Compared to many nations around the globe and perhaps thanks to our relative geographical isolation, Australia appears to have weathered the worst of the coronavirus storm.
Fears of a resurgence of the virus during the winter are real and concerning, yet should the Australian population remain vigilant and sensible, there is a distinct possibility that the land down under may well be returning to something resembling normal, sooner rather than later.
As such, football will likely be back by the middle of the season.
Junior training has already been given the green light to resume and federations have begun laying out the requirements to be adhered to at sessions, as clubs begin to inform their members of those procedures and the ramifications going forward.
Football is mirroring life in the most accurate manner, with a clear emphasis on a safe return to play reflecting the official and consistent messaging that has emanated from state governments over the past few months.
The jury is still out on NPL play, with many Victorian and New South Wales clubs concerned about a recommencement that may in fact nosedive them further into the red.
With the cost of wages, security, officials and other debits destined to exist if and when NPL competitions do resume, clubs are concerned that in the absence of fans ticking through the gates and sponsorship dollars already in jeopardy or lost, a restart may well spiral them to a point of no return.
However, the A-League managed to dodge the most decisive of bullets when Foxtel honoured the final payment due for season 2019-20 under the existing broadcast deal and a mid-July return now appears likely.
Yet the question of what things will look like when that day does arrive is yet to be answered and may well not be until the reality comes to pass.
Three key questions will be addressed in time as the top tier of Australian football recommences in July.
#1 The fans
As rugby league pushes ahead, trailblazing a post COVID path in Australian sport, a small portion of fans appear likely to be permitted into NRL stadiums as early as next weekend.
With A-League play still a month away, will the first round of matches feature fans in the stadium or merely cardboard cut-outs – reflective of a more cautious approach to recommencement?
Perhaps the sheer audacity shown by rugby league’s Peter V’landys should be the model that FFA and the club owners pursue; with clear evidence that if all the boxes are ticked and medical safeguards meticulously put in place, the what once seemed impossible can in fact be achieved.
Subsequently, the question of fans’ eagerness to attend is unknown. Will a lingering health risk keep them away or will football’s lustre bring them back in droves?
Cardboard cut-outs of NRL fans. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
#2 The players
In what state A-League players will return to the pitch is an unknown and potentially a championship defining aspect of the A-League’s recommencement.
Individual training programs will no doubt have been adhered to, yet actual competitive play will have been absent for over three months when the players do return.
It is common for a player resuming after a long-term injury to require a considerable number of weeks to regain form, timing and fitness. Most players will be in a similar position and with 32 matches slated to be played in just 36 days, there will be little time to build a fitness or form base.
In short, the team that comes back the fittest, sharpest and displays the least signs of rust may well walk away with an A-League championship that will never be forgotten.
Nathaniel Atkinson impressed for Melbourne City. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
#3 The broadcaster
With everything in place bar a final and rigid agreement between the A-League and Foxtel, there is a sense of nervousness in the air.
Logic suggests that when the matches do return, Fox Sports will be the platform many Australians access for vision.
However, with rumours abound that the media giant’s individual financial position makes their continued support of the league somewhat tenuous, stranger things have happened.
Despite the final payment of the broadcast deal being honoured, could the A-League actually recommence without coverage on pay television?
That scenario does seem unlikely, yet should Foxtel be keen to immediately lessen its financial commitment to the game and FFA does indeed dig in its heels; demanding the honouring of a six-year contract, the matter could well be headed for the courts.
Such an outcome could well bankrupt FFA, something that will surely inform their approach to what looms as an impasse with the host broadcaster.
In a perfect world, fans will be permitted back into Australian stadiums for the resumption of play, the players will return in peak fitness after a solid month on the training track and Fox Sports will pick up where it left off as the host broadcaster of the league.
