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[Our Game]

Any proof?

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

It looked about right on TV pretty pathetic really.
BTW I thought that WSW were supposed to sellout Spotless they are that popular.

 

[Colonial]

It looked about right on TV pretty pathetic really.
BTW I thought that WSW were supposed to sellout Spotless they are that popular.

They tell all they show up win lose or draw no matter what

We were told they were the real team for the heartland and nobody up here wanted us.

And yet our crowds are higher there.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

 

[BringBackTorps]

SEN Radio Melb. Lyon/Watson Program 20.3

Mike Sheehan said "The AFLW has been the BEST (my emphasis) initiative in football, including the (recent -my words) expansion of the AFL". Later, he said that" it has more closely connected 50% of the population (ie women -my words) to football".

G. Lyon said, re female player growth "There will be problems with ground availability, change rooms, finding places to play, it's a juggernaut".
T Watson said, re Lyon's above comment "The State govt. will have to resolve the grounds & facilities issues".

I can attest the issue of finding sufficient grounds for playing & training in Melb., & sufficient female toilets, is becoming an issue now. This could become a "hot" code war between the AFL, FFA, ARU, &NRL - & eventually Councils & State Govts & schools (with unused ovals). How are scarce physical facilities & govt. funding to be allocated, if community AF clubs advise they require more facilities to meet the burgeoning demand of female football?

( I could have placed these comments under the Women's Football tab -but female grassroots AF, & its explosive growth, has transcended the issue of female AF alone. Female AF is/will become an AFL STRATEGIC consideration, will assist AF expansion in NSW & Qld., & become a cause of conflict between the 3 other football codes -& female sports also).

The AFL is getting regular, increased(previously very rare) off-season, media attention for the AFLW in NSW & Qld. -including the anti AF Syd. based & centric ABC & S(occer)B(roadcasting)Service. Female grassroots nos. are also growing strongly there, especially Qld -invaluable for expanding AF in the north.
Many women, IMO, in the nthn. media regard the AFLW approvingly as a "feminist advance".

 

[The_Wookie]

Girls teams in Melbourne leagues according to the report

 

[Gigantor]

A-League crowds are looking pretty dire, and the footy season hasn't even started yet.

 

[The_Wookie]

SEN Radio Melb. Lyon/Watson Program 20.3

Mike Sheehan said "The AFLW has been the BEST (my emphasis) initiative in football, including the (recent -my words) expansion of the AFL". Later, he said that" it has more closely connected 50% of the population (ie women -my words) to football".

G. Lyon said, re female player growth "There will be problems with ground availability, change rooms, finding places to play, it's a juggernaut"
T Watson said, re Lyon's above comment "The State govt. will have to resolve the grounds & facilities issues".

I can attest the issue of finding sufficient grounds for playing & training in Melb., & sufficient female toilets, is becoming an issue now. This could become a "hot" code war between the AFL, FFA, ARU, &NRL- & eventually Councils & State Govts & schools (with unused ovals). How are scarce physical facilities & govt. funding to be allocated, if community AF clubs advise they require more facilities to meet the burgeoning demand of female football?

( I could have placed these comments under the Women's Football tab -but female grassroots AF, & its explosive growth, has transcended the issue of female AF. Female AF is/will become an AFL strategic consideration, will assist AF expansion in NSW & Qld., & become a cause of conflict between the codes).

This years participation figures - particularly club figures - are going to make for interesting reading across the board. I expect AFL funding for facilities will increase from the 3-4 million they spend annually on community facilities (not stadiums).

I dont see how the NRL can wait much longer before launching its own national comp after seeing the growth rates across the country for womens AFL either.

 

[Gigantor]

The key point about the AFL Women's and growth of female footy is not necessarily that we are going to grow the amount of public space made available to footy, but it pretty much guarantees we will never lose space from our current position - ever.

 

[manicmagpie]

So the AFL should pass the NRL's Round 1 total before the start of Friday night's game, the Rounds 1 & 2 total early Saturday evening and the Rounds 1, 2 & 3 total mid Sunday.

 

[thegreig]

Girls teams in Melbourne leagues according to the report

View attachment 347395

Where's EFL? I would have thought they would have quite a few teams

Edit: Just realised it's apart of the eastern region league

 

[BringBackTorps]

This years participation figures - particularly club figures - are going to make for interesting reading across the board. I expect AFL funding for facilities will increase from the 3-4 million they spend annually on community facilities (not stadiums).

