Brisbane Roar’s stagnation has dragged on for too long

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Image via Brisbane Roar academy

Australian football experienced a shock to the system on Tuesday evening when A-Leagues side Brisbane Roar announced the abrupt dismissal of its junior academy sides.

Earning league-wide discontent and now the involvement of Football Australia in the matter, the situation has added to the club’s woes in a tumultuous season that has also seen the termination of Corey Brown’s contract for alleged drug use and subsequent judicial hearings with Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) in regards to the incident.

The announcement, released by the Roar unexpectedly on Tuesday, saw the club state the following via a press release:

“As the only Isuzu UTE A-League team in Queensland, Brisbane Roar are proud to support a pathway for the junior players in the state to have professional football opportunities,” the statement read.

“Brisbane Roar also recognise that Football Queensland works with NPL clubs and players, across the state, and that these clubs are the backbone for development, particularly for junior players.

“Therefore, Brisbane Roar have made the difficult decision to focus on the development of players from the age of 16 and up that are eligible for the Under 23’s and NPL men’s squad.

“As a result, the Brisbane Roar Football Club Academy Under 14 to Under 18 programs will cease to operate. The Under 13’s has been removed under the new Football Queensland model.”

The Roar went on to cite an ambition to provide a “direct pathway to professional football with our Under 23 and Men’s teams” as the ultimate reasoning behind the decision – this is in spite of the fact that the club’s under-15 and under-23 sides won their respective Grand Finals.

An already deteriorating relationship with its fan base has been further solidified with fan malaise at an all-time high at the club. Despite returning to Suncorp Stadium amidst growing fan discontent towards having to travel to Redcliffe for home games, the Roar currently sit 10th on the Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s ladder following a draw against Macarthur and loss against Melbourne City both at home.

The Bakrie Group, the Indonesia-based conglomerate who has owned a 70 percent share in the A-Leagues sole Queensland representative, has reduced their investment into the club through the years, and despite early success under Ange Postecoglou and Mike Mulvey, has been largely at fault for the club’s unfortunate decline and has only been a source of ire for their loyal supporters recently. With funding into the club clearly an issue, it is no doubt time for Brisbane Roar to move on from their relationship with the Bakrie Group – something which is undeniably no easy feat.

The intention to stick with only an expanded Under-23 side for the foreseeable future has generated obvious furore for a reason, especially with Queensland being home to the second largest contingent of football participants in Australia. Adding to the club’s ill decision-making is the fact that Football Queensland, the governing body in charge of the state’s footballing endeavours, issued a statement of their own which made it clear that the result of the Roar’s decision is solely their making:

“This decision was made exclusively by the Brisbane Roar and by Brisbane Roar alone,” the statement read.

“Football Queensland accepts the position of Brisbane Roar who will now focus on their U23 and First team squads.

“Football Queensland will ensure the advanced junior development pathway continues to be strong and accessible to Queensland talent.”

Football Queensland went on to back up their initial statement with a commitment to the implementation of a full-time state development program for boys that aligns with the FQ Academy QAS girls’ program ahead of the upcoming 2024 National Premier Leagues Queensland season.

The fallout of Brisbane Roar’s decision will invariably leave elite junior players looking elsewhere for opportunities and also reduce coaching opportunities for aspiring local coaches. In addition, it will arguably result in the Roar potentially alienating NPL sides who develop these players that they poach or worse, it will leave generational gaps in Australian football – something which is irrefutably detrimental to the growth of Australian football.

Football Australia immediately released a statement of their own on the issue, further reflecting the implications behind the Roar’s decision and the foreseeable damage the club and the Bakrie Group may cause in the future.

“Football Australia, in its regulatory capacity, has some concerns with Brisbane Roar Football Club’s announcement regarding proposed changes to its Academy and have scheduled a meeting with the Club to gather information and discuss their decision in more detail. Only once this meeting has taken place will Football Australia be able to provide further comment.”

Regardless of the Roar’s justification behind the end to its junior sides, it can no longer remain behind the rest of the A-Leagues on or off the field, especially in a state where football is so deeply-entrenched at a grassroots level. The time is now overdue for the club to depart with the Bakrie Group in search of something greater or at minimum stabler. As daunting as that may appear, it will be nothing but holistically positive for Queensland and Australian football.

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Media Mega-Mergers, Minor Leagues: Why Global Consolidation Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Australian Football

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Image Credit: Profimedia.cz

The approval of a reported $113 billion merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global is being framed as the creation of a “next-generation media and entertainment company.”

But beyond Hollywood headlines, the deal signals something far more consequential for sport: a global media landscape rapidly consolidating into fewer, more powerful hands.

For Australian football, particularly the A-League, this is not just background noise. It is a structural shift that could define the league’s future.

 

A shrinking marketplace, a growing imbalance

The merger brings together an enormous portfolio of assets, such as film studios, broadcast networks and streaming platforms, under a single corporate umbrella. It reflects a broader industry trend: scale is no longer an advantage in media, it is a necessity.

Yet with that scale comes concentration. Fewer buyers now control more platforms, more audiences, and more capital. Critics of the deal have warned that such consolidation risks reducing competition and narrowing the range of voices in global media.

For sport, the implications are immediate.

Broadcast rights are no longer negotiated in a diverse, competitive market. Instead, leagues are increasingly competing for space within vertically integrated media ecosystems. This is because decisions are driven not just by audience demand, but by global strategy, bundled content offerings and long-term platform growth.

