The PFA have released their 2022 Australia Cup report this morning, uncovering intriguing insights in relation to the manner in which both member federation (NPL) and A-League Men clubs approach the competition from a playing, infrastructure, and financial perspective.
The 2022 iteration of the competition, where Macarthur FC took out the trophy bore witness to four “cup-sets”, the most in competition history.
In the report, co-CEOs Beau Busch and Kate Gill highlight the need for a new partnership with players, stating that the competition “relies heavily on the goodwill of the Australian football community”.
“Having largely failed to build commercial and fan revenues, the competition remains largely reliant on players providing their labour for free and participant clubs bearing the brunt of the costs of participation”, the CEOs said.
Perhaps indicative of potential challenges that the mooted National Second Division will face, Busch and Gill believe the findings provide thorough opportunity for reflection.
“While it remains a highly anticipated event on the football calendar and continues to capture the imagination of the Australian football public, this research suggests the competition has found it difficult to build value to enhance the entire sport”, Busch said.
“For the competition to develop, a new partnership between the clubs, players and Football Australia is essential, particularly with a women’s Australia Cup on the horizon. Simply imposing the current model on the women’s game will only intensify the challenges for female players and clubs.”
Key Findings from the report:
- The average crowd of 859 when a member federation club faces a fellow member federation club is the lowest in Australia Cup history
- For the first time in competition history, the average age of A-League Men players was younger than the average age of member federation players in 2021. This also occurred in 2022.
- Away teams from the Round of 32 onwards receive a subsidy from Football Australia to cover “reasonable flights”, transport, meals and transport for 21 people.
- Per 2022 Australia Cup semi-finalists Oakleigh Cannons president Stan Papayianneris, for their Round of 32 clash against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, this meant players had to travel on game day.
- In order for an NPL club to ensure their total prize money exceeds the registration fees for their journey in the competition, they would have to make the quarter finals.
- Upgrading of lighting and broadcast infrastructure reportedly led to the Oakleigh Cannons have to spend “$12,000 on this line item for their2022 Semi-Final against Macarthur”.
- Registration fees for the 2022 iteration of the competition totalled $431,200 with around half of the amount provided by member federation clubs below the NPL level.
- Registration fees for A-League Men clubs exceeded that of NPL clubs
