Nearpost Football

Sunday, 12 April 2009

Canberra ready but West Sydney wanted?

A-League4Canberra has investors, sponsors, a great ground, training facilities, foundation members 1700, 13,000 grassroots signatures but the FFA are pushing hard to get West Sydney.

Stories continue to be in my view "made up" around the West Sydney bid as the FFA and others attempt to stoke the fires. Little substance around any of the stories.

Fair enough. A Fox Tv deal with a second Melbourne and Sydney team makes sense to me. But if Canberra's bid is "the best ever seen," can we have 13 teams?

FFA stoking the fires

FOOTBALL Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley confirmed to Parrot that, as suggested in this paper last week, the backers of South Coast FC's A-League bid are considering extending their reach to Sydney. "There has been some discussion with the Wollongong group that they might look to expand their territory to include the western part of Sydney," Buckley said. "Wollongong has talked to us about having a western Sydney identity as well." WIN Stadium remains a headache but here's the tricky bit for South Coast - FFA won't split a team between two regions. "They need to be based in western Sydney or Wollongong, not have a halfway house," Buckley said. "If they were to be in western Sydney and have a relationship with Wollongong, that might work."

Saturday, 11 April 2009

Australian Under 13 team...Aren't we getting serious?

Aussie Under 13 boys and 14 girls teams will be selected from this weeks State trials in Canberra starting Sunday.....oh and btw the fields chosen for our nation's best should suit the least talented!

Fixtures and squads below....

As part of our new place in Asia apparently we need a young girls and boys team. We're getting serious now aren't we!

What age should one start preparing to win a spot in the National Under 13 team?

And as the teams head to Malaysia and Vietnam to represent Australia in June is it really important to be on that team for your development? Really? I think not!

Canberra
10 April 2009

The next generation of Qantas Socceroos and Westfield Matildas will be on show in Canberra from this weekend at the inaugural Football Federation Australia (FFA) National Junior Championships for Under 13 Boys and Under 14 Girls.

241 representative players from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia will have their first taste of national competition at the O’Connor Football Fields.

This new competition has been specifically developed to select national teams at the Under 13 Boys and Under 14 girls age groups for the first time. Both teams will compete at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Festival of Football tournaments which will be held from 24 May to 6 June 2009 in Sabah, Malaysia for the Under 13 Boys and 24 June to 1 July in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the Under 14 Girls.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley acknowledged the important role that such events play in the FFA talent identification program .

“While the championships are not the only means of being spotted as a player with potential, this tournament is as important component of our talent identification for young talented players and will be the basis from which we will select national teams for the first time in these two age groups.

“As a member of the Asian Football Confederation, we have more opportunities than ever to participate in high quality opposition that benefits the entire football family in Australia.

“High quality opposition helps us to improve our own standards, quality of play, coaching and facilities; and as the quality of the national teams improves, the impact will be felt down the line to the grassroots players which gives us better standards of competition as a well as a larger pool of potential players for the National Youth League, the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and the national teams,” concluded Buckley.

To coincide with this tournament, FFA today also announced that former Qantas Socceroo Ante Juric has been appointed the Head Coach of the Qantas Australian Under 13 Boys National Football Team and Westfield W-League Coach of the Year, Jeff Hopkins, appointed the Head coach of the Westfield Australian Under 14 Girls National Football Team, with Perth Glory W-League & FFA Scholarship coach Nicola Williams as his assistant coach. In addition, recently retired Westfield Matilda Joey Peters will also work with the Australian Under Under 14 Girls National Team as well as participate in Women’s Football Coaching Course during the festival.

Juric, Hopkins, Williams, along with Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni and FFA Technical Director, Han Berger, will select the respective national teams at the completion of the tournament.

ends-

2009 FFA National Junior Championships

Boys Under 13 and Girls Under 14

12-18 April, 2009

O’Connor Fields, Canberra - ACT

2009 FFA National Junior Championships - Boys Under 13 - Official Draw

Day One – Sunday 12th April 2009

9.30am
Northern NSW
v
Victoria

11.00am
New South Wales
v
Queensland

12.30pm
South Australia
v
Tasmania

2.00pm
Western Australia
v
Australian Capital Territory

Day Two – Monday 13th April 2009

9.30am
Australian Capital Territory
v
New South Wales

11.00am
Northern NSW
v
Western Australia

12.30pm
Victoria
v
South Australia

2.00pm
Tasmania
v
Queensland

Day Three – Tuesday 14th April 2009

9.30am
Victoria
v
Tasmania

11.00am
Australian Capital Territory
v
Northern NSW

12.30pm
Western Australia
v
New South Wales

2.00pm
South Australia
v
Queensland

Day Four – Wednesday 15th April 2009

9.30am
South Australia
v
New South Wales

11.00am
Queensland
v
Australian Capital Territory

12.30pm
Northern NSW
v
Tasmania

2.00pm
Victoria
v
Western Australia

Day Five – Thursday 16th April 2009

9.30am
Australian Capital Territory
v
Victoria

11.00am
Northern NSW
v
South Australia

12.30pm
Queensland
v
Western Australia

2.00pm
Tasmania
v
New South Wales

Day Six – Friday 17th April 2009

9.30am
Queensland
v
Victoria

11.00am
New South Wales
v
Northern NSW

12.30pm
Tasmania
v
Australian Capital Territory

2.00pm
Western Australia
v
South Australia

Day Seven – Saturday 18th April 2009

9.00am
Tasmania
v
Queensland

10.30am
Northern NSW
v
Western Australia

12.00pm
Victoria
v
South Australia

1.30pm
Australian Capital Territory
v
New South Wales

2009 FFA National Junior Championships - Boys Under 13 – Squad Lists

Australian Capital Territory: 1.Nicolas Everett, 2.Antonio Barbaro, 3.William Boag-Taylor, 4.Robert Dojcinovski, 5.Michael Fowler, 6.Alex Gelonesi, 7.David Jenkins, 8.Nicholas Matkovic, 9.Alex Moscaritillo, 10.Andrew Nguyen, 11.Jak Olim, 12.Alex Popovich, 13.Nikolas Popovich, 14.Alex Tilley, 15.Jordan Tskenis, 16.Marin Ugrinic

Coach - Anthony Radford

Northern NSW: 1.Jake Fairhall, 2.Ryan Bailey, 3.Willis Nadfalusi, 4.Ben Butler, 5.Daniel Andrews, 6.Benjamin Hay, 7.Jayden Walker, 8.Andrew Pawiak, 9.Stefan Barrie, 10.Darcy Owens, 11.Reece Papas, 12.Liam Parker, 13.Mitchell Neskovski, 14.Kalen Petrie, 15.Zachary Sneddon, 16.Sam Kerry

