Re Rockdale, speak of the devil, they’ve just announced their submission of an EOI. As has been noted in a few posts above, good to see so much ambition from various clubs around the country. maybe i’m just a being cynical, and obviously the clubs in question  know their finances better than I do, but it does seem like a huge leap for some of the clubs listed to go from being small to medium sized state league clubs to full time professionalism within a year. I can understand the likes of south Melbourne,  Marconi etc who have a history of playing in the national competition and were close to professional in the past, but with all due respect, how on earth are the likes of Wynnum wolves or George cross planning on being a fully professional football club in 12 months time. Time will tell I guess, good for them if they can 

Why would they pay in the millions when the NST is a lot cheaper to apply to and would have a great feel good factor in the first couple of seasons?

I didn't realise Brunswick Juventus was still a thing.

If 20 clubs really have submitted an eoi those clubs should be eligible for promotion if they dont make the nst from day 1

I can see the future of Australian club football unfurling before my eyes:

2024: NSD starts with 12-14 teams, A-League expands to 14 teams with Canberra and Auckland (for 24/25 season)
2025-26: NSD expands to 16 teams and introduces pro-rel with the NPL, A-League expands to 16 teams with Gold Coast and Tasmania (for 25/26 season)

Then the A-League's Paramount+ deal runs out after the 25/26 season, and the next deal looks like it will inevitably be a steep drop in value (potentially covering not much more than production costs), so the APL bites the bullet and switches to a winter calendar for the 2027 season, dropping the salary cap and offering promotion-relegation with the NSD.

Voilà, we have a fully integrated pyramid within 5 years from now and all our dreams are fulfilled!

Add Rockdale Ilinden and a second Tasmanian Club (unknown at this stage)

I would also get the notion that the NST is "Full Time Professional" across the board from players coaches and administrators is not a given.
The NPL CLubs have been constrained for two decades now, told they won't be on a National Platform, won't have a remote possibility of being in the ALM and siloed into NPL to produce players for the ALM and Socceroos, that's your role. Quite frankly they were neutralised.

Give the NST some time to get used to the idea of the chains being removed and work towards growth and capability. It's only logical.

I have consistantly said if we want to improve having an existing NST in the NPL, with over 120 clubs and 2,500 players was not going to cut it.

With a NST of 12-14 teams we will get better outcomes, even if part time initially. Clubs will be ambitious and wanting success, the way consistant success will come is naturally to become more professional.

So on a more professional footing yes, absolutely. Part time professional Yes to start.

My other concern is that many are saying have a closed league NST for 3-5 years. Absolutely NOT.

Maybe a one year grace period for pro/rel from NST to NPL that's the limit.
Otherwise we fall into the same trap.
Pro/Rel will always have the caveat that a Club comming up to the NST will be required to have the minimum criteria, its a given.
Having Pro/Rel after one year grace allows for ambition, investment and strategic planning from Clubs in the NPL to aspire to the NST, obvious I would have thought.

Not sure where you get the idea that Strikers are part of the best 3 Qld clubs? Or Brisbane City for that matter. Are you suggesting these as the best 3 purely because they were in the old NSL at various stages?

EOI Submitted list CONFIRMED ONLY
1. Gold Coast Knights
2. Sunshine Coast
3. Peninsular Power
4. Sydney Olympic
5. Brisbane Olympic
6. Rockdale Illinden

The matrix of Vic Italian clubs throughout the last 30 years may need an update. 

P/R to 'be considered' after  NST has 'matured'.  Both criteria decided by FA,

Nice to believe thats 1 year total but yes, we are falling into the same trap. This is the fundamental problem, being set up on a failed concept.

I'm of the mind that the best hope is that the ALM will collapse quicker and Townsend/Lederer will miraculously invent P/R for the good of the game

NST potential EOI of 20+ clubs is getting me excited about as much as I got excited for the Aleague 15 interested bids back in 2018. 

Pretty much bugger all. 

Those that have been around football long enough know what I'm talking about. 

Putting in an EOI does not show us that there is an increase in investment in clubs to grow with the ambition of becoming professional and complying with the requirements. 
Most of the EOIs are due to egos or fomo. 

Most clubs would see the proposal, and know it's asking way too much. 

Not in the NPL era they aren't, best 4 clubs in the NPL Qld (particularly when the league opened up) have been Power, Lions, Olympic and GC Knights and at least 3 of those have put in an EOI and I wouldn't be surprised if Lions did put in an EOI.

Strikers are an FQPL1 team as are Fire with their best days being pre NPL and City are an up and down side who look like they will have a good year but were in FQPL1 2 years ago.

