Grand Final - Hurting Deep Down
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Today I sent the following email / letter to Ben Buckley and have also attached an auto reply from FFA and will advise if any more replies are received:
A human error occured anyway my email will explain my position,
Dear Mr Ben Buckley
FFA
C/O -info@footballaustralia.com.au
I am a Mariner fan I fully except the decision made by Mark Shield in the grand final, as human errors occur and our game is such that the use of replays is difficult as were do you draw the line in the sand, i.e. in the six yard box or at half way and how far back in time can you go.
Football rightly I believe does not use replays just the officials on the field, the more critical question is having a successful season outcome, rather than a choke point in a single match. The problem as I see it is in playing a one match grand final and saying the winner is best team. There is no other code were the lesser team has a better change of winning than in football, not to mention on grand final day a team could be missing some key players.
I also understand for football to find its place in the Australian sporting market place it needs a final series to look like the other codes something of a catch 22.
The primary driver for my idea is with four Asian Champion league spots for Australia reported in the near future; football should have two separate competitions. The first as is played now over three rounds and this competition receiving 3 ACL spots. The second competition you need 16 teams we have I guess 10 if you assume GC & NT get in.
The second comp as I said 16 teams, first the 10 A-League and 6 FFA selected state teams (keeping out the mono ethnic clubs of the old NSL) say Canberra, Wollongong etc. Teams then drawn to play each other in a knock out comp in a home and away format. This comp to receive 1 champions league spot to the overall winner.
Thus
Weeks 1 & 2 from 16 teams to 8 teams
Weeks 3 & 4 from 8 teams to 4 teams
Weeks 5 & 6 from 4 Teams to 2 teams
Week 7 One off final
The existing final series has 6 weeks so timing is only one week longer and allows the introduction of six teams and six areas to the A-League FA cup style format.
This system is a tried and proven football system, just localised for Australian conditions
Look it�s not perfect, however at most levels the team winning the season is considered the best even in state football the teams that advance to the Champions of Champions are the season winning team not the grand final winning team.
In closing I would ask you to consider the above, and look forward to your reply.
Kind Regards
Auto reply from FFA
Thank you for taking the time to contact Football Federation Australia.
Your questions/suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated and will be forwarded to the appropriate department.
If your email requires a response, a member of our staff will contact you in due course.
In the meantime, feel free to visit our website, http://www.footballaustralia.com.au
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Administration
Football Federation Australia
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Interesting concept. Knock out cup for all aussie clubs maybe? With the state leagues playing off against other clubs from the same state to begin with for the first few rounds. Once that group is reduced down to one (or two) clubs per state, then the ALeague clubs join in (just like the FA Cup).
The ALeague is determined by league position only.
WPFC ineligable to compete in the Aussie domestic cup, but NZF to allow them entry into the Chatham Cup. .
Thoughts? . . .
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sounds really interesting, good email bro!
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WPFC ineligable to compete in the Aussie domestic cup, but NZF to allow them entry into the Chatham Cup. .
Forget it. Leave the Chatham Cup to the clubs.
Three for me, and two for them.
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Interesting concept. Knock out cup for all aussie clubs maybe? With the state leagues playing off against other clubs from the same state to begin with for the first few rounds. Once that group is reduced down to one (or two) clubs per state, then the ALeague clubs join in (just like the FA Cup).
The ALeague is determined by league position only.
WPFC ineligable to compete in the Aussie domestic cup, but NZF to allow them entry into the Chatham Cup. .
Thoughts? . . .
TBH I had not though about it as a FA cup all state teams in a knock out to win a place in the final 16. More the FFA to hand pick some key clubs, areas my fear of opening it up to all is that one or more of the old ethnic clubs made it to the final 16 and that would be bad news.
If NZ is not allowed in the ACL, and Nix's happen to win it some silverware. However you are a bit homeless at the present with no AFC as you are in NZ and no OFC place as you play in the A-league. FIFA should make a decision as its in no ones interest to have the present position for to much longer.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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I like the two comp concept as it gives a chance for players outside a league to shine, and gives a run for good teams in the lower half of the table, esp as A league is so tight...
is there a potential place for a NZFC team?
I also like the A league on league position only...tussles for the top of the table then effectively become the final.. and the annoying playoff system is ditched...
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Did anyone complain about this when Adelaide won the league by 12 points in 05/06 and not only lost the Major Semi but also lost the Preliminary Final?
Three for me, and two for them.
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Did anyone complain about this when Adelaide won the league by 12 points in 05/06 and not only lost the Major Semi but also lost the Preliminary Final?
I'm sure the Adelaide fans were pissed ;)
Also, no-one complained on this site beacsue it didn't exist back then . . ..
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No i'm aware of that but i mean i remember back then it seemed as if nobody really cared. I mean, you'd think certain sections of the media may write about it just to stir something up and perhaps get people talking but i remember no such thing occuring. Just wondering why things would be so much different this time round.
Three for me, and two for them.
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No i'm aware of that but i mean i remember back then it seemed as if nobody really cared. I mean, you'd think certain sections of the media may write about it just to stir something up and perhaps get people talking but i remember no such thing occuring. Just wondering why things would be so much different this time round.
Hmm, I might do some digging around to see if anything was said at the time (if I can be bothered). I guess this is one of the perennial problems of playoffs generally. . . . Like you, I don't recall an outrage at the time. . .
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I like the two comp concept as it gives a chance for players outside a league to shine, and gives a run for good teams in the lower half of the table, esp as A league is so tight...
is there a potential place for a NZFC team?
I also like the A league on league position only...tussles for the top of the table then effectively become the final.. and the annoying playoff system is ditched...
�
I really like the current format. League position only can prove to be quite boring, and often decided well before the season is over.
Current system means that there are 4 valid spots to fight for right till the end, and then there is the excitement of the playoffs. Its great and can't wait till the Phoenix have their chance next year
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