Good question - I presume it's some sort of cap exemption spot.

Best of luck to the lad, definitely appears to put the nail in the coffin for FBK :(

From what little we've (well me at least) seen of him, seems to be a gun. Just sucks about FBK.

I have a feeling it's got more to do with him turning 17 recently and not wanting a rehash of the Pasquali shamozzle than anything to do with FBK tbh.

if its a home semi final against Brisbane Roar or Western Sydney Wanderers it won't be scheduled on Friday April 28th at all due to Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers both coming back from Bangkok and Saitama from AFC Champions League fixtures where both of them play on Wednesday April 26th and they won't return home back to their respective cities til Friday April 28th.

For once, thank you AFL 

This. The club cant be seen to lose another player like pasquali again. So offering theo a scholarship  deal makes sense. Means if a o/s want him they will need to pay dispensation

What even is the Scholarship deal? As in would that even be considered a senior contract? Regardless of the why or the what, didn't realise he was only (just) 17, looked really good in his pre season cameos. Wonder if we will look to refresh with some more youth come next season.

Basically a youth deal . But different .

in recent years the top placed team has been rewarded with the Friday night home semi final. if the FFA is consistent, Sydney would get it this year and we get an AAMI park semi final (I remember cracking the sh!ts big time last year when we were told we'd have to back up in Adelaide on the Friday night 3 days after playing in China had we beaten Brisbane). but in saying that, the only thing that talks to the FFA is money, so you can take it to the bank that our semi final will be at Etihad on the Friday.

I feel so privileged to have been part of the AAMI Park Grand Final win over Sydney - will never happen again I don't think :(

not unless AAMI Park is expanded. so yeah, it was a memorable one off experience.

Brenton said in another thread that Allianz stadium is booked for NRL on the Friday of Semi Final weekend. that pretty much assures a home final at Etihad on the Friday unless we draw a team playing ACL.

Teen Melbourne Victory youngster Christian Theoharous a chance to make debut against Sydney FC

THIS is the Melbourne Victory teen sensation who could be plucked from the youth team for a dream senior Big Blue debut on Friday.

He turned 17 in December, but Christian Theoharous is set for a sensational inclusion on the eve of the finals series for the title-chasing club.

The winger this week signed a scholarship contract with Victory and looks set to be the beneficiary after the controversial axing of Fahid Ben Khalfallah.


At just 17, Christian Theoharous could make his senior debut for Melbourne Victory in Friday night’s Big Blue. Picture: George Salpigtidis
The Tunisian has been banished in recent weeks, with his contract understood to trigger a one-year extension if he plays a handful more games.

Theoharous trained strongly yesterday at Gosch’s Paddock and may travel to Sydney FC on Friday, where he would start in the bench as Victory tries to close the eight-point gap on the league leaders.


Either way, he is certain to make the Round 24 trip to Brisbane Roar in a fortnight which coincides with the FIFA international window.

Theoharous, who’s scored two goals in three NPL games this season including a stunner in last week’s 3-2 win over Moreland City, told the Victory website that he was aiming to play this season now that he’s been permanently promoted to the first-team.

“Hopefully we can finish the season strongly as a team and (for me) just train really hard, keep developing and get a few minutes under my belt,” Theoharous said.


Tunisian Fahid Ben Khalfallah has been used sparingly in recent weeks by Melbourne Victory. Picture: AAP
“It’s a great opportunity to play for the best club in Australia. I’m grateful and thank the staff, and especially Kevin Muscat, for giving me this opportunity.

“From the first time I stepped into the club everyone made me feel at home. They all encourage me and I’m developing really well.”

Theoharous, who was part of a Young Socceroos camp several weeks ago, has been at Victory since 2014 but has impressed in recent months.

He made his debut in the friendly against Atletico Madrid at Simonds Stadium last July and was an unused sub in the International Champions Cup clash with Juventus.