Coach - Brett Cowburn

New South Wales: 1.Dylan Vandenberg, 2.Sipan Berti, 3.Bright Appiah, 4.Jordan Nadalin, 5.Kevin Ly, 6.Giuseppe Camera, 7.Richard Blanco, 8.Taron Pelligra, 9.James Baldachino, 10.Mitchell Walker, 11.Adrian Lara, 12.Jake Adelson, 13.Vincent Giannini, 14.Noah Chianese, 15.Brandon Lundy, 16.Blake Tuxford

Coach - Tim Wilson

Queensland: 1.Jordan Thurtell, 2.Reece Dalton, 3.Hayden Dow, 4.Jack Gleadhill, 5.Logan Grillo, 6.Mitchell Hore, 7.Ryan Lee, 8.Aiden Naughton, 9.Conor O’Neill, 10.Stephen O’Neill, 11.Morgan Saunders, 12.Samuel Sibatuara, 13.Fraser Stevens, 14.Tyler Wagstaffe, 15.Mark Willett, 16.Michael Haydock

Coach - Pat Hedges

South Australia: 1.Sam McKechnie-Merrick, 2.Dylan Centrone, 3.Thomas Dama, 4.Jerome Dunphy, 5.Sam Georgiadis, 6.Declan Hamilton, 7.Thomas Hector, 8.Zac Hristodoupoulos, 9.Marc Marino, 10.Christos Poundenis, 11.Shahwali Rezaee, 12.Chris Skull, 13.Dylan Smith, 14.Ante Markulic, 15.Ben Warland, 16.Harrison Stoneham

Coach - Rod Del Nido

Tasmania: 1.Nicholas Becker, 2.Joshua Garland, 3.Alessandro Bellini, 4.Paul Stevens, 5.Tyler Wooldridge, 6.Samuel Ross, 7.Bradley Martin, 8.Nicholas Morton, 9.Joshua Williamson, 10.Jesse Curran, 11.Samuel Orchard, 12.Connor Parke, 13.Digby Ayton, 14.Hayden Jackson, 15.Conor Brownless, 16.Karl Otte

Coach - Mike Denton

Victoria: 1.Nabi Tuna, 2.Jordan Brown, 3.Jarrah Clear, 4.Keiran Dover, 5.Ajdin Hrustic, 6.Anthony Laus, 7.John Maclean, 8.Dimitar Mitkov, 9.Milos Ridesic, 10.Lewis Smirlis, 11.Simon Soumelidis, 12.Harris Stamboulidis, 13.Adem Turcan, 14.James Vafiadis, 15.Ardian Vuniqi, 16.Luke Gallo

Coach - Michael Pichner

Western Australia: 1.Pasquale Gioffre, 2.Leo Athanasiou, 3.Tom Beadling, 4.Gareth Crawley, 5.Daniel De Silva, 6.Anton De Francesch, 7.Harrison Hawkins, 8.Ben Hombert, 9.Jack Iredale, 10.Ben Johns, 11.Billy Jones, 12.Pearse Mckee, 13.Matthew Ntoumenopoulos, 14.Rocco Pizatta, 15.Dejan Spasevski, 16.Daniel Passarelli

Coach - Warren Grieve

2009 FFA National Junior Championships - Girls Under 14 - Official Draw

Day One – Sunday 12th April 2009

10.00am
New South Wales
v
Queensland

11.30am
Northern NSW
v
Victoria

1.00pm
Australian Capital Territory
v
Western Australia

BYE
South Australia

Day Two – Monday 13th April 2009

10.00am
Australian Capital Territory
v
New South Wales

11.30am
South Australia
v
Western Australia

1.00pm
Queensland
v
Northern NSW

BYE
Victoria

Day Three – Tuesday 14th April 2009

10.00am
Northern NSW
v
South Australia

11.30am
Western Australia
v
New South Wales

1.00pm
Victoria
v
Queensland

BYE
Australian Capital Territory

Day Four – Wednesday 15th April 2009

10.00am
Western Australia
v
Victoria

11.30am
Queensland
v
Australian Capital Territory

1.00pm
New South Wales
v
South Australia

BYE
Northern NSW

Day Five – Thursday 16th April 2009

10.00am
Australian Capital Territory
v
Victoria

11.30am
New South Wales
v
Northern NSW

1.00pm
Queensland
v
South Australia

BYE
Western Australia

Day Six – Friday 17th April 2009

10.00am
Victoria
v
New South Wales

11.30am
South Australia
v
Australian Capital Territory

1.00pm
Northern NSW
v
Western Australia

BYE
Queensland

Day Seven – Saturday 18th April 2009

9.30am
Western Australia
v
Queensland

11.00am
South Australia
v
Victoria

12.30pm
Australian Capital Territory
v
Northern NSW

BYE
New South Wales

2009 FFA National Junior Championships - Girls Under 14 - Squad Lists

Australian Capital Territory: 1.Teah Fogarty, 2.Hayley Armstrong, 3.Chloe Gash, 4.Rebecca Collins, 5.Kadee Hollis, 6.Bronte Carlin, 7.Lauren Keir, 8.Monica Cerro, 9.Meg McLaughlin, 10.Amy McLachlan, 11.Gabriella Ciardullo, 12.Stephanie Coates, 13.Carly Nelson, 14.Natalie De Marco, 15.Nia Southwell, 16.Faina Bariesheff

Coach - Erin Frewin

Northern NSW: 1.Sophie Thompson, 2.Emmalee Harris, 3.Jordan Evans, 4.Taylah Smith, 5.Nadja Squires, 6.Claire Cummings, 7.Mikaela Howell, 8.Grace MacIntyre, 9.Madeline Smith, 10.Adianna Jones, 11.Annie Senkalski, 12.Kiera Plumbe, 13.Izzy Cootes, 14.Olivia Price, 15.Iesha Veness, 16.Emma Hayes
Coach - David Smith

New South Wales: 1.Georgia Rowntree, 2.Alisha Bass, 3.Madison Burgin, 4.Melissa Caceres, 5.Annika Clayton, 6.Yvonne Illioglou, 7.Alanna Kennedy, 8.Christina Palumbo, 9.Kristi Pavlicevic, 10.Elizabeth Ralston, 11.Natalie Tobin, 12.Natasha Sterjovski, 13.Jessica Dominello, 14.Lucy Metcalfe, 15.Kristina Janeska, 16.Sharamin Khamis

Coach: Nadine Shiels

Queensland: 1.Eliza Campbell, 2.Riannon Bettini, 3.Sophie Boller, 4.Marnie Boraso, 5.Lauren Brown, 6.Sarah Byers, 7.Stephanie Harrison, 8.Sophie Maguire, 9.Amy Morland, 10.Bronte Rose, 11.Sofie Spelta, 12.Jamie Stanton, 13.Alicia Van Laarhoven, 14.Harriet Withers, 15.Isabella Wyman, 16.Chantelle Ryder

