The A-League needs to be shortened to just nine rounds. I mean what’s the point of the Wanderers playing the Phoenix three times in a season, let alone in seven weeks?
This comp is great and the level of football is right up there, but do we need 27 rounds of home and away while the national side’s do-or-die games are pushed to a weeknight?
We were generously given two weekends of competition to digest the fact that Sydney FC had wrapped up the Premier’s Plate for a second year in a row – these were rounds that we could have done without.
The National Basketball League, with eight francises, conveniently finished their regular season on February 18, meaning the finals clashed with other competitions, but regular season didn’t.
The A-League really might as well concede defeat. They simply won’t get a fair share of media attention during the winter, and BBL is king between mid-December and February.
The small window between early October and November is when the sport in its current form excels.
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The Sixers versus Stars WBBL game in December had 469,000 viewers at its peak – more than eight times what the Sydney Derby brought in on free-to-air.
One could argue that football was always going to lose that particular race, given it was on a secondary channel, but the stats don’t lie, putting the WBBL on the main was clearly the right call.
Cutting the comp down to a round-robin nine rounds is the way to go. This way, it can all be over in late November, so no derbies are restricted to an eighth of the ratings of women’s cricket.
A round robin – maybe even a tenth round for a derby rematch – would keep audiences at a high, with no meaningless mid-season games, and a finals series that only the top four qualify for.
The best thing is: every round is either the opening of the season, or a race to the finals.
Yes, broadcasters want content, but from this year Fox have the BBL, and just like Channel Ten have done so well, will want it as the product to watch, with no A-League deviation.
As cricket demonstrated with the Big Bash, picking a short timeslot and dominating it is how a sport can be successful.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
We have to fit in to the FIFA Calendar, we are not running away from Victorian Rules.
apaway
Roar Guru
Oh dear. This is one of the dumber things I've seen suggested. Just as a side note; the national team don't get "pushed" to midweek. That works into the international schedule players with over seas clubs have.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Under normal circumstances, Hellas would be a shoe in for expansion
Rolly
Guest
Another bait article trying to stir up the masses .if you love football the season is never long enough .bigger Comp 16 teams from new markets the longer the season the better for me .life is boring without football .inwouldnt worry about pay tV their market is so limited subscribers are going down down down the game needs more FTA TV coverage .shorter sesson never .i don't care about other sports
Leonard
Guest
Doesn't FIFA dictate a minimum 27 rounds? This is just one week over six months in a round per weekend arrangement without a finals set of games, so isn't this reasonable if the standard of play is top class and entertaining? But - if it is not . . . it degenerates into an 'Are we there yet?' borefest. But, if 27 is the Big Boss mandated number, and seeing that soccer is a bruise-free sport, couldn't there be some mid-week rounds to shorten the calendar length of the season?
Ian
Guest
Looks like I was late to the article. Poor Thomas - became a member of The Roar 6 months ago and made himself a 'GURU' to help with his lack of self-esteem and self-worth.
chris
Guest
haha PH good pick up. They trip themselves up first with the nonsense articles and then with the silly comments that they make.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Have a coffee, try again, but you are correct in your overall comment so I'm happy to give you a pass
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
'Force' Don't you find it ironic that that you start your reply with 'so once again' indicating to all that this is not the first time a poor article by one guy has been written. I'll let that sink in, you start by saying this is not the first time, there by inferring this is an ongoing problem. And that is the point, this is a constant drivel that is dished up, so maybe some football fans feel persecuted, because they have had this same drivel and attacks dished up to them for decades. So i know it is an easy throw away line to call fans persecuted, but even subconsciously you know by the choice of your words, this is a constant issue. So maybe they have a right to feel that way.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Married at First site, pulls in more viewers than pretty much any sport short of a grand final, doesn't mean that show isn't a joke and a abomination of what society sees as entertainment, but hey keep believing ratings are king
AFL-NRL-NFL-NHL-NBA-MLB-MLS-EPL-BBL-NBL Fan
Guest
kangajets I must say, I really do enjoy your Jack of all sports, master of none routine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, it's just that some opions are worth more than others. Keep up the good work.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
where's my free roar merchandise??
chris
Guest
KJ I think the league needs to go to 16 teams. Room for stand alone Wollongong. I don't see south west Sydney being too different to WSW but I don't live in that area so probably not the best person to be asking. Wollongong v Canberra? Well ask someone in Manchester if Reading v Hull is appealing and the answer is probably no. Or asking if Storm v Broncos is appealing to someone in Sydney.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Slashed and burned. Who needs the A-League.
Fadida
Guest
We don't want a shorter season....
Fadida
Guest
As Mourinho would say, "a voyeur guru"
Fadida
Guest
I knew he was playing make believe AD
Fadida
Guest
That's the one Matt!!
Griffo
Roar Guru
Kanga, it’s obvious if there was money it would have all happened yesterday ;-) On the moderating front - usually with these sort of systems you must have got yourself on a list at some point. Email someone at the Roar to see if you can be taken off.
Kangajets
Guest
Digital media will provide how much miney for the A league ?? What does a club need to turnover, abt 8 million ? While I absolutely want to see more clubs , I think we are headed towards semi professionalism to have 16 teams . We need 6 more multi millionaires and a few to tske over ccm and Wellington also .. Interesting times I just think a lot of people on this site don’t realise that how difficult this expansion is going to be to fund I love reasonable debate, rather then , we must play longer season .. at the moment our 27 round 10 league competition is nuts .. it needs dramatic changes, but the Ffa know it’s not financially viable to expand rapidly .. lots to ponder Over to all of you