Expansion Canberra

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MelbourneGWS said:
behind a paywall but speculation that there will be no Canberra teams selected in the second tier national soccer competition that is expected to now commence in 2025. The teams are expected to be announced on November 20. Canberra and Auckland were also announced as Aleague expansion teams, but the deadline for this has also been delayed.

www.canberratimes.com.au

Questions remain as National Second Tier takes big step forward

The competition has a new start date after major change announced.
www.canberratimes.com.au www.canberratimes.com.au
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Canberra Pear said:
I know soccer folks are excited for the NSD, but I'm not sure it'd rate much of a mention if Canberra got one (in terms of how it'd affect an AFL team).

An NSD side will only cost ~1/30th that of an AFL team to run. Probably similar to our baseball or ice hockey team. Wouldn't be much competition for corporate sponsors.
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Given the fact that the options were either Canberra Croatia (Southern suburb) or Gunghalin (Northern suburb) to join the NSD, it probably isn’t a surprised neither team has gained into the 2nd division given the small size and population of the territory and it would be better if ACT had one big representative club in the A-League in 2025 to help build popularity and participation rates in Canberra before bringing in local clubs from that region.

www.foxsports.com.au

‘This is real’: 146-year ‘no-fault divorce’ on cards as momentum builds for AFL reserves league

The 146-year ‘no-fault divorce’ on cards as momentum builds for new AFL league
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With this news though and the AFL wanting a National Reserves Competition soon (alongside AFLACT merging with AFLNSW perhaps), if Canberra was really interested in becoming the 20th AFL team after Tasmania’s entry, wonder if they should enquire to the AFL about possibly being part of the reserves competition for a couple of years (also AFLW), similar to what Tasmania will do now before their entry into the AFL in 2028, before Canberra gains entry into the big league once GWS deal is finished in 2033.

This implementation would benefit both parties at the table, as it would help the AFL create a ethically fair reserves competition in a 20 round season (every teams plays once + local derby twice) for all AFL current clubs involved while it would help Canberra / ACT region slowly build up their club from scratch without the pressure of committing to an AFL club straight away to see if the support is there for one (furthermore with current issue of stadium plans and redevelopment)

Would believe though that with this decision allowing more AFL content to be played in Canberra (double headers with 1sts perhaps with other clubs), it would only improve the player / coaching pools of the competitions greatly across the territory and would help engage the support of the club (financially and membership standpoint) slowly over time before joining the big league more effectively than if they plunked a club straight into the AFL competition.
 
Cubs2Lions said:
With this news though and the AFL wanting a National Reserves Competition soon (alongside AFLACT merging with AFLNSW perhaps), if Canberra was really interested in becoming the 20th AFL team after Tasmania’s entry, wonder if they should enquire to the AFL about possibly being part of the reserves competition for a couple of years (also AFLW), similar to what Tasmania will do now before their entry into the AFL in 2028, before Canberra gains entry into the big league once GWS deal is finished in 2033.

This implementation would benefit both parties at the table, as it would help the AFL create a ethically fair reserves competition in a 20 round season (every teams plays once + local derby twice) for all AFL current clubs involved while it would help Canberra / ACT region slowly build up their club from scratch without the pressure of committing to an AFL club straight away to see if the support is there for one (furthermore with current issue of stadium plans and redevelopment)

Would believe though that with this decision allowing more AFL content to be played in Canberra (double headers with 1sts perhaps with other clubs), it would only improve the player / coaching pools of the competitions greatly across the territory and would help engage the support of the club (financially and membership standpoint) slowly over time before joining the big league more effectively than if they plunked a club straight into the AFL competition.
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I would love for Canberra to get a reserves side. Would be a great chance to build a brand and momentum. And hopefully have that team be the one that eventually enters the AFL.

Before Eastlake became the sole Canberra NEAFL team, the AFL strongly encouraged the four strongest teams to join forces to form one team. But they baulked at having to pay $150k each per season.

I still wonder what would've happened if that had gone ahead. They'd probably be playing in the VFL and a lot of the groundwork would have already been done to push for inclusion in the reserves comp.
 