Coach: Keren Thomas

South Australia: 1.Natasha Shelton, 2.Tori Battersby, 3.Ellie Bills, 4.Charlotte Dawe, 5.Kiara Fragomeli, 6.Monique Iannella, 7.Tahlia McGrath, 8.Zoe Michael, 9.Zoe Sgargetta, 10.Katherine-Anne Sortini, 11.Ashleigh Spear, 12.Monique Varricchio, 13.Mariah Vladimirov, 14.Jessica Waterhouse, 15.Madeline Cool, 16.Sophie Kitt, 17.Jesse Williams

Coach: Jonathan Ruse

Victoria:1.Megan Thompson, 2.Alexandra Natoli, 3.Zoe Courtney, 4.Elise Manassa, 5.Alyssa Sproule-Carroll-Tyler, 6.Carla Versace, 7.Allison Clarke, 8.Kate Fotopoulos, 9.Kariah White, 10.Julia Sardo, 11.Ebru Hasan, 12.Claudia Dimasi, 13.Claudia Fruscalzo, 14.Helina Vunderl-Messis, 15.Greta Low, 16.Madeline Hince

Coach - Andrew De Petro

Western Australia: 1.Evie Gooch, 2.Emily Burton, 3.Zoe Covell, 4.Hope Compton, 5.Korien Stanbridge, 6.Beth Wimbush, 7.Sarah Carroll, 8.Amy Smedling, 9.Giorgia Alford, 10.Thia Eastman, 11.Monique Saunders, 12.Caitlin Doeglas, 13.Alexandra Lovelock, 14.Emily Henderson, 15.Toni Walden, 16.Lauren Blackledge

Coach - Ann Gourley

Thursday, 9 April 2009

Easter is a great time to bonk......

No I haven't gone mad..research shows if you want your kid to succeed at football in Australia or indeed any other sport this weekend could be the one.

The next and newest Australian National teams are about to be picked. Australia Under 13 girls and Under 14 for boys! With the girls heading to Vietnam and the boys to Malaysia in the coming months, both historic sides will be picked from the week long tournaments which take place in Canberra this weekend.......

But what has this got to do with bonking?

Scholars of the game, who have studied national teams across the globe of ALL ages, found that most players were born in the first half of the year.

In Australia's case all players play in age ranges that start at the beginning of any given calender year.

For example take my daughter. She's ten.

In her class, year 5 at school, she goes quite well and today was her Cross-Country Carnival.

It's a small group say 25 girls but twenty of her class mates were born in 1998 so she doesn't run against them. Some of them are eight months older than her. So given she's only been running for about 5 years, eight months is a lot of extra development in terms of lung, and muscle capacity.

But my daughter is born in January 1999. Thank the Lord and no it wasn't planned! So she gets to run with the five or so kids who were born in 1999 from her class and another 20 or so from the younger class. School Class years start April/May in Australia, but sport rep teams run from Jan/Dec.

So when compared to a kid who is born in November 1999 she has 11 months..or nearly a full year of additional development. In a physical sense this is huge....genetics aside.

So come to football.

A player born in January has a much better chance of getting into a Rep side than a player born in December.

It's simple isn't it.

Two players of similar ability. The one who is older will have more time to develop therefore is more likely to get chosen in the Grade A Club side and likewise the Youngest Representative sides.

So what you might say.

But as we all know these kids benefit from the best coaches at Club and State Level. You'd expect their skills and physique to improve at a faster rate than the younger kids who missed out....and when the next selection camp comes the following year given they've had an extra years quality training...they'll probably get picked again..and again.

At any age, 11, 14, 17 or 20 a player born in January will have almost a full years further development in terms of physique, motor skills and practice therefore it is no surprise to see the national rep sides of ALL countries full of players born in the first six months of any year.

So if your kid is born from August-December forget your Aussie sport and make sure they study at school or failing that try for another kid...this weekend.

For the record my daughter won her race today!

And of course there are always exceptions...just not as many as you might think.

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

McKinna: We thought we could match them at football?

Lawrie said this after the game last night on Fox!

Even I wouldn't have thought that and I'm no coach.....would you?

McKinna learns nothing from Vidmar and Verbeek!

Mariners only conceded 5 at home...it could have been more!

Haven't seen many teams as outclassed as the Central Coast Mariners for many years. Haven't seen a home coach get it so wrong either.

And can the Central Coast Mariners hierarchy or fans except that?

Celtic, my team, have had many pastings at the hands of Barcelona and Man United in recent years but funnily enough we rarely lost....as badly as this. Gordon Strachan knows the limitations of his budget when up against Ronaldo or Ronaldinho and co and changes tactics from the usual onslaught of teams at Parkhead in the Scottish League.

McKinna clearly doesn't.

Did he really think his team are a better ball playing side than Melbourne Victory, Sydney or Adelaide who all worked very hard to get close to Japanese sides in recent years?

The Mariners have always been the worst football team in the A-League. Producing a brand of football which has Matt Simon, Dylan MaCallister and Nik Mrdja as their potent weapons... passable for the A-League maybe, but never going to cut it against better football sides and in Kawasaki they met one....although in truth the Mariners played right into their hands.

Kawasaki attacked with four at times. And they were the away side! And of course once they realised how limited the Mariners were tactically and technically it was party time.

Coach Lawrie McKinna had to chase the game once they'd conceded but really the game was lost in the planning...not tonight but over the past years!

Where is a Travis Dodd, a Steve Corica or Archie Thompson, at the other end Kevin Muscat, Ange Costanzo and Mark Milligan all added quality and techinique to previous Australian Asia representatives.

With a Salary Cap in operation you should be able to recruit a couple of ball players at least.

Adelaide United a more ball playing Aussie side did well last year but they only ever played one striker. Frustrating to watch but to great effect. Australia in Asia the same! Maybe McKinna hadn't watched the games.

The Mariners have no Diego, Cassio or Dodd in midfield to create something, anything against Asian opposition, and it showed. Shane Huke, John Hutchison, Adrian Caceres and Matt Osman don't offer much creativity or real threat do they?

But still the Mariners went with two forwards against a quality Japanese side and this exposed Mariners defence/midfield immediately.

The Jets worked a better plan the night before albeit against a strangely naive Japanese side. But even with their ravaged season, Ljubo Milicevic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ben Kantarovski, Tarek Elrich Sasho Petrovski and Adam Griffith give much more ball retention possibilities and a chance to play a different game. And they did both with and without the ball.