I would expect 2 Qld sides to make the NSD and the smart money would be on Power and GC Knights, biggest hurdle they would have is stadiums, Power can overcome that by playing out of Dolphin Oval, I'm not sure where Knights could play to overcome the shortcomings of their home.

You seem to enjoy death riding the concept.

Weird.

I remember hearing on one of the football pods recently (I can't remember which unfortunately) that while the term professional is used, it isn't meant in the common understanding of full time professional, but in that all of the players have signed one of the professional contracts and are governed by those rules as opposed to the amateur contract.

I think the confusion stems from the common understanding of professional with the technical legal interpretation.

Yeah I reackon there is a bit of that going on ........ I agree...

However, wait till the end of next week, I am hoping the list is a lot larger than we anticipated..... 

I'd expect an 8-10 team league initially. 
I can't see any clubs being viable more than that figure. 

A big concern is that some of the club's putting in an EOI may need to find a venue to play out of?? 
That is not what I'd want to see. 
These clubs need to have solid foundations that requires a minimal jump in an NST. 

GC Knights being one. They're just a "big club" because a rich cro bloke is pumping on the $$$. 
That's great, but clubs need more than that. 

Altona Gate Darth Vader were a "big club" in the VPL in the 90's and were gonna join the NSL with an Essendon link.
We all know how that played out.  

Hahahahahah gold..... :)    

I get where you are coming from, maybe these clubs can simply "promise to build a "shovel ready" stadium and that will be enough....  :)

The only bummer I see about this is junior NPL players will be rogered sideways with the largest pineapple imaginable to help subsidise first team player payments and running costs. It's already north of $2k in many clubs per season for a 13 year old. Can't imagine what it will be once the NST is up and running.

Any news on Devonport being the 2nd Tas team?

A condition of the participation agreement needs to cover that situation and the club's books need to be open for inspection by FA's club licensing group at any time they want to.

EOI Submitted list CONFIRMED ONLY
1. Gold Coast Knights
2. Sunshine Coast
3. Peninsular Power
4. Sydney Olympic
5. Brisbane Olympic
6. Rockdale Illinden
7. Preston Lions

hehe to true but we get where Butler is coming from and agreed.
I suppose its ok some of the Clubs to dream despite them not being in a suitable position to be in the NST, suck and see and naturally would be rejected for all involved can't afford this slapping them in the face let alone putting the game back even further.
Hindsight is the wonderful thing.
Surely the AAFC and the FA have the nouse of the past as some have mentioned, its all there for all to see can we do the same mistakes come 2023/4 ? hey don't say it lol - sure there will be some hiccups/tweaks but damn this has got to get off the ground so much looking ahead and 10clubs is fine to start with maybe pushing 12.
The current list incl recent additions pretty much shows the main contenders (10/12) capable to start it off.
IMO NSW alone the 6 (incls Rockdale) have the background/facilites and obviously need to gain more revenue ahead will be approved unless someone says otherwise of X Club.
Those in Vic/Qld in the know who are the most viable and or certainties barring definately SMH ?

3 more and we have a comp

LFC sorry about the 5-2 result, that was horrible. Either Klopp goes or he rebuilds, needs midfielders, though the young Spanish/Serbian guy looks good.

Do you know any rich Portuguese guy willing to back Rockdale?

South Melbourne are obviously a lock. If they were shortlisted for the A-League and very nearly (and should've) made it in, then they will definitely be in the NST.
Melbourne Knights would be pretty solid. They own their stadium and have a very lucrative social club, so their financials should be well in order. They should have no problem ticking all of the right boxes.
The others are not so clear though. At a guess I'd Preston, Heidelberg, Hume, Bentleigh would be up there but really hard to say.

🤣🤣
Touche 

Oakleigh have already come out to say the aren't interested, as have Avondale and Bulleen.... Bentleigh I dont think are even on the radar of anyone, let alone themselves... small club (with arguably great results on the pitch the last few years) Preston and the Bergers (I think) will have to fight it out and whoever get up over the other there will be a bit of bad blood - as if it was ever NOT going to be bad blood heheheheh.
Two "interesting" bids for me are:

1)Hume.. They have an OK ish ground for this (although it gets bloody cold there in winter, it does have more seating than the WU training abomination) but I thought their financial backer (a builder) was on hard times... Maybe they have sourced some funding and if so, why not.

2) George Cross - fabulous old historical club, I understand they have a bit of cashola from the move to City Vista and a fairly eneretic board and membership base... would love to have them in.

• investment in and operation of a full talent development pathway within their club structure”

So they won't charge kids $2k+ anymore?