2024 Australia Cup Rnd of 32 vs South Melbourne | 6th August | 9:30pm | Football Australia YouTube

 Live draw at 9pm tonight https://www.youtube.com/live/qBv_O8uhfLw

No Auckland FC in the draw?

santy

No Auckland FC in the draw?

Nope, they weren't announced in time to be included. 

RR

Wellington Phoenix will travel to play NPL Victoria leaders South Melbourne in the Australia Cup round of 32. pic.twitter.com/OsaSduzDSx

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) June 19, 2024

Good grief, our first match of the season is six-eight weeks away!

Outside of A-League opposition, you probably couldn't get a tougher opponent to be fair.

Is it home and away? I'll be flying back from Europe on July 30th..
What's happening on August 5th?
Or is that a date range?

newzealandpower

Is it home and away? I'll be flying back from Europe on July 30th..
What's happening on August 5th?
Or is that a date range?

Nah it's just 1 away leg - Phoenix don't get home matches in the Australia Cup

The date range is just that matches will take place over those couple of weeks - probably to fit around NPL schedules etc, but they are all single elimination matches

YoungHeartHM

RR

Wellington Phoenix will travel to play NPL Victoria leaders South Melbourne in the Australia Cup round of 32. pic.twitter.com/OsaSduzDSx

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) June 19, 2024

Good grief, our first match of the season is six-eight weeks away!

Outside of A-League opposition, you probably couldn't get a tougher opponent to be fair.

Yeah. Would love to be wrong, but this reeks of a loss. Will be a pretty understrength squad regardless due to the Olympics + maybe a few more signings freshly announced or not even signed yet. Supyk and Gillion are gonna get kicked to shark by 11 Tomi Uskok-types for 90 minutes, broadcast on a 480p stream. Get excited everyone

newzealandpower

Is it home and away? I'll be flying back from Europe on July 30th..
What's happening on August 5th?
Or is that a date range?

It is 1 game away in Melbourne. The date range for the Round of 32 games to be played is between 30th July - 11th August. A-League teams will normally be near the end of that bracket.

Given its a big NPL team, with a huge cupset chance. We might be the featured game midweek.

RR

santy

No Auckland FC in the draw?

Nope, they weren't announced in time to be included. 

Hadn't thought of this till now but I guess if Nix drew Auckland in the cup it would be allowed to be played in NZ - that's now the dream draw/dream final? 

South Melbourne ... ouch.

Now that there is two New Zealand clubs, is it beyond the realms of the powers that be there might be a NZ playoff between Wellington + Auckland to confirm entry into the cup?

Make it a two legged home and away playoff and I think I'd quite like that idea. I know the Aussies would too, given as from 25/26 two New Zealand sides can now theoretically qualify for the last 32 of their domestic cup competition - Cue the Aussie sokkah outrage at such a prospect.

Only downside would be that the playoff matches would happen so early on in the pre-season scheme of things that it would render the loser a bit out in the cold in terms of meaningful matches in the run into the season proper.

YoungHeartHM

Now that there is two New Zealand clubs, is it beyond the realms of the powers that be there might be a NZ playoff between Wellington + Auckland to confirm entry into the cup?

Make it a two legged home and away playoff and I think I'd quite like that idea. I know the Aussies would too, given as from 25/26 two New Zealand sides can now theoretically qualify for the last 32 of their domestic cup competition - Cue the Aussie sokkah outrage at such a prospect.

Only downside would be that the playoff matches would happen so early on in the pre-season scheme of things that it would render the loser a bit out in the cold in terms of meaningful matches in the run into the season proper.

There's every chance we go out in round one in any given year, so I'm not sure it's that much more out in the cold than usual. I'm also not sure that a competitive game months out from the start of the season is hugely useful. Fun, and certainly not harmful, but not the first thing the coach circles on his preseason calendar. 

YoungHeartHM

Now that there is two New Zealand clubs, is it beyond the realms of the powers that be there might be a NZ playoff between Wellington + Auckland to confirm entry into the cup?

Make it a two legged home and away playoff and I think I'd quite like that idea. I know the Aussies would too, given as from 25/26 two New Zealand sides can now theoretically qualify for the last 32 of their domestic cup competition - Cue the Aussie sokkah outrage at such a prospect.

Only downside would be that the playoff matches would happen so early on in the pre-season scheme of things that it would render the loser a bit out in the cold in terms of meaningful matches in the run into the season proper.

I kinda like the idea, but I'd also be annoyed if the Nix finished top 8 in the league and AFC outside the top 8 and we still had to play qualifying matches

Where's that Hellas_Johnny guy that lurks around these forums? I bet he'd be pretty happy with this result haha.

The Oceania team in the A-League Vs the Oceania Team of the Century. Looking forward to it.

Yeah, the two NZ teams having to play off for one spot makes the whole point of fninishing top six redundant for us and AFC. It should stay as it is, let both us and aFC be involved in whatever stage we qualify for and be done with it. I'm sure any of the non a-league teams would be happy to have us or AFC playing at there home.

How soon do you reckon we will get the date set?

Half a Pint

How soon do you reckon we will get the date set?

Think it took about a week last season

Australian teams don't have to play off, Auckland isn't special and it doesn't diminish us. The idea of a play off is ridiculous, the rules should be the same for all clubs

Ryan

Australian teams don't have to play off, Auckland isn't special and it doesn't diminish us. The idea of a party of is ridiculous, the rules should be the same for all clubs

I mean they kind of do, but I see what you mean.

