I hope the AFC dont force competitions to run FA style competitions to earn placings in the ACL. I really wouldn't like to see someone like Marconi or South Melbourne reach the ACL and it's not because im against those sides. They couldn't match it with the top asian sides in their prime. Perhaps if they ran a 2nd division to the ACL they would be fine to enter as it isn't as serious and teams aren't as hard matched against clubs unable to make it to the top australian competition. Hardly think to believe FFA would allow them to compete anyway, and look at giving the place to the loser of the grand final/final instead if a state league team wins the FA cup. This being because the state league sides perhaps couldn't afford travel or players and the aleague clubs are equipped and created made to travel (considering we have new zealand and perth which is a 6 hour plane trip)
I'd have to agree with you on this. It skipped my mind that their wasn't a national second division. I guess this won't happen until FFA makes a move to make a national second division.
Its gathering momentum: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/footbal...one-to-its-full-potential-20101111-17phm.html
An interesting article but it will only ever work on a national basis as a pre A league season competition. Sure there may be space for any team to enter, but it should only ever be a knock out competition (after all, that's what Cup competition is supposed to be) and at most we can start with 32 teams, although 16 would be more feasible at this stage. A pre season knockout of 4 rounds (maybe 5) after lower level teams have some sort of knockout competition to reduce the numbers. If we want it to be a seriously treated competition then we need to get an extra ACL spot (even if its a playoff spot) for the winner of this competition.
Its getting closer to reality! http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1739524/ffa-announce-new-knockout-competition-for-2014/?cs=6
From what I recently read, it seems the 2nd division is taking on a more formal shape. A new brand called the National Premier Leagues looks like the collectivity of state premierships. Anybody been watching this unfold? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Premier_Leagues
Its planned to start in July this year as a 32 team knock out competition. It will consist of the 9 Australian A League Clubs (no Wellington Phoenix), 8 from NSW, 4 each from Victoria and Queensland, two each from Western Australia and Northern NSW, and one each from South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. Apparently not all the State Federations have decided how they will select their teams and thats holding up an official launch http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/state-leagues-stall-launch-of-ffa-cup-20140114-30t39.html
The allocation was based on total player registration (from young kids to adults). When you add the two teams from Northern NSW (a seperate federation but still part of NSW) and the A League teams there will be 14 NSW teams in the 32 team competition.