The temptation to write about the wage impasse between A-League players and their employers was strong this week.
The players have collectively rejected a proposed 30 per cent pay cut for the upcoming season, owners are adamant that such a cut is necessary for their clubs to survive and the FFA is hovering in the background waiting to intervene if required.
It will play out in due course and a final agreement must be reached briskly, especially considering the time required for some clubs to rebuild their squads after much recent movement. As such, I thought I might leave the negotiations to the warring parties for now in the hope that a solution can be reached relatively quickly.
Hopefully there will be no need to write more urgently about it with kick-off looming and a deal still to be brokered. Surely both Professional Footballers Australia and Australian Professional Football Clubs Association can see the importance of a successful upcoming season – a chance to return to play with fans inside stadiums and to begin the long rebuild of the A-League financials that have taken such a hit over the last eight months.
The new competition looks likely to begin in December, and things should have a nice festive feel about them when launched. In addition, it is clear that the A in A-League will never have been more relevant than in season 2020-21, with increased opportunities for young domestic players assured and far less reliance on foreign talent.
The much referred-to ‘developmental’ nature of the competition will be a firm reality in the new season, with potentially only the January transfer window luring any significant overseas players to the league.
The preseason has been littered with departures and it is hard to imagine that, with the bickering over wages becoming seemingly more intense each day, any clubs will be in a position to invest significantly on players from abroad.
Thus the A-League will be as A as it has ever been. While some may lament that fact, it perhaps should be something we celebrate.
The global situation has driven a stake through many industries, businesses and sporting activities, with most currently scrambling to get back on their feet in a desperate attempt to secure broadcast revenue, maintain sponsors and secure memberships and revenue from fans.
Australia’s relatively small football league has certainly taken a hit and the path back to security will now be one trod by mostly local players and coaches.
The list of departures is a sad read. Already Steven Taylor and Gary Hooper have farewelled the Phoenix, Milan Duric and Jair have said their goodbyes on the Central Coast and for different reasons Radoslaw Majewski and Pirmin Schwegler will no longer be Wanderers.
Spaniard Juande departs Perth Glory and Panamanian Abdiel Arroyo will not be wearing the red and blue of Newcastle in 2021. At this stage the Macarthur Rams appear to have the only confirmed new international signing in the shape of Englishman Matt Derbyshire, while rumours around the futures of other high quality internationals such as Adam le Fondre and Diego Castro continue to circle.
Add the above names to the approximately 20 foreigners who departed midseason when fears around COVID-19 were at their highest and the international flavour of the league has quite obviously been diluted.
With wage concerns brewing, much Australian and New Zealand top-end and promising talent also took the deals offered to them and ended their time in the league. Notably, Liberato Cacace has headed to Belgium, Samuel Silvera to Portugal, Callum McCowatt to Denmark and George Blackwood has somehow secured a deal in England.
Dimi Petratos and Mitchell Duke will face off against each other in Saudi Arabia and Perth duo Joel Chianese and Jacob Tratt will join Taylor and Hooper in India.
It is an exodus caused by the unusual nature of 2020 and a reality the clubs must face head on. The solution will be to scour NPL talent as effectively as possible, bring youth into squads slightly before they may have been expected to appear and hopefully discover a nugget or two of gold along the way.
There of course will still be a host of skilled international A-League players, potentially now even more valuable considering the younger and less experienced men with whom they will be playing and training, and fringe A-League players must be able to smell the experience of top-flight Australian football and be champing at the bit for a taste of the action.
As was the last, the new season will be something very different. However, a competition with reduced foreign stars and the chance to watch some of Australia’s rawest young talent may well be something to savour.
In 2021 A-League football will look very young and very A, and that presents an opportunity for clubs to discover the next Jamie Maclaren or Adam Taggart or Awer Mabil and maybe even the next Tim Cahill.
Perhaps that is the lens through which we should all view the season rather than lamenting international departures.
Deuce
Guest
It might be a good chance for Australian football to find its identity a bit more. Although loosing foreign talent is a shame, the A-league can't compete with wages from leagues in other countries like the USA and China to attract the best foreign players (outside of the top European tiers) so it shouldn't be a necessity for the game here to depend on marquee signings. I have at times questioned if certain players in A-league starting line ups and some who have pulled on an Australian jersey are really the best we have? I know next to nothing about scouting and recruitment but could it be that in a country with over 25 million people there are deficiencies in identifying and utilising tour best talent? This is a topic I have rarely read much opinion about.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I was serious, I have no friends.
Sydneysider
Guest
I cancelled my Foxtel 12 months ago. That's the one good thing to come out of this, never having to watch or see any form of AFL advertising again. I'm very happy to have a direct subscription model.
Will
Guest
This might not be a blessing for the current quality of the aleague but could be a blessing for the young talent starting to emerge in Australian football. As they say any crisis leads to opportunity.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
S Great read, enjoyable article. Agree, give the kids a go and I think we will be surprised at how good the Football will be. Hopefully those running the game can get in control of the conversation and we don't continue negatively looking at Australian Football.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Exactly, I just cancelled foxtel & will now no longer watch another game of AFL.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
SS All sport will be impacted, mark my words. The one advantage we have is that we are used to operating a low-cost national league, we did it for 27 years prior to the establishment of the A-League. If need be, we can do it again. Fear not, football will survive.
Sydneysider
Guest
Roberto you must be really happy with the outcome since your favourite sport (AFL) isn't as affected as the A-League. You've got your wish of having an Australian pro league but with a very small wage base, crowd numbers etc.. so you can continue to wallow in it's demise.
NoMates
Guest
So i guess we will see more cheap backpackers @ Roar next season instead of some of there good youth.
Punter
Roar Rookie
We all do Johan, we all do.
Johan
Guest
At last something we can agree on punter - you have a lot to learn!
pete4
Guest
Interesting podcast the other day the FFA CEO covered a broad range of issues https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/james-johnson-ceo-of-the-ffa-chats-to-adam-peacock/id726594291?i=1000491560773?i=1000491560773
Punter
Roar Rookie
I love the way you play with him Stuart, I have a lot to learn.
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
I see the positives and a lot of opportunity. Sure a lot of talent has gone, but there are a certain amount of exprts every yerar and it doesn't seem disproportionate to any other year. Silvera is a loss, as similar to Aranzi, he's barely had a chance to break out and shine. From an imports perspective, the start of last season was hardly flooding with marquees, Diamanti aside, and he is staying next year. Just to name a few, the Toures at Adelaide and D'Agostino are certain crowd draws A few more emerging talented Aussies could attract even more. Also completely agree with the talent in the NPL, there could be some 'nuggets' as you say, especially as they lost their chance to showcase in the FFA cup this year.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wouldn't be silly to go for a Sydney or Melbourne derby on New Years Eve.......no fireworks likely and another the following day. Boxing Day? A lot of great opportunities to grab some eyeballs over that period. Never a better time to invest in some serious advertising space.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Let's hope that COVID figures allow even 50% stadium attendance, that would be a blessing compared to other leagues that are still well off that number.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I love it when you call me Disco! Makes me feel young and popular.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Oooops! Well picked up. I think a P became an S there. Ha, funny stuff.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thank goodness there are still a few around. Perhaps, as I mentioned, January may see a few signings, although the European COVID numbers look slightly scary right now.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Great news for City with those three boys and promising they are. Good point you make about transfer fees. The broadcasting issue has changed now after the year we have had. Who knows where we end up in 2021/22?