One of the world's longest off-seasons concludes this weekend as the A-League Men kicks off its new campaign. However, the competition faces structural issues, most notably a 26-game regular season that is significantly shorter than Europe's top five leagues, where teams play 34 to 38 games per season (excluding cups and continental competitions).
The truncated schedule also produces an uneven fixture, with teams facing some rivals twice and others three times. The delayed mid-October start date, originally intended to give the A-League "clear air" from other sports, means players lack full match fitness for the September international window, disadvantaging national teams. The "clear air" concept is considered outdated given the continued expansion of content from other sports.
Supporters of the current structure note that the A-League season is already the longest of any football code in Australia. However, the gap of eight to 12 fewer games per year compared to European leagues compounds over time, particularly for younger players. By age 20, an Australian player may have played one or two seasons' worth of competitive matches fewer than their European counterparts.
The fixture's length also has financial implications for clubs, as fewer home games mean reduced revenue opportunities. The competition must balance the need for more matches to improve player development and commercial viability against the costs of extending a season that already struggles for attention in a crowded sporting market.