Maybe Con Constantine is not so daft after all.

Lawrie McKinna has it all wrong. The type of players he has recruited means he has little choice in how he plays. Although with five in midfield he would have had a better plan than the limited 442. And there is really no excuse for such a defensively inept display.

Have the players been coached at all? What has Alex Tobin been doing?

McKinna should have gone with one upfront, learnt from Aurelio Vidmar and Pim Verbeek. Even at home with better technical players these sides only played one at home.

McKinna tried to take a Japanese side on. With what?

No wing option, no ball retaining quality and no forward with any real creativity. How did he think he was going to succeed?

Robbie Slater said this was a wonderful performance from Kawasaki but really are they that good?

I'm not so sure.

The Mariners were an embarassment to Australia and I've seen Coaches resign, never mind sacked for less.

Maybe after five years of blood and guts football at the Mariners it's time to aspire to something better on the Central Coast.

With this style of play there is no real future for the Mariners or Lawrie McKinna...is there?

A-League to extend...but when to start?

The A-League will extend to 10 teams this year with 27 games locked in. So each team plays each other three times.

With the finals extending to include 6 teams that means we should have an extra two months of football as we inch towards a professional football season of reasonable length.

But when to start?

If we discount the Super 14 season as any real threat, given there are only four teams and only three directly up against A-League teams..plus Super 14 interest seems to me, anyway, to be stagnant if not waning.

It's a case of League and AFL always going to be the major problem for us to get media attention and healthy crowds.

We have a few options:

1. We either start late July and end late Feb, so basically tack a month on either end of the season

This would put us up against the AFL and League seasons. They won't be happy and will use there vast resources to block any coverage of our game.

2. We start mid-August..maybe a week or two earlier bu push into March for the finals. Neither League or AFL has started and by then there is only one game, a Semi or a Final in the last couple of weeks.

As we saw this year the hype of the AFL and League seasons could swamp the A-League final in the media although if they final can't make some media breakthrough then nothing ever will. So maybe this is the best option.

3. The third alternative is to remain as we are, but increase or introduce 6 midweek games. Would the Australia public support this...in great numbers?
Not if Fox determine every game must start at 8pm.

Thursday nights have been a flop in the past...and Monday night football may be good but if that means we simply spread the games over four days on a weekend we aren't solving the problem of the extra games.

My preferred option:

1.Start August 1t. That would increase the season by say three games at the beginning and by then half the AFL and League teams are out of the hunt anyway:)

Extend the season into March...increase the season by three games at the end of the current season

3. Introduce two mid week rounds, including an extra one around Xmas/New Year.

And of course be mindful of what happens when we go to 12 teams. 36 games and a real football season!

W-League to extend?

Looks like the W-League will be extending.

Last year we had 8 teams playing 10 games. This year it seems we'll have 8 teams playing 14 games.

so every team will play each team home and away and this time the final will be finished before Christmas.

Looking like a September start?

This weeks podcast.

We talk Socceroos, W-League, and ACL with Adrian Caceres and Ahmed Elrich.

Download Podcast:

Local Football we talk Lightning Tournament, Fed Cup Finals and Tim Skinner talks Street Soccer coming to Canberra...starts today (Wednesday 2pm Reid Oval.)
Download Podcast

Tuesday, 7 April 2009

AIS: When did Australia last create a player with flair?

No AIS creative player since Zelic!!!

Aussie media have been whinging for months about the Socceroos style of play...and I'm from the school that it's not all about the Coach.

If you don't have the tools it's hard to paint a picture.

But, until recently, our so-called best of the best came through the AIS, and therefore it's worth noting who is our most creative player to come through such an organisation...and indeed are we creating enough?

I'm no expert on AIS history but I do know that the Socceroos 2006 side contained many wonderful AIS products.

Lucas Neill, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton, Vinny Grella to name a few.

But when did we produce a midfield player or wide player with real top class flair?

And I can't remember one, not since Ned Zelic!!

A forward player who can get you out of your seat, a midfielder with an eye for a pass in the final third.

Go on. Name one!

Harry Kewell didn't go to the AIS. Nicky Carle didn't and if he did he has hardly reached the top anyway. Marco Bresciano...hmmn not really, not consistently, Brett Holman, the list isn't great is it?

So who?

All those years of training on the cold winter fields of Canberra since Zelic left and what do we have to show. Nicky Rizzo threatened early, Kaz Patafta promised...but now no-one will even play him, not even in the worst A-League team!

So while the AIS produces wonderful defenders, and defensive midfielders, where is the organisation that creates that something extra. A forward or midfielder with flair.

Does the AIS knock it out of them? Or does the AIS just refuse to select them. Too small, too skilful, too many touches? I have no answer.

Will the A-League Youth Structure enable more "eccentricity" in our play. More Ronaldo's. Do our Coaches encourage step-overs, hogging the ball?

Did Ronaldo get where he is by passing the ball in his younger years?

For now we've stuck with what we have, and creativity, and flair aren't there.

Robbie Kruse, Mitch Nicholls, Nathan Burns show or in Kruse's case showed potential. Nikita Rukavystya, Bruce Djite have also caught the eye and may go on to better things. Is James Troisi top notch? Doesn't feel like it to me.

Michael Zullo, Taj Minnicon, great for the A-League but they aren't Ryan Giggs are they.

We need 10 Patafta's strutting their stuff, maybe another 10 Nathan Burns and from that group we may get a Riquelme, or Giggs, or Ribery, or even one day a Ronaldo.

For now I'd settle for another young Kewell, Zelic or Viduka.

We need to plunder our best athletes. The AFL boys. If we can nick another from Melbourne, another Viduka or even a Kennedy this may be our best chance. They'll have the athletism but the skill factor is something else. Something you can't teach I guess.

Is the AIS just a conservative player production mill? Good enough, but not nearly exciting enough, not risky enough.

Can you think of a player with flare we've produced? One who gets you out of your seat, one who can thread that pass, Nakumura style, or who can dribble away like a young Ryan Giggs?

And is there even a threat of one on the horizon?

The Dutch in recent years have produced a Van Persie, a Robben so there is hope. And of course Cruyff, Van Basten and the rest before them.

They are a small nation with I daresay a similar player base to us, but they have produced many many quality players.

Maybe we'll be saved by the Dutch...maybe?

But how long before we should expect the products to start to shine...with an oranje glow?

I'm impatient.

Nearpost Radio tonight

Tonight from 6.30 streamed at www.2xxfm.org Socceroos, Adrian Caceres, Ahmed Elrich, W-League and locally we've got the Fed Cup news with Russ Gibbs and hear all about Street Soccer coming to Canberra.

