Early or Late .... have FFA got it right

[midfielder]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24685029-12428,00.html

The link has FFA starting the season in July meaning head to head with the AFL & NRL over a number of weeks ...... at the business end of their seasons and when stadiums are hard to get access to and are hacked up .

Having said that do we start latter and have the finals and grand finals swamped by the AFL & NRL.

The cross code supporters .... similar arguements to the above about what matches they will watch .....

.....Soccer v footy clash

November 21, 2008 02:00pm

A-LEAGUE fans appear set for a loyalty collision course with supporters of other football codes as the FFA tries to bring the start of the new season forward to July.

It's understood the Football Federation has already released a proposed new season schedule to the 10 clubs.

The FFA have pencilled a July kick off for the new 27 game season with the grand final tipped for February 2010.


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Will the proposed change help or hinder soccer's development? Have your say by filling in the feedback box below or vote in the poll on this page
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But the move - which means the season will kick off a month earlier than normal - will make the competition go head to head against the AFL and rugby codes for at least eight weeks.

And eight clubs will need to compete for stadia rights during the height of the AFL and rugby seasons.

Only Adelaide United and Perth Glory have purpose-built soccer stadia.

 

[kevrenor]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24685029-12428,00.html

The link has FFA starting the season in July meaning head to head with the AFL & NRL over a number of weeks ...... at the business end of their seasons and when stadiums are hard to get access to and are hacked up .

No, stupid, stupid, stupid!!  Didn't you learn from this season FFA.

It should start in late September and go to about Easter - just as local football starts.

Anyway it stuffs me - I will be away 2 months from July, and I had hoped the FFA would put it back not bring it flipping forward!

Have your say:  http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24685029-12428,00.html

 

[Redline]

I think if anything it will give us truer supporter numbers and a better indication of how we really stack up amongst the cross code supporters. I do think it's to early to be testing it, I would have thought they'd be better to wait til the new teams start but we'll see.

 

[FFC Mariner]

I can see Kevs point but think we need to be confident enough to let ourselves compete.

 

[clarence]

As both the AFL and NRL seasons start getting 'down to the business end of the season' (as commentators like to say, sigh) after July through to September, I think it's silly starting a new A-League season at that time.

We have to admit that there is a percentage of fans who do go to AFL or NRL matches, and I am guessing the more casual followers of A-League will be more inclined to go to AFL or NRL at their stage of the season compared to ours just starting.

Also, the media coverage of the start of the A-League season will be conflicting with both of these codes. We have enough trouble trying to get media exposure, but surely going straight up against these codes is one good way to get buried.

 

[Auburn Mariner]

It's very rare that I disagree with Kev, but:

I like starting in July. Reasons are:

*First, this dawns the advent of a 27 game season, followed by a 33 game season when South Coast United and the Southern Mexicans (sponsored by Old El Paso)  join the League. This MUST be good.
*Stuff League and AFL. At the moment, there is only AFL in Sydney every second weekend. So the Tards and the Mexicans play some early games at Olympic Park until the rectangular stadium gets built. No probs. This draw ensures almost no clash with Super 14 (15 if the Victorians get their team). As for the NRL, we are big enough to stand on our own two feet now.
*I like the idea of trips to Dairy Farmers, Robina & Lang in winter. Big trip away, that. Wellington in July, with a side-trip to Queenstown. Yep, pick me.
*This draw avoids State of Origin, which is massive from the Murrumbidgee River to Cape York
*We start at around the same time as Euro Leagues (those below the Arctic Circle)
*Frees up ACL qualifiers to play without being encumbered by Home-and-Away matches.
*The last Saturday in February remains the HAL's big day. Cricket is almost finished, NRL & AFL haven't started, half the Australian Super 14-15 teams are on the High Veld. Makes sense to me.

