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General Ninja A-League Discussions

575 replies · 145,354 views
10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History

Intriguing that the Jets have looked to a NZ based coach for their ALW side next season
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10 months ago
Maybe he is cheaper than local options?  
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10 months ago
RR

Intriguing that the Jets have looked to a NZ based coach for their ALW side next season

They're looking more closely than you think would be the case. 

If you've got the A coaching licence then there are definitely people looking.
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10 months ago
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Oi Oi EdgecumbeSimon B
10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
Anyone game to speculate on the “huge opportunity”? Would a blank cheque to build up the AFC Women from scratch count?
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10 months ago
Simon B
Anyone game to speculate on the “huge opportunity”? Would a blank cheque to build up the AFC Women from scratch count?
I reckon it must be an overseas opportunity - I can't imagine a club would call leaving them - the champions, no less - to go to a new startup team in the same league a 'huge opportunity'

Or maybe she might be going to be a Matildas assistant
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Un
10 months ago
Half a Pint
Simon B
Anyone game to speculate on the “huge opportunity”? Would a blank cheque to build up the AFC Women from scratch count?
I reckon it must be an overseas opportunity - I can't imagine a club would call leaving them - the champions, no less - to go to a new startup team in the same league a 'huge opportunity'

Or maybe she might be going to be a Matildas assistant

Husband along with some other ALW coiaches was invited to join the Matildas in camp last week for their matches verus Argentina.

https://aleagues.com.au/news/matildas-emily-husband-central-coast-mariners-kat-smith-western-united-barbieri-melb-city-cannuli-a-league-news/
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Simon B
10 months ago
Half a Pint
Simon B
Anyone game to speculate on the “huge opportunity”? Would a blank cheque to build up the AFC Women from scratch count?
I reckon it must be an overseas opportunity - I can't imagine a club would call leaving them - the champions, no less - to go to a new startup team in the same league a 'huge opportunity'

Or maybe she might be going to be a Matildas assistant

That makes way more sense - “huge” is a high bar, and I can’t imagine the well wishes would be quite as effusive if she was off to a competitor.
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Half a Pint
9 months ago · edited 9 months ago · History
said it before, but if the cost to the league is the barrier for Bill and his cronies to field a team then let Bill and his team fund the travel themselves until the league can support it.
$400,000 is chump change to one of the billionaires sitting in the boardroom.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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queenofthequail
9 months ago
theprof
said it before, but if the cost to the league is the barrier for Bill and his cronies to field a team then let Bill and his team fund the travel themselves until the league can support it.
$400,000 is chump change to one of the billionaires sitting in the boardroom.
They havnt shown any real intent they really want a womens team have they. Lots of lip service to keep people happy thats about it.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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Half a Pintqueenofthequailtheprof
9 months ago
The $400k impediment is every year so does this mean AFC will not have a women’s team for the foreseeable??
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9 months ago
if that is the excuse being given then it would seem that way, unless the APL suddenly gets a massive funding boost from some billionaire TV mogul

Queenslander 3x a year.

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El
9 months ago
This is probably a god send for the Nix however.

Once the team comes in there will serious competition for kiwi players.

May also be the reason they are throwing serious resources this year at the women, knowing this may be their best chance to win the league. 

Auckland will rise once more

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Simon Btheprof
9 months ago
Elbo
The $400k impediment is every year so does this mean AFC will not have a women’s team for the foreseeable??

The current A League media rights deal with Parmount expires next year. It was put together in the dark days of Covid uncertainity. APL beggars at the table

The early noise seems to be that the next deal will be improved, ie the APL will have more cash. Who knows for sure, but the clubs will certainly be demanding more than $550k/year annual disbursement.
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El
9 months ago
AucklandPhoenix
This is probably a god send for the Nix however.

Once the team comes in there will serious competition for kiwi players.

May also be the reason they are throwing serious resources this year at the women, knowing this may be their best chance to win the league. 
Have to agree and im loving it,if the Women are able to do it the Nix might get to say they at least won the first A League title by a NZ team. Stealing some of the Billionares bluster along the way. 😁

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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Half a PintmjSimon BUn
9 months ago
These stats, probaly no big surprise.
Hopefully Esson should be one of the better keepers in the league. Though watching her recently against Venezuela she wasn't that great either.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/07/14/goalkeeper-research-helps-set-benchmarks-for-womens-a-league-performance/

During the recent season, the Jordan analysed 398 goals, after eliminating 20 penalties, to categorise the goals into three categories: No Chance, Can Save and Goalkeeping Error.