 

Why the A-League is particularly exposed

This shift lands unevenly across the sporting landscape.

Leagues like the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) remain dominant domestic products, commanding billion-dollar broadcast deals and consistent mass audiences.

The A-League, by contrast, operates from a more fragile commercial base.

Despite its global game status, the league continues to face:

  • Inconsistent crowd figures
  • Fluctuating visibility
  • A comparatively modest broadcast deal with Paramount

In a fragmented media environment, this is manageable. In a consolidated one, it becomes a vulnerability.

Because as the number of broadcasters shrinks, so too does the margin for leagues that are not seen as “must-have” content.

 

From open market to closed ecosystem

The critical shift is not just economic, it is also structural.

In the past, leagues could leverage competition between broadcasters to drive rights value. Now, with fewer but larger players, the balance of power tilts toward the platforms.

Content is no longer simply acquired, it is curated.

And in that environment, only properties that deliver one (or more) of the following will thrive:

  • Guaranteed audiences
  • Global scalability
  • Year-round engagement
  • Strategic value within a broader content ecosystem

This is where the A-League faces both its greatest challenge—and its greatest opportunity.

 

The overlooked strength of Australian football

While often positioned as a “developing” product domestically, football offers something no other Australian code can replicate: global alignment.

As the world’s most popular sport, football operates within an international ecosystem that extends far beyond national borders. Australia’s geographic position, bridging Asian and Western markets, adds further strategic value.

For a global media entity like Paramount, this matters.

The A-League is not just local content. It is potentially exportable, scalable and aligned with global football narratives. It also taps into younger, more digitally engaged audiences, who are increasingly driving subscription-based streaming growth.

In a media environment defined by platform expansion, that is not a weakness. It is an underutilised asset.

 

Why consolidation should drive MORE investment

The instinct in a consolidating market is often caution by tightening budgets, focusing on proven performers and minimising risk.

But for Australian football, that approach is self-defeating.

Because without investment:

  • Production quality stagnates
  • Storytelling weakens
  • Audience growth plateaus
  • Commercial value declines

And in a system that rewards scale and engagement, stagnation is equivalent to irrelevance.

Instead, consolidation should be seen as a trigger for strategic investment:

  • Elevating broadcast presentation
  • Strengthening club identities and narratives
  • Expanding digital and streaming integration
  • Positioning the league within the broader global football conversation

In short, making the A-League indispensable, rather than optional.

 

The real risk: being left behind

The emergence of media giants like a merged Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global signals a future where content is filtered through fewer, more powerful gatekeepers.

In that world, leagues that fail to assert their value risk being sidelined, not because they lack potential, but because they fail to meet the evolving demands of the platforms that distribute them.

For the A-League, the danger is not collapse. It is marginalisation.

A slow drift into irrelevance while larger codes capture the attention, investment, and audiences that define modern sport.

 

Conclusion: a defining moment

This merger is not about Hollywood. It is about power.

Power over distribution. Power over audiences. Power over what gets seen and what does not.

For Australian football, the message is clear.

In a world of media consolidation, visibility is earned through value, not assumed through presence.

And if the A-League is to secure its place in that future, investment is no longer optional.

It is existential.

Melbourne City expand youth program with Hallam Secondary College

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Image credit: Melbourne City FC

The school will join the City Futures Program in its mission to consolidate pathways and community bonds for students.

From pupils to players

Hallam is the latest school in Melbourne’s South-East to join the City Futures Program. Also backing the program’s ambitions are Narre Warren South P-12 College, Gleneagles Secondary College and Timbarra P-9 School.

Partnerships between professional clubs like Melbourne City and local schools help to promote community connection, as well as providing pathways from the classroom to the stadium.

“City Futures is about creating genuine opportunities for young people to stay engaged in their education while feeling connected to something bigger,” said Head of Community, Sunil Melon, via press release.

“By bringing the Club into schools and providing access to our environment, we’re helping students build confidence, explore future pathways and see what’s possible both within football and beyond.”

Gone are the days when young players must choose between football and education. Through the City Futures Program, they can enjoy both worlds and still have the opportunities to develop.

 

What City Futures provides

Hallam sudents will be at the centre of the benefits provided by the connection to Melbourne City.

For example, high-quality coaching sessions delivered twice a week will instill confidence and teamwork skills into young participants. And as Melbourne City coaches are set to deliver the sessions, the students will truly learn from the best in Australia’s footbal landscape.

Furthermore, participants can visit Casey Fields, home to the City Football Academy, where they can experience the ins and outs of how an A-League club operates and trains.

“We’re proud to be part of the City Futures Program,” outlined Acting Principal at Hallam Secondary College, Shelly Haughey.

“Seeing our students come together and commit to their training is setting them up for success both on and off the pitch, and we look forward to building a strong and lasting partnership with Melbourne City FC.”

 

The future of football pathways

This isn’t the first – nor will it be the last – partnership to connect football and education in Australia.

Earlier this year, Queensland-based John Paul College embarked on an exciting journey with Spanish outfit, RCD Espanyol, to provide unique coaching support, player education, and pathway opportunities.

But these partnerships aren’t merely about giving young talents a place in the starting XI.

They are designed to ensure all participants develop into confident young people – whether their future lies on the pitch, in the dugout or in the boardroom.

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