Its interesting when you read page 11 of 50 re Growth Phase's.
Quoting P/R from the get go.
http://www.australianfootballclubs.org.au/uploads/9/8/8/1/9881717/aafc_nsd_final_report__22.02.22_.pdf

Your guess is as good as mine mate.. Im operating on the assumption of pro/rel to NPL from day one but again .... who knows?

Is that the case though? Wouldn't many clubs still compete in the NPL, at least while the NSD is a stand alone comp, which as far as we know will be initially. Obviously if P&R is introduced between the NSD and NPL down the track it no longer makes sense, but until then you'd think clubs would want both a NPL and a NSD side.

Yeah huge assumption on my part but a logical one, with such a short period of time to "get ready" I doubt a brand new entity would have time to arrange a ground, funding, admin, coaching staff, players for 1st squad, all the way doen to juniors for both women and men and sponsorship to foot the bill... Unless these conversations have already taken place and ready to go at the push of a button like WU was? who knows bud????

As for pre-season for existing clubs, dont forget, NPL season, with finals, should be done by end of September giving them a good 5 months to rest players, recruit staff and plan for the season ahead.. it wont be "from scratch".

I would also think (another huge assumption on my behalf) that clubs that know they are not going to be competing in their current league next year may take their foot of the peddle so to speak for the last few months knowing position on the table doesnt matter if they are "going up" anyway. Also helps to evaluate youth for next year, try a few crazy things structurally and not have to worry about results.... may be an interesting last year in the NPLs for some..... who knows.... ?

I'd assume more than a few 'quiet conversations' have happened. I reckon clubs would much prefer 8 months of prep. 6 is doable, but there is no point rushing things. Especially if clubs are required to undertake certain upgrades to venues. With 8 months they may even get a decent pre-season. You are also making the assumption that the league will consist solely of existing clubs. I too hope that assumption is correct, but we cannot rule out the possibility of some 'new clubs' being selected. This is the FA after all. If that happens those clubs will want/need extra time to get ready.

RedStar have ambition to play on the national stage - they're just not ready for it - however by the time this thing launches they might well be.

I would assume that a few "quiet conversations" have taken place prior and some early planning is going on in clubland... Depends on the format but most would just need time to re-vamp squads (in Jan trading window) and re negotiate with exiting/new sponsors for more funding to pay for better coaches/players.... The "bones" are already there so 6-8 months would be a fair amount of time I reckon...... 

Thanks. I must have missed that one.
'By the middle of 2023' is pretty vague. Could mean next month, could mean end of July. If the EOI doesn't go out before April, there is no way the comp will commence in March 2024.

spot on !
Only in Australia.
The same applies in another sport I'm into, Supercars, its been 3 long years in the making launching its new change of car design and approvals and 1st race of the season announced for March 10.
To date the SC Pro teams have been at ducks and drakes in preparing new chassis/components just prior to Christmas past and the aero package still isn't approved and won't be by the look of it for another few weeks.
Testing is delayed etcetc
Its like going to a gun fight with with no bullets for the competitors.

HTF can any organisation tick the GO for a new comp without the current Semi Pro Clubs throwing their hat in the ring and newbies whoever is approved having time to prepare, their facilities to be set up with better lighting, expand their seating and undercover, lining up new and current sponsers without at least a year in advance having all the ducks in line.

Sep 22

Johnson revealed to ESPN. "Where we go from here is the next stage in this process. And that is the EOI stage.

"So, our people right now are preparing EOI documents that will include what sort of standards the clubs will need to meet; whether it be stadia, financial, governance, in order to meet the standards that we would require to participate in that competition. We're moving into that next stage and we would expect the EOI to be set up and finalised by the middle of 2023.

I'm talking about the format and EOI. The FA has indicated they want the NSD to commence March 2024. That's only 13 months away, and we know things move at a snail's pace at the FA. Any selected clubs would want at least 6 months (preferably more) to prepare for the competition. That means the EOI needs to happen now as we can assume the selection process will be a lengthy one. Especially if the number of clubs that meet the requirements far exceeds the target number.

I thinks it's a sign of:  business as usual.

What I mean by that is that there is always someone, somewhere wanting to put up an alternative approach, a different way forward, a better way to it, "it should be done this way or not at all", etc, etc

There are many stakeholders, they all have different perspectives, and some are more powerful than others.

Expect one roadblock after another to negotiate.

Whatever eventuates, it will be full of compromises.

this thread is funny 6 years on from the og article there is still no 2nd div  (with or without the FFA remember)

Someone misread the email.  Its happening just after the WWC.  ;)

Perfect timing for that would have been just after the WC, but hey what would I know.

Its the hope that kills ya  :(

The whole thing is waiting for the FA to release the format and call for EOI's.

AAFC have all they can for now

Yes it does. However, believe it or not, that final report was less than a year ago in Feb last year (http://www.australianfootballclubs.org.au/media-releases/national-second-division-clubs-sign-off-on-final-report)
Also interesting is that was the last time AAFC posted anything on their website. Is that a sign they are working hard or hardly working?

That seems like a lifetime ago :(

They are also the only two WA clubs that are part of the 30 that signed off on that report last year.

Hahahahahaha no you spelled it wrong mate ... its "sokkahhhhhh" hahahahahaahah
I would love both to be in an NSD if possible, A Perth away day next year is just what the doctor ordered :)

The two most cashed up (from what I understand) would be Perth SC and Bayswater City.

I don't know if Perth SC would be allowed to promote with the "S" in "SC" standing for "Soccer", which we all know is a forbidden word - all the wannabees start frothing at the mouth and screaming "Its football not soccer", regardless of what the majority of the English-speakers on the planet say.

All jokes aside, they'd be the two teams that have the most $$$ behind them I believe. I imagine the cost would still be a challenge from WA.

Perth Clubs, from what I understand, are currently playing their state wide night series I dont think they would travel interstate when they have that on
... some pretty cashed up clubs over there, can anyone from WA shine a light on who they think would be a good NSD club?

I'd assume those people are using Perth's location as an excuse.

So .... 3 Adelaide NPL clubs are flying over to Melbourne this week (that I know of so far) just for preseason friendlies, and people are STILL trying to convince themselves that the NSD wont work because flights are too expensive in Australia?????  FFS just announce it already.

https://twitter.com/AdelaideComets/status/1618779721843736576?cxt=HHwWgIDQoZLlh_csAAAA

JJ said 16 is the magic number for the size of the NSD, so if it doesn't start off that big then you can have 2 up/1 down to expand up to 16, then go to 2 up/2 down. Some form of relegation should be in place to give teams something to play for.

And I was thinking more along the lines of two-legged play-offs, so something like VIC v TAS, SA v WA, then winners play-off for the promotion place, and NSW v ACT, QLD v NNSW, and the same.

Have it the same as they did in Japan, you have to be compliant for promotion at the start of the season that you play for promotion.  If you aren't compliant you can still play the season but no matter how well you do you can't enter the promotion playoffs.

I think 2 is too many until you have a 16 team competition so 2 up and 0 down until it gets to 16 teams.  Then I would also prefer the top 2 in each group to qualify for one of the playoffs, #1 in one region v #2 in the other region by two playoffs,  home and away with each winner being promoted.  The two winners could then playoff for the National NPL Cup if an overall NPL trophy was considered necessary.

Depends who are NSD compliant.

Have 2 up 2 down between NSD and NPL. VIC/SA/WA/TAS play off for one promotion spot, NSW/QLD/NNSW/ACT play off for the other. Bob's your uncle.