I like the idea of a Canberra VFL team, simply called Canberra and minimalist colours so that the same club can be entered into the AFL later with an added mascot and colours/jumper design. It would be a cool way to do it, build some minor base level support prior to entering the big league.
 

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Bjo187 said:
I like the idea of a Canberra VFL team, simply called Canberra and minimalist colours so that the same club can be entered into the AFL later with an added mascot and colours/jumper design. It would be a cool way to do it, build some minor base level support prior to entering the big league.
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I thought Eastlake went by the name Canberra Demons when they played in the NEAFL when Belco, Ainslie and Queanbeyan quit the NEAFL to go back to the ACT competition
 
Coolangatta said:
Canberra in the reserves league is a great idea, same with Tasmania (who don't need the new stadium for the reserves games). Is the competition planned to be up and running by 2025?
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Don’t know if the reserves competition / expanded VFL would commence in 2025, but there was talk in South Australia that Port Adelaide and Adelaide want to leave the SANFL after next year and West Coast is also eager to move away from the WAFL in the near future also, so it’ll happen sooner than people think.

With Tasmania’s entry, they were meant to play in the VFL system from 2025/2026 for a couple of years before gaining entry into the AFL in 2028, so if that the VFL competition does go back to its original identity and an expanded reserves competition does come in (possibly 3-4 years time), it would involve all the AFL clubs and allow Tasmania and Canberra into to the mix to create a 20 team competition (more likely) OR could include Northern Territory and Southport (richest stand-alone club in QLD and could improve pathways in the state) for a 22 team competition.
 
MelbourneGWS said:
I thought Eastlake went by the name Canberra Demons when they played in the NEAFL when Belco, Ainslie and Queanbeyan quit the NEAFL to go back to the ACT competition
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They did. Belco and Queanbeyan left a season earlier, then it was just Ainslie and Eastlake left. Then Ainslie really made a push to be the sole Canberra side, but left when that was rejected, leaving just the Demons.

I reckon a neutral combined side would have fared better. Canberra isn't big enough to have teams promoted.
 
I feel like these colours would be good for a Canberra team. A little bit more light blue required perhaps, but I'd like this design.

20231110_210701.jpg
 
Cubs2Lions said:
Don’t know if the reserves competition / expanded VFL would commence in 2025, but there was talk in South Australia that Port Adelaide and Adelaide want to leave the SANFL after next year and West Coast is also eager to move away from the WAFL in the near future also, so it’ll happen sooner than people think.

With Tasmania’s entry, they were meant to play in the VFL system from 2025/2026 for a couple of years before gaining entry into the AFL in 2028, so if that the VFL competition does go back to its original identity and an expanded reserves competition does come in (possibly 3-4 years time), it would involve all the AFL clubs and allow Tasmania and Canberra into to the mix to create a 20 team competition (more likely) OR could include Northern Territory and Southport (richest stand-alone club in QLD and could improve pathways in the state) for a 22 team competition.
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I reckon Port’s complaints about the SANFL is just leveraging to get some changes in the SANFL rules.

Some reasons why an AFL reserves comp won’t happen any time soon:
  • I don’t reckon Port would be happy to kill off the Port Magpies/Prison Bar heritage by joining an AFL reserves comp.
  • Crows are contacted with the SANFL until at least 2028.
  • Not sure many Vic AFL clubs would be advantaged by a reserves comp. More travel for all clubs is not a positive.
  • increased cost to the AFL would not be popular
  • WAFC owns the WAFL and also both WC and Freo - why would they want them to leave?
 
Cubs2Lions said:
Given the fact that the options were either Canberra Croatia (Southern suburb) or Gunghalin (Northern suburb) to join the NSD, it probably isn’t a surprised neither team has gained into the 2nd division given the small size and population of the territory and it would be better if ACT had one big representative club in the A-League in 2025 to help build popularity and participation rates in Canberra before bringing in local clubs from that region.
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Would be difficult also given Croatia are probably the biggest club in the city, but they also kinda have the fascism problem a lot of high profile Croatian clubs do
 
MelbourneGWS said:
We are playing St Kilda, Brisbane and Hawthorn at our Manuka home ground in 2024. Barr will also be happy that he gets to see the Hawks!