I dont see how the NRL can wait much longer before launching its own national comp after seeing the growth rates across the country for womens AFL either.

The NRL has recently stated it wants a female national RL comp. c 2022. I doubt it will eventuate.

RL & RU tackling is far more fierce (ie it is legal to push in the back, around the neck/over shoulder, be lifted & crashed into the ground -not head first, regular gangtackling etc.) than AF. Also, in RU & RL tackling occurs far more regularly than AF; & in RU scrums/rolling mauls/ lifting in the lineout are very prevalent, thus also requiring significant strength. The weight of RU & RL players are well above the weight of players in other sports.
For RU & RL strength is a far more crucial component to be a good player -cf AF, where football skill (hand & foot) is the most important component.

I do not believe large numbers of females want to play a sport where physical strength is of paramount importance, to be competitive; nor do they wish to do the required onerous & lengthy weight programs; nor do most wish to develop large biceps; nor do they wish to bulk-up, & increase their weight.

It should be noted there are C. 200,000+ females playing non-contact rugby touch/tag, popular for decades -mainly in NSW & Qld. schools.
Why aren't these clamouring to play CONTACT RU & RL?

In the very small no. of female adult contact RU & RL teams, why are women of Islander background over represented (cf population)?

The ARU created the Pearls in 2013, a female RU 7's team to compete at international matches & the 2016 Olympics. My understanding is most of its recruits came from non rugby sports -why?
The Pearls won a gold medal, & received much pre & post Olympic publicity since 2013. Why aren't there massive nos. of females enrolling to play contact (at jnr. or snr. community level) RU & RL, despite the recent RU & RL female recruitment promotional activities?

Newcastle/Hunter is true RL heartland - &, until recently, very barren for AF.
Why have 12 women's AF teams been created there since 2015 ie why not play contact RL?


Is there any very popular female sport which requires its players to have considerable strength?

 

[The_Wookie]

So the AFL should pass the NRL's Round 1 total before the start of Friday night's game, the Rounds 1 & 2 total early Saturday evening and the Rounds 1, 2 & 3 total mid Sunday.

Well if the 400,000 the league is expecting turn up it should account for a good amount of round 4 as well

 

[The_Wookie]

The NRL has recently stated it wants a female national RL comp. c 2022. I doubt it will eventuate.

My point is that im not sure how they can sit back and watch the AFLW and its effect on grassroots and do nothing.

I do not believe large numbers of females want to play a sport where physical strength is of paramount importance, to be competitive; nor do they wish to do the required onerous & lengthy weight programs; nor do most wish to develop large biceps; nor do they wish to bulk-up, & increase their weight.

Im not entirely sure thats needed either. Women have managed to play full contact LFL in the states and even in Aus for some time now without bulking up. I now some girls who play union in Sa that arent overly bulky either.

The other thing about the LFL is that a lot of the women were playing it only because there was no other contact sport they were allowed to play.

 

[BringBackTorps]

My point is that im not sure how they can sit back and watch the AFLW and its effect on grassroots and do nothing.



Im not entirely sure thats needed either. Women have managed to play full contact LFL in the states and even in Aus for some time now without bulking up. I now some girls who play union in Sa that arent overly bulky either.

The other thing about the LFL is that a lot of the women were playing it only because there was no other contact sport they were allowed to play.

The USA has a pop.of c. 310,000,000+. I suspect the no. of women (obviously no juniors in this "artificial" sport) in the VERY well publicised LFL would be less than 500.
Male NFL players are massive, more bulked up than the average RL & RU player.
The absence of bulked-up LFL players reinforces my view that, whilst they obviously are very competitive & wish to win, they don't want bulked-up, heavy physiques -& the vast majority of women would have this attitude.

 

[The_Wookie]

Was busy on the weekend with work and sleep, so heres a big update lol.

