The A-League Expansion Thread

[peternorth]

Go the As!

 

[GreekLunatic]

Get ready for Geelong to take over the license in 2 years

 

[Silent Alarm]

So apparently they’re actually called Western United. Oh yeh ok.


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[tryitout]

Western United?

Way to be original guys.

 

[Blackout]

Western United?

Way to be original guys.

It is an inspiringly generic name - only the A-League can consistently underwhelm.

 

[Bobby P]

Wow Western United.... soooooooooooooo bad. Haha. Plus take Canberra's green colours. Kicking goals already "Western United".

 

[giggler99]

Western United: New Melbourne A-League side to confirm name, colours

The A-League's 11th club is set to confirm its name and colours, with the Western Melbourne Group's winning bid likely to enter next season's competition as Western United Football Club, wearing a green and black playing strip.
The first components of the team's new identity were shaped by the public – the Western United name and the colour combination emerging as the most popular from online polls run on the club's website and on another by News Corporation. The new club will call Geelong's Kardinia Park home for at least its first two seasons before relocating to a purpose-built football stadium in Tarneit, in Melbourne's west.
New identity: West Melbourne representatives Steve Horvat and Kate Roffey.Credit:Eddie Jim
Due to its catchment area, the club specifically chose to omit the word "Melbourne" in its name to disassociate itself from the city's CBD, soon to be rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, as well aligning the club closer with the vast region between Geelong and Westgate bridge.
Among the other options put forward to fans were online were the names: Western Melbourne Athletic, Westside Pride and Western Melbourne Warriors. The other colours to choose from were a mainly black shirt with teal trimming, a yellow and red jersey, as well as a green shirt with white sleeves. There was also a green and red shirt as well as an all-white strip with a green stripe.
Striking: Celtic used a green and black strip during their Champions League campaign in 2006.Credit:Twitter
Green was overwhelmingly the most popular option by fans. FFA sources suggest their preference was not for the team to use a plain green kit due to a potential clash with digital sponsorship on broadcasts, and preferred either a predominantly white or black kit.
The final jersey design is yet to be finalised but it's likely Western United will wear a green and black striped jersey in their inaugural year and a white away strip.
Mark Rudan is favoured to be appointed the team's first head coach of a club that has already announced its first two players, Socceroo Josh Risdon and Greek international Panagiotis Kone.
The 26-year-old Risdon signed a two-year deal following last week's announcement that Greek international Kone would be the club's first marquee player.
"I'm absolutely stoked to be the first Australian player to join Western Melbourne. With the signing of Panagiotis as the marquee, I can see the club has big ambitions both on the park and off it," Risdon said via a statement on Tuesday.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...-to-confirm-name-colours-20190212-p50xcb.html

 

[tryitout]

I really hope they go for something a bit more like this than the Schalke (top) kit.

 

[Bobby P]

The top kit looks good. Hopefully it leaves to door for Canberra to go all white with perhaps blue and gold trim.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Get ready for Geelong to take over the license in 2 years

The City of Greater Geelong?

 

[GreekLunatic]

The City of Greater Geelong?

Maybe of just Geelong it’s self

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Maybe of just Geelong it’s self

The AFL club?

 

[GreekLunatic]

The AFL club?

Nah the former mayor Lyons

 

[tryitout]

You just know they'd call it Greater Southern Melbourne United or Geelong Dogs FC

 

[Walshawk]

Any news here since the original owners pulled out in Feb? Reckon this will be a disaster unless they base themselves in Geelong.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Geelong Millers incoming.

 

[General Giant]

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[arkie]

I want to get into the A-League this upcoming season. I'm originally from Altona but now I don't know which club to align myself with. Altona is only 13km from the CBD, it seems like a Tarneit based team called Western United is a far cry from representing the inner west right? Think I should just stick with Victory.

 

[giggler99]

I want to get into the A-League this upcoming season. I'm originally from Altona but now I don't know which club to align myself with. Altona is only 13km from the CBD, it seems like a Tarneit based team called Western United is a far cry from representing the inner west right? Think I should just stick with Victory.

Well that depends, are you willing to travel to Geelong and Ballarat to watch a team representing the West of Melbourne? or travel only to the inner City to watch a team represent all of Melbourne?

 

[Andonis1997]

I want to get into the A-League this upcoming season. I'm originally from Altona but now I don't know which club to align myself with. Altona is only 13km from the CBD, it seems like a Tarneit based team called Western United is a far cry from representing the inner west right? Think I should just stick with Victory.

Do what I did and give up any geographical allegiances.

