Does the A-League rely too heavily on recycled players?

For years now, we’ve seen the same players jump from club to club in a bid to revitalise their careers.

It’s common place for an A-League player to start at one club, but to then find themselves at other A-League clubs throughout the years. But as great as it is to see these quality footballers continuing their careers, is it harming our youth and their development?

Furthermore, are clubs to dependent on bringing in proven players, as opposed to giving youngsters and new players a chance to prove themselves?

Journeymen players have traversed the A-League through a smattering of different clubs ever since the inaugural season, forging reputations as proven players in the competition.

Brendon Santalab and Mark Bridge are two great exponents of this very concept. Santalab, who only recently finished his professional career last season with Perth Glory, bided his time with the Western Sydney Wanderers, the defunct North Queensland Fury, Sydney FC as well as last season’s runner’s up in the Glory.

Whilst not being the greatest player to ever grace the league, his longevity in the league saw him given opportunities almost everywhere he went, regardless of who else was on the roster.

Bridge also plied his trade with various different A-League sides such as Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets before ending his professional career with the club he made his name with, the Wanderers.

In fairness, Bridge has represented Australia as a senior and at junior level, so his ability in the A-League, combined with him being the Wanderers highest ever scorer, is unquestionable.

But the question must be asked. Have clubs perhaps neglected the talent at their disposal, instead preferring to reuse players who are only in the short-term plans of the club?

What makes it all the more frustrating is that in Australia, we have such a keen group of youngsters, both male and female, who want to play soccer. And if we neglect the current crop of talented youth, what kind of message are we sending to them and their parents?

Enough has been said about the exceptionally high participation rate for junior soccer in Australia, but we can’t neglect the interest in the sport amongst kids and parents.

But there is one rebuttal clubs could use for this argument. That it’s not a good plan for trophies.

Yes, growing from the ground up doesn’t guarantee immediate success. But it does guarantee success, both off and potentially on the field, for the club. It’s one step backwards so that down the line, you can go two or three steps forward.

We see it all the time in the Australian Football League, where clubs will voluntarily go through a tough period on-field, so that they can secure the future of their club.

Most of the time, it results in championships. The evidence speaks for itself. Hawthorn’s dynasty that begun in 2008 and ended in 2015 was built on going to the National Draft each year with a strong hand.

Sydney, Geelong, West Coast and Collingwood also fall into this bracket as teams who, knew their position in the league’s landscape. Instead of fighting it, they followed a long term plan and brought success to their clubs.

A-League clubs should be willing to do the same. Because if you get stuck in the past, you’re blinded as to what you can do in the future. And often, there is no ceiling.

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Stop Complaining, Start Building: Why Proactive Clubs Always Win

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Image Credit: Connelly Project Resources

It’s a tale as old as time in grassroots sport: your club is stuck in a “time warp” facility, sharing a severely overused pitch with another code, while a club a few suburbs over just scored millions of dollars in council funding.

It is incredibly frustrating. The disparity in local government funding, the draconian facility-sharing arrangements, and the feeling that your sport is constantly fighting an uphill battle in certain heartlands can make committee members want to throw their hands in the air.

But when faced with this reality, your club has a choice. You can go on a rampage of advocacy – bitching, moaning, and focusing on everything the council or state sporting body isn’t doing – or, you can focus on what you can control.

The Post-COVID Divide

Think back to the clubs that emerged from the COVID-19 lockdowns. During that time, every club faced the exact same external restriction: nobody could play.

However, two distinct types of clubs emerged.

The first type went dark. They complained about the government, complained about the lack of support from their Peak Bodies, and disconnected from their members. They took years to recover.

The second type of club stayed connected. They acknowledged the reality but focused entirely on what they could do. They posted backyard drills on TikTok, sent training plans to parents, and kept their community engaged. As soon as restrictions lifted, they were on the front foot, miles ahead of the competition. Same environment, entirely different mindset.

The Circle of Control

In business and in sport, there is a circle of concern (things you care about but can’t change) and a much smaller circle of control (your own thoughts, behaviours, and operations).

If you have signed a 10-year lease on a substandard facility, that is your playing field. You aren’t going to change it tomorrow. So, how can you win given the rules you have?

·  Run a tight ship financially.

·  Pay your rent on time.

·  Communicate brilliantly with your members.

·  Streamline your governance.

Government likes to back a winner. If you spend your time spinning up the flywheels of good marketing, membership growth, and volunteer connection, you build a small business that clearly has its act together. When it comes time to advocate for better facilities, you aren’t just a complaining club—you are a highly successful, proactive community asset that councils will want to support.

Is your club stuck in a cycle of complaining? It’s time to take control of what you can. Contact CPR Group today to find out how our clubMENTOR program and strategic planning services can put your club on the front foot.

Socceroos Make Powerful $15K Play to Back Organ Donation Awareness

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Image Credit: Professional Footballers Australia

The Socceroos have reinforced football’s power beyond the pitch with a $15,000 donation to Transplant Australia Football Club (TAFC). The funding will support its 2026 Transplant World Cup campaign while raising awareness for organ and tissue donation.

The contribution, delivered through Professional Footballers Australia’s (PFA) Community Impact Fund, will assist TAFC’s preparations for the upcoming Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt. It is also amplifying the organisation’s broader mission to promote the life-saving impact of organ donation.

Presented during a national team training session, the donation reflects a growing commitment from Australia’s elite players to use their platform for meaningful social impact. Creating a connection between the game and causes that resonate far beyond football.

The initiative builds on an ongoing relationship between the Socceroos and TAFC, following a previous player-led contribution in 2024 that supported the team’s participation in the inaugural tournament in Italy.

More than just financial support, the partnership signals a longer-term collaboration aimed at increasing visibility for organ and tissue donation, leveraging the reach of both the national team and the PFA to drive awareness nationwide.

TAFC provides a unique pathway for transplant recipients, donors, and their families to re-engage with sport—offering not only competitive opportunities but a powerful platform to share stories of resilience, recovery, and second chances.

With the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup on the horizon, the Socceroos’ support will play a crucial role in enabling Australia’s team to compete on the global stage, while championing a message that extends far beyond results: the life-changing impact of donation.

As football continues to grow as both a cultural and social force, initiatives like this highlight the game’s unique ability to unite communities, elevate important causes, and create lasting impact where it matters most.

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