RR
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over 15 years

Suppose they better have their own thread now.

Western Melbourne looking for marquee player as they aim to be in new stadium by third season

Incoming A-League expansion team Western Melbourne has vowed to be in its new stadium by its third season, 2021/22.

It also revealed that an Alessandro Del Piero-level marquee player had been “built into the financial projections” for its debut 2019/20 season, but didn’t want someone coming for a “superannuation cheque”.

Mystery still surrounds the main financial backers of Western Melbourne, in what looms as Australia’s first privately-funded sports stadium.

Western Melbourne chiefs said inaugural appointments were imminent, of which the coach was an “integral” decision, and revealed they want to house the Matildas at their Tarneit base.

Modelled on a host of US stadiums, bid chiefs said Football Federation Australia bought into their “value capture” vision — a joint partnership between Wyndham City Council and Western Melbourne Group, which they feel can be a trailblazer for Australian stadium models, which are usually government funded.

Western Melbourne director Steve Horvat revealed he’d spoken with former Socceroos teammate and inaugural Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic as they plotted to replicate the Wanderers’ community model, and that they had been talking to prospective players for months.

“We need marquee and international players that speak to the region and the vision we have for the club — we don’t want to bring players here that are coming for a superannuation cheque, we want them working hard and want to build something together,’’ Horvat said.

“Myself and Lou Sticca have been talking to players and potential coaches for months.

“A coach is going to be an integral appointment in season one. We want people within the organisation that have the same values and want to build something. We don’t want coaches coming here for a year and (moving on).

“We look forward to making some huge announcements, both in player signings, coaches and people running the club.”

Plans were underway to build a “world-class training facility” across the road from the stadium, with talks underway with three to four local venues.

They also believed a deal to play at Kardinia Park next season should be struck “within weeks”.

They would like to see the “first shovel in the ground” with six months, labelling the stadium “the easy part”, compared to the surrounding infrastructure and services.

Wyndham Council director Kate Roffey, who first met with Horvat 18 months ago, was confident of success.

“It wasn’t an easy sell (to FFA). But it’s a solution for the game in this country. For too long the game has been a tenant,’’ Roffey said.

“We want to be the pride of the west, but it’s not just the west, this model will put the game on the map in this country.”

HOW WESTERN MELBOURNE IS PRIVATELY FUNDING ITS STADIUM

1. Around 60 hectares of land was sold to Western Melbourne Group, who will undertake commercial and residential development.

2. The portion of land where the “elite facilities” (stadium and training base) will sit is an exchange of land between Wyndham City Council and Western Melbourne Group.

3. The profits made from developments will be used to fund the stadium and training base, which Western Melbourne will own and operate.

4. Surrounding infrastructure, including a proposed train line under one kilometre from the stadium, will require government funding.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/western-melbourne-looking-for-marquee-player-as-they-aim-to-be-in-new-stadium-by-third-season/news-story/d9ab0676b70db5c49e978988c5448d18
First Team Squad
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I wonder if the bulk of their squad will be NPL players or Aussies overseas? It must be a big advantage being the only new team and going in ahead of South Western Sydney.

RR
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over 15 years

Ryan54 wrote:

I wonder if the bulk of their squad will be NPL players or Aussies overseas? It must be a big advantage being the only new team and going in ahead of South Western Sydney.

Lou Sticca is involved, he is a player agent so I expect a few off contract A-League players will be signed. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but I assume that they will get the Wanderers treatment and have 2 extra visas for the first two seasons.
RR
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RR
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RR wrote:

And the whispers are correct https://www.a-league.com.au/news/western-melbourne...

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Yakcall wrote:

RR wrote:

And the whispers are correct https://www.a-league.com.au/news/western-melbourne...

 The World Games View
valeo
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almost 17 years

Anyone else think they'll target Krishna? (and maybe Sheridan!)

RR
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valeo wrote:

Anyone else think they'll target Krishna? (and maybe Sheridan!)

Sounds like they are gonna target a number of NPL guys, so I don't think they will go all out on 'recycling' A-League players. Lou Sticca is involved in the bid, he is one of the bigger agents in Aussie so will be interesting to see their recruitment plans.
RR
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over 15 years
Budgie lover
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over 16 years

For so many reasons, please let it be Ross!

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over 8 years

Keep your hands off Melbourne C!

RR
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A-League newcomers Western Melbourne will imminently announce Central Coast Mariners legend John Hutchinson as the latest addition to their coaching team.


The move comes hot on the heels of the fledgling outfit’s unveiling of Bentleigh Greens’ NPL heavyweight John Anastasiadis as an assistant to their yet-to-be-appointed head coach.

With their entry into an 11-team competition just nine months away, Gippsland-born Hutchinson - coach of Seattle Sounders’ second team since last January after a stint as Mariners assistant - is understood to have accepted the offer to come home.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/mariners-legend-hutchinson-heads-back-to-a-league-with-western-melbourne_1
Appiah without the pace
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Seems odd to hire/announce your assistants first.

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2ndBest wrote:

Seems odd to hire/announce your assistants first.

NZF a model for everyone to follow.

RR
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RR
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RR
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over 15 years
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over 16 years

Scott Brown has re-signed with Celtic.

RR
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RR
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RR
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Western United seems like the best of a bad bunch imo

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RR wrote:

Western United seems like the best of a bad bunch imo

Surely need to have thew or 'Melbourne' their name. Would be odd for neutrals who would think they are from WA

RR
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maynardf wrote:

RR wrote:

Western United seems like the best of a bad bunch imo

Surely need to have thew or 'Melbourne' their name. Would be odd for neutrals who would think they are from WA

But will fans from Geelong support a team with Melbourne in their name? Vince suggested using Westgate cuz that is a common name for the area also
RR
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Western Melbourne Warriors lol, hope they go with Western United FC and go with green home colours, too much red, black and white in the league already.

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theprof wrote:

Western Melbourne Warriors lol, hope they go with Western United FC and go with green home colours, too much red, black and white in the league already.

If they go with red white and black again they could be the Western Kaisers

LG
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over 16 years

I could envision them playing in white with blue like the Greek flag.

Headocunt
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990
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over 9 years

I want Western Melbourne Wanderers with colours black and red is that to much to ask

LG
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over 16 years

Compromise - red and dark blue hoops.

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over 6 years

A lot of suggestions that they will play in black and white. As long as its not red, blue or yellow I'm happy

LG
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Different codes, but from 6 years living in Melbourne know plenty of folks there that had an AFL team they supported, but were also football (even A League) followers.

Collingwood play in black & white hoops. Biggest AFL club in Melbourne with the most fans, but also the most hated by other club supporters.

Western Bulldogs who have as their 'heartland' Melbourne's western suburbs, play in blue, white & red. A smaller, battler club.

Don't be surprised if AFL team colours have some influence, on the strip of Western Melbourne's new A League team.

RR
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RR
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The best of a bad bunch. Picking team identities by poll is a shark idea.

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Christo wrote:

The best of a bad bunch. Picking team identities by poll is a shark idea.

but pretty much what we did - Dom Post ran a  poll, top 4 were then given to Terry who decided which one would be the name

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