I'm not. Just the idea that the FFA Cup it is a cup comp with teams making it to the round of 32 have played knock-out games (except for the direct seeded A League teams). In this case this NSW entrant has not played knock-out games drawn against other teams from NSW, but as a direct consequence of winning a competition.

That's why it's stupid.

Might as well seed the AL champion into the round of 16, the Vic NPL state champion into the round of 8 and if WSW with the ACL direct into the final, for all the sense this decision makes.

Also, the was the NSW teams performed in the round of 32 their 7 reps need to be scaled back and given to SA.

So, for example, Bayswater wins the NPL Championship, does WA get 2 entries into the round of 32 on top of the NPL winner, or just 1 as there is already a WA rep????

There's no details yet but you'd hope it's an additional one as if Metrostars win the NPL finals then no other SA team has a chance to qualify.

As for Heineken's question, I'll be going to the City v Strikers game at Marden. Looking forward to as I was overseas for the first round :)

Buzzing. Will be like a kid on Christmas morning tomorrow :D

I don't follow what you're saying?

The team that will be awarded this place next year in the Round of 32 is going to be one of:
Weston Workers (NNSW)
Palm Beach (Qld)
Cooma (ACT)
South Hobart (Tas)
Bonnyrigg (NSW)
South Melbourne (Vic)
Metrostars (SA)
Bayswater (WA)

They're all competing in a knockout competition to qualify. Don't see the issue in giving the champions of the 8 federations two opportunities to qualify. :-k

With booze and coke lined up? ;)

Oops, my bad. #-o

Was thinking this was a purely NSW based thing.

Carry on. :oops:

BTW, great idea. :-"

Game day.

Which one(s) will be streamed?

So, how will the slots align next year? How about:

HAL: 10
NPL Playoffs Champ: 1
NSW: 4
VIC: 4
QLD: 4
SA: 2
WA: 2
NNSW: 2
TAS: 1
ACT: 1
NT: 1
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total: 32

Seems fair to me, although I'd swap NNSW and Tassie, the latter deserving an extra slot for their gift of the slice of cheese to Australian Football alone. Hopefully after a season or two the slots will be seeded solely on performance. Actually, nothing stopping them doing it from the second season onwards really with the data from this season, will make negligible difference to the cost of running the comp, so why not?

Really hope we do get an NT team in there, the fact that it's a small federation only means it'll be easier to decide an entrant, and then we'll be able to say that after 113 years of Federation we've got the first truly national football competition of any code.

Legally; none.

-PB

Foxtel Play and Foxtel Go are legal streams ;)

Weather in Sydney has turned shit again after it looked like Spring was going to barnstorm through. A bit grey and miserable this morning, a few storms and showers passing over as I type. It's predicted to clear by mid-afternoon, but knowing Sydney's notorious weather predictions, I'd be putting your money on a Category 5 hurricane before rushing out and believing that it's going to 100% clear.

FFS does it ever stop raining in Sydney?

Yeah. :lol:

We barely had a drop of rain for about 3 months, and then in a 2-week period be basically had 3/4 our of whole average winter rainfall. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Last few days it's been quite nice and warm. Yesterday was good. But yeah, our weather this winter has been more like Melbourne. :lol:

HREE years ago, his father stood up to a powerful regime. On Tuesday night, Muad Zwed will battle similar odds on the football field, as his team - NPL ACT minnows Tuggeranong United - welcome A-League giants Melbourne Victory to Canberra’s Viking Park in the FFA Cup.

In 2011, Omran Zwed, dad to the Tuggies 21 year-old striker - and then Libya’s cultural attaché in Australia - supported students in their defiance towards the Gaddafi administration, some of whom smashed a portrait of the then leader, in front of the Libyan Embassy in Canberra. It was a bold move, and one that put him and his family in danger at the time.

JOIN FOXSPORTS.COM.AU FOR A LIVE BLOG OF THE FFA CUP ROUND OF 16 ON TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

VICTORY’S VALERI BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN IN FFA CUP

Today, the Gaddafi reign is over, and Omran Zwed is back in North Africa with Muad’s mother after his diplomatic contract in Australia ended - but they are never far from their sons thoughts.

“The situation isn’t stable over there - the war is still going on. The airport is destroyed, and no-one can get in or out at the moment. My family are safe for now - they are based in Tripoli, but we have family in different cities, so they move around to stay safe” says Zwed.

Zwed has remained in Australia to finish his studies - he is in the final semester of a Bachelors degree in Information Technology at the University of Canberra - but his future is uncertain.

“I’m not really sure what is happening next - I don’t particularly want to go back to Libya, as there are no job opportunities there. My family tell me that if I can get a job here, I should stay.”

With exams just a couple of months away, this is a crucial time for Zwed - but the chance to play in the FFA Cup against Victory is one he couldn’t turn down.

“I can’t stay away from football, even though I have my exams - I would never miss training! I played street football in Libya ever since I could walk, but never for a team back home. It’s different over there - if you don’t have connections, you can’t join a club. The first club I ever played for was Woden Valley in 2008” says Zwed.

As in many countries, football is the sporting passion of Libya, and the national team came close to qualifying for the World Cup in 2010. But the political problems mean few players get to play professionally. Saadi Gaddafi - son of the late dictator - had a short stint with Perugia in Italy, while Zwed’s local hero was Tariq El-Taib, who had a spell with Gaziantepspor in Turkey.

Zwed, who says it is his dream to land a pro contract, first saw El-Taib when he was playing for a local club team - with a relative taking him to games in Tripoli.

“My uncle used to take me to games - all my family was crazy about football. When I was 10 or 11, I went with my uncle to see Al Ahli (El-Taib’s team) versus Al Ettihad - my uncle was trying to get me to support Al Ahli, but Al Ettihad became my team!” says Zwed, laughing at the memory.

These days, he is a big Barcelona fan. The Spanish League is hugely popular in Libya, and Zwed’s idol is Leo Messi. He stays up to watch every Barca game, and says he is re-reading his autobiography, even though he knows the story off by heart.

On Tuesday Zwed, who - just like Messi - loves to dribble and take players on, will put his skills to the test against some of the A-League’s top stars - Besart Berisha, Mark Milligan and local hero, Carl Valeri.

“This is the biggest game of my career, and I’m really pumped! I would rather play the game today in fact - I literally cannot wait! We stay in a hotel tonight and will have a video session - it’s a professional approach, and hopefully, we’ll get a good performance, even though our plan will probably be based around holding back, and pressuring at the right moment. Can we win? Why not? We saw Adelaide City do it against Western Sydney Wanderers” says Zwed.

Can Zwed become the second member of his family to make a big statement in Canberra? We’ll find out on Tuesday night.

So, how will the slots align next year? How about:

HAL: 10
NPL Playoffs Champ: 1
NSW: 4
VIC: 4
QLD: 4
SA: 2
WA: 2
NNSW: 2
TAS: 1
ACT: 1
NT: 1
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total: 32

Seems fair to me, although I'd swap NNSW and Tassie, the latter deserving an extra slot for their gift of the slice of cheese to Australian Football alone. Hopefully after a season or two the slots will be seeded solely on performance. Actually, nothing stopping them doing it from the second season onwards really with the data from this season, will make negligible difference to the cost of running the comp, so why not?

Really hope we do get an NT team in there, the fact that it's a small federation only means it'll be easier to decide an entrant, and then we'll be able to say that after 113 years of Federation we've got the first truly national football competition of any code.