Welcome to the inaugural installment of our NST Deep Dive series, where we aim to explore and dissect issues and concepts that have yet to receive extensive attention. While we acknowledge that the finer points of the NST are still being ironed out, we find ourselves a year away from the revised proposed start date. As we eagerly await more information, pressing questions persist, especially considering that with just 12 months remaining, we have yet to finalise all the participating teams for the inaugural season.
One pertinent topic that deserves scrutiny, though it might not be the first on everyone’s mind when evaluating the NST, is its integration with existing competitions, such as the Australia Cup. Currently, Round 3 is underway in NSW with the inclusion of State League 2 & 3 teams, and subsequent rounds will see State League 1 & NPL sides join the fray, culminating in Round 7 where four victors will secure passage to the national round of 32.
Let’s delve into some calculations quickly. With a round of 32, we have 12 A-League sides (possibly 13 or 14 next season, dependent on Canberra), along with 8-12 NST teams primarily from NSW & VIC, leaving a maximum of 13 spots for teams from other member federations (A-League teams eliminate 2 in preliminary playoffs).
So, what potential solutions exist to allow high-seeded entry for professional teams while ensuring participation of lower-tier sides without ballooning costs?
One approach, if we wish to maintain a national round of 32, could involve reducing the number of A-League entries through additional playoffs. With 13 teams, the bottom 6 could vie for 3 spots in a preliminary match, while NST teams could conduct their own knockout to eliminate 2-4 sides. Alternatively, NST and A-League teams could face off in a preliminary round before the round of 32.
Another avenue could entail withholding guaranteed national stage entry for NST teams, compelling them to compete through their state federations. However, this might result in NST teams qualifying anyway, obstructing NPL and association sides from their states qualifying and potentially depriving lesser-known teams of captivating cup runs.
Our favored solution would be to expand to a national round of 64. However, this raises concerns about increased travel expenses if conducted via an open draw. A potential workaround, albeit possibly unpopular, could involve regional-based rounds akin to those implemented during COVID-19. This would significantly reduce travel costs while ensuring fair representation from all states in the round of 32. It’s not an ideal solution, but it may be the most pragmatic one.
While achieving a national, open round of 64 might seem far-fetched, we cannot allow perfection to impede progress.
Moving forward from discussing the cup’s potential format, it’s pertinent to assess the quality of the competition and the NST teams.
While we will delve deeper into this in a future piece comparing the strengths of NST teams with those of the A-League and NPL, let’s touch upon it briefly.
It’s evident that NST teams are likely to feature younger players who can afford to commit full-time, albeit on lower-than-average wages, in pursuit of higher-quality football and the potential for stardom.
It’s no secret that a lot of NPL contracts are done with brown paper bags sponsored by the local concreting company and the juniors of the club, meaning that there is usually more money to be thrown around. We know of players that have gone from the NSW NPL to play in the IPL for more money and less travel.
Given these factors, is there a possibility that NST teams might struggle against NPL sides? And if so, what implications does this have for the strength and credibility of the second tier? It’s a thought-provoking question, one we’ll explore further in our next NST Deep Dive.
But in terms of the potential format for the cup, let us know your thoughts!
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TCS Limited Edition Pin