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Live sport on SN this weekend'Rip the Band-Aid off': Coach calls for A-League expansion
Steve Larkin & Shayne Hope, AAP •  October 23rd, 2026 1:59 pm
Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar is pointing towards an expanded A-League Men competition | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
A-League Men's hierarchy should "rip the Band-Aid off" and admit four new teams to the competition, Aurelio Vidmar says.
The Melbourne City coach is urging expansion as soon as possible for the betterment of the league.
"I don't why we have to drip-feed teams ... why don't we just be excited to know that we have four more teams coming into the competition," Vidmar told reporters on Friday.
Aurelio Vidmar sees little point in dragging out the expansion | Photo: Will Murray/AAP
"We have got to rip the Band-Aid off.
"If they're financial and it works, then there's no problem."
Vidmar pointed to NPL club South Melbourne's Australia Cup triumph against Melbourne Victory before a sold-out crowd of 29,911 fans at AAMI Park as evidence of what could work.
"The narrative with South Melbourne has been pretty positive," he said.
"In my view, you need four (new) teams in the league ASAP.
South Melbourne made history by winning the Australia Cup final against Melbourne Victory | Photo: Scott Barbour/AAP
"We don't have enough games ... pre-season is way too long.
"If we have 16 teams it would be absolutely perfect.
"If it's South Melbourne, Adelaide City, Marconi, Sutherland - I don't know who it is - bring them in, because it would make the competition much better.
"The more the merrier, for me ... if you talk to every single player they would want less pre-season and more games, absolutely.
"And if you had 16 teams, 30 games home-and-away, plus finals, I think that is more than enough.
"And I think all those teams that I mentioned would be absolutely competitive in this (ALM) competition."
Melbourne City won the ALM championship in 2024/25, but averaged only 7319 spectators at home games last season.
Melbourne City claimed the 2024/25 title, defeating Victory in the grand final | Photo: James Ross/AAP
"The competition is very strong. Of course, there's more younger players playing, but that's exciting as well," Vidmar said.
"The competition is excellent ... the (crowd) numbers last week were very encouraging.
"There will always be the naysayers. But what are we doing to try to actually improve it? What are we trying to do to get more people coming to watch us?
"That is the important question you need to ask."
He said from an on-field perspective, ALM clubs were always seeking to put a "good product on to the pitch on a weekly basis".
Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar lifts the trophy after the 2025 grand final | Photo: James Ross/AAP
"For the majority, we do that," Vidmar said.
"Now, how do we translate that into more people coming into the stadium?
"That is probably a question for the marketeers and people promoting the game.
"But certainly the game is not dead."
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