City belted West Adelaide 6-0 to confirm its place in the Australian NPL series for the second consecutive year facing APIA Leichhardt — NSW’s premier — in the quarterfinal of the tournament at home once SA’s top-six series is done.

Mori believes a lack of opportunities for local clubs and players wanting to play at the very highest level is having a direct effect on developing Socceroos for the future.

“We just haven’t got enough teams playing at a top level for the amount of participants,’’ said the former Socceroos striker who scored 29 goals for Australia (second behind all -time leader Tim Cahill).

“The A-League needs more teams and we need a national second division. That will give players opportunities, stepping stones towards the A-League.

“Until we have that, we’re going to see young players starved of being able to play the best football they can.

“If there wasn’t enough teams in the old NSL maybe I wouldn’t have had a chance to get to where I got to.”

City claimed SA’s NPL title with a three-point gap over second-placed MetroStars.

MetroStars and City face off this weekend in the first leg of the finals series with the aggregate winner confirming the first spot in SA’s NPL grand final next month.

Former Adelaide United striker Anthony Costa, 23, scored a hat-trick against West at Adelaide City Park to claim the NPL’s golden boot award with 22 goals in 21 matches.

Mamadi Kamara jagged a brace and Thomas Love also scored to give Mori’s men a chance to play in the club’s 11th SA grand final in the 14 years he has been in charge of City.

But despite Football Federation Australia placing more importance on each state’s NPL premier with a reward in the Australian NPL series like City, Mori claims winning the SA grand final is not a secondary prize.

“The finals series is what we play for to win the championship,’’ Mori said.

“We’re well aware of this before the season starts, so is everybody else and that’s the rules.

“It is what it is.”

City last year lost its Australian NPL quarterfinal to eventual champions Sydney United 5-4 in a classic battle at Sydney’s Edensor Park.
Adelaide City’s Damian Mori says it’s time for A-League expansion and a national second division | Adelaide Now

After four years at South Melbourne, he sits behind only Paul Trimboli, Vaughan Coveny and Jim Armstrong on the club’s list of all-time league goalscorers

And yet, with where the 27-year-old primary school teacher is in life, playing in the A-League isn’t 100 per cent appealing to him.

A-LEAGUE ASPIRATIONS: SOUTH HOPES FFA CUP BOOSTS CAUSE

DRAMATIC WINNER: LUJIC SEALS SOUTH’S FFA CUP PROGRESSION

If the right offer came along, sure, Lujic would take the chance.

And he’s had a crack before, with a month on trial at Sydney FC and two weeks as an injury replacement at Wellington.

Neither 2013 stint worked out and so the AIS graduate has gone about compiling a fearsome NPL goalscoring record.

Lujic said his A-League prospects have gone cold.

And right now, with a family to also think about, that sits fine with the Springvale White Eagles junior considering the minimum A-League wage is about $55,000.

“Let’s face it, there’s not enough money in the A-League to change your life,” Lujic said.

“One contract in Europe definitely could, but on minimum wage in the A-League, in terms of where you are in your life, you’re back to square one — especially if you’re sitting on the bench or in the stands.

“And I’ve seen that happen before. Andy Brennan was with us, went to Newcastle for a year and now he’s back with Bentleigh.

“You’d have to speak to the coaches and find out their plans. You can never be given any guarantees, but you want to know you’re going to be given a chance to prove yourself.

“Obviously the finances would have to be right, I don’t want to be on that minimum contract at this point in my life.

“It’s a bit different for the younger boys, maybe, because it could change their life if it pans out well. And if I was 20-21 again I’d get out there and look all over the world, too.

“But with where I’m at, it’s not that appealing.”

Lujic, with 15 goals in the league this season, scored the last gasp winner against Edgeworth Eagles in the FFA Cup’s Round of 32 last month.

On Wednesday night South takes on Western Australia’s Sorrento FC at Lakeside Stadium for a spot in the quarter-finals.

And Lujic wants a more routine victory this time around for the sake of his club’s diehard fans.

“Luckily I got my head to one in the last minute, it was a great feeling and a big win for the club,” he said.

“It was definitely up there as one of my biggest goals.

“There’s been a few over the years, but in the context of the match and the club pushing for an A-League spot it was definitely important.”

FFA CUP - ROUND OF 16

SOUTH MELBOURNE v SORRENTO FC

Wednesday, August 23 at Lakeside Stadium, 7.30pm

Milos Lujic South Melbourne FFA Cup A-League NPL Sorrento FC | Herald Sun