
Nemesis
Guest
I find these ridiculous &/or totally unnecessary: Loan System Transfer fees No salary cap Fan representation on Congress Women’s FFA Cup Free draw for the FFA Cup Futsal national league Either 4+1 or 3+1 is being implemented next season. VAR is here to stay, unless IFAB withdraws it completely. Get used to it.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“It would be ridiculous for FFA to implement many of that list” ... go on, which ones?
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Hopefully this means more A-League players will be chosen for the Socceroos.