Jordan admits the line between the three categories can be subjective, so he enlisted Auckland City goalkeeper coach Jonas Hoffman to peer-review his findings and any borderline situations.

Without jumping to any earth-shattering conclusions, Jordan argues these basic statistics are vital because they establish a baseline for comparing clubs and goalkeepers.

“Even looking at the topline stats, it shows considerable room for improvement for A-League Women’s goalkeepers,” says Jordan.

Almost a quarter of goals result from clear goalkeeping errors, and nearly 40% of goals could have been saved, the research shows.

He says about 40% of goals were deemed unstoppable, reflecting the quality of the scorers, but far more goals can be attributed to a negative goalkeeping involvement.
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9 months ago
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360770342/auckland-fc-confirm-they-wont-be-joining-league-women-season

Auckland FC boss Nick Becker has effectively confirmed the club will not be entering A-League Women this season as originally planned.

He stopped short of saying so outright, leaving an official announcement for Australian Professional Leagues, the body that runs the A-Leagues, as it was their decision.

APL pays for the travel costs of A-League Women teams and also contributes towards their accommodation costs.

The addition of a second New Zealand club to A-League Women was reported by Code Sports in June to come with a AU$400,000 (NZ$437,000) price tag for flights alone.

Asked about the status of the club’s plans for a women’s team on Friday, Becker said: “We're expecting an announcement to come formally from the league on that, but I think it's been reported quite a lot that it looks like we won't have a team that season.

“It is the league's decision. That is their announcement, so we're just waiting for them to follow up.”

“I think it's for them to explain and to talk about,“ Becker added. ”In terms of the actual league, they're the ones who control whether we are in or not.“
APL has been contacted for comment.
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9 months ago


The Women's A-League starts Friday, 31 October 2025, with the Grand Final to be on the weekend of 15 – 17 May, 2026.
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ProcrastinixingUn
8 months ago
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Simon BWibblebutt
8 months ago
Does anyone know if Porirua Park is locked in as the women's home ground this season? I remember Dome saying on the pod they liked the atmosphere but it was costing them too much to play there. I'm holding off getting an all in membership until I know for sure.



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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Wibblebutt
Does anyone know if Porirua Park is locked in as the women's home ground this season? I remember Dome saying on the pod they liked the atmosphere but it was costing them too much to play there. I'm holding off getting an all in membership until I know for sure.

its certainly advertised by the Phoenix as at Porirua Park, with a small reserved seating section for members.
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theprofWibblebutt
8 months ago
ALW will be down to 11 teams now. So bye weekends.
Should have let Auckland in. Made some kind of deal with Foley to part pay for travel.
Too late now I guess.
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LG
8 months ago
Yeah I sure hope Porirua Park is still in the picture - its a really nice setup and watching the Wahinix there saved the season for me really - plus it was great to take my wee girl along to them - we didn't miss a match there. 
Fenix
Wibblebutt
Does anyone know if Porirua Park is locked in as the women's home ground this season? I remember Dome saying on the pod they liked the atmosphere but it was costing them too much to play there. I'm holding off getting an all in membership until I know for sure.

its certainly advertised by the Phoenix as at Porirua Park, with a small reserved seating section for members.
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Wibblebutt
8 months ago
Ranix
ALW will be down to 11 teams now. So bye weekends.
Should have let Auckland in. Made some kind of deal with Foley to part pay for travel.
Too late now I guess.

Maybe he said no? We don’t know. Maybe they might now. We don’t know. 


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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
martinb
Ranix
ALW will be down to 11 teams now. So bye weekends.
Should have let Auckland in. Made some kind of deal with Foley to part pay for travel.
Too late now I guess.

Maybe he said no? We don’t know. Maybe they might now. We don’t know. 

ALW is in a dire situation and the public only know half of it.
WU are folding, WSW looking shakey, Canberra are on life support propped up by rate payers for apparently the last time and several other clubs are cutting budgets and support staff.
The next much anticipated broadcast deal will be worse than the last one.
Meanwhile the Phoenix double their ALW budget in a one off bid to win something, anything for the club. Galant but sad.
Who dies with the most toys wins.

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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Any place in Wellington has to be better than Sky and their blatant rip offs, especially the rent they charge the Nix.