Idea not for everyone. But it was merely a suggestion.

YoungHeartHM

Ryan

Australian teams don't have to play off, Auckland isn't special and it doesn't diminish us. The idea of a party of is ridiculous, the rules should be the same for all clubs

I mean they kind of do, but I see what you mean.

Idea not for everyone. But it was merely a suggestion.

they do in the same way that we do is we don't get automatic qualification

Half a Pint

How soon do you reckon we will get the date set?

We will be back end of the window, so expect 10/11 August. 
We have quite a few 1st team squad likely to be in France at least until 31 July. If by some fortune we make it through to the Olympic final we’d be fielding a somewhat under strength side in Melbourne.

Ryan

Australian teams don't have to play off, Auckland isn't special and it doesn't diminish us. The idea of a party of is ridiculous, the rules should be the same for all clubs

Agree, sharke idea imo. 

ClubOranje

Half a Pint

How soon do you reckon we will get the date set?

We will be back end of the window, so expect 10/11 August. 
We have quite a few 1st team squad likely to be in France at least until 31 July. If by some fortune we make it through to the Olympic final we’d be fielding a somewhat under strength side in Melbourne.

The Olympics squad members - likely Payne, Sutton, LK-H, Conchie, OVH, Old, Surman - will have also had basically no off season break. You can't really expect them to just keep playing right through to October without say a 1 month spell, at some point. They might want to do a bit of European sightseeing, watch some other Olympic sports etc. Moot for Old & Surman anyways if they are leaving the Nix

Say yeah I'd expect a very weakened squad for this South Melbourne game, even if it is as late in the window as August 10th/11th. As always be a bugger to get knocked out of the Australia Cup early, as nothing beats competitive games in pre season. But there is a new ALM team up SH1 that would probably be happy to play couple of friendlies before the new season starts.

See how many of the reserves boys fancy a trip over the Tasman I suppose! Would be very surprised if any of the guys involved with the Olympics played a part. Team could maybe look something like this
Duncan
Sheridan
Wootton
Hughes
Academy LB?
Al-Taay
Rufer
Gillion
Ball
GSR
Kosta

Unless I'm forgetting someone major. The bench make-up may be extremely weak.

Would hopefully be able to add an import signing or two to the list

SamCoughlan

See how many of the reserves boys fancy a trip over the Tasman I suppose! Would be very surprised if any of the guys involved with the Olympics played a part. Team could maybe look something like this
Duncan
Sheridan
Wootton
Hughes
Academy LB?
Al-Taay
Rufer
Gillion
Ball
GSR
Kosta

Unless I'm forgetting someone major. The bench make-up may be extremely weak.

Kraev? Any news about him?

Nelfoos

Would hopefully be able to add an import signing or two to the list

I'd be surprised if we get imports over the line by August, let alone having them in training for long enough to be able to start.

Hopefully Kraev stays (I knew I forgot someone).

With these dates for this game, the preseason seem very short this year given our deep run into the playoffs.

Speaking of which, do we know when pre season training starts for those not Olympic bound??

SamCoughlan

See how many of the reserves boys fancy a trip over the Tasman I suppose! Would be very surprised if any of the guys involved with the Olympics played a part. Team could maybe look something like this
Duncan
Sheridan
Wootton
Hughes
Academy LB?
Al-Taay
Rufer
Gillion
Ball
GSR
Kosta

Unless I'm forgetting someone major. The bench make-up may be extremely weak.

Duncan hasn’t re-signed yet

Walsall Boy

With these dates for this game, the preseason seem very short this year given our deep run into the playoffs.

Speaking of which, do we know when pre season training starts for those not Olympic bound??

We were training the 2nd week of July last year, so assuming it will be similar again. 

RR

Walsall Boy

With these dates for this game, the preseason seem very short this year given our deep run into the playoffs.

Speaking of which, do we know when pre season training starts for those not Olympic bound??

We were training the 2nd week of July last year, so assuming it will be similar again. 

We’re back 1st week of July last year. Out on the grass second year.

Same this year, but between OFC, Olympics an U20 qualification there won’t be a lot of folks about.

ClubOranje

RR

Walsall Boy

With these dates for this game, the preseason seem very short this year given our deep run into the playoffs.

Speaking of which, do we know when pre season training starts for those not Olympic bound??

We were training the 2nd week of July last year, so assuming it will be similar again. 

We’re back 1st week of July last year. Out on the grass second year.

Same this year, but between OFC, Olympics an U20 qualification there won’t be a lot of folks about.

I thought it would have been the start of July but just didn't have anything to back that up. Found a news article from the second week, so went with that.

Didn't the Nix talk to South Melbourne 6-7 years ago, when Welnix were looking for investment partners? And turned out all SM really wanted was the Nix's A League licence! Then was a bit of a war of words??

Is Auckland in the Cup?

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Is Auckland in the Cup?

Nope, not this year

Lakeside Stadium being the inside of turn 5 of the Melbourne Grand Prix circuit, certainly an upgrade on the Ring of Dirt as far as venues inside motor racing circuits go.

coochiee

Didn't the Nix talk to South Melbourne 6-7 years ago, when Welnix were looking for investment partners? And turned out all SM really wanted was the Nix's A League licence! Then was a bit of a war of words??

Yep, South themselves fabricated that they were in "serious discussions", to try and get our licence and force FFA's hand, yet Welnix said these were only very brief chats.