AFL

• AFLW - Melbourne v Fremantle - 2,500 (est) at Casey Fields
  
• AFLW - GWS v bulldogs - 6,460 at Manuka Oval, Sat TV #AFLW 7mate #AFLWGiantsDogs 145k (99k Metro Regional 46k)
  
• AFLW - Collingwood v Adelaide - 2,500 at Olympic Park
  
• AFLW - Carlton v Brisbane - 5,801 at Ikon Park
  
• Sat STV #AFLW #FoxFooty #AFLWGiantsDogs 27k #AFLWDeesFreo 24k
• Sun STV #AFLW #FoxFooty #AFLWPiesCrows 64k #AFLWBluesLions 54k
• AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has quashed speculation that the Grand Final could shift to a Sunday. “I can say definitely that it won’t be Sunday, and it’s ridiculous,” he told SEN Breakfast.
  
• FIVE days out from the AFL Women’s Grand Final, the history-making match is without a ground. Although a decision is expected Monday. Difficulties with Queensland Cricket - which has laid the blame for the delay at the feet pop of diva Adele and her fans - have led to a delay.
  
• SA's Leigh Whicker wants the AFL Commission — that has not had an SA-based voice since Bob Hammond’s retirement in 2012 — to have state representatives, in particular one from Adelaide.
  
• Prices for standard food and drink items will be the same or lower compared with last year but Domain Stadium remains one of the most expensive in the AFL. A Western Sydney University study found last year that Domain Stadium sold the most expensive beer of 21 Australian sporting venues surveyed. This year a 425ml cup of Carlton Mid will set you back $8.50. Bundle your beer with a hot dog and you will be $15 out of pocket. The price of Cornetto ice creams has fallen from $5.50 to $5. Magnum ice-creams are also 50c cheaper at $5.50.
  
• Domain Stadium management will bid for the rights to host the International Rules series in November in an attempt to send the historic venue out on a high.
• Snapchat owner Snap Inc has signed a multi-year deal with the Australian Football League to produce "Our Stories" throughout for the competition and teams across the season. The crux of the deal is understood to be based on advertising revenue share. In it, Snapchat Our Stories will be put together by Snap, stitching together fan, athlete and league messages into one video. Each home stadium will also have geofilters.
  
• AFL team Greater Western Sydney Giants has extended its ‘There’s a Giant in all of us’ brand push to the AFLW, creating two new female-lead GWS content pieces.
  
• AFL clubs will enter the season with an equal salary cap for the first time in the history of the national competition after the extra salary cap space handed to Greater Western Sydney was wound back two years early.
  
• THE AFL is expecting fans to smash the single-round attendance record when the season explodes into life next week. League chiefs are predicting up to 400,000 people will pour through the turnstiles from Thursday night, blowing the old record — 371,212 in Round 15, 2013 — out of the water.
  
• The AFL today announced Musson Jewellers will produce 23 custom-made Premiership Rings for the @aflwomens winning team and coach. #aflwomens
  
• ETIHAD Stadium management is confident the turf will be up to AFL standard in time for round one, despite back-to-back concerts being held at the venue in the last fortnight.

A-league

• HAL - Melb City v Newcastle - 8,949 at Aami Park, Sat STV #ALeague #FoxSports #MCYvNEW 45k
  
• HAL - Adelaide v Brisbane - 7,197 at Coopers Stadium, Sat STV 54,000
  
• HAL - Western Sydney v Wellington - 7,828 at Spotless Stadium - no STV figures yet.
  
• Plans for second division must be first class or risk failing admit Association of Australian Football Clubs
  
• FIFA's Member Associations department is ramping up support for a large restructure of Australian football's governance as Football Federation Australia comes under increasing pressure to relinquish control.
• Many questions remain to be answered as A-League and NPL clubs seek FFA deal.
  
• FourFourTwo understands the Sydney Amateur Football League (SAFL), which has been running for 70 years, is expected to shut down. The SAFL is one of the 18 associations under Football NSW’s control.

NRL

• NRL - Melb v Bris - 16,634 at Aami Park, Thu STV #NRL #FoxSports #NRLStormBroncos 263k, Thu TV #NRL Nine/9Gem 904k Metro 554k (Syd 252k Bri 238k Mel 50k Ade 8k Per 5k) Regional 350k (Qld 149k Northern NSW 98k Southern NSW 84k)
  
• NRL - Canterbury v NZ - 10,238 at Forsyth Barr, Fri STV #NRL #FoxSports #NRLBulldogsWarriors 156k
  
