Marconi FC vs Wanderers NPL 25/08/2024 3:00PM

Lost 3-1.

Finish the season in 11th. 30 played, 12 wins, 2 draws, 16 losses. 32 points. Without the 6 point reduction that's 9th place on 38 points.

What looked like a promising season at the start really did crashed and burned at the end of the season.

However, probably a good spot on the table in comparison to the other Academy squads. Shame we let go of Nathaniel Blair and Adam Bugarija. Just to think Nathaniel had 13 goals to his name, O'Donovan was the 2nd highest goal scorer with 20 this season (Urosevski taking 31).

As for some of the academy players in the squad now, they'll most likely be shown the door and won't be there next season. 

I would keep Hollingdale, Cameron and Nkomo. The rest can go.

Absolutely a season of two halves. Unavoidable really with any of the properly contract players being required to have their break, and wanting them to be ready for pre-season with the full A-League team. If this season were played within the same timeframe as the AL team it would have been a contest for winning the league and play-offs. Blair would have pushed for golden boot and Younis player of the year.

But with the 'split season' the main goal is not get relegated. Hopefully next season the team that plays in the second half does better because I don't think it's likely that the players who turn up in the first half of next year will do anything remotely close to this 'golden generation' (two of whom have gone off to play for Perth, wonderful).

7 minutes ago, mack said:

Absolutely a season of two halves. Unavoidable really with any of the properly contract players being required to have their break, and wanting them to be ready for pre-season with the full A-League team. If this season were played within the same timeframe as the AL team it would have been a contest for winning the league and play-offs. Blair would have pushed for golden boot and Younis player of the year.

But with the 'split season' the main goal is not get relegated. Hopefully next season the team that plays in the second half does better because I don't think it's likely that the players who turn up in the first half of next year will do anything remotely close to this 'golden generation' (two of whom have gone off to play for Perth, wonderful).

With the absence of a National Youth League, playing NPL1 is the next best option for our up-and-coming players. Usually, the A League clubs in the NPL competitions are stronger in the first half than the second half as players move on or are rested and only 'stack' the team if threatened by relegation. For me this approach cheapens the value of the NPL1 competition but I can understand it's inevitability.