Like your club, team, individual or just want to talk or rant football, email me and we'll get you on. flanaganDOTTeamonnATgmail.com

10,000 Victorians can't play football

"For example, in Victoria this year, Football Federation Victoria had to turn away more than 10,000 people from playing football because of the lack of available facilities."

Taken from the FFA
submission to the Government Sport Panel report
When you look at the Statistics showing which states boys and girls play football in, the numbers in NSW are huge compared to Victoria. Indeed the number of females playing in Victoria is almost the same as for the whole of the ACT!!

I'd suggest the AFL media and social dominance is a key reason but also the AFL's ability to keep grounds for themselves even if they don't have the juniors.

Ground issues continue to become an issue and with the expected continued growth in football, it will remain an issue for years to come. We need to use our networks in all States to improve the health opportunities for our young people.

Monday, 6 April 2009

AFL: Crowd violence on the rise?

The weekends AFL crowd violence seemed to have been missed by many sports commentators. Funny they never seem to miss any football "riots."

Bottles were thrown in Adelaide at the St. Kilda/Adelaide Crows game with at least one twelve year old boy hit.

A Collingwood Dad bashed in Melbourne by three AFL fans after the game

Of course each report had a little dig at the "soccer violence creeping into our game."

And there's me thinking the violence was inspired by AFL's own Barry Hall, or maybe Aussie tennis or even cricket fans!

Sunday, 5 April 2009

Dinosaurs found in Dubbo...just not in the Zoo!

Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes won't be smiling today as the league kicks off in Dubbo...without them!

There are no dinosaurs in Dubbo Zoo but they are alive and well in the local football association.

The Daily Liberal, the local Dubbo paper, reports today that Matildas stars and local Dubbo twins Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes have been training to play with a local team in the Under 18 League.

Guess what?

It's a boys league and Jim Auld and the Local Association has said NO!

Here's the article: And don't forget to add your comment at the end of the story.

Jim said this:

“Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes are really competent and delightful young ladies with a lot of natural talent and I have a lot of time for both of them,” Mr Auld said.

And this:

“But this is just one of those things - it is a male competition, just like there are female competitions which boys would not be able to play.

And he even said this:

“It is common sense that their risk of injury would be increased if they played men and I would hate for them to get injured and jeopardise their careers.

Arguments from othersas to why the girls can't play have included, "they may get hurt, referee may treat them differently based on gender or other players may back off when contesting a ball."

Stop laughing people still really say that stuff publicly!

Come on Dubbo: Never heard of Millissa Barbieri in Victoria...playing boys football...and she's in goals!!!

You've even got a letter from National Coach Tom Sermanni...Jim, do you understand the game better than Tom and the capabilities of our elite female players?

And it's not like you will have 50 girls desperate to play the game at that level is it?

Jim methinks you are going to be a popular man across Aussie media this week...take the phone off the hook...NOW!

Full article below.

Canberra United W-League stars Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes have been denied the right to play for Dubbo Football Club in this year’s Western Premier League competition.
The twins have been training with the club and were hoping to play with the under-18s side this season as part of preparations for the Under-20 World Cup qualifiers in August.

However, with the first round of matches tomorrow, which sees the Bulls pitted against Canobolas Rangers at Lady Cutler Oval, the league has stated it will not allow the Sykes girls to take the field based on the grounds that it is a men’s competiton.

The twins were yesterday training in Canberra under the guidance of Australian Matildas coach Tom Sermanni who himself reportedly requested they play in the under-18s competition.

The girls and their family were hoping to be able to play in a strong competition locally, considering they will be undertaking Year 12 and the travel demands of being in the Matildas and Canberra United squads were already limiting their time to study.

But this will not be the case.

Instead the girls could be deprived of valuable match time which would help to keep up with the physical demands of playing on the international stage.

Ashleigh and Nicole’s father Derek Sykes said he felt the decision by the WPL was upsetting and was not encouraging for aspiring female soccer players in western New South Wales.

“What hurts most is the girls want to stay in Dubbo to complete their HSC and still play competitive soccer,” Mr Sykes said.

“It’s unfortunate the WPL won’t help a couple of kids from out west.

“They have been enjoying their training with the boys who have been supportive and welcoming.

“It is upsetting when you look at what they have put back into the Dubbo community and have pushed Dubbo at every chance. What hope does it give for younger kids coming through?”

Before their rise to stardom the girls played in the Dubbo under-15 to 17 competition with boys. Sykes said this competition and the Dubbo Women’s All-Age competition would not provide the girls with the pace of game they needed to further develop their game.

He argued that at an international level the women play just as hard as the boys and that most of the W-League players do play in men’s competitions of a similar standard.

WPL co-ordinator Jim Auld said the rules stipulated that the league was strictly a men’s competition.

“Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes are really competent and delightful young ladies with a lot of natural talent and I have a lot of time for both of them,” Mr Auld said.

“But this is just one of those things - it is a male competition, just like there are female competitions which boys would not be able to play.

“It is common sense that their risk of injury would be increased if they played men and I would hate for them to get injured and jeopardise their careers.

“There are other female competitions on a par with the WPL under-18s, such as playing for Bathurst Panthers in the Super League. There is travel involved but there is also travel involved in the WPL.”

AFL Crowd brawl but somehow football gets a mention!

Herald Sun reporting on more Crowd Violence at the AFL..can't help but bring football into the equation.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25290100-661,00.html

And is the sourceless wonder Andrew Dimitriou always looking for an AFL spin against Football.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said the violence was more like a soccer brawl than a quiet afternoon watching the footy at the MCG.

``It's the worst football bashing I have seen,'' he said.

Did this last statement refer to bashing of the round ball game?

A crowd gathered to watch the arrest and Pies and Demons fans swore at the men in disgust, witnesses said.

Mr Jones was left covered in blood, with fears he could have been seriously injured.

Ambulance officers treated him for his injuries before he was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with a suspected broken nose and cheekbone.

Zac was cared for in the Demon clubrooms afterwards.

Demons president Jim Stynes said the club was shocked by the attack.

``We want to keep this as a family sport rather than a thug sport,'' he said.

``Fans should maintain the spirit of the game after the siren sounds and celebrate with the spirit of humility.

"First and foremost The Melbourne Football Club is for family. Everyone is welcome at our games. Everyone must feel safe and secure and free to express their passion for the club they support.

"One of the great things about the culture of AFL football is this type of behaviour is very rare. Irrespective of who you support - supporter violence is just not on.”

One witness, who asked not to be named, said the violence was more like a soccer brawl than a quiet afternoon watching the footy at the MCG.

``It's the worst football bashing I have seen,'' he said.

A statement from the Melbourne Football Club confirmed the incident.

Friday, 3 April 2009

2010 World Cup to help ALeague4Canberra bid

Most watched PAY TV program ever!