Though Theoharous has trained regularly with the first-team, Seb Pasquali is the only youth team product who’s debuted in the A-League this season.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/victory/teen-melbourne-victory-youngster-christian-theoharous-a-chance-to-make-debut-against-sydney-fc/news-story/3940dbde57136911347af6c8e59a3f6f

top 5 teams - finals venue availability as things stand,

Sydney FC - Allianz Stadium:
Friday April 28th (unavailable due to NRL commitments)
Saturday April 29th (available)
Sunday April 30th (available)

Melbourne Victory - AAMI Park & Etihad Stadium:
Friday April 28th at Etihad Stadium (available)
Friday April 28th at AAMI Park (available)
Saturday April 29th at Etihad Stadium (unavailable due to AFL commitments)
Saturday April 29th at AAMI Park (available)
Sunday April 30th at Etihad Stadium (unavailable due to AFL commitments)
Sunday April 30th at AAMI Park (available)

Perth Glory - NIB Stadium:
Friday April 21st (available)
Saturday April 22nd (unavailable due to Super Rugby commitments)
Sunday April 23rd (available)

Brisbane Roar - Suncorp Stadium:
Friday April 21st (available)
Saturday April 22nd (available)
Sunday April 23rd (unavailable due to Brisbane Roar's ACL commitments in Bangkok on Wednesday April 26th)

Melbourne City - AAMI Park:
Friday April 21st (available)
Saturday April 22nd (available)
Sunday April 23rd (available)

AFC Champions League fixtures - semi final week:
Wednesday April 26th Urawa Red Diamonds v Western Sydney Wanderers at Saitama Stadium in Saitama
Wednesday April 26th Muang Thong United v Brisbane Roar at SCG Stadium in Nonthaburi

Was disappointed hearing ian robson deflect about the dealings with fbk today on sen. I hope they are working it out cause this kind of stuff can fracture the playing group and with how boring the season has been stuff like this really makes supporters rethink memberships. 
I was actually more annoyed that we have 15 minutes of meaningful football talk a week on melbourne radio and they take most of it up talking about tea.

Good news about Captain Carl. I wonder if there has been an adjustment of his salary? May allow the club to slide Bozanic under the cap more readily.

I pray to little baby jesus. +1 = 1 prayer

Or sliiddeeee him out the door lol

-PB

Can't see Ollie being at the club next season. If he is it would take a huge pay cut.

He needs to go. He doesnt offfer anything

Wins it, knocks it around four opponents with four touches, and then finally one of Troisi's potshots from the edge of the area go in. Goal of the year contender for sure.

So I missed last nights game but according to FB Ollie not even in the matchday squad. I am actually beginning to have some hope that he may not be about next season. 

Need to throw everything at Troisi at the end of the season, can really see him getting a big money offer from the Middle East or China. Hopefully his experiences have taught him that this isn't good for his NT chances.

In any case, this is proof that the salary cap should be raised. If we want to compete in the ACL next season we can't have our best be plundered by rich Asian clubs when we can afford to pay them a bit more. 

Troisi is the perfect case as to why there should be serious salary cap concessions for current Socceroos. Preferably, they shouldn't be counted at all.

Boz to Japan is the rumour. Plz be the reason.

Yeah, that would be good, except Troisi hasn't been a current Socceroo since 2015 lol - be WAYYYYY too hard to police based on their eligibility imo.

As in the case point is that he came to us as a journeyman and we made him the Socceroo that won our nation the Asian Cup. He fucked off to Asia and disappeared from the Socceroos, then came back to Victory and low and behold he's earned his cap back. If Victory were allowed to keep him in the first place he could have been a servant to the NT all along.

Another good example is Adelaide, they should be rightly rewarded for bringing McGree to the Socceroos.

I'm sure a reasonable set of terms could be drawn up to reward teams for being the incubator of national team talent they are currently punished for being by the current FFA regime.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-victorys-oliver-bozanic-looks-set-for-move-to-jleague-20170313-guww48.html

Melbourne Victory's marquee player Oliver Bozanic looks to be on the way out of AAMI Park, with talks ongoing for him to join a J-League club before the Japanese transfer window shuts at the end of March.