I think it's unanimous that more games is better for players. 
Youth and senior. 

I don't think there is much debate about that. 

It seems there has been more discussion about winter/summer season, transfer system etc. Than more games. 

That should be the main demand. 
No brainer for a pro league. 
FA, APL and clubs have got away with it for 20 years. 

I guess the a league had 1 seasons that hit 30 rounds

I wonder if there is a way of measuring the benefits for youth development. With so few seasons hard to tell

Yes. 
Rare. 

But it was done. For a part time national comp  

http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/9596/NSL.html

http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/19992000/NSL.html

http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/20022003/NSL.html
2002/03 had a 10 game finals series. Top 6 group. H&A. 

33-34 rounds in the nsl was pretty unusual to be fair. Which seasons had that many?

Unbelievable. 
NSL had seasons where there were 33/34 rounds. 
Part time players training 4 to 5 times a week, travelling every 2nd week, full time jobs and families to worry about. 

No wonder the players get comfortable playing aleague  
Minimal pressure on all fronts. 

I know what you're saying and I don't disagree with it.

The problem Im trying to point out are the more systemic issues. The Co-efficency issues and the east-west structure, it's hard to take this comp seriously noting the AFC refuses to look at these issues.

It’s been probably been mentioned a few times on here but a good example of why there is such a disconnect in the game, everything feels all over the place. 

Absolutely this... Crazy how long the Aleague off season is... South Melbourne (as an example) is playing its 39th senior match on Sunday (cup, league and Australia Cup) ...  

It will always be a harder task than we can handle while we are a low level league in terms of money and prestige.

We can genuinely expect our best up and coming players to disappear at season's end for the lure of better personal alternatives so we will always be a weaker club in these competitions.

Adding in the off season/pre-season fitness and lack of match cohesion and it becomes a huge challenge.

It shows that the Club Championship side of football is a real 'club' focus rather than a 'team' focus - so good for us to do as well as we can each time but not a lot of hope of progression without a lot more money behind the teams that represent our league there. I see that as more of an impediment than 'us not taking it seriously'.

It used to start in August didn't it? We need more games in a season anyway. Seems luke a sensible change to me. 

entry to the expanded club world cup though, which will probably one day feel like qualification to the world cup
so we need to find a way to take it seriously!

Hard to take this comp seriously noting it seems to be run like a circus.

Hard to take this comp seriously noting it seems to be run like a circus.

Not sure but I would rather do well in the ACL and get good prize money whilst helping our coefficient to get more clubs involved.

This is a prestigious competition which Australian clubs should take more seriously and would give us an edge over the other codes.

Im curious if the crowds would even be smaller since summer now has the big bash

Good effort by the Mariners considering all things, very tough when you’re not in season and the second half it took its toll.

If only the loggerheads at APL/FA had some sense and brought the season earlier say August and then the fitness levels won’t be a factor instead it’s a handicap when they playing against teams who are playing week in week out during their seasons. 

brantman has looked promising apart from finishing so far

ccm concede a 3rd, all over

oh well

lots to work on

plays like that frustrate me

3 on 2 on the break away and we recycle posession then lose the ball

set pieces much better since dokka replaced by roux

get the feeling if we can get out of this game with something it will really set the ccm up nicely

gotta find a way....

sainsbury hits the inside of the post off a corner, better delivery. The lead up was better too. A take on on the left wing opened up the space

poor giveaway from kaltak leads to a goal conceded

him and doka uncharacteristically off the pace this game

under the pump here in the 2nd half

this is how i expected the game to go, mariners ride it out at least for now but they don't look too comfortable absorbing pressure

how is the ref not giving a yellow for backchat there?

watching the replay it was very poor reffing, doka did nothing wrong and there should ahve been a couple of yellows to shandong

some dumb yellows from doka and edmonson, take the high ground and maybe shandong give away a couple more yellows which could cause real problems for them

1-1!

Reckon we are good enough to win this, but even a draw away from home would be brilliant!

would have 4 pens in the last international window if they start calling those

what a gift of a penalty! should be another yellow too

Soft penalty but we'll take it