Next Season Format

Archie Fraser relaesed some details into next season draw ... and they plan some HMMM interesting things ... I guess in the main to try to stay away from going head to head with the AFL & NRL...

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/sydney-primed-for-game-of-their-lives/story-e6frey4r-1225829334084

ON the eve of what he called "the biggest game of football in Australia", A-League chief Archie Fraser has revealed the competition will adopt a European-style schedule of midweek games next year.

With Melbourne travelling to Sydney for a season-defining clash on Sunday, Fraser said the A-League would have to adopt a radical model to cope with the rise in fixtures.

He said the competition would have to keep playing during next January's Asian Cup despite the possibility of widespread call-ups to the Socceroos.

Close to finalising next year's draw, Fraser said the start would be mid-August with a Grand Final in late March. But the real change will be up to five midweek games for each team to absorb the new Melbourne Heart.

One round was spread over five midweeks this season, but Fraser said there would be double-headers to cope with 30 games per team.

It will be a challenge for the teams. We try to manage their travel and manage their stay-overs, but at the end of the day that's what football players do.

"It means the clubs have to gear themselves up from a sports science point of view, to manage training loads, squad size and injury management. It's just another dynamic towards winning the league."

Fraser said an FA Cup competition was not possible. "We're keen to explore the possibilities, but while you're expanding that makes it difficult."

He added the A-League "couldn't sustain a suspension" during the Asian Cup tournament in January.