Opinion
In 2015, the Australia Cup (formerly FFA Cup) granted the Northern Territory participation in the preliminary rounds.
Having allocated one team for the round of 32, the knockout football contest suddenly became a national competition, going truly beyond other sporting codes.
In 2022, Mindil Aces FC are representing the Top End. Situated in Darwin, their official website states the family-oriented club is primarily run by keen volunteers.
These are proud people, conditioned to play in environments different to those on the Eastern Seaboard.
In fact, when you register online to play soccer in the Top End, you have two conflicting options. As a competing athlete, you choose between polar opposite seasons – the wet and the dry.
Currently, the Football Northern Territory website literally has the phrase “football in the dry” beamed across their screen. Meaning, if you’re thankfully participating between May to October, one might be fortune enough to miss the soaring humidity and monsoonal storms.
That’s a blessing, because Mindil Aces have been drawn to play Avondale FC in a fortnight’s time. Opening the Round of 32, 10 Play viewers will have a choice of watching one of four games to be streamed in unison.
Interestingly, none of the initial matches feature A-League teams. Moving away from the traditional midweek game, the blockbuster events have been reserved for the weekends.
Specifically, Sydney FC host Central Coast on a stand-alone Sunday night. With the thought of Socceroo hero Andrew Redmayne featuring in another penalty shoot out, Channel 10 would be hoping for an extra time ratings bonanza.
The Mindil game might appear to be a smaller spectacle, but it’s also an aspirational and commercial event, giving supporters the chance to buy a special edition jersey online.
Celebrating back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, the Darwin club competes on Larrakia country, as stated on their Facebook page, acknowledging the land’s traditional owners.
If the Top End team can produce a “cupset” win against Avondale FC, then a historic match might beckon against an A-League powerhouse. Best of luck.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
It's back, and it's better than ever. The Champions League is one of the great sporting competitions in the world, and if you want…
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The Mariners must deal with possibly their toughest challenge yet - Kyrgyzstan’s FK Abdysh-Ata Kant in the first leg of the semifinal.
Already four goals up before the 90-minute mark, Florian Wirtz scored to seal his hat-trick and staff couldn't keep the supporters from celebrating their…