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Canberra to Host Special Clash as Footy Returns to Manuka

The fixture for Manuka Oval is in, with the GIANTS to play on one of the biggest days of the year.
www.gwsgiants.com.au www.gwsgiants.com.au
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MelbourneGWS said:
We are playing St Kilda, Brisbane and Hawthorn at our Manuka home ground in 2024. Barr will also be happy that he gets to see the Hawks!

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Canberra to Host Special Clash as Footy Returns to Manuka

The fixture for Manuka Oval is in, with the GIANTS to play on one of the biggest days of the year.
www.gwsgiants.com.au www.gwsgiants.com.au
Click to expand...

I'm happy with the Hawks, but it feels like a bit of a consolation prize. The other two are still bottom-third in terms of membership (though they should be quality games).

But we're still being overlooked for a big four Victorian side.

I'm glad to see Canberra utilised for the Anzac weekend though. With the war memorial here, it's a no-brainer.
 
Canberra Pear said:
I'm happy with the Hawks, but it feels like a bit of a consolation prize. The other two are still bottom-third in terms of membership (though they should be quality games).

But we're still being overlooked for a big four Victorian side.

I'm glad to see Canberra utilised for the Anzac weekend though. With the war memorial here, it's a no-brainer.
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Yes completely agree about the ANZAC match. Am surprised why the AFL doesn’t regularly have Canberra host an ANZAC night match to complement the ANZAC day Collingwood-Essendon match, and the ANZAC Eve Melbourne-Richmond match
 
As expected, both Gunghalin and Canberra Croatia were unsuccessful in getting entry to Soccer’s national second division. An additional 2-4 clubs will be chosen before the second division competition begins in 2025, but of the 8 clubs chosen so far, 5 were from NSW and 3 are from Victoria. Unlikely that Canberra will have a club in the second division as there will most probably be a team from Brisbane and Adelaide to fill the major geographical holes.

www.abc.net.au

Sydney United included in National Second Division to launch in 2025

Sydney United were punished after some fans were caught last year performing Nazi salutes, waving flags, and chanting slogans associated with the Croatian fascist movement.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
 
MelbourneGWS said:
As expected, both Gunghalin and Canberra Croatia were unsuccessful in getting entry to Soccer’s national second division. An additional 2-4 clubs will be chosen before the second division competition begins in 2025, but of the 8 clubs chosen so far, 5 were from NSW and 3 are from Victoria. Unlikely that Canberra will have a club in the second division as there will most probably be a team from Brisbane and Adelaide to fill the major geographical holes.

www.abc.net.au

Sydney United included in National Second Division to launch in 2025

Sydney United were punished after some fans were caught last year performing Nazi salutes, waving flags, and chanting slogans associated with the Croatian fascist movement.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
Click to expand...
Starting a ‘national comp’ with teams from only 2 states is the most FA thing imaginable. Said from the beginning that this will be a disaster for soccer and nothing so far has changed my mind at all.
 
Canberra and Auckland were announced for Aleague expansion in 2024. However, whilst Auckland just got the Aleague license, no news yet on Canberra joining the Aleague- the deadline for our entry seems to keep on extending!

aleagues.com.au

Auckland expansion team awarded full A-Leagues license

Founder of Black Knight Football Club Bill Foley has been confirmed as the Auckland A-Leagues Licence Owner.
aleagues.com.au aleagues.com.au
 
Saw this on Twitter this morning.

Canberra is apparently the second-fastest growing city in the developed English-speaking world.

The ACT is building more dwellings per capita than any other state or territory (and more than twice as many as WA or Tasmania).

Screenshot_20231121-223144_X.jpg
 
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Behind a paywall but seems that there’s a renewed rush to make a decision on a Canberra team in the Aleague Men, with Auckland recently being awarded the 13th licence. Also seems Barr (and Berry) are coming to the party, albeit the actual support is dependent on the final $ backing obtained for the club

www.canberratimes.com.au

The written confirmation set to boost Canberra's A-League bid

The ACT government has been asked to confirm its funding plans.
www.canberratimes.com.au www.canberratimes.com.au
 

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Expansion Canberra

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