PFA Reveals Findings from 2024-25 A-League Men Report

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Image credit: Freedomz / Shutterstock.com

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has released the 2024-25 A-League Men Report featuring insights into the developments and challenges experienced across the men’s game throughout last season.  

Recently published, the report collected data through PFA end of season surveys, post-match surveys and fan focus groups to gain a comprehensive understanding of player and fan experiences. The report’s findings will hopefully serve not only to highlight existing issues within the men’s game, but to provide a direction for future decisions by the Australian Premier League going into the 2025-26 season. 

Key findings

Inconsistent Attendances

Aided by the introduction of Auckland FC, the average ALM attendance rose by 9% from last season. As the report shows, the club reached a league-high average crowd of 18,101, cementing Auckland as a dominating force both on the pitch and in the stands. Seven other clubs also increased their game attendances, most notably led by Newcastle Jets with a 14% improvement. 

Despite this, five clubs saw attendances fall drastically. Melbourne City witnessed a concerning decline of 27% compared to the 2023-24 season, representing the highest drop-off in the league despite achieving on-pitch success and topping the PFA’s Club Index scorecard. Poor attendance is a common theme across the ALM and ALW, with the latter seeing all but two clubs (Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar) increase their attendance since the 2023-24 season.

Falling attendances are also emphasised by excessive stadium capacities. Only three clubs, Auckland, Adelaide and Western United, managed to fill over half of their stadium capacity, illustrating the need to address stadium infrastructure across the league in future seasons.

Player Dissatisfaction 

Similar to the findings in the 2024-25 ALW Report, ALM players continue to prefer an independent commission to the current APL board. According to the 2024-25 end of season survey, 52% of players were dissatisfied with the APL’s management of the A-League, and 60% affirmed that the ALM board should be formed by individuals with no formal connections to clubs. 

With the current board featuring five club representatives, decisions are increasingly likely to be impacted by conflicts of interest. To resolve such concerns, following the models of leagues like the AFL and NRL may offer a more effective form of governance, in which commissioners selected by the clubs satisfy the prerequisite balance of skills and experience.  

Youth Representation 

A record number of match minutes were given to players under the age of 21 in the ALM last season. According to the report’s findings, Under 21s made up 18% of match minutes, with players under 25 accounting for 56% of minutes played. 

High levels of youth representation isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, as it implies that club academies are maturing and producing high-quality talents worthy of professional minutes. As future generations look to the professional game for inspiration, seeing young players be given the chance to prove themselves is an encouraging sign. 

However, the increasing reliance on young players may also be influenced by clubs turning towards a transfer-focussed revenue and a desire to cut player costs while traditional revenue (such as from broadcasting) falls. 

What Should the Focus be Moving Forward?

As the APL and competing clubs are currently competing in the 2025-26 season, addressing the issues revealed in the ALM Report will help professional football in Australia to flourish. 

Improving Infrastructure 

Increasing attendances and filling stadium capacity will help to elevate matchday atmospheres and thus create an incentive for consistent attendance throughout the season. To this end, following the model practised by MLS clubs in America could be crucial.

According to the report, 22 out of the 29 MLS clubs with stadium capacities of 18,000 to 30,000 all achieved utilisation rates of 79%. Stadia with lower capacity can drive an improved matchday atmosphere and ultimately encourage fans to regularly attend ALM games. 

Inspire Collaboration 

Earlier this week, the PFA and FSAA (Football Supporters Association Australia) announced a new partnership aimed at establishing connections between players and fans and giving them a voice in future decision-making.

This marks a step in the right direction for the men’s game and points to an optimistic future in which all parties can voice their opinion before changes are implemented. Increased collaboration will ensure decisions are collectively agreed upon and reduce conflicts among stakeholders and participants in the APL.

Pounce on International Opportunities  

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ approaches, clubs in Australia should see the tournament as a unique opportunity for economic and cultural growth within the men’s game. As part of the altered Men’s World Cup Club Benefits Program, clubs who released players for qualifiers and for the final tournament will now receive a share of the pot totalling just under AUD 535 million. Although it remains unclear how much of this will go to ALM clubs, it remains an added incentive for clubs to propel their players into contention for the tournament in North America next year.

With more domestic players performing alongside the most successful footballing nations on the world stage, it proves to clubs, players and fans that football in Australia deserves high-quality governance, infrastructure and working conditions.

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Boroondara Eagles Secure Landmark Victory as Macleay Park Set to Become NPLW Home

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Image Credits: Boroondara Eagles

A long-awaited breakthrough for the Boroondara Eagles Football Club has brought the vision of a permanent home for women’s football one step closer, with Boroondara City Council endorsing plans for an NPLW-compliant pitch at Macleay Park.

