FFA's up for the cup

[skilbeck]

the cup final would need to be after the season. the first round involving a league sides could be done on the christmas break though

 

[Jesus]

the cup final would need to be after the season. the first round involving a league sides could be done on the christmas break though

Why at the end of season necessarily?

There will be few rounds involving a-league teams. They should start after a couple of rounds. Not wait til end of season. That way they dont detract from the league race, or finals competition.

 

[skilbeck]

any time before the end of season would diminish the prestige of the cup IMO

 

[Jesus]

any time before the end of season would diminish the prestige of the cup IMO

I dont know. I huge crowd at homebush every year. A time when lots of people have holidays and could travel from anywhere in the country to be at the match. I think it would be come a great tradition. With little else to challenge it for ratings at that time of year. I really think it would be an awesome time to host it. A time when a huge non-partizan crowd from nsw could be possible.

 

[northernspirit]

Imagine Lowy FC having to go away to Marconi (at Parra say) and finding themselves out numbered in the stands and the whole "magic" of the cup thing happening.

South Melbourne Hellas would draw more people than SFC to such a game

 

[FFC Mariner]

Would need to be in HAL pre season as that is when all clubs are in training.

 

[brett]

Maybe a timeline like

March: Winter season commences
April: First qualifying rounds between lowest-tier teams
May-June: Gradual knockout rounds
July: Initial qualifying rounds are complete to leave 8 non-HAL teams (increase this when HAL expands)
Aug: One week before A-League kicks off, the A-League teams play the smaller teams away.
- This gives the smaller teams a chance to catch the A-League teams underdone - more upsets
- This takes the A-League to regional locales to build support
- This spikes interest in the lead-up to the season opener
Late Sept: Quaterfinals
Nov: Semis
Boxing day: Final

Biggest downside being that the state league sides would have to play the latter rounds out of season. But let's face it, the one or two that get through will just have to do what the current A-League teams have had to do in preparing for ACL games - extend their season of training and play trials to stay fit. There will probably be some Youth League teams willing to play friendlies around September.

 

[mariners4ever]

OR if you want to get local why not involve the semifinalists/finalists of the champions of champions

 

[Jesus]

Maybe a timeline like

March: Winter season commences
April: First qualifying rounds between lowest-tier teams
May-June: Gradual knockout rounds
July: Initial qualifying rounds are complete to leave 8 non-HAL teams (increase this when HAL expands)
Aug: One week before A-League kicks off, the A-League teams play the smaller teams away.
- This gives the smaller teams a chance to catch the A-League teams underdone - more upsets
- This takes the A-League to regional locales to build support
- This spikes interest in the lead-up to the season opener
Late Sept: Quaterfinals
Nov: Semis
Boxing day: Final

Biggest downside being that the state league sides would have to play the latter rounds out of season. But let's face it, the one or two that get through will just have to do what the current A-League teams have had to do in preparing for ACL games - extend their season of training and play trials to stay fit. There will probably be some Youth League teams willing to play friendlies around September.

I like this timeline. Will showcase the a-league to more crowds, mainly advantaging a team like the bling, in terms of crowds for games. But will likely increase tv audiences for a-league games.

 

[Newieutd]

Agreed, follow the English model of qualifying rounds (there are 4) which are regional(ish) and based on the Pyramid.

With 8 HAL teams, you would be looking at a 1st round proper of (say) 16 teams being the HAL sides and 8 qualifiers.

If you had 4 qual rounds, you would have an initial entry of 128 sides which reduce  to 8 before playing the HAL sides.

Imagine Lowy FC having to go away to Marconi (at Parra say) and finding themselves out numbered in the stands and the whole "magic" of the cup thing happening.

As to timing, qualifying rounds during the winter and replace the PSC with the new comp.

Love it

Why 128 sides, why not all clubs?

 

[Paolo]

Forza Gosford City FC.....first ever FFA Cup winners

 

[skilbeck]

Agreed, follow the English model of qualifying rounds (there are 4) which are regional(ish) and based on the Pyramid.

With 8 HAL teams, you would be looking at a 1st round proper of (say) 16 teams being the HAL sides and 8 qualifiers.

If you had 4 qual rounds, you would have an initial entry of 128 sides which reduce  to 8 before playing the HAL sides.

Imagine Lowy FC having to go away to Marconi (at Parra say) and finding themselves out numbered in the stands and the whole "magic" of the cup thing happening.

As to timing, qualifying rounds during the winter and replace the PSC with the new comp.

Love it

Why 128 sides, why not all clubs?

how many clubs in australia? and what to do with territory clubs, just merge them with the closest state because I would imagine ACT being able to go it alone but NT struggling

 

[Omni]

Northern NSW, Capital Football & NT Football are all "state associations' in their own right, they deserve the rights of any other association.

 

[BrisRecky]

Northern NSW, Capital Football & NT Football are all "state associations' in their own right, they deserve the rights of any other association.

when the "cup" starts...watch out for those Nimbin headers from Northern NSW...they'll "smoke" their opponents