@TheSelectFew only 6 clubs are remaining able to register given its 202 clubs have registered maximum limit is 208:
http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017-FFA-Cup-Round-Progression.pdf
http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Westfield-FFA-Cup-2017.pdf

FFA Cup – South Australia dates so far,

weekend of March 24-26
weekend of April 15-17
midweek of April 25-26
weekend of May 12-14
weekend of June 24-25

Based on the NPL SA fixture release.
http://websites.sportstg.com/get_file.cgi?id=36081830                                 

Not the FFA Cup schedule. This is wrong. Wait until the FFA Cup release their fixtures first. 

Getting excited for the coming competition already, hopefully this year we get a more favorable draw and make the R32.

You did on my FM save.
Knocked out SFC and got Arnie sacked. 

I get excited after each preliminary rounds for the next. 

Warrnambool Wolves board has approved entry into the FFA Cup.

Greenacre Eagles shall be entering. 

Quirindi FC from Northern Inland football have confirmed their participation in this years FFA Cup. 

To further that point it will be their first match in the FFA Cup. 

Great to see more teams jumping on board.  They'll be up against it to make it anywhere near the Round of 32 though.

Only one team from the Northern Inland makes it past the regional qualifying, and they'll be up against all the top division sides.

I think the cup presents more than just a remote chance at national glory but a chance to be recognised and see if they have what it takes to compete at the next level. Sure. There will be 20 nil defeats but it's worth it for the smaller clubs.

Really hope they change the final format.

Record participation this year?

I'm hoping so. It is great  to see clubs investing into their stadia as well. The more the merrier.

How would you propose a different format?

I think I wouldn't mind one of 4 solutions

1) open draw rd32
2) A-League teams all play away to NPL r32, open draw r16
3) Regional r64 - eg MV & MC in a draw with 10 teams (to equal 2+4) , BR + 5 teams, AU + 3 teams, r32 open draw
4) number 2 & 3 - regional r64 then seeded A-League teams r32

I like number 3 best. Let's face it, people want to see local derbies. It would cost FFA nothing in travel costs. This also means for example 20 Victorian teams know they will be in a pot to play MV or MV if they win.

I think each team should stay in their local region, so BR are Brisbane and not Qld. I would prefer WP play in the SA instead of ACT or Tas.

There is an argument that it takes away but the NPL players would want the big local matches and the fans too. Glory v St Albans is great but nothing like HU v MC or HC v MV.

Of these I'd prefer option 1.  In my mind it gives the competition more credibility.  All other options detract in some way for me.

Option 2 essentially gives the A-League clubs an easy path to the Round of 16.  Plenty of people complain about the guaranteed semi final spot for a non-A-League team, and this is a similar concept but in reverse (not guaranteed, but very likely).

Option 3 makes the latter round feel less exciting.  If you've already has a South Melbourne vs Melbourne Victory Round of 64 (or 32), then the only way a semi final comes close to that level is if it's another derby.  I know it reduces travel costs, but I'd prefer for those big games to happen naturally.  It'll mean that some years we get none, but that makes them more exciting when they do happen.

Whatever the FFA decide (probably to keep it the same), I'll just be happy to see the participation numbers increasing.

I agree but as a tv spectacle, which will help fund it, you can add 3 extra weeks with 6 matches (7 w/Perth). All derbies.

The odds MV got SM would still be 10/1 (probably less with proper math) Same with BR Strikers 5/1 but you do increase the chances of the minnows playing big clubs.

Outside of a handful of clubs in NSW and Vic with BS & AC, there aren't many "big" NPL clubs.

It also gives A-League fans the chance to see their team play in their area for at least one game of the tournament.

I just hate the system now. 4 random teams to play NPL.

The problem with your ro64 regionalised round is that will all but disrupt the local cups. Some have been around for a hundred years. 

I have no solution for that.

They can have 2 cup comps or abolish the local one.

I feel a regional r64 would do wonders for the comp at the local perspective.

I do. 

Allow Aleague teams to participate in the cups. 

Kyneton Districts: has this team participated previously?

but Victoria gets 6 FFA Cup spots atm (2+4). How do you solve that problem?

Regional prelims. Simple. Cuts the shite early whilst still boosting participation and quality. 

Using a FC of NNSW have announced their participation in next seasons cup after an absence from last years comp. 

NNSW is the only federation that has had declining participation since the inaugural season. 

I grew up in NNSW and understand why they use regional qualifying before taking the winner from each region to the next stage.  But part of the excitement of cup football is playing teams that you don't get to play otherwise.

E.g. teams from Northern Inland playing the teams from Coffs Harbour or Lismore.  Travel and schedule issues stop this from happening, but I'd like to see two clubs from each region go onto the next level instead of just one.

At the moment one team from Northern Inland plays against one team from Mid North Coast, and the winner goes to the Semi finals in Newcastle.  Why couldn't the top two from each go into a pool that also includes North Coast and Far North Coast regions? 

There are very practical reasons it doesn't happen like this, but I think it'd add plenty of interest to the competition for those regional teams.

Agreed and could explain why the NNSW teams feel disillusioned with the competition. If you aren't busting through the tiers what's the point?

from Football Brisbane,

we plan to conduct the 2nd round draw next Friday (January 20th) with the 2nd round matches to be played weekend of the Friday February 10th to Sunday February.

With expansion of the A-League hopefully coming in the 2018-19 season, what will happen with the allocation for the FFA cup? 2 spots taken off the state federations or an increased competition? Surely they will increase the competition.

Surely they wouldnt make it smaller lol. 

3 new clubs in Victorian State League 5 Men's for the coming season:

- Drouin Dragons SC
- Uni Hill Eagles
- Campbellfield Lions Soccer Club

They will also make their. FFA Cup debut