For me that's a yes and no. I know for a fact a scouter that lives there linked to Celtic - he's not particularly active these days but he has people's ear, and if you're good enough to get him to roll out of bed on the weekend and watch you he can get you to Scotland. There's a bit of an inner circle thing going on in Canberra with some of the core football fraternity we identify as Sydney figures actually being Canberra residents. It's very much a case, indeed as you say, that there's talent in among rubbish. You need to be at a couple of decent clubs and know the right people to get scouted there. In my own experience I would say 5 scouters are capable  (as in, I saw the proof of one player they got o/s). In each case these guys aren't actively involved in the NPL clubs, they just have the connections because they're migrants from o/s.

The big fish small pond mentality works against players who don't have connections, and like NPL football in general there's nowhere to go if you're good enough to rise but have no stepping stone. I tried for a good 12 months to get a young kid into one of the big Capital football teams - African kid with massive potential. It only turned out half way though this all that he played U18 Development League in England for a bloody big EPL club. And that wasn't him telling us, that was us doing our own research trying to find a way to fill the blank bit in his resume that looked like he'd never kicked a bloody football in his life. Bit of a "could've fkn told us mate" there. But as it goes with a lot of kids - no stepping stone and a doctor father riding him to get a real job meant career over. And this kid was a more complete package than Awer Mabil when Adelaide United took a punt on him.

There is no doubt that a tougher 2nd tier competition will be good for player development but it doesn't deal with the issue of young players not getting enough game time when compared with other countries and an NYL even with only 8 games ( and preferably more) on top of NPL games goes closer to the international standard.

It has been said part of the FFA grant to clubs helps fund the youth league teams, and that expansion teams may get less of a grant as they are not required to have a youth league or w league team

A second tier (230 spots) will comprise of youth, state league players, fringe A League players and low cost imports

If you do research on player transfers I think you'll find only a small combined % comes from the youth league and state league. Most transfers are imports or other A League players. It is obvious neither the NPL or youth league has worked as a player development platform. A second tier with its fierce competitive nature, additional local funding sources and central platform (as opposed to the NPL) will change that

In what way does the FFA fund the NYL other than transport and central costs?

Why would the 2nd tier be an unofficial league?

Do you mean "best youth and fringe A-League players"?

The youth league does not have to be national and does not need to be funded by the FFA. Clubs can manage their own youth systems by integrating their teams into the state leagues. I believe some of these already do this

The second tier will be an unofficial league for the best youth and fringe state league players to perform on a central platform.

The youth league is important  

The youth league is important  

The FFA would be stupid not to simply replace the 10 youth league teams with the 10 bids and create a second tier. Then at the end of the year promote 2 teams

Football already has system for choosing which teams are ready to invest and step up, and which ones have stopped performing

No American consultancy fee required either

The FFA would be stupid not to simply replace the 10 youth league teams with the 10 bids and create a second tier. Then at the end of the year promote 2 teams

Football already has system for choosing which teams are ready to invest and step up, and which ones have stopped performing

No American consultancy fee required either

The FFA would be stupid not to simply replace the 10 youth league teams with the 10 bids and create a second tier. Then at the end of the year promote 2 teams

Football already has system for choosing which teams are ready to invest and step up, and which ones have stopped performing

No American consultancy fee required either

Canberra genuinely has some quality players kicking around mixed in with some absolute rubbish but it really does appear the A league scouts don't even both coming for a look. I ran into patrick zwansjik (sp?) at a game scouting once but other than that if it weren't for Andy Bernal i highly doubt any players would move from Canberra to the next level 

I was involved with club football in Canberra for a number of years and there's no doubt it's a fertile breeding ground for players. The issue always will be on the corporate and social side. The Canberra economy is the public service. If you run a company there it's either because you chiseled your job off the department and turned consultant, or you sell something to a government department, you deliver something to a government department, or you hire a property manager for your 5 rental properties. Beyond that the "corporate sector" is ActewAGL. A team might jag a front of shirt sponsor now and then when some hot gov contract is up and they want their name in the shop window, but beyond that you're relying on a multinational porno or fireworks company to sponsor the team. On the social side.... half of Canberra isn't even from there. The rusted on locals are either Brumbies or Raiders. It's funny that in these sorts of conversations they always talk up the Canberra region to pad out the numbers - Queanbeyan and Goulburn. Yet in every facet of daily life Canberrans dump on those places at every opportunity. But they want a sporting team... Suddenly it's Canberra/Queanbeyan with 400,000 people. Yeah, nah.

In Canberra club land there's a couple of very well placed local clubs which could support a second div side with their own resources - Canberra FC and Olympic. Below that, maybe Tuggers and Belconnen. Then after that... basically nothing. Monaro Panthers is a phoenix club with some potential but still relatively young. Then the numbers are padded out with park teams like Bunda and some regionals from NSW. Even if all the clubs got together to field an Adelaide Crows style rep team (and they won't), the heavy lifting would come from 2 clubs and they'd rather go it alone (or tell themselves they can). The big fish small pond mentality in Capital Football is very very strong.

17k registered players comes out as 30k participants.  There are another 7k or so registered players in NSW not too far away so its a good base for player development.  The problem is the value it brings to central funds.  50k subscribers in the region is less than 2% of STV subscribers.

17k registered players comes out as 30k participants.  There are another 7k or so registered players in NSW not too far away so its a good base for player development.  The problem is the value it brings to central funds.  50k subscribers in the region is less than 2% of STV subscribers.

if the mariners can have a functioning team with 300k, so can canberra with almost 400k

imagine Sydney and melbourne having teams, 1 per 300k. 30 bloody teams. more than enough, provided that football is the number 1 code after all