However, as seamless and smooth as that may all sound, the events of 2020 should encourage us all to expect the unexpected.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Players are due to return to training on Monday ahead of a quick-fire finish to the season with games in July and August. However, it’s understood the cash claim by the players’ union led by chairman Brendan Schwab and CEO John Didulica has thrown the FFA a curve ball. Anticipating that revised government lockdown rules may permit crowds to attend sporting events in the near future, it’s understood the PFA wants a portion of potential gate receipts dispersed to the players. The ambit claim has failed to win FFA approval – and after days of delays – it’s understood the PFA has until Monday to sign up for the original agreement, which sees the highest paid players sacrifice up to 70 per cent of their wages – or the season will abandoned. … It’s believed seven of the 11 clubs were against resuming the season – partly in light of Fox Sports’ current refusal to screen games unless the FFA agrees to a renegotiated deal worth as little as $11 million a year. … If an agreement isn’t reached, player revenues will all but dry up – outside the likes of Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City – and a number of players may be forced to look for alternative careers. It’s unknown how games would be accessed by a wider public, assuming they’re behind closed doors and devoid of Fox Sports cameras. However the FFA have been exploring alternatives, including streaming platforms.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Eleventh-hour demands from Professional Footballers Australia for a hike in previously agreed player entitlements is threatening to halt the resumption of the A-League.
Rosario FC
Guest
Apologies all I meant "delicate" negotiations rheotric. And he we are on a Sunday morning with no news on a re-start. I heard there will be some sort of an answer on Tuesday, I feel for the players they have no idea whether they are coming or going. If this lowball figure that Foxtel is proposing is true from 57 mill a year to 11 mill a year is true; I think the FFA grow a pair & tell them see you in the courts. I have no idea how Foxtel can slash over 80% & not be in breach. Despite the ratings. That is an astronomical sum. The line in the sand has to be drawn. How bleepin long is this going to go on for? I don't think Optus will be a saviour if the rights are valued this low. But I'd rather someone that'll back football not repress it. It's clear News Ltd doesn't want football with the recent redundancies (or probably firings) of football journalists of late. It's all becoming & is an utter disgrace!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
It is mate. Easy to find. Even in the app store. I have written in it about some of the issues you raise here as well. Let's say an all encompassing app. $60.00 per year. 1.5 million subscribers (no idea how high or low this number could be). That creates A$90 million in revenue. Plus advertising benefits, less production costs of covering football. Plus government support. It's doable!
Newie
Guest
Yep. There is a real opportunity. It will look like a step back in some areas, and many clubs may not agree to the suburban grounds idea, but this is the time for the shake up. If not now, when?
Rosario FC
Guest
I hope we get some news on recommencement from the FFA & Foxtel by day’s end! For heaven’s sake even the Super Rugby has a date now. Stuart start ruffling feathers mate! Put the blowtorch on James Johnson & Patrick Delaney. We’re all bloody sick & tired of the “delegate negotiations” rhetoric!!!
Maradona's Lovechild
Roar Rookie
Yes, yes and yes Newie! Totally agree - whats the saying, "Don't waste a good crisis." Do it now, move next season to winter too and stop playing in big oval grounds or grounds they play NRL on etc. Suburban grounds, AAMi and Wanderers being the exception intro a couple of old NSL clubs back in ASAP or kickstart the 2nd div, NPL national champs or top two and lets get this ball rolling. Imagine the feelgood factor, the excitement around promo/rel, the lift in football level, youth getting a chance, uniting the tribes... the list goes on. Get rid of the salary cap, intro transfer fees - so the smaller dvelopment NPL clubs get a fresh revenue source - wow the game would have new life. Finally, as mentioned elsewhere what if say 300,000 hard core football tragics paid $500 or so annually directly to FFA or the independent League for guaranteed streaming coverage of all games 1st and 2nd div - better than paying Fox right, cheaper and it grows the game we love directly.
