mate, everyone has their different opinion on this.
It was simple back in my early youth to young teen days, first past the post.
I used to think WTF when the finals was introduced but it is a buzz when you quali for it got to say at our levels, especially that your not the Prem winner..
Only thing I hate it dimish's the season consistancy of the Prem winner having been on either end many times.
End of season medals are presented end of the Finals series, sucks when your the knocked out Prem winner to recieve your medal but your a finals loser.
Its a weird outcome and feeling.

Probably should go in a related thread re growth or general discussion BUT it is after all about FNSW and more so grass roots up so this is home as far as I'm concerned.

Just read over the rego increase's for '24.
https://footballnsw.com.au/2024/03/01/football-nsw-registrations-at-record-levels/

"As of the end of February, Football NSW has over 25,000 more player registrations than the same point in 2023, with year-on-year growth sitting over 15%. Unsurprisingly, female player registrations lead the way with a year-on-year increase of 23% overall, while sitting as high as 27% for 5-12 year old players and 25% for women over 18.

The increased demand comes off the back of a 34% total increase in 2023/24 Summer Football numbers, with the momentum from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ showing no signs of slowing."

“With such significant demand to play football, the practical implication is that we are now exceeding facility supply in many areas across NSW,” he continued.

“It is vitally important that funding at all levels of government is directed towards improving existing venues and developing new fields so that everyone has the opportunity to play our game.”

Our friggin game is booming more and more as I expected.
Its not just about the Matilda's momentum its also the game is more family friendly for concerning soccer mums not having their kids playing violent sports.
I woiuld imagine every State would/should experience growth for the years ahead.

This is where we need FA/JJ and co herts really push for some Gov funding.
As Tsatsimas (must be a MSC relo :)) mentions exceeding facility supply.
This has been occurring many years ago not just recently.
Summer football/6aside comps are packed, the ones I frequent with my 2 grown playing sons, many more womens games might I add.
Brilliant to see.

Just my personal very humble opinion, the first past the post system is obviously the best way to decide the champion, the only problem is that if the premiership is wrapped up fairly early, it can leave a huge portion of the league playing only for pride. If you’re not in a relegation battle or challenging for the title, to it w not playing for much. It would be different if there were promotion spots to play for or European spots as it works in Europe

By the way, good night of football on Saturday at the Marconi club. Marconi 1-2 APIA, but always good to see a very decent crowd in. From a Marconi perspective it’s quite clear the club has been  actively improving fan engagement, social media engagement, trying to improve the matchday experience and putting money into the club facilities with a eye on next season. Looks as though the club are installing a new more modern score board/screen behind the goals. All very good signs going into next year. Also great to see how much the respective loan bases were getting up and about on Saturday, great to see a bit of emotion in the stands 

I am SOOOO looking forward to visiting the palace next year gents.....  I cant even begin to explain. 

Its the same down here bud .... clubs are bursting at the seams.... 

Hey Glenardo and LFC dont have to mention GFs to a Hellas fan who has lost two on the trot :( 

I dont mind them to be honest, it draws a crowd which we all desperately need and gives "interest" to the back end of the season... it is what it is.... 

If pro/rel ever eventuates I would like to see it gone with top promoted and a finals playoff to decide the other promotion spot NPLs to NST would be a finals series for my preference.

Will be a pleasure to have you guys, been a long time coming. Marconi v South Melbourne is definitely already penciled in as a must attend fixture next year. I don’t think it’s just my biased when i say the place is looking great atm, the stadium and the social club so hopefully a few of you come up, I dare say you will. 

It doesn't work in a 16 team comp where there's only 1.5 relegation spots & nothing to play for if one team has one hand on the trophy all season long like APIA did last year.

Speaking to a few npl players they were all looking forward to the end of season trip away with 10 games to go because they had nothing to play for.

Thats awesome mate... I was planning to come up for the weekend but had to change plans...