For the Eagles, the ambition to provide women with deserving facilities took a significant step forward this week after the Boroondara City Council committed to upgrading the pitch as part of the Macleay Park Masterplan.

This masterplan involved new sports lights on Macleay Park Oval 3 but failed to see any further development to the soccer facilities or the Boroondara Eagles until Monday night.

The decision marks a defining moment in the club’s history and provides a platform for sustained growth, particularly for its thriving women’s and girls’ football programs.

While the resolution represents an important planning milestone, its significance extends well beyond the construction of a new playing surface. It signals a commitment to ensuring female footballers have access to facilities capable of supporting elite development pathways while remaining connected to their local community.

Purpose-built facilities remain one of the biggest challenges facing women’s football across Australia. As participation continues to surge, many clubs have outgrown venues originally designed around significantly smaller player bases.

For a club that has experienced rapid growth in recent years, the announcement provides the opportunity to establish a permanent home capable of meeting the demands of National Premier Leagues Women’s football.

The investment also reflects a broader shift within local government and football stakeholders towards recognising the infrastructure required to support the continued growth of the women’s game.

The Council’s decision was underpinned by strong community support, with players, families, coaches, volunteers and supporters filling the Council Chamber in a powerful display of unity.

The overwhelming attendance demonstrated the depth of connection between the club and the local community, highlighting how football facilities can become important social and sporting assets beyond matchday.

Although the inclusion of the NPLW-compliant pitch within the Macleay Park Masterplan represents a significant victory, the project remains at the beginning of its journey.

Funding, planning and delivery will now become the focus as the Boroondara Eagles works alongside Council, partners and the wider community to bring the Macleay Masterplan to life.

The club has already called on local businesses, sponsors and community members to become involved in the next phase, recognising that delivering modern sporting infrastructure is a collaborative effort.

Should the project progress as envisioned, Macleay Park has the potential to become more than simply the club’s home ground. It could emerge as a center point for women’s football in the local Boroondara community, supporting participation, talent development and community engagement for years to come.

For the Boroondara Eagles, the Council resolution is not the destination—it is the foundation upon which the club can build its next chapter.

Tottenham Hotspur deliver player development workshop for Football NSW

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Image credit: Football NSW

The workshop focused on sharing knowledge and insights regarding player development, bringing together more than 120 coaches from across NSW with those from Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Experience, insight and education

Valentine Sports Park hosted the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop, uniting Football NSW coaches and members of Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff to encourage discussion and learning opportunities about player development.

Tottenham’s player development pathway – from the academy to the first team – has produced some of the most respected names in Premier League history, including Harry Kane and Ledley King.

Under the leadership and guidance of Tottenham Hotspur Player & Coach Pathway Co-ordinator (and UEFA A Licence Coach), Jimmy Martin, as well as members of Tottenham’s coaching staff, Shannon Maloney, Kevin Moffatt and Tyler Blackwood, the workshop was a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced coaches in the game.

“Coach education is a vital part of developing football across NSW, and having more than 120 coaches attend this workshop highlights the appetite within our football community to continue learning and improving,” explained Football NSW Head of Football, Edward Ferguson.

Ferguson continued to outline the value of learning from an organisation like Tottenham Hotspur, a team who have helped grow some of the game’s most exceptional talents. The lessons taken will consequently help to inform future approaches to coaching in NSW.

“The focus remains on creating better learning environments for players, encouraging decision-making, creativity and long-term development.”

What the workshop involved

The workshop encouraged coaches to dive into all aspects of player development: the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects which contribute to the English academy setup.

Furthermore, Maloney, Moffatt and Blackwood – all of whom helped deliver a practical session for attendees – showed how a club’s playing identity can work alongside challenging training environments for players.

Game understanding, creative problem-solving and technical proficiency underpinned the main themes driving the workshop. In an age where individual expression on the pitch appears a dying art, Tottenham Hotspur coaches remain committed to encouraging players to feel confident adapating to a range of in-game scenarios.

Football NSW coaches were also able to attend a Q&A session with King, who spoke about his playing experiences for both club and country.

 

Final thoughts

As Australia continues to nurture the current and upcming generations of talented footballers, workshops such as this are a vital, fundamental part of the journey.

The fastest way to be among the best is to learn from them. The aim now is for Football NSW coaches to take the lessons learned, and apply them to football development in their own academies and teams across the state.

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