• NRL - Gold Coast v Parramatta - 11,612 at Cbus Super Stadium, Fri STV #NRL #FoxSports #NRLTitansEels 216k, Fri TV #NRL Nine/9Gem #NRLTitansEels 678k Metro 412k (Syd 205k Bri 160k) Regional 266k
  
• NRL - Newcastle v Souths - 15,212 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Sat STV #NRL #FoxLeague #NRLKnightsSouths 231k
  
• NRL - Penrith v Sydney - 11,044 at Pepper Stadium, Sat STV #NRL #FoxLeague #NRLPanthersRoosters 255k
  
• NRL - Nth Qld v Manly - 14,763 at 1300 Smiles Stadium, Sat STV #NRL #FoxLeague #NRLCowboysManly 226k
  
• NRL - Canberra v Wests - 14,628 at GIO Stadium, Sun STV #NRL #FoxLeague #NRLRaidersTigers 210k
  
• NRL - Cronulla v St George - 14,247 at Southern Cross Stadium, Sun STV #NRL #FoxLeague #NRLSharksDragons 259k, Sun TV #NRL Nine/9Gem #NRLRaidersTigers 540k (Metro 305k Regional 235k)
  
• Fox League was the dominant STV Channel this week, returning to number 1, with 7 of the top 10 sports broadcasts (the other 3 were cricket)
  
• Friday night’s trip to Queensland for the Parramatta Eels to take on the Gold Coast Titans failed to be a major attraction for Nine’s Sydney and Brisbane viewers on Friday night, with the NRL game failing to draw as big an audience as Seven News or Nine News in the two cities.
• Penn family doesn't have numbers to oust Manly Sea Eagles chief executive Tim Cleary
  
• National Rugby League (NRL) team Sydney Roosters have renewed their longstanding partnership with poultry brand Steggles. The extended four-season deal will take the Roosters' association with the brand to 12 consecutive seasons. Steggles will continue to be the team's matchday and training shirt sponsor. In addition, the organisations will continue to work together on the Steggles Charity Nest, an initiative that has raised over AUD $2.5million (US$1.9 million) to support a range of children's charities.

Super-Rugby

• Fri STV #SuperRugby #FoxSports #CRUvBLU 28k
• Fri STV #SuperRugby #FoxSports #REBvCHI 53k
• Sat STV #SuperRugby #FoxSports #WARvBRU 67k
• Sat STV #SuperRugby #FoxSports #HURvHIG 42k
• Eastwood Rugby's sale of TG Millner Field very sad, but necessary for club's survival
  
• Super Rugby, where impenetrable logic meets immovable Force
  
• AN estimated 60 Australian players are stuck in contract limbo by the drawn-out Super Rugby saga and it’s feared one-third could go overseas or be left in professional purgatory due to the uncertainty.

General

• Sat TV #EPL #SBS West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal 85k (Metro 61k Regional 24k)
• Sat TV #SuncorpSuperNetball #Nine Game 11 Metro 84k Regional 46k
• Just how much trouble is Ten in? (Answer: A lot more than you probably realise)
  
• New sports media brand 20Four is to launch next month giving fans behind-the-scenes looks into the lives of sporting stars.

 

[The_Wookie]

The USA has a pop.of c. 310,000,000+. I suspect the no. of women (obviously no juniors in this "artificial" sport) in the VERY well publicised LFL would be less than 500.
Male NFL players are massive, more bulked up than the average RL & RU player.
The absence of bulked-up LFL players reinforces my view that, whilst they obviously are very competitive & wish to win, they don't want bulked-up, heavy physiques -& the vast majority of women would have this attitude.

That doesnt mean they wont play league or union if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[wagstaff]

• Just how much trouble is Ten in? (Answer: A lot more than you probably realise)

A bit off-topic, but I think FTA TV in general is in big trouble in Oz and has been largely overlooked. You only have to look at TV Tonight’s ratings archives to see how much viewership has dropped off in the past few years. Especially on Friday and Saturday where apart from one or two shows virtually nothing rates what would’ve been considered adequate a few years ago.

Be interesting to see what Channel 10’s troubles (and possible takeover by News Ltd) means for the BBL.

 

[The_Wookie]

AFL Womens


Full Season Ratings to date here.

A-league

Full Season Ratings are here.

AFC Champions League


Super Netball
Full season ratings here.

NRL
Full season ratings here.

Super Rugby
Full season ratings here.

EPL

 

[Go GWS!]