My "crew" is busting to do some Sydney away trips, even the wives and kids are on board, we are hoping matches are scheduled for Sat nights, we come up on Friday arvo go out on the town Frioday nioght, go see the sites with the fams on Saturday during the day and off to Edensor or Leichardt or wherever for cevaps/pizza/souvs and beers that night ..... mmmm heaven 

Yeah that "nothing to play for" is certainly a fizzer.... If top 2 or 3 in each NPL got a chance at a national finals series for a chance at promotion to NST the following year I guess some of the holiday plans would have to change :)

Sounds excellent, definitely looking forward to next season. Dare the say the Marconi matches will be on Saturday nights, the club seems to have worked out that the Saturday night matches work best for us in terms of attendances. Being located ~35k west of the cbd and having the social club attached means that an evening at the soccer combined with an evening at the social club is part of the matchday experience. Less so for
afternoon fixtures 

Oh man, just stop, you have me frothing from now..... heheheheheh 

trouble is thats how it goes, someone and more will always say it doesn't suit no matter what, say its 3 down 3 up others will say too many changes.
You can't win and rightly so.
IF I was a gaffa/club official seeing X player/s not giving a toss 10 games to go I'll pull him aside and say, guess what, your playing for your spot next season, pick it up plenty more will take your spot.

Was watching on you tube between entertaining for I couldn't get away.
I luv visiting the palace from way back as a kid.
I was in awe of the place compared to Lambert obviously though I luv Lambert really closer feel.
I tell you Glenardo talking Saturdays game, I have such conflict due to my blood, growing up here Mum full on Italian Dad half Cro/Italian - both northern regions.
Therefore I struggle when both Clubs play each other and then SU in the mix as well FFS.
APIA became more the fav purley due to proximity, we live closer to Lambert than getting to the palace or Edensor.

Good to see the vibe is building up and the Club being pro active, all of them would be, its our time coming up.
For sure we will need to arrange a 442 gathering between us at a game of 2 :)
MSC I definately will work on some Melb biz travel to work with the draw getting to Lakeside, my external weekend commitments will be challenged mind you - have to sacrifice a game or 2 of my adult sons and my own game if I carry on next season but all is good, something will give, injuries haha

The Kids Club / Room still there? I swear I still have one of the tokens somewhere at my parents place

Haha i believe it is 

Awesome man, looking forward to it.... 

Doesn't work like that npl level when they made it so that coming 2nd was no different to coming 13th. I know Wolves & Demons even went away to the same place on the same weekend lmao

Sorry for the randomness but last night I found a token from a place called Magic Mountain in Glenelg Adelaide, remember going on one of the last NSL seasons with the lads for an away trip to Adelaide Juve and spent the day at this magnificent institution, does anyone else remember it?

That reminds me by the way, do we have any idea/has anyone heard when we’re expecting to hear more information re the nsd? More clubs, name/branding of the comp etc still got my fingers crossed that Atleast Melb knights will jump in, Adelaide city and Heidelberg, a TAS and/or QLD club would also be nice, but it’s not a true second div without knights imo 

Ive heard some conflicting info about both Knights and Burgers.... all around money sadly... who knows? I am losing a little faith on more than 10 x clubs for next season ... we should know end of April.....  at least thats what I hear.

How many were there? Lucky if there were 50 people in the western grandstand and most of those were younger players told to stay and watch first grade til half time. From what I saw.

Maybe they were all at the local Aleagues extravaganza?

hahaha above, AC the perrenial oz football wet blanket.

Well to add another piece of hearsay to the collection Re Melb knights, a friend of mine who’s father is a former board member reckons they are keen, but they just need to “clean up their books” a little before submitting the paperwork, so that’s partially the reason for the delay, so either a last minute application for season 1 or go for season 2 …but who knows how much truth there is to that. Could be talking out of his behind, but seems to fit in with all the other tidbits 

No idea bro, it’d just be an educated guess, no official crowd figures are reported. Given the official attendance for the midweek Marconi v melb city game a few years back was just under  2,000  this might have been around 1,000? comparable to last years corresponding fixture. Decent given the context, how about that..we’re talking about a nothing dead end state league with zero visibility, the only people who know the games are on are people who actively seek them out ..in all honestly it’s really not a lot less than the sorts of crowds traditional clubs were seeing in the last season of the nsl..which imo is a decent base to build from going into next year..if clubs can starts with the sorts of crowds they were getting at the end of the nsl, after 20 years in the wilderness, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world..gotta be realistic, no one’s claiming traditional clubs are all of a sudden get crowds akin to Melbourne victory or Sydney fc

That wouldnt surprise me... I certainly hope they are in it from year one.... Desperately want an Adelaide club and a couple from Brisbane to flesh this thing out.

I dont think little Tony wants a factual answer mate... 2000 fans at a preseason friendly of state league clubs is a poor crowd whereas 2000 at a pretend "professional" Aleague regular season match is a "growing fanbase"... 

Nothing much in NSW npl tonight. Vic starts off with a bit of a bald bogans with steak knives derby in dandenong but I might wait for oakleigh kick off