So the Socceroos are off to another World Cup...and Canberra's A-League bid can only benefit...

There have been a few doubters, naysayers and general moaners when it comes to the prospect of an A-League side in Canberra.

Canberra's Rugby Union and League Administrators have made noises to get the thing blocked if possible. Thus far they've failed.

And even, amazingly to me, some members of Canberra's football fraternity have poo-pooed the idea.

Citing lack of interest, finances, and the Cosmos decline as various spurious reasons for the reasons why a Canberra bid will fail.

Well the Socceroos appearance, now guaranteed in my book, has clearly assisted the Canberra business case and may assist to change some people's views.

Any new business, especially one which significant start-up and running costs will always be focussed on the long-term, profile, growth and success of it's products.

Two things assisted the Canberra A-League business plan on Wednesday night.

Qualification for South Africa 2010 ensures the Socceroos and football will get increasingly positive coverage for the next 18 months or so, enabling the FFA to build on the previous successful years.

This momentum will be transferred to the young players and expect record crowds for various events in the coming couple or years.

That could be a Socceroos game in Melbourne, Sydney or dear old Canberra. And of course the A-League will make headway in Townsville, and Gold Coast and who is to say Robbie Fowler won't bring a record crowd to Sydney for an A-League game.

And expect an increase in registrations among our young people in the coming years as well.

And increasingly the business community are recognising the potential of the game and the connection to the kids, mums and dads and fans. Even a Wall Street Banker could exploit that...and succeed!

Also perhaps equally important for Canberra the record PAY TV viewing audience for any programme was broken on Wednesday night. Over 400,000 with a million tuning in at various times to watch perhaps, Australia's favourite national team. This figure didn't count ANYONE in pubs and clubs.

So the next TV deal will increase,and the current measly $1 million distributed to A-League Clubs could rise to $3 million per year. Enough to cover salaries and more, making any team profitable.

So Canberra A-League can benefit.

The growth of football in the city and region is so strong, aligned to the Socceroos brand, we got 20,000 recently for a Socceroos game, and I'm confident we can match this crowd for our first A-League game.

In fact I think we'll sell it out....and the TV future increased revenue sources aligned to a relatively low salary cap will ensure the games future.

There's a lot of work to be done but there has never been a better time to get a football team in Canberra.

And despite the naysayers none of them has been able to convince me that it can't be done. Indeed most seem hell-bent on destroying the business plan...never mind the dream.

If the numbers add up..we can do it.

And they do.

After Wednesday they just got a whole lot stronger.

With the Socceroos off to the next World Cup, TV viewing audiences continuing to rise, the interest in our game will continue to rise.

Canberra needs to get into the A-League sooner rather than later, to build on the swell of support for the game across the city and the region.

For someone involved with the Canberra bid, Wednesday night gave me many reasons to smile.

Thursday, 2 April 2009

2010 World Cup draw...I want England!

Japan, Croatia, Brazil and Italy. Last time was awesome. We couldn't have got a more interesting group and teams to play.

So this time I want England, South Korea, USA and maybe Germany/Italy or Argentina in the second round.

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

Aussies off to biggest show on earth.

It was a tense first half.

Pim Verbeek played with just the one forward, at home, and he was the smallest on the field, Scott McDonald. But Verbeek crafted another win, and Australia must be off to their third World Cup despite Bahrain winning overnight.

Verbeek sent out a cautious team, maybe, but one designed to win the game over 90 minutes rather than the first ten. And didn't he get it right. The Uzbek's were so tired come 60 minutes. And by then they were 1-0 down.

It was a tough game, Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, Josh Kennedy all missed out and of course our firepower, and pace in Emerton, was missing. And in the first half we needed that something extra.

Michael Beauchamp lined up in defence and he again looked under confident in the Australian shirt and he nearly conceded on a couple of occasions.

Uzbekistan exposed the Australian lack of pace in the Aussie defence on a couple of occasions but like Alvaro Recoba on that night of nights back in 2005 they failed to find the target. This game was always going to be played over 90 minutes.

Scott McDonald linked well with Marco Bresciano, and Bresciano should have scored.

A tense first half ended with no goals and some concerns around the Aussie performance. It lacked intensity, it lacked creativity. And Harry Kewell showed once more he is no longer a world class left winger. But the Uzbeks are a good side and anyone who expected a flogging clearly hadn't seen the Uzbek's play.

In the second half things changed.

Australia picked up the pace and to great effect. Australia won the ball in the Uzbek half and players started to move the ball a little quicker.

Richard Garcia got more into the game. Carl Valeri stomped his authority all night. Luke Wilkshire got down the right.

Marco Bresciano found space and Josh Kennedy on for Scott McDonald got the goal. More pressure and Garcia was fouled and Harry Kewell converted the penalty.

For me the game was won from the back. Scott Chipperfield and Wilkshire got further forward in the second half and the whole team, the whole performance benefited.

Not a great game, but Australia aren't a great team. But they are organised and they haven't conceded a goal in qualification.

But they won and have probably qualified through Asia at their first attempt.

Australia has rarely produced wonderful flowing teams. We've rarely had competitive games at this level. The game is still developing in this country at the elite level and tonights win was another important milestone in our development.

And what the League, AFL and Union organisers wouldn't give for such a qualification route to a World Cup in their respective codes.

Tim Cahill and Mark Bosnich both mentioned on TV tonight that we don't have a Maradona, yet, but we have Aussie pride and many good players and this group by qualifying are enabling the game to go further in this country as a result.

Bosnich even said once we get more of the better athletes switching or staying with football Australia will produce better players. AFL take note.

We've only had consistent competitive football since we joined Asia...just three years.

So rather than the so-called experts, Fozzie and Cockerill, discussing how we play, it's time to enjoy the fact that a group of Australians have earned the right to play at the World Cup again.

And that includes Pim Verbeek.

They've done it the hard way. 11 games so far across Asia.

Enjoy the win, I did.

Melbourne the 11th A-League team to be announced tomorrow?

Maybe.....

World Cup: Will the Uzbeks tire?

Sick of hearing about travel plans for the Socceroos in previous weeks, games etc, and it's impact on performance?

Well tonight we should find out exactly how much impact such travel has on performance.

Australia, in camp at least a week before tonight's game, they'll meet Uzbekistan a side that played on Saturday, won 4-0, but then had to travel to Australia...without three key players from that win against Qatar.

An improved Uzbek side should be exhausted the longer the game goes. Unless they score an early goal, they should be there for the taking.

If the Aussies don't score early, no bother, the so-called fresh legs Aussies who have been in camp for a week should cruise home.

International football is never like that....but then Uzbekistan have never had to travel to Australia 4 days after their previous game...enjoy the game!