 

[kevrenor]

It's very rare that I disagree with Kev, but:

I like starting in July. Reasons are:

*First, this dawns the advent of a 27 game season, followed by a 33 game season when South Coast United and the Southern Mexicans (sponsored by Old El Paso)  join the League. This MUST be good.
*Stuff League and AFL. At the moment, there is only AFL in Sydney every second weekend. So the Tards and the Mexicans play some early games at Olympic Park until the rectangular stadium gets built. No probs. This draw ensures almost no clash with Super 14 (15 if the Victorians get their team). As for the NRL, we are big enough to stand on our own two feet now.
*I like the idea of trips to Dairy Farmers, Robina & Lang in winter. Big trip away, that. Wellington in July, with a side-trip to Queenstown. Yep, pick me.
*This draw avoids State of Origin, which is massive from the Murrumbidgee River to Cape York
*We start at around the same time as Euro Leagues (those below the Arctic Circle)
*Frees up ACL qualifiers to play without being encumbered by Home-and-Away matches.
*The last Saturday in February remains the HAL's big day. Cricket is almost finished, NRL & AFL haven't started, half the Australian Super 14-15 teams are on the High Veld. Makes sense to me.

You of course may always disagree with me Auburn.

Reasons:

Weather - the Crawford report endorsed continuation of summer football, not winter to summer.  We had some poor weeks of weather and can expect more next season.

Grounds - only two clubs have first choice on their grounds, and perhaps us added next year.  Chopped up grounds from other codes are not ideal.

Competition - actuallly not my main reason, I don't give a toss about the others codes but it seems a little silly to try to start up as they are reaching climax.

Meshing with local comps - running on from the A-League into local comps would give greater opportunities to work with the local communities

NYL - players are to play in the state leagues in winter, but this would cut them out early (unless of course they plan to keep a stunted season for them)

Doesn't do anything to help the ACL clubs to close the gap with the start of their ACL season.

Clashes with State Leagues, which moved away from summer to avoid the clash

ps. I prefer my away trips to Melbourne and Wellington not to be in winter.

Anyone else?

 

[FFC Mariner]

Weather - the Crawford report endorsed continuation of summer football, not winter to summer.  We had some poor weeks of weather and can expect more next season Football is a winter game and maybe summer was recommended to help the code v the other 3? I believe we are viable competitors now.

Grounds - only two clubs have first choice on their grounds, and perhaps us added next year.  Chopped up grounds from other codes are not ideal We have shit pitches now I think the grounds owners want the $$ so scheduling might not be a big deal

Competition - actuallly not my main reason, I don't give a toss about the others codes but it seems a little silly to try to start up as they are reaching climax.Every person who chooses not to watch/go to the others because of us is a competitive win

Meshing with local comps - running on from the A-League into local comps would give greater opportunities to work with the local communities We are the premium product, lesser comps can adjust to HAL

NYL - players are to play in the state leagues in winter, but this would cut them out early (unless of course they plan to keep a stunted season for them) Fair point IMHO

Doesn't do anything to help the ACL clubs to close the gap with the start of their ACL season. True and we will have to live with it

Clashes with State Leagues, which moved away from summer to avoid the clash They will probably have to move back

 

[kevrenor]

Meshing with local comps - running on from the A-League into local comps would give greater opportunities to work with the local communities We are the premium product, lesser comps can adjust to HAL

Good luck ... can you see CCFA doing it?

All in all I like my barmy summer evening games thanks.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Meshing with local comps - running on from the A-League into local comps would give greater opportunities to work with the local communities We are the premium product, lesser comps can adjust to HAL

Good luck ... can you see CCFA doing it?

All in all I like my barmy summer evening games thanks.

Ah but as a Pom, if it isnt freezing, it just doesnt seem right

 

[Blackadder]

FFA really are having delusions of grandure if they are expecting to go head to head with the Rugby Codes & AFL.
Simply put the numbers through the gates would be diminished by those that support multiple codes (let's not go into we only want true football supporters bullshit), likewise will Fox be willing to outlay a susbstantial fee for the broadcasting rights when they already have NRL,RU,AFL on their schedule?

 

[midfielder]

I am with Kev on this .... I also think our history to date has shown games from Christmas to mid January  great crowds with so many people on holidays a couple of midweek games would help absorb the extra 6 weeks needed.

My fear and I guess the FFA's fear as well find is ... it so hard to get media ..... would our finals and grand final be swamped and largely ignored at the start of the new AFL & NRL seasons.

