As i see it:
We're here to provide a good, enjoyable, watchable, competitive professional A League football side in Wellington. i.e. a sports event that fans want to watch. And which ideally brings in TV audiences and TV funding.
And along with that we're here to provide a pathway and training for NZ players to reach that standard of play. If they are up to that.
The younger kids are now getting the opportunity via the academy, the reserves and the squad. Rufer, Singh, Cacace, Ridenton, Smith, Rogerson, Boyd, Adams have "graduated" through that, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Older NZ guys got a pro career start/opportunity at the Nix, bypassing the academy etc because of their age, relative to when the Welnix academy set up: Kosta, Rojas, Boxall, Fenton, Musa, Doyle, Watson, Gulley, Hicks.
That's 16 younger kiwis who were given a professional opportunity in ten years. Then add Sigmund, Bertos, McGlinchey, Brockie, Brown, Paston, Smeltz, Lochhead, Moss, Coveny, Christie who all got significant pro starting time at the Nix. And a bunch of others who were in the squad who never really made it. 27+ kiwis supported in their football careers by the Nix. I may have missed some.
That's enough for me, for now. We shouldn't be giving a pro careers away to kids. If they are good enough and have the right attitude, and fit the squad needs, all good. Otherwise, this is the reality. You make it or you don't. And you need to be good, work hard and have a good attitude. And a bit of luck.
I'm here to watch the football. Not watch some entitled kid playing in a league he hasn't earnt the right to be in. All those kiwi guys above deserved a shot. Maybe a few more on the fringe I am not aware of were unlucky.
Hopefully as the academy continues we will increase the quality and number coming through to play for the Nix, or bypassing the Nix for overseas. I think Welnix are doing fine with the NZ player opportunities.
What they aren't doing is providing watchable, entertaining quality sport. Not recently, and not consistently. That's the priority for me right now. If that takes Aussies and imports that's fine until more kiwis can earn their place.
Just the way I see it. And I am totally unreasonably enthusiastic about the season ahead, despite the latest pod picking us second to last. I think with fair wind and few injuries, good squad crack, plus a couple more significant recruitments, we are a shot at 5th/6th. Happy enough if we manage that this year. Would love to do better. COYN. Looking forward to the next few signings.