And finally how come Jade North can come back for over a week for tonights game but he couldn't come back for an Asia Cup Qualifier last month. Pim we need him now and we needed him then!

And Josh Kennedy won't play. Harry Kewell and Scott McDonald will presumably start, although Scott has never scored so why he's a certain starter has me beat!

But I think Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilkshire, in defence and in attack will be crucial to our performance and success tonight.

South Africa here we come...let's hope so!

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Nearpost Radio tonight: Canberra Youth Football Development

Six Canberrans have training contracts with the AIS: A record for Canberra football and no doubt a record for any similar sized town/city in Australia...and yet we have no professional team, but we did introduce SSG's in 2004.

A great interview tonight with John Mitchell, the man responsible for bringing Small Sided Games to Canberra in 2004 way before it was introduced nationally by the FFA.

John talks about this and about the changes he's introduced to a local Canberra Premier League side this year. Part one tonight from 7pm, part two next week.

Anyone interested in Youth development would be interested in John's thoughts, and how he's applied them to Canberra football over a number of years. And of course the outcomes from a programme that has now run for 5 years.

Hear John tonight on Nearpost Radio. 98.3fm or streamed from www.2xxfm.org or podcast here tomorrow.

Nationally, we talk Socceroos, relive previous World Cup memories and all the issues of the week.

AIS beat Canberra's best...

The AIS have been playing the local Premier League teams recently.

With oldest AIS player now born in 1992, that makes the oldest player just 17.

They've already beaten Canberra FC, ANU and O'Connor Knights. Belconnen did beat them but the AIS had a player sent-off in the 15th minute so maybe that influenced the result.

Monday, 30 March 2009

Australia focuses on the main game

If you see people walking around Canberra with huge smiles on their faces this week there's a fair chance they are heading to Sydney for the World Cup Qualifier against Uzbekistan on Wednesday.

The League has started (not for the Raiders), the AFL is running hot...(in Melbourne), the Super 14 continues (in other countries) but this is the game I've been waiting for...the rest merely a news item...and a depressing one at that as Canberra teams keep losing!

But an increasing number of Canberrans are excitedly telling me they are going on Wednesday and "can't wait," seems to be the general concensus.

I'm not going. But isn't it great to have so much competitive football. For a country so long starved of any real national football, the important games are coming thick and fast.

And if we beat Uzbekistan we are as good as off to South Africa.

And then I guess we'll all be smiling on Thursday...even those of us who didn't get to go.

World Cup Qualifier, points at stake, Uzbekistan desperate for a result, Aussies in dreamland if we win....Bring it on!

Rugby to face football style exodus?

According to Saturday's SMH Super 14 Aussie franchises will face an exodus of players heading to Europe in the next two years.

Aussie football fans have had to deal with this for years but it will be interesting to see how it affects the Aussie Super 14 fan base if, as expected, such an exodus would leave the Aussie S14 sides even further down the table than they are this year...

With three of the four Aussie teams in the bottom four any further exodus will clearly weaken the exisiting teams.

With the Union junior base pretty low in terms of numbers, a loss of players could seriously impact on the Aussie teams, particularly as they play in an International Competition.

It's not like the NRL or AFL. Should any players leave to other codes, or to play overseas, the domestic nature of the league means the results don't really suffer only the on-field quality...but that's always hard to measure in a domestic league.

Football has always had the problem of players leaving, but the depth of the junior base, plus the ability to bring in overseas players has meant we are still able to have a strong domestic competition, the A-League.

Socceroos have always played o/s based players but Union and Wallabies "protect" the local game by only playing Aussie based players in the Wallabies.

This may all be about to change.

And it will be interesting to see how many die-hard Aussie Union players make the trip home for some meaningless "test" match against France, Italy or whoever.

Union clearly faces many challenges in coming years in Australia.

And who can forget that the World Cup will be played in New Zealand in 2011 when they could have gone to Japan. With the state of the game that is one big blooper. I thought it then, it seems even bigger today.

NSW Football Federation = Pathetic

Do the FFA and NSW give a stuff about football development?

Imagine a football organisation that wants to improve it's organisation, it's Premier League. Well it's not NSW is it? You might argue it's not the FFA!

Australia is crying out for game improvement opportunities for its young players and NSW has an amazing opportunity to improve it's league. Put a team or two from Canberra in the league.

But because we aren't in NSW we can't get in. Have you ever heard anything so pathetic? They don't mind all our players going to Sydney or Wollongong to play do they?

NSW Premier League, through the NSW Football Federation, needs to put one maybe two teams from Canberra in it's league.

Is Canberra up to the task? Well we normally win it when we were in ..so you'd think the NSW Premier League would be desperate to add a team or two from a city that produces quality teams.

Hey it would provide a further pathway for Australia's junior players. But no they don't want us.

It's about time the FFA got involved and sorted the mob at NSW PL out.

How long can this farce go on?

Maybe Belconnen United and Canberra FC merely apply from a postal office in Queanbeyan and play in Canberra! Is that how stupid football is in Australia?

Mariners community programs expanding in 2009

A Canberra A-League side would change many things in the football community over time.

Here's what the Mariners are doing just four years after they started, though I'm not sure what they mean by "learn to play the Mariners way." "the Mariners Way," is not my view of how the game could be played...but suppose it takes all sorts:)

The Central Coast Mariners’ community and player development program has re-commenced with a new and expansive model aimed to engage participants at all levels, while casting an eye over new talent.

With a focus on accessibility and affordability, the Mariners will host and support school holiday clinics and regional development centres across the Central Coast and the northern Sydney corridor in partnership with the Ku-ring-gai & District Soccer Association and Gladesville Hornsby Football Association.

School holiday programs scheduled for 2009 will number in excess of 40 programs, with this massive footprint set to engage over 2,000 children between the ages of 4 and 12 years in fun and developmental sessions that include visits from Mariners players.

The development centres will be conducted during school terms over eight advanced sessions to assist club-based players to 'learn to play the Mariners way'.

To facilitate the growth of the community football program, the Mariners have engaged the services of Tim Thorne as Community Development Officer – Sydney, who will work in conjunction with foundation Mariners player and now Youth Development Co-ordinator, Damien Brown.

"It’s a great time to be engaging kids in football and through the Mariners development initiatives we are driving community development to a new level," said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.

"The Mariners provide a pathway to professional football that is unique in football in Australia and we believe it is a part of our responsibility to provide aspiring young players at all levels with some key opportunities and milestones along their journey towards this goal.

"Football is fun and we want every player who attends a Mariners program to enjoy their experience whatever their level of development."

Sunday, 29 March 2009

USA given free passage to the World Cup.

