Football in Australia has rarely been united, aside from our support for the national teams.
In fact, most of our history is made of various camps each believing they hold the knowledge and have the ability to grow the professional game in Australia.
In brief, pre 1955, football’s professional clubs were mainly regional association teams. From 1955 in Sydney a new group of clubs emerged who had the backing of influential people. Then in the ’70s along came the NSL, and in the 2000s came the A-League.
One thing that each group that came to power lacked was the ability to unite with the former powers. More often it was almost open warfare between old and new.
The constant fighting has often led to bitterness between the groups.
FFA chairman Chris Nikou has said unity is essential if we want football to reach its potential.
I have heard these words before, and they have been lip service to the outside world so it looked like we were trying. However, mostly it was not true.
When controlled by the Lowy family, the FFA had a disdain for many former NSL clubs. Equally, many former NSL clubs had a disdain for the A-League. Before that many regional associations had a disdain for many clubs in the NSL.
Recently, the FFA released their support for the introduction of a second division. The second division support was made after extensive talks with many stakeholders, including the Association of Australian Football Clubs chaired and championed by Rabieh Krayem, who has since moved on to be the new chair of Macarthur FC.
The biggest point of contention is the structure of any professional league. Most want to move to a FIFA model but with different timelines and structures to achieve this outcome.
Under Chris Nikou, the FFA seem not only willing to hear from other stakeholders but also happy to listen to what they say. The support for the second division is a good example of this.
The proposed second division would be a boost to State League clubs like APIA Leichhardt. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
The Melbourne Knights have offered their thoughts on the proposal, which broadly supported the FFA’s ideas.
Maybe the football family is starting to get on the same page.
However, the Knights disagreed with some aspects, particularly around foreign players, as well as the timeline for promotion and relegation.
FFA director Remo Nogarotto, who I understand was the driver behind the FFA’s white paper, also said it was up for discussion rather than a cast-in-stone blueprint.
It appears different stakeholders are finally acknowledging what the other sides have got right and acting in a spirit of what’s best for the code.
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
Forgot my K LOL ????
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
The Nights are all about the Nights, Croatian nationalism and a strain of free market fanaticism that would make Adam Smith blush. They are of course absolutely entitled to the various views outlined in this paper, much of it I actualy agree with, however I found aspects of their response churlish and laiden with the buzzwords of the ‘new soccer’ insurgency. The Nights see their role in the game as the shock troops for a virulent ‘club first’ mentality that makes no room for game development. They are not charlatans however. They genuinely believe in this approach.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
If you support Melbourne Knights response, then you support holding football back in this country. I prefer to grow and promote the game. I am a fan of the sport, and I support the FFA’s position that they have put out in the white paper that we need a professional second division.
Nemesis
Guest
I read the full Melbourne Knights response. I support everything that they've said in that response.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
I did read it - I'm not sure what was disgusting
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Have you read their response? What is the purpose of this club? They are not there to promote and grow football. This club has a chance to be a leader going forward, but they refuse to put football first. We do not need this social club holding football and football players back.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Disgusted...why?
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
I am absolutely disgusted by Melbourne Knights response to the white paper. The response was as predictable as it was pathetic. No way do we want them in the second division.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I sat on the national review panel when the last review of youth league took place and we got the current model. The meetings all started with people stating they were putting past issues behind them, looking at bigger picture and working for the good of the game. It turned out it was just about numbers. Decisions had been made privately. Lobbying had taken place and it was clear what the outcome was going to be without the need for a vote. It was anything but a genuine review. I just shook my head at the time and when asked why I wasn’t happy, I suggested a few things about intelligence and integrity of panel members. Funnily enough, I haven’t been invited back since.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Been travelling all day bad timing on when it came out. Thanks for comment above I just get a sense that we are coming together at last.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Agree nem
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Thanks
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Griffo Astute obversation
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Was I hope so
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Though provoking article. Thanks Mid
Waz
Roar Rookie
Mid, You ask the question and the answers probably ... too soon to know? The NSD announcement is a positive and seems to have most people on-board. The independent HAL seems to be progressing and if they get that right it’ll be a huge step. Then there’s the general FFA Board and management approach - if we ignore the Stajcic affair the Boards behaviour has improved and they do seem to be getting things done. So maybe ...
Griffo
Roar Guru
It is times like this where I wonder if culturally we are too individualistic rather than having a larger group view. It would help to put aside personal views to work towards a structure that benefits all. Perhaps frustration means more a willing to compromise this time round but it sounds like there is enough still that will take a strong position to bargain for their own interests. Potentially this will be a point that will dictate how football will look overall for the next 15 years so something to get right and require plenty of discussion, compromise, and an alternative viewpoint to making (or recouping) money off the game.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“This is why they are lobbying to make the B-League more of a reserves comp for their own clubs Are they?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Ideally the second division should be a regular club competition that incubates those for the first division initially as MK says. Financially it needs to grow and be given time. Similarly realistic requirement targets need to be set between joining from NPL to the second division, and second to first. Youth leagues need to be revamped and looked at separately - increase the teams, the games, and the level of competition - and give NPL and A/W-League clubs ability to enter their teams here. Squad sizes are not big enough yet to have a separate reserve team so fielding some in NYL teams could alleviate lack of game time and return from injury as happens now. Perhaps an over-age quota would be needed here to guarantee places for youth in a youth league. Only cost-cutting and budget lines would require a second division to allocate youth positions in lieu of a proper youth league system.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Post Crawford report, when all the myriad of associations were combined under single regions under state feds, was when FFA had the biggest opportunity to re-align and setup football. There is a football economy in the states with NPL and zone teams with higher junior fees which won't change if the state feds don't want this to change. Overall there appears to be groups that will not join the collective and compromise for the national outlook. For some it is about the loss of income and/or control over it. But the groundswell to fill the gap in the lower professional tier between NPL and A/W-League is growing but the details will be hammered out.