THE A-League will introduce a top-six finals format when it expands to
10 teams next season, with the grand final to be played a month later,
in late March.
The 27-round competition will kick-off in mid-August, with the pre-season series to remain.
Football Federation Australia head of corporate affairs Bonita Mersiades said the decision to go to a final six was made with a view to the competition expanding to 12 clubs.
North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United will join for the 2009-10 season, with second teams in Melbourne and Sydney likely to complete the 12-team vision after the 2010 World Cup.
The FFA hasn't decided on which six-team format to use, but the finals series is likely to still be played over four weekends.
The five games played each round of the regular season will be stand-alone fixtures, with Fox Sports to screen all matches live.
The A-League has been an eight-team competition with a final four since its inception.
Hard News2009-02-15 21:17:42The 27-round competition will kick-off in mid-August, with the pre-season series to remain.
Football Federation Australia head of corporate affairs Bonita Mersiades said the decision to go to a final six was made with a view to the competition expanding to 12 clubs.
North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United will join for the 2009-10 season, with second teams in Melbourne and Sydney likely to complete the 12-team vision after the 2010 World Cup.
The FFA hasn't decided on which six-team format to use, but the finals series is likely to still be played over four weekends.
The five games played each round of the regular season will be stand-alone fixtures, with Fox Sports to screen all matches live.
The A-League has been an eight-team competition with a final four since its inception.
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Yuss! that gives us quite a big chance!
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Rubbish. Top 10 should make it into the playoffs, that'd be a much better system.
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Yeah too many make the playoffs 
Thought with the new teams itd balance it out more...
Allegedly
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Wonder if a top 5 format would work?
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Yeah,is pretty wrong that you can finish in the bottom half of the table then end up winning the A league....
Allegedly
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This is huge news. If we don't make the playoffs now...
Should be 5 at the most.
Should be 5 at the most.
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Let ten in and call it the cup :l
***waits for HN telling us all how much Aussies like final football.***
***waits for HN telling us all how much Aussies like final football.***
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But they can still have finals football. Having over half the competition making the playoffs just isnt sensible.
Allegedly
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Yeah,is pretty wrong that you can finish in the bottom half of the table then end up winning the A league....exactly, thats f**ked up. Goald Coast recriuting, us not having Youth and Womens teams, and this, HAL 09/10 = Joke
You know we belong together...
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I think there should be 12 teams in the playoffs....I reckon all ten should make it, plus the top NZFC team and the fifth placed Asian country.
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When the league expands to a 12 team league i think the finals should be ditched all together and who ever is top of the standings should take the title. With 12 teams in the league each club would be playing 33 games plus the pre season tournament which is clearly a big enough season without playoffs on top. When you look around the world how many of the biggest leagues such as the English premier league, Spanish Primera, or Italian Serie A have playoffs, None. And with the a-league clearly trying to model itself on the powerhouses of world football such as england, italy and spain they must take the next step and remove the playoffs.
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With no relegation battles to keep people interested if a side romps to the league in half a season the crowds will collapse. On top of that Australian codes love finals fever, it gets big crowds, big TV audiences and introduces people to the league.
There is no chance at all that the A-League will abandon finals.
There is no chance at all that the A-League will abandon finals.
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Still, 6 teams in a 10 team League ?
A joke.
A joke.
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With no relegation battles to keep people interested if a side romps to the league in half a season the crowds will collapse. On top of that Australian codes love finals fever, it gets big crowds, big TV audiences and introduces people to the league.
There is no chance at all that the A-League will abandon finals.
There is no chance at all that the A-League will abandon finals.
You sound like a broken record. When will people learn.
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Yeah people forget that overseas there are incentives to keep competig until the end of the season. Relegation battle at the bottom,uefa cup for the middle,and champions league for the top,then the league title at the very top.
Lots to keep fans interested all season.
If there wasnt finals football in a 12 team competition without any of this...as you suggest....if you have a bad start and are last,you may as well give up on yor season 10 games in
Allegedly
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I always like the top 5 format from league many season ago. Six is just crazy. Should have started it this past season
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its so silly. A top 4 would still be very competitive.
its almost like as long as you play mediocre through the season then you can win the playoffs if you peak at the right time.
doesn't Rugby still have a top 4 with 14 teams???
I think a top 4 with 12 teams would still be good. Its a disgrace imo
its almost like as long as you play mediocre through the season then you can win the playoffs if you peak at the right time.
doesn't Rugby still have a top 4 with 14 teams???
I think a top 4 with 12 teams would still be good. Its a disgrace imo
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Stop ya moaning, gives us a bigger chance of getting finals football
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
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Stop ya moaning, gives us a bigger chance of getting finals football
Completely missed the point.
Three for me, and two for them.
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Stop ya moaning, gives us a bigger chance of getting finals football
Completely missed the point.
I know, but i am trying to find postives to it..
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
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Maybe they see it as the way to a proper cup??
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North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United will join for the 2009-10 season, with second teams in Melbourne and Sydney likely to complete the 12-team vision after the 2010 World Cup.
Biggest mistake they could make bringing in 2nd teams from Melbourne and Sydney.
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Once there are 12 teams they should have....
straight league, whoever finishes at top is league champs and to have a Cup on the side.
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straight league, whoever finishes at top is league champs and to have a Cup on the side.
Won't happen for a long, long time. If at all.
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Once there are 12 teams they should have....
straight league, whoever finishes at top is league champs and to have a Cup on the side.
You know we belong together...
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