The USA are always guaranteed passage to the World Cup. They lead a group with Mexico and the mighty Honduras, Trinidad (don't forget Tobago) Costa Rica and El Salvador.

And from those six.....THREE teams qualify for the World Cup.

Talk about a biased farce!...and if you come FOURTH you get a play-off with, this year, the South American fifth place team.
How does this region, with those teams, get 3.5 places. Corruption I guess!

Socceroos: Local Media a little confused!

Win Wednesday and we're going to South Africa!

Japan went to the top of the group last night which according to local Canberra media is bad news for Australia...but because of that result we could actually qualify for the World Cup on Wednesday.....

so der..how is it a bad result!!!

Some people have no idea! It's great news for Australia. Australia, obviously didn't play last night, but the result pushes the third place team further behind Australia...especially if the Aussies beat Uzbekistan on Wednesday. And of course the top two qualify direct with the third place team going into further play-offs.

We win and Bahrain draw later on Wed night and Australia go to the World Cup.

So last night Japan needed to beat or draw with Bahrain Japan won 1-0
and Uzbekistan needed to beat Qatar and they did 4-0..which again was the perfect scenario for Australia.

Now to Wednesday and the best position Australia could be in after Wednesday is:

1 April, Bahrain draw with Qatar
1 April, Australia beat Uzbekistan

We would have qualified for the World Cup or with a win to us and a win to either Bahrain or Qatar then Aussies would need just 1 point from 3 games:)

Ladder Ends up after Wednesday if results go as above.:
Team--------- pts Sunday Games pld and Pts after Wednesday Max pts possible.
Australia-----...10...........5............13
Japan----------..11...........5............11
Bahrain--------...4...........6.............5..or (7)..........11 (13)
Qatar----------...4...........6.............5..................11
Uzbek---------....4...........6.............4..................11

Worse case scenario if Australia win on Wednesday, Aussies need a point from 3 games to be certain of qualification:) although if we win on Wednesday it will be enough in my view.

Saturday, 28 March 2009

Ljubo Milcevic is gone..now he's back:)

"I'm looking forward to getting back to Newcastle and its beautiful beaches and for the side to have a strong remaining ACL campaign, starting with these two massive games against Nagoya," the 28-year-old told au.fourfourtwo.com today.

Err Ljubo...how long were you away...did you really miss those wonderful beaches.
The guy can clearly play, although he looks like a 38 year old on the field not a 28.

Like Ben Cousins in the AFL you miss a year in your later playing years and you are NEVER the player you were. Ljubo will be a great addition to the A-League if he stays. He can pass!

So here's hoping he stays around for awhile. We need players of his on-field quality.

Football on Commercial Telly...Wow!

When you see all the kids playing and the number of people involved in the game it's always amazed me that Commercial TV has been slow, very slow to get involved in one of Australia's major activities.

How hard can it be to get sponsors for this show and at the end of the day that's all Commercial Telly is about, isn't it?

How many other sports or interest groups have such a large number of women, girls and boys involved in a sport, and we are always told these are the people who influence so much discretionary spending.

Well finally Channel 9 is to show "Football Stars of Tomorrow,"..Football finally breaks through to commercially telly...what next they start talking up the code and include it in the their sports bulletins...hold on..one step at a time..but a good indication of where the code is heading...

Apart from the fact I hate those commercial stations....this is a great thing for the game...see release below

Award winning television program Football Stars of Tomorrow will in 2009 debut on commercial television, after a deal between Football NSW and Channel Nine was struck.

Fresh from claiming the 2008 NSW Sports Federation Media Award, Football Stars of Tomorrow will initially feature on Channel Nine for eight weeks beginning in late June.

Channel Nine personality Stephanie Brantz will host ‘Season Four’ of Football Stars of Tomorrow which will be screened at 2pm on Sunday during the ‘Wide World of Sports’, broadcasting grassroots football across the nation.

Football NSW Chief Executive Officer Michael Quarmby was elated with the agreement.

“Channel Nine has given our sport every chance of growing not only in NSW, but across Australia.

“Our dream of being able to deliver a national message in order to promote grassroots football has finally been realised and with the help of various sponsors and Football Federation Australia, this fantastic prospect will be taken with both hands.”

Football Stars of Tomorrow, although primarily targeted at children aged 8-16, proved to be popular with adults as well and accumulated an average of 92,000 viewers a week in 2008, resulting in a total viewership of 1.75 million.

Its’ aim was to not only promote the game at the grassroots level, but also to target viewers from various demographic backgrounds.

Season Four will feature a variety of new segments including a Football Federation Australia (FFA) endorsed Socceroos segment, Women’s Football segment, Celebrity segment and a Coaching segment with special guests from FFA.

Football Stars of Tomorrow Producer and Football NSW Commercial Services Executive Manager Tony Peters is adamant the show can be a success on commercial television with the support of the greater ‘football community’.

“Clearly Channel Nine are putting their foot in the water to test the sport; it’s up to the football family to ensure the program stays on Channel Nine long term by supporting it.

“Football NSW applauds Channel Nine in their support of promoting the round ball game at grassroots level.”

The new season of Football Stars of Tomorrow can still be seen on Fox Sports and will feature exclusive access to the 2009 TeleChoice Premier League.

More information regarding times, dates and talent will be released when available.

Thursday, 26 March 2009

Canberrans: Harder to be a Socceroo than a Wallaby

We've got many more Wallabies from Canberra than Socceroos. Our Private Schools just produce better Rugby players.

Well what a crock. This came from a Canberra Sports Journalist I met recently.

First of all the Private Schools in Canberra.....
have a long proud history of producing Rugby players but ask Marist, Radford, Grammar, St Eddies and co and they'd all talk about the huge switch to football in recent years. And it will continue won't it?

Secondly until recently there were just THREE teams in Union. Brumbies, Waratahs and Queensland.

It makes sense, to me, that the Wallabies will be chosen from those three teams. Therefore any Canberran making the Brumbies has a great chance of making the Wallabies.

There just aren't that many Union players to choose from.

As for football. The code is played across the whole country, and indeed Aussies play across the world, and therefore to make the national team from any city is a tad harder. Particularly one that doesn't have a professional team.

So I would argue the fact that so many of our players have reached Socceroos and Australian Representative Level is a credit to our development processes.

When two Tuggeranong United Under 11's rise to Socceroos level it is a huge achievement.

When four Canberrans make the current Australian Under 17 team and a further four have made the Under 18 and Under 20 teams then clearly Canberra is doing something right.

It's much harder to make the Socceroos than the Wallabies; but just because Canberra has more Wallabies it's a misnomer to suggest that it's because the Private Schools develop their Rugger boys better.

In fact it's total garbage. Long-live the Canberra journo:)

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