Since WP can sign Kiwi and Aussie players visa free, but Australian clubs can only sign Aussies visa free, do Aussies feel disadvantaged?
THE FANS DON'T
Do they see that as a good thing in that less Kiwis take up spots, leaving more slots for Aussies?
THE FANS DO
Or do they see it as a handicap in that some of the top end Kiwis would be a better option than mid or bottom end Aussies, but not as good as Visa players they might get from elsewhere?
THE FANS DON'T
In other words, is the average Aussie, or average Aussie A-League club, more concerned about local player development and opportunity, or more concerned about how well they do in the league? Or how well the league is from a football quality -and hence investment opportunity- perspective
THE FANS ARE
Fundamentally, would the Independant A-League want to change the rules on that in the interest of growing the league across both Aus and NZ? because lets face it, without 3 or 4 teams from NZ having a seconfpd div is going to spread the talent pool very thin, with corresponding drop in quality.
THE FEDERATIONs DON'T WANT KIWI's on non visa
Interesting the final point as early on in the A League kiwis were treated as local players. They should be again as I really don’t see enough talent in Aus for the planned expansion unless teams from CHC and AKL are included over sides from Aus.
While the A-League has 5 import slots, the ACL has 3+1 (the one being an import from an Asian country). Even if Kiwis didn't count as import for A-League purposes, they would for ACL purposes and you end up having to leave 2 players out of ACL squads instead of 1, which they'll never go for - requires greater squad depth etc.
The chat about how to get around AFC stuff and mergers has been done to death, but I think we'll need something along those lines before we see Kiwis as non-imports again.