2026-27 A-Leagues Season Preview

We're going to start off with the major news stories around the A-League over the course of the off-season.

I guess the most important one or the biggest one is the most recent in terms of the Australia Cup and the links between the A-League and the NPL, guys, in terms of South Melbourne winning the Australia Cup.

Congratulations to on that accomplishment, the first NPL side to win the Australia Cup.

But the gap is closing ever more now and it's getting to the point where, and this has been the big discussion most recently, finding a way to get some of these ambitious and strong NPL sides into the A-League, Kurt.

There has to be a key path that the league does go down now because you can't see what you saw in Melbourne on the weekend.

I think that's not what the league needs to be.

If anyone had any doubts about how South Melbourne could not be in the A-League, last night put every doubt to bed.

Like, for us, we spoke about internally, 110% South Melbourne deserve and belong in the A-League, whether that's in two years' time or whenever they're allowed to be in.

The atmosphere was incredible.

Their funding, they'll be able to survive on their own.

They'll obviously be sharing potentially dual games between their facility, Lakeside, and Amy Park.

And Adam, there is absolutely no doubt, and I know your answer to this too, but South Melbourne do belong in the A-League, don't they?

Do you know my answer? Because to be honest, look, I'm mixed on this because, yes, I acknowledge and congratulations, first of all, to South Melbourne, a great effort this season.

I just, obviously, with all the excitement and everything like that, I just want to be, I guess, the devil's advocate as far as just be cautious about the hype and everything goes on and that it does need to still be sustainable.

Yes, no doubt.

Last night was a great occasion.

The biggest record, not only the highest attended Australia Cup final.

Brilliant.

Highest attendance at Amy Park for a sporting event.

Brilliant.

But the thing is that that's what we expect out of an Australia Cup final.

It's supposed to be a pinnacle match, like the FA Cup finals traditionally have been for the last 150 years in England.

But again, is this sustainable over 26 weeks of an A-League season and some uncomfortable sort of timings and whatnot? I don't think anyone can expect South Melbourne to draw 20,000 every game.

It's got to be sustainable.

And we're just going to be careful not rolling out the welcome mat and going, oh, yes, South Melbourne, you know, oh, they've got to be in the A-League.