But in all seriousness you can't go wrong with the Victory. They're ambitious, have a fanbase and are always competitive. Western *cringe* isn't based in Tarneit just yet, they're playing home games in 4 stadiums including Tassie so they're all over the place until their stadium gets built.

 

[craigos]

If the TV rights end up changing a little over the coming months, I can see this being more and more likely. From what I understand, Foxtel were staunchly against a Tasmanian team. Also be interesting to know what the team owners would prefer. Guaranteed now they have more of a say that Sydney and Melbourne teams wont want any more competition.

Adelaide - Another Adelaide team (possible)
Brisbane - Another Brisbane team (possible)
Central Coast - No new team from NSW
Newscastle - No new team from NSW
Sydney FC - No new team from NSW
WSW - No new team from NSW
Macarthur - No new team from NSW
Perth - Closest location possible?
Victory - No new Vic team
Mel City - No new Vic team
Western U - No new Vic team
Phoenix - Another NZ team (no chance)


So for me, the owners would be preferring these:

Brisbane City FC
Wollongong Wolves
Canberra
Tasmania
Gold Coast
Ipshwich
South East Melbourne (Team 11)
South Melbourne
West Adelaide

Did this off the top of my head so apologies if I missed some expansion teams. What weight the present A League will give to the TV rights and what weight they'll give to generating their own revenues outside of TV will be interesting.

For example, a hell of a lot of Tasmanians travel (and move) to Melbourne so they may weigh a Tassie team higher due to visitor numbers (away fans). They may also feel that they can generate travel packages for Victory/City/United to do away trips to Tassie. Then again you can do this for every destination but a road trip to Tasmania is one a lot of fans really want to do.

 

[giggler99]

If the TV rights end up changing a little over the coming months, I can see this being more and more likely. From what I understand, Foxtel were staunchly against a Tasmanian team. Also be interesting to know what the team owners would prefer. Guaranteed now they have more of a say that Sydney and Melbourne teams wont want any more competition.

Adelaide - Another Adelaide team (possible)
Brisbane - Another Brisbane team (possible)
Central Coast - No new team from NSW
Newscastle - No new team from NSW
Sydney FC - No new team from NSW
WSW - No new team from NSW
Macarthur - No new team from NSW
Perth - Closest location possible?
Victory - No new Vic team
Mel City - No new Vic team
Western U - No new Vic team
Phoenix - Another NZ team (no chance)


So for me, the owners would be preferring these:

Brisbane City FC
Wollongong Wolves
Canberra
Tasmania
Gold Coast
Ipshwich
South East Melbourne (Team 11)
South Melbourne
West Adelaide

Did this off the top of my head so apologies if I missed some expansion teams. What weight the present A League will give to the TV rights and what weight they'll give to generating their own revenues outside of TV will be interesting.

For example, a hell of a lot of Tasmanians travel (and move) to Melbourne so they may weigh a Tassie team higher due to visitor numbers (away fans). They may also feel that they can generate travel packages for Victory/City/United to do away trips to Tassie. Then again you can do this for every destination but a road trip to Tasmania is one a lot of fans really want to do.

Second Brisbane team thats a Nah nah for me, I would prefer to go back to North Queensland, Canberra is a no brain will happen (eventually) Tassie 50/50 depends really are the locals desperate enough for an A-League team like they are desperate to have an AFL team?

 

[Gigantor]

Couldn't we be plucking the next expansion teams from the new 2nd division?

 

[giggler99]

Couldn't we be plucking the next expansion teams from the new 2nd division?

Second division I feel is still a good 5 to 10 years away, If the new independent league is serious they'll be already preparing for the next stage of expansion.

 

[craigos]

Our first division is in tatters, the discussion about a second division is way too soon imo. Give this independent league a good 5 years to hopefully re-establish itself and see where we are at. If teams in a "locked" league can't survive financially, then teams in a fluid league are going to be even less financially secure.

A proper youth academy league is what I want to see first. If I was to structure it, it would look something like the TAC Cup in AFL. You'd have academy teams that could be linked to either A League clubs (if they have the facilities) or state bodies. Have a 16 week league (or so) culminating in "championships" with the different areas.

All states represented, can have a Division 1 (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide etc) and then a Division 2 (Tas, ACT, NT, WA). I really think we need a big spectacle for the youth players and not just 8 teams for players to make a squad in. If there is one thing I have learnt in my years it's that the best 16 year old is rarely the best 17/18/19 year old. An average 16 year old kid can really come along in three years but opportunities don't exist for that any more