"You just don't know" - Marconi embracing unpredictability of Australian Championship

The inaugural edition of the Australian Championship kicked off last Friday night in Melbourne. As one of the eight foundation clubs, the Marconi Stallions participate in Group B, alongside Australia Cup runners-up Heidelberg United, Tasmania's South Hobart, and NPL NSW rivals Wollongong Wolves. Front Page Football spoke to Stallions head coach Peter Tsekenis before last weekend's first match against Heidelberg to preview his side's campaign.

Marconi Stallions face South Hobart at Marconi Stadium this weekend in their second group stage match of the Australian Championship. (Image: Marconi Stallions FC)

This season, Marconi finished third on the NPL NSW table, four points behind premiers NWS Spirit. The Stallions also reached the semi-final stage of the NPL NSW Finals Series and the seventh round of the Australia Cup preliminaries. However, despite not lifting a trophy, head coach Peter Tsekenis was proud of his side's effort to challenge for titles this past season.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed we didn't get a trophy, [but] I wouldn't call it a poor season," Tsekenis told Front Page Football.

"I thought it was a good season, taking into consideration some of the hurdles we faced, with a lot of centre-back injuries and different combinations that we had to deal with at that time. We couldn't field our proper team in the important games, even in the semi-final, since we had a midweek game before that.

"Everything just didn't fall our way, with all those injuries and how the games were allocated. It wasn't ideal, but overall, under those circumstances, I thought the boys were really good. We dropped points where we shouldn't have, and only finished four points behind first—that's the line between winning and losing."

Marconi faced an injury crisis in defence, challenging the squad's strength and depth. This crisis led to extensive rotation, with players being forced to play out of position. Even with a weaker defence, the Stallions still managed to remain competitive at the back, only conceding 29 goals, the best defensive performance in the league.

Now in the Australian Championship, Marconi has brought in three new signings to reinforce their potency in attack: Jordan Swibel and William Akio to bolster the final third, and Tomohiro Ogawa of Cooma Tigers in the midfield. Both Akio and Swibel have plied their trades in the Canadian Premier League in recent years. They could be the answer to Marconi's goalscoring struggles from the NPL season.

With the Australian Championship presented as an individual competition, clubs can retain their players under a separate contract from the NPL and without the restrictions of the Player Points System. However, a few additional rules are in place to promote youth. The rule changes enhance the competition's competitiveness, with Tsekenis ensuring that his new signings are at Marconi to develop the squad further.

"We have everyone available. Even Anton (Milinaric), who we lost after the early rounds, has been a rock for us, so he's like a new player. We have made some new signings, which I think have strengthened our team. At the moment, at training, everyone's firing, and not one injury except maybe for some niggles, but everyone's firing. I think having that is a positive.

"The changes that we have made have been progressive, and we needed to fill in the gaps that were left from players moving on, and some players who had long-term injuries that couldn't play in the Championship. It wasn't like I said 'thank you for NPL, but you are not required for the Championship. We don't believe in that, I don't believe in that.

"So either players moved on or had injuries, and we had to replace those spots with the appropriate players who we thought could fit into those roles. Time will tell, but I'm quite quietly confident from what I've seen that the players we've brought in will do a great job."

For this campaign, Marconi are in Group B with Heidelberg United, South Hobart, and Wollongong Wolves. Before that first match against Heidelberg last Sunday, Tsekenis anticipated a tough group, especially facing a side that had just come off an Australia Cup Final against the Newcastle Jets.

"South Hobart is a tricky one. I think it's going to be very tricky in Hobart," Tsekenis explained.

"We played them a few years ago in the Australia Cup at Hobart, where we got a good result, but it's different now because they have come off a season and can strengthen their team. And Wollongong finished outside the top six (in NPL NSW), but that's not something to gauge since they have recruited quite well with a new coach. I'm sure they will be strong.

"I don't think anyone can take anyone too lightly, and if you do, I think that's where you'll fall over. We'll respect the opposition, we'll do our homework, and we'll just focus on us doing what we need to do. I'm not sure what we can expect, but after the first couple of rounds, I think you will get an idea of where teams are at."

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The opportunity for young players to impress is promoted through the competition. While the Player Points System allows under-20s to play, the Championship requires clubs to include at least three under-23 players and two under-20 players in a squad of a maximum 23 players. On the team sheet, at least two under-23 and one under-20 player have to be involved.

The opportunity to travel between states will help younger players adapt to professional football and create an overall experience that could enhance their preparation for away matches.

"I think for any player that has the opportunity to travel to an environment of playing games in competition, it's a great experience for all players and staff. I have done it in the past. I did it as a player, and I quite enjoyed it. It's part of being a professional, and I think it'll be a great experience for everyone. I think that part of the competition is what excites a lot of clubs."

As a whole, the Championship presents a new era of Australian football as interest and viewership rise in NPL football. Examples of the NPL Victoria Grand Final and Heidelberg's Australia Cup matches demonstrate the potential to enhance the competition in Australian football further, integrate the sport into local communities, and unlock different pathways and opportunities at the youth level beyond the A-League.

"Everyone is watching now to see what the reaction will be in terms of people coming to the game, what the viewership on TV will be, [and] the numbers they get for that. I think it's a big trial, and I think it's important that people come and support it.

"When you look at the clubs that are involved, they all have some sort of ethnic community backing and following. They started from those backgrounds, and I think if those communities get behind those clubs, there can be a huge success rather than just a regional team or a team from a [specific] area. These teams have the advantage of having an ethnic background. If those communities actually come out and support it, I think it'll be a huge success.

"I really think that might be the way forward: combining community-based ethnic clubs that can also attract the regional community to follow them, and there's nothing wrong with that. I think they're embracing that now, and I'm hoping for Australian football that this Championship is a success because I think it'll help push the A-League to be better.

"Players are looking to show themselves on this stage, and coaches as well. And I think it's important that we have the next layer of football underneath the A-League to have a breeding ground not only for players but coaches and staff as well. I think it's important that we put pressure on the A-League. So if we put pressure on the A-League, we will obviously have to raise the bar again, and it can only be good for football."

After their 1–0 loss to Heidelberg in Melbourne, Marconi sits third in the group behind Wollongong, who secured a 3–1 win in Hobart. Despite the defeat, Marconi matched the intensity of the Victorian champions with a solid defensive display, only losing to a long-distance goal from Anthony Theodoropoulos. New signing Akio was introduced, adding a physical presence to their direct style of play, which can only benefit their final third in the upcoming matches.

With 16 teams in the group stage, it isn't easy to choose a definite favourite, given the squads that clubs have moulded. From Round 1, the competition looks balanced, making the outcome of the next matches difficult to predict. For their next two fixtures, the Stallions will face South Hobart and Wollongong Wolves at home.

"Because teams have sort of changed things up a bit, I'm just not sure where they're all at. I think the obvious one will be Heidelberg because of their run in the cup, beating A-League teams and really giving a good shot, probably a bit unlucky if you ask me, against the Jets in the Final. I think they probably have to be the hot favourites. I think everyone probably agrees with that.

"Does that mean that what's going to happen? No one knows, and that's the beauty of our game. We just don't know. I mean, if you knew what the result was going to be in every game, in every fixture, then we wouldn't bother watching. That's the exciting part. You just don't know, and you're going to get some teams that you didn't expect; you're going to have dark horses come out of nowhere.

"I'm sure that every team within their own four walls have got confidence that they can do well, and that's the beauty of football."