Yesterday, Football Australia revealed the teams that will occupy the new National Second Tier (it should be the B-League, but I digress). And, as with any other decision that is made about the beautiful game in this country, the eight teams selected immediately caught the disdain and ire of many a fan group.
The chorus of Aussie football tragics took like a duck to water in putting inverted commas around the word “national”, as complaints were made about the involvement of two out of six states in the eight teams to found the competition.
Football Australia shot this down by saying that an additional two-four teams would be included in the NST before the 2025 start date.
So, what should the additional teams be? In an ideal scenario at this point, the NST would have 12 teams. The eight already revealed are:
– APIA Leichhardt FC
– Avondale FC
– Marconi Stallions FC
– Preston Lions FC
– South Melbourne Hellas FC
– Sydney Olympic FC
– Sydney United 58 FC
– Wollongong Wolves FC
Here are the other four teams that should be added to the NST by 2025.
Patrick Antelmi of Sydney United 58 FC celebrates scoring a goal. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Brisbane United FC
One of the two merger bids, Brisbane United is a merger of Brisbane Strikers, Wynnum Wolves, and Virginia United. Whilst it does not have the storied history and community reputation that an NST would benefit from, Brisbane – and Queensland as a whole – could benefit strongly from a more community-oriented football team on a national stage.
As a merger, it would have more sound financial backing than a Brisbane City NST team, and with the agreement of Football Queensland, could slot right into the NPL system if relegation was on the cards.
Brisbane is a city that needs a new kid on the block to rejuvenate football in the city, and Brisbane United could be the perfect candidate for doing so.
Adelaide City FC
A former NSL powerhouse, Adelaide City would check another state off for the NST to be truly “national”. Some of Aussie football’s legends have donned the Zebras shirt – Ross Aloisi, Carl Veart, and Tony Vidmar, to name but three.
The antithesis to Brisbane United in some ways, the Black and Whites have a history to be proud of, with three national titles under their belt. With an expansive supporter base, Juve are well placed to compete on a national stage again.
Adelaide United drew an average of 12,000 to their home games in 2022/23, and the potential for a derby is exhilarating for South Australian football.
(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Football SA Merger
The second merger, Football South Australia, is a merger of Campbelltown City, North Eastern MetroStars, and West Torrens Birkalla. Quite successful in the state NPL, all three clubs have a history to be proud of.
A third professional club in the state would allow football to begin to build a challenge to AFL’s dominance. Obviously, this is the only NST club that still requires a name. Since City and United are already taken, conventions could be taken from teams such as Wigan, Charlton, and Madrid – Adelaide Athletic AFC has a ring to it.
Canberra Croatia FC
Whilst Canberra will now be getting a team in the A-League men before the start date of the NST, I still think that the nation’s capital shouldn’t be missing out – and Canberra Croatia is a very successful team, with a reputation throughout the world of football in Canberra, so much so, that many a football score app give them the moniker of “Canberra FC” when it comes to cup time.
They dominate the NPL in the ACT, and are well placed to go toe-to-toe against the rest of the NST.
With the addition of these four teams, a lot of Aussie football fans’ concerns are alleviated. The number of jurisdictions involved goes from two to five, and the amount of game-weeks a season goes from the current 16 to a much more respectable 22, with the addition of a finals series.
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
yes. after making this comment i read the knights are broke. which is unfortunate.as they are a strong community based club with history and a good supportrr base. i stick by my.other comments tho especially the broadcast.points. Here isvanother example. The golden triangle in vic between ballarat and bendigo ( including castlemaine, Maryborough etc) has a population of approximately 300,000 and.no.sporting team in a national comp. It is also is a zone for broadcast.licence purposes so.it has its own broadcasters. Southhampton in England has a population of about 250,000 and until recently survived in the EPL for 20.odd years so the population in the golden triangle area would be sufficient to sustain a team . A composite team from the golden.triangle in vic would have had a good chance.of being successful in the new league because it would have had a good supporter base to develop and a potentially healthy broadcasting audience. I really think the criteria for selecting licencees is flawed. In my view the inclusuon of avondale shows that. Whether avondale.is sucessful.or not.is irelevant.because it will never contribute to the growth.of the game in Australia. It is a completely invented 'artificial' club with.no.connections to a community base at all. Even if it is successful, no.matter how many trophies it wins, it will be irrelevant to the.purpose.of the new competition. This is why Aust football comps fail. Participant clubs are included because they have financial support.even though.they have.no supporter base. But financial.stability comes with having a strong supporter base which can generate ticket sales, broadcast revenue and sponsorship. Which.is why the inclusion.of Avondale.is a poor decision because it offers none of those things
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Good points TenTribes. My understanding is that Melbourne Knights don’t have the money.