Hutt Valley at Avalon? Better Car parking. Busses. 
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
LG
Any place in Wellington has to be better than Sky and their blatant rip offs, especially the rent they charge the Nix.

Hutt Valley at Avalon? Better Car parking. Busses. 

As much as I agree with you regarding Sky stadium's treatment of the Nix and fans in general, the club is the Wellington Phoenix, not Hutt Valley Nix or Porirua Nix.

Yes these cities are part of the wellington region they are not and never have been Welington City, the home of the Nix.
Jerry Collins stadium is a perfect size and shape for football, but not enough capacity for the men, none of the grounds in the Hutt have the necessary lighting, capacity or ammenities that are required. Cant see the Welnix spending more money to improve that anytime soon.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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br
8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Starwars
martinb
Ranix
ALW will be down to 11 teams now. So bye weekends.
Should have let Auckland in. Made some kind of deal with Foley to part pay for travel.
Too late now I guess.

Maybe he said no? We don’t know. Maybe they might now. We don’t know. 

ALW is in a dire situation and the public only know half of it.
WU are folding, Canberra are on life support propped up by rate payers for apparently the last time and several other clubs are cutting budgets and support staff. The next much anticipated broadcast deal will be worse than the last one.
Meanwhile the Phoenix double their budget in a one off bid to win something, anything. Galant but sad.
Who dies with the most toys wins.


Re the broadcast deal, that something you know for sure?

The last deal with Paramount was signed up in 2021, in the dark desperate days of Covid. And then reduced further when the A League didn't hit all the metrics after the first season of that deal.

I'd be genuinely very surprised if it wasn't a stronger broadcast deal next time (2026). Since the last deal yes WU maybe gone, but Auckland are now in and all their metrics are far superior.
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ballane
8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Wibblebutt
Does anyone know if Porirua Park is locked in as the women's home ground this season? I remember Dome saying on the pod they liked the atmosphere but it was costing them too much to play there. I'm holding off getting an all in membership until I know for sure.
Yes, it will be at Porirua Park. With potential finals games at stadium.
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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Thought this was about the best place to put this.



They'll be fuming at that. 
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Endorsed by
LG
8 months ago
YoungHeartHM
Thought this was about the best place to put this.



They'll be fuming at that. 
...Or potentially stoked they won't have to face a Bev Priestman led Wahinix?
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Endorsed by
LGProcrastinixingSimon BYoungHeartHM
8 months ago
YoungHeartHM
Thought this was about the best place to put this.



They'll be fuming at that. 
 does that tie into a new TV deal? And possibly a bit short sighted if WU is likely to be gone and their spot available. 
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LG
8 months ago
MacArthur have been in the comp longer and don't have a team.  They should get first dibs if WU bow out. 
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LG
7 months ago
Courtesy of RR in the men’s thread:

Appears that if you have the A-Leagues app downloaded & your team set, it will reveal the Rnd 1 fixture for your team tomorrow at 8am AEST

I really, really hope our first ALW game is at home so we get to see our new players and coach on their debut.
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jaggedlittlenixOi Oi EdgecumbeRa
7 months ago
Round 1 the Wahinix have a bye
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Bullion
7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
Phoenix on twitter say the first women's game will be on 8th November - a double header at the Sky Stadium: women vs Canberra then men vs Auckland

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1965671587484721165


The Wellington Phoenix will stage a blockbuster double-header at Sky Stadium in November that promises to light up the 2025-26 A-Leagues.


The Phoenix women will open their much-anticipated fifth Ninja A-League season against Canberra United at the Ring of Fire on Saturday, November 7 on the same day the men play host to Auckland FC in the first New Zealand derby of the new Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.

The women’s match will kick-off at 4pm, with the men to play under the lights from 7pm.

Tickets for the double-header will go on-sale on Tuesday (September 16) and the club has a special offer.

500 tickets behind the southern goal in aisle 16 at Sky Stadium will be available for just $25, a saving of almost 40%.

The full fixtures for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League and Ninja A-League seasons will be released at 10am tomorrow (Thursday, September 11).

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-to-play-must-watch-double-header-at-the-ring-of-fire/

We’re an unofficial fanzine following the Phoenix Women. Issue 3 coming soon.
Email contributions, ideas and feedback to pwfnix@gmail.com.
Back issues at https://ko-fi.com/withfire
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