So the new A-League season starts tonight with the GF replay. I’m hearing Western United have sold out their Active Bay… which isn’t anything to be excited about for most teams, but it’s probably a big thing for them… maybe some green shoots after winning the toilet seat.
I’m flying up to Sydney tomorrow to see the new Allianz stadium where 30,000 tickets have been sold (including over 1,000 Victory).
It feels like there is a lot more enthusiasm going into the new season. A lot more promotion and marketing (TV ads during the NRL GF for example). A slick season launch. More interactive stuff on the KeepUp App. Certainty around the fixture. The Men’s and Women’s World Cup around the corner.
The APL is targeting a 10,000 crowd average this season (up from 5,300 during the COVID interrupted 2021-22 season). Personally, I think that’s too ambitious, and it’ll be closer to the 9,000 mark.
Probably the most disappointing stuff is coming from the broadcaster. Paramount Plus are yet to bring in the Pause and “Play from Start” function. Subscription discount codes weren’t released until this week. And the jury is still out on the change of FTA broadcasting (we have gone from 1 game on the main channel Saturday night to 2 games on 10Bold, while the women’s have moved to 10Play).
From a Victory point of view, we have signed Nani. Big names have come to Australia in the past and haven’t always been committed. But Nani arrived early, played in the Australia Cup and played preseason games at places such as North Geelong and Avondale.
On the park, many people will consider us favourites to win the league. I think we’re stronger offensively, but maybe slightly weakener defensively. Personally, I’m expecting a top 2 finish.
Off the park, a company called 777 Partners have bought a stake in the club. They part own numerous clubs around the world as well as non-sporting business interests. They also own Bonza Airline, who is now our major sponsor (our biggest sponsorship deal ever apparently). So the club has received financial investment, but still is (and hopefully always will be) majority Australian owned.
On the negative, the club didn’t release its home kit until this week… and I think its terrible. The away kit hasn’t been released yet (although we know we are returning to the fluoro yellow).
My predictions:
1. Victory (Most of the squad have been together for 12 months. Should improve with Nani).
2. WSW (Surely this year?).
3. City (Haven’t really improved their squad greatly but will still be up there).
4. Adelaide (Pretty consistent team).
5. Wellington (Well coached team).
6. Western United (Potential championship hangover coming).
7. MacArthur (will be in the fight for bottom half of finals).
8. CCM (See MacArthur).
9. Sydney (Long needed rejuvenation of squad, but the signings don’t seem that exciting).
10. Newcastle (Could be surprise packets. Probably won’t be).
11. Brisbane (Austin should boss this league, but will he get the service?).
12. Perth (In a state of dog5hit).
I’m flying up to Sydney tomorrow to see the new Allianz stadium where 30,000 tickets have been sold (including over 1,000 Victory).
It feels like there is a lot more enthusiasm going into the new season. A lot more promotion and marketing (TV ads during the NRL GF for example). A slick season launch. More interactive stuff on the KeepUp App. Certainty around the fixture. The Men’s and Women’s World Cup around the corner.
The APL is targeting a 10,000 crowd average this season (up from 5,300 during the COVID interrupted 2021-22 season). Personally, I think that’s too ambitious, and it’ll be closer to the 9,000 mark.
Probably the most disappointing stuff is coming from the broadcaster. Paramount Plus are yet to bring in the Pause and “Play from Start” function. Subscription discount codes weren’t released until this week. And the jury is still out on the change of FTA broadcasting (we have gone from 1 game on the main channel Saturday night to 2 games on 10Bold, while the women’s have moved to 10Play).
From a Victory point of view, we have signed Nani. Big names have come to Australia in the past and haven’t always been committed. But Nani arrived early, played in the Australia Cup and played preseason games at places such as North Geelong and Avondale.
On the park, many people will consider us favourites to win the league. I think we’re stronger offensively, but maybe slightly weakener defensively. Personally, I’m expecting a top 2 finish.
Off the park, a company called 777 Partners have bought a stake in the club. They part own numerous clubs around the world as well as non-sporting business interests. They also own Bonza Airline, who is now our major sponsor (our biggest sponsorship deal ever apparently). So the club has received financial investment, but still is (and hopefully always will be) majority Australian owned.
On the negative, the club didn’t release its home kit until this week… and I think its terrible. The away kit hasn’t been released yet (although we know we are returning to the fluoro yellow).
My predictions:
1. Victory (Most of the squad have been together for 12 months. Should improve with Nani).
2. WSW (Surely this year?).
3. City (Haven’t really improved their squad greatly but will still be up there).
4. Adelaide (Pretty consistent team).
5. Wellington (Well coached team).
6. Western United (Potential championship hangover coming).
7. MacArthur (will be in the fight for bottom half of finals).
8. CCM (See MacArthur).
9. Sydney (Long needed rejuvenation of squad, but the signings don’t seem that exciting).
10. Newcastle (Could be surprise packets. Probably won’t be).
11. Brisbane (Austin should boss this league, but will he get the service?).
12. Perth (In a state of dog5hit).