Have had a look and found rugby league female participation numbers.

Queensland Rugby League (from QRL annual reports)
2016 - ???? juniors + 3832 seniors
2015 - 2787 juniors + 3182 seniors
2014 - 3821 (total)
2013 - 2341 (total)
2012 - 1904 (total)

NSWRL (from NSWRL annual reports)
2016 - 1600 (metro NSW) + ???? (regional NSW)
2015 - 1295 (metro NSW) + 5500 (regional NSW)
2014 - 850 (metro NSW) + 4294 (regional NSW)

Clearly a much lower base than the AFL.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Have had a look and found rugby league female participation numbers.

Queensland Rugby League (from QRL annual reports)
2016 - ???? juniors + 3832 seniors
2015 - 2787 juniors + 3182 seniors
2014 - 3821 (total)
2013 - 2341 (total)
2012 - 1904 (total)

NSWRL (from NSWRL annual reports)
2016 - 1600 (metro NSW) + ???? (regional NSW)
2015 - 1295 (metro NSW) + 5500 (regional NSW)
2014 - 850 (metro NSW) + 4294 (regional NSW)

Clearly a much lower base than the AFL.

The NRL have considerable work to do, if they are to achieve their aim of a national NRL women's RL comp. by 2022. I doubt their ambition will succeed for a long time. Women's contact RL has been played since 1993.
The ARU is well behind in women's 15 rugby, has very few teams, & the Aust. valiant Wallaroos team is regularly thrashed by NZ.
The ARU are successfully promoting women's 7's RU, following the success of the Pearls winning the Olympic Gold medal.

On the NSW Women's RL website, I noted c. 17 women's RL contact teams -mainly in Syd, a few in Newcastle & Wollongong.
There are only 2 small girls'comps -throughout all of NSW & the ACT, there are about 20 Jnr RL clubs offering RL for girls.

Some female RL contact teams in NSW & Qld. play with less than 13 per side -as low as 9 per side.
C. 1200 players in NSW?

SE Qld. has c.18 women's contact RL teams. The women have defeated NSW RL team for the last 16 years in a row.
Qld. women RL players, who are probably outnumbered by SE Qld. RL men by 10x, are apparently quite willing!
http://www.couriermail.com.au/quest...s/news-story/8a694d2e568d5f2a3f95d7d98a3124de

I doubt all the NSW & Qld. Club RL young girls are playing full contact RL.

RL contact female nos. in NSW & Qld. comps. are inferior to female AF nos. in NSW & Qld. comps.(but female Touch/Tag Rugby far greater than AF). When the 2022 national women's RL comp. was announced in late 2016, there was much commentary that female contact RL was far behind females playing comp. AF now.

Also, your NSW figures for 2014 & 2015 are odd- regional nos. far out weigh metro (Syd), although Syd. has the majority of the pop.

 

[BringBackTorps]

AFL Womens


Full Season Ratings to date here.

A-league

Full Season Ratings are here.

AFC Champions League


Super Netball
Full season ratings here.

NRL
Full season ratings here.

Super Rugby

Full season ratings here.

EPL

RU is really struggling - low crowds, down a massive 24%; ratings very low, & softer about 6%.

IN 2016, official ARU stats. showed RU contact regd. nos. fell about 7.5% in Aust.(but good increases in non-contact RU versions; one-off RU "experiences" -eg Gala Days; female RU & popular RU 7's).

My understanding 2017 Syd. RU contact regd. numbers are continuing the long term trend, falling much worse than 7.5%.

 

[The_Wookie]

Tuesday News Headlines – March 22nd, 2017

Posted By: The_Wookie March 22, 2017

AFL

• Mon STV – AFL 360 70,000, On the Couch 49,000
• McLachlan ignored the prospect of a bigger crowd in Adelaide to ensure the AFLW does not start with the integrity issues that dogged AFL finals in the 1990s.
• AFLW grand final causes headaches as it moves to Metricon Stadium
• INCOMPETENCE or conspiracy was to blame for the Gabba turf not being ready to host Saturday’s AFL Women’s grand final, a furious AFL chief Gillon McLachlan declared on Monday.
• No tickets for AFLW grand final means free public transport for all on Saturday in SEQ
• Adelaide Crows top 68,000 members on back of women’s AFL success and big Oval crowds
• AFL grand final ticket amendment bill to be introduced by Victorian Greens
• The Sydney Swans are proud to announce they’ve joined forces with Equifax, a global leader in data and analytics.