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
Including adelaide city defeats some of the purpose.of Adelaide United. Adelaide United got its support from west adelaide and adelaide city. On the.other hand SE Adelaide Metro Stars are thriving and any licence.involving them.is a good idea...jowever i think they could represent the whole state and change their name to.relect that i.e. eg SA Stars. What have Avondale got to offer except money? They have no supporters, no ground, no history. They were a private 'club' completely set up by some financially endowed businessmen as a passion and hobby project. they have.no community roots at all. They offer.nothing to the new comp. On the other hand the.Knights have tradition, supporters, success and their own large stadium if football wants to advance it needs to exploit weaknesses in its competitors...for example teams from larger regional population centres which.have strong broadcasting outlets e.g. woollongong, canberra, Albury, Gold Coast, the whole.of Tasmania. If a team from tassy was brought in they would have a supporter base and.potential broadcasting audience of 500,000. I think the process has doomed to fail from the start because broadcasting potentials have been ignored in favour of financial stability right from the start. I mean Avondale...are they kidding?
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Basically Brisbane United was founded by Wynnum Wolves and Brisbane Strikers with Virgina United their 1st member, other clubs in the City of Brisbane LGA are allowed to join if they want to. Rabieh Krayem is the Chair of both Brisbane United and Wynnum Wolves and has been involved in A-League and NRL Clubs in the past most recently Wynnum has formed a partnership with Bourissia Dortmund. Brisbane United was also the original name for Strikers in the NSL.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Done :happy:
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Thanks Blood Dragon. So the three clubs are not merging as such, they're just working together so that their best players play in a newly created joint NST team called Brisbane Utd while the rest of their players continue to play in the NPL as before? Almost like an NPL state rep team except only 3 clubs involved?
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
The Idea is that the Member Clubs of Brisbane United would still be able to play in their respective leagues.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Utd maybe be ok, I don't know much about what their proposal. Are those clubs actually merging? It's not like the three SA clubs are merging to form a new Football SA merger entity. In fact, very little has been mentioned about how these merger candidates will be structured and definitely no mainstream media coverage whatsoever. I have no doubt the 3 SA clubs don't have the money unless Football SA muster up some sponsorship to cover the costs. Canberra Croatia has zero chance imo as Canberra are close to entering the Aleague while Adelaide City are broke hence why they haven't expressed interest.
Simmo
Roar Rookie
All articles are written by volunteers. Looks like it's your turn :thumbup:
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Heidelberg are out like Knights they could not find the money
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I would like to put some thoughts together about an Adelaide bid. Firstly, I don't see Adel City as being viable. A composite side featuring those clubs mentioned and calling it [whatever they want] is the only successful way to go. If Football SA does get involved, then their facilities at Gepps Cross would be the place to use. The Lady Reds also use it on occasion. Moneywise 500k:- by 3 is a lot easier to manage them than for one club having to find it. It makes more sense for it to be these clubs with FSA guidance.
Limo
Roar Rookie
Can we please have a story on the upcoming Sydney derby or is that too difficult for your publication????
mrl
Roar Rookie
NST. I guess it is part of natural evolution. I played Rugby League at school, Rugby Union when I left school, a season of AFL and then football in later years….I gradually became more intelligent.
Simmo
Roar Rookie
Sunshine Coast have today posted on social media that they are still in the hunt for 2025. Meeting with FA soon to keep working on their bid.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Gold Coast as a market would be far more suited for the A-League as an A-League team would be able to attract players and investment that a NSD team would not be able to as it’s an unknown 2nd division vs an established topflight. One thing to note is that FA will allow new bids even from clubs that did not submit EOI’s for the final 4 spots.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'd like to see a team from GCU, Tassie, Brisbane & Adelaide.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Out of those 4 only Brisbane United have expressed interest in one of the remaining sports, the only other clubs that have expressed interest are Gold Coast United, Sunshine Coast FC and Melbourne Knights through Knights are broke AF and have no chance.
chris1
Roar Rookie
So are these 4 clubs interested? Do they have the 500k and proper facilities to apply? Maybe they just don't have the resources etc and that's why they aren't in the initial 8 teams? Maybe FFA are looking to see if they can get them over the line, hence the addition of another 2-4 teams to be included over the next few months.