Maradona's Lovechild
Roar Rookie
Stuart is Play On Magazine an online mag/website? I'll go on the hunt to read. Hopefully the stronger, more organized NPL clubs can enter the A - League well before 2035. The argument about existing franchises having exclusivity till 2035 will be invalid once Fox bail or Football bails on Fox. Throw Covid in the mix and i really believe it has to happen in the next 12 months, 24 max. The football pyramid and pathways need to be restructured urgently for the game to thrive and be re united as one big football family. The time feels right now. We can't sit back and accept being 3rd or fourth rate and in the corner at Fox? Now is the time to stand alone, our product is good, the A League is a decent development league - add promo/rel, 1 or 2 decent Euro or South American marquees and one quality West Asian marquee and one qual East Asian (4 absolute max imports per team, no sal cap, increase squad sizes and it will improve dramatically and be taken seriously by so many more fans and countries. I'm so sick of all the naysayers. It's the best league we have and if the youth are promoted it will improve. (Hell, The Wanderers won the Asian Champions League first year in - just shows you the potential.) The only reason i subscribe to Foxtel is for the A-League. I pay for both my annual subscribtion and my elderly fathers so he too can keep up with every A League game. As if ironed on tragics like myself and many others like me wouldn't be stoked to withdraw our Fox annual subscription (for memory it costs around $700 to $800 annually) and instead pay direct to say FFA or the independent League as they transition ownership. Lets just say it cost half that and we still got to see every game, had expert, genuine football commentators, panel shows, preview shows, 2nd div games as well - how good. Hell even if it cost similar, i would much prefer my hard earned went directly into footballs coffers, especially now we have a real football person in charge in JJ (someone who is listening to the Golden Gen and many other football stakeholders etc. Like i said above, might be tough for a year or so economically, but i have no doubt SBS would jump straight into televising the 2nd div if made up of many old NSL clubs etc. Gallop, Buckley and co before just bundled everything lazily into Fox. There's so many products - there's A League, Asian Champions League, Soceroos, Matildas, W- League and soon no doubt 2nd div that should all be televised. Government also needs to step up big time. Federal and State Gov need to make Football the number 1 tax payer supported sport financially - it makes so much sense financially, politically etc. We have the numbers, the community, the collective power - we have to stand up for the game and stop being divided!
Maradona's Lovechild
Roar Rookie
Glad you like the moniker and football thoughts Stuart. I've been enjoying your articles for years and finally found some time to register in comments and join the forum discussions.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Enjoyed reading those thoughts and ideas ML. And I love your moniker.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
126 to be relegated?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Have written about that exact concept in the latest edition of Play On magazine, which should be available in the next few days. I actually named a futuristic 2035 league the Australian Premier League. Great minds.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Let's hope that doesn't happen. It may, but surely a majority of Australians will see wisdom in maintaining the discipline most have shown for near three months now.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Politics aside, I see your view and concur. The last thing we needed was mass gatherings. However, the reverberating discrimination in ours and many societies also demands action.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
If the second wave does come then people like V'landys will become the target rather than the thinker. He'll morph from hero-human to scapegoat very quickly.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Just the top 10 from the NPL go straight into the A-League or new "APL" Waz.....the rest can still play in the NPL. Merge was the wrong word on my part.
Newie
Guest
Nice rant! What you've said is right. If Fox offers a lowball deal to FFA, and FFA accepts, it will drive down the salary cap etc. This will have the effect of bringing some NPL clubs closer in parity to A-League. The alternative, seeking other funding and broadcast options, might yield the same number of dollars (or thereabouts) as a reduced deal with Foxtel. If that's the case, why wouldn't FFA choose option B and use also the opportunity to link the A-League with a second division. It will all look a bit "discount bin" for a season or two until it takes root but tbh it looks like that's how it will be from here on anyways. Time to cut from FoxSports and embrace other streaming and broadcast options. Even an equivalent (low) deal with Optus would be better for the A-League.
Newie
Guest
If the lifting of restrictions continue as they are, by July / August you could resume the comp *with* crowds. If V'landys is successful in getting crowds to attend the NRL, why couldn't the A-League simply pick up where it left off (logistical issues aside)? By late July, interstate border restrictions may well be over too... Unless there is a wave of coronavirus outbreaks following the #blacklivesmatter protests and NRL being permitted to allow fans to the games, I can see the A-League finals series being played with fans, which would be a boon for the FFA. Maybe that's why Johnson is taking his time with announcements?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Merging the NPL and A League would create a competition of 146 teams :laughing:
Waz
Roar Rookie
The current deal is worth $48m per year with $6m going to the FFA for international friendlies so a 50% cut would be $21m for the HAL. There is the reported $5m/year from Telstra which currently goes to FoxTel - if that diverted to the FFA instead a deal of $26m/year is possible (with overseas rights still to be sold that’s not a bad deal in the current climate).