A-league

• Australia’s second-tier soccer clubs will continue their push for a national second division, but are prepared to work with Football Federation Australia on its creation.
• B-League could create promotion and relegation system

NRL

• Weekend US TV Ratings – Raiders v Tigers (FS2 – 1am) – 28,000
• Weekend US TV Ratings – Bulldogs v Warriors (FS2 – 3am) – 2,000
• Monday STV – Matty Johns 71,000, NRL 360 64,000
• Newcastle Knights have agreed a one-year sponsorship agreement with wagering firm Ladbrokes. The bookmaker’s branding will be visible on the lower back position on the club’s jersey for the remainder of the 2017 season, as well as the goalpost and corner-post pads at the club’s home games
• Australian Solar Designs will be on the front of the Cronulla women’s jersey this season and owner-director Scott Mason said he considered partnering with the men’s team, but knew his investment would have greater appreciation and value with the female side.

Super Rugby

• First ACT Brumbies coach Rod Macqueen hopes Canberra has a Super Rugby future

General

• Study: Aussies Are Playing Less Team Sport, While Soccer’s Participation Soars (Source study below)
• Just one in five Australians now regularly play competitive sports, down from 27 percent in 2001, the latest sports participation data from Roy Morgan Research shows.
• 2017 Rugby League World Cup organisers have signed wine brand Wolf Blass as an official sponsor

 

[Freomaniac]

A-League crowds are looking pretty dire, and the footy season hasn't even started yet.

finals series will be interesting though.

Hoping if Sydney FC do get the hosting rights to the grand final, it gets played at ANZ.

 

[WagonBang]

finals series will be interesting though.

Hoping if Sydney FC do get the hosting rights to the grand final, it gets played at ANZ.

This is the first season that's pretty much been over months in advance. Previous seasons it's come down to the last couple weeks.

WSW fans aren't turning up to Spotless. Don't blame them. Awful to watch the round ball code and woeful record there. If they can keep there 19k members next season that is a massive positive and proves people are waiting for the new Paramatta Stadium.

In the final series we have the potential for a Sydney Derby Semi Final and Melbourne Derby Grand Final or a Victory v Sydney Grand Final.

FIFA trying to break down the dictatorship that is the FFA meaning they've put $0 into the league second half of the season as all focus is on pleasing FIFA. An independent A-League couldn't come faster with links to the NPL then the league can finally get moving again.

It's an embarrassment that there is no FIFA international break this weekend. Victory will be playing there youth team they are that depleted. Straight after the farsical split round that's just happened. $30 to watch teenagers run around isn't a good look for the game.

 

[Our Game]

I think the competition from the AFL,NRL, and RU will hurt the A League Finals this year
All the sports in Melbourne have the F1 GP to contend with this weekend as well

 

[BobbyMorri]

This is the first season that's pretty much been over months in advance. Previous seasons it's come down to the last couple weeks.

WSW fans aren't turning up to Spotless. Don't blame them. Awful to watch the round ball code and woeful record there. If they can keep there 19k members next season that is a massive positive and proves people are waiting for the new Paramatta Stadium.

In the final series we have the potential for a Sydney Derby Semi Final and Melbourne Derby Grand Final or a Victory v Sydney Grand Final.

FIFA trying to break down the dictatorship that is the FFA meaning they've put $0 into the league second half of the season as all focus is on pleasing FIFA. An independent A-League couldn't come faster with links to the NPL then the league can finally get moving again.

It's an embarrassment that there is no FIFA international break this weekend. Victory will be playing there youth team they are that depleted. Straight after the farsical split round that's just happened. $30 to watch teenagers run around isn't a good look for the game.

Why did they have a split round? and even when they did, they still gave the WSW a sunday twilight game? it makes no sense.

cant wait for the FFA to lose control. i just hope they dont hinder the FFA Cup as retribution to the NPL clubs. That is the only good thing they have done in recent memory.

I think the competition from the AFL,NRL, and RU will hurt the A League Finals this year
All the sports in Melbourne have the F1 GP to contend with this weekend as well

That is the same as every year though. the only thing which has changed is the in-fighting at the top of the game.