For all the success of the recent RLWC I found it amazing the amount of print and electronic media it received during the lead up and during the series ..by comparison the Socceroos received much less ......... still on most radio networks the A-League struggles to get a mention and the broken figure nail of a West Coast Eagle player will get a mention first. So can we build any momentum during the business end of the AFL & NRL seasons.

One advantage of going further back into July clubs may be able to connect with the park teams but outside the Mariners & Scum most other clubs are hopeless at this aspect and don't show any signs of improving.

This was always going to happen once we expanded ....... also those who call for a longer season to prepare players for the national side often ignore how piratical it is go head to head with the AFL & NRL at this very early stage of our own development.

My final tho is we need to find and extra six weeks ........ have at least two midweek games over the holidays.... go two back into the season and two into the next . Finally at the risk of being thrown out of the Socceroos club I would suggest maybe we don't have all (not none) FIFA international days where we cancel the comp for possible A-League players not being available for their clubs.

 

[Jesus]

It's very rare that I disagree with Kev, but:

I like starting in July. Reasons are:

*First, this dawns the advent of a 27 game season, followed by a 33 game season when South Coast United and the Southern Mexicans (sponsored by Old El Paso)  join the League. This MUST be good.
*Stuff League and AFL. At the moment, there is only AFL in Sydney every second weekend. So the Tards and the Mexicans play some early games at Olympic Park until the rectangular stadium gets built. No probs. This draw ensures almost no clash with Super 14 (15 if the Victorians get their team). As for the NRL, we are big enough to stand on our own two feet now.
*I like the idea of trips to Dairy Farmers, Robina & Lang in winter. Big trip away, that. Wellington in July, with a side-trip to Queenstown. Yep, pick me.
*This draw avoids State of Origin, which is massive from the Murrumbidgee River to Cape York
*We start at around the same time as Euro Leagues (those below the Arctic Circle)
*Frees up ACL qualifiers to play without being encumbered by Home-and-Away matches.
*The last Saturday in February remains the HAL's big day. Cricket is almost finished, NRL & AFL haven't started, half the Australian Super 14-15 teams are on the High Veld. Makes sense to me.

You of course may always disagree with me Auburn.

Reasons:

Weather - the Crawford report endorsed continuation of summer football, not winter to summer.  We had some poor weeks of weather and can expect more next season.

Grounds - only two clubs have first choice on their grounds, and perhaps us added next year.  Chopped up grounds from other codes are not ideal.

Competition - actuallly not my main reason, I don't give a toss about the others codes but it seems a little silly to try to start up as they are reaching climax.

Meshing with local comps - running on from the A-League into local comps would give greater opportunities to work with the local communities

NYL - players are to play in the state leagues in winter, but this would cut them out early (unless of course they plan to keep a stunted season for them)

Doesn't do anything to help the ACL clubs to close the gap with the start of their ACL season.

Clashes with State Leagues, which moved away from summer to avoid the clash

ps. I prefer my away trips to Melbourne and Wellington not to be in winter.

Anyone else?

Kev i think you will find the youth league will not be heavily expanded for a while. Baan wants the players playing both youth and state leagues so as to play enough matches. That said when we end up with 12-14 teams the season should be long enough for them to just play youth league.

 

[Jesus]

Also, with regards to crowds i dont think we will have too much trouble. We take on the finals, we can take on the redgular season. Availability would seem the issue, though the FFA must see it as no trouble.

 

[Jesus]

Doesn't do anything to help the ACL clubs to close the gap with the start of their ACL season. True and we will have to live with it

There has been suggestion that the acl is possible to be moved in the future to run parallel to the euro season. Japan especially are looking at moving in line, and wanting the acl to do so. I think this will happen at some stage.

 

[FFC Mariner]

The FFA will have looked at both options (hopefully) and have consulted the clubs.

Fox will also have had a major say so presumably, doing it the other way around was dismissed for good reason.

 

[BrisRecky]

hmmm....tricky one huh???....i'm liking the idea of mid week  games....with the team who plays wednesday to get the previous friday so healing and travelling can be slighty easier....but I dunno about starting up as the knuckle draggers and the paddock wrestlers are heading into their final series....all in all a situation we were gonna end up in anyway....lets hope the FFA work it out properly

 

[Part_Timer]

mid week games would fail horribly in the long run