It's the season FINALE! Archie and Zappa sign off the final episode of the podcast for the season by recapping all of the excitement of the Socceroos qualifying for the Qatar World Cup. To get an insight into the behind the scenes action, we are joined by Ajdin Hrustic who played a key role in the teams qualification aspirations.

The Melbourne-born midfielder moved overseas as a teenager and featured in Nottingham Forest, Austria Wien and Schalke 04’s youth systems before breaking through at Dutch Eredivisie outfit FC Groningen. Ajdin made his first team debut for Groningen in 2017 and made over 50 appearances for the side before earning a move to German Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

2:40 - Graham Arnold leads us to the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
7:10 - Get ready to Wiggle with Redders.
11:10 - Surprise packet Kye Rowles.
13:45 - Neds Level Player of the Week: Jamie Maclaren.
19:02 - Ajdin Hrustic joins Football From A to Z.
21:30 - Commitment to the cause - All For The Socceroos.
24:35 - The almost move to a club in Italy.
25:40 - The penalty shootout that send us to Qatar.
28:55 - Andrew Redmayne's heroics.
35:30 - Ajdin's back story.
37:20 - Around the grounds - Aussies Abroad.
39:40 - Neds Multi of the Week.

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In this episode, Zappa is joined by Simon Colosimo as Archie Thompson is benched due to the spicy cough. Simon grew up in Melbourne before moving into the AIS program as a sixteen year old. He then joined the newly formed Carlton Soccer Club in the NSL before heading overseas to Manchester City and Royal Antwerp. Colosimo then returned home to the A-League where he played for Perth Glory, Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart.

Today, the former Socceroo with 26 caps has a career in football working as a Senior Executive at FIFPro, an organisation that shapes and influences the provisions currently available to players across the world, as they strive to improve welfare and working conditions throughout the game.

3:10 - Simon Colosimo joins Football From A to Z.
3:35 - Starting out at the AIS.
8:45 - The Socceroos came calling.
11:25 - Playing football at the highest level for your country.
15:18 - Where is the National Men's Team at?
22:30 - A National Second Division assisting our football development.
26:00 - Player welfare advocacy.
30:30 - Are athletes playing too many games in a season?
36:50 - The Asian Champions League Alignment.
41:52 - The Qatar World Cup.

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WESTERN UNITED ARE A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! In this episode, Zappa sits down with the newly crowned King of the West of Melbourne, John Aloisi. Aloisi has played professionally in Belgium, Italy, Spain and England. 459 professional matches, 129 goals and one of Australian footballs most memorable moments, but the story doesn't end there. John then took up coaching at the Melbourne Heart followed by the Brisbane Roar before landing at Western United. John has now made history once more, bringing the 3 year old club their first piece of silverware and their first Championship.

3:40 - John Aloisi joins Football From A to Z.
5:15 - Missing out on coaching roles before Western United.
10:15 - A club on its knees to A-League Men's Champions.
14:25 - Bringing the best foreigners to the A-Leagues.
20:15 - The Warrior Josh Risdon.
22:58 - The electricity of Lachie Wales.
27:30 - Post-match celebrations.
29:20 - Athlete sacrifices - Neil Kilkenny.
31:20 - Looking to the future.

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In this episode, Archie and Zappa sit down with A-Leagues Grand Final and Joe Marston Medal winner from the Central Coast Mariners striker Danny McBreen. Danny now commentates for Channel 10 after a successful career at the Mariners and over in China.

The boys chat all things A-League Grand Final ahead of this years final as well as the Socceroos clash with the UAE all while sitting at Accor Stadium ahead of the FC Barcelona v A-Leagues All Stars match.

1:00 - Danny McBreen joins Football From A to Z.
2:30 - Transitioning from athlete to sports broadcaster.
6:50 - A-Leagues Semi-Final Review.
7:50 - Neds Level Player of the Week: Aleksandar Prijović.
11:00 - John Aloisi being reborn as a Professional Coach.
15:40 - What could have been for Adelaide United.
20:30 - Looking ahead to the A-Leagues Grand Final.
24:45 - Classic Grand Finals with Danny.
37:15 - Socceroos up against the UAE.

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In this episode, Zappa has taken off to Scotland to sit down with two very special guests, Ange Postecoglou and Tom Rogic after they were crowned Scottish Premier League Champions with Celtic Football Club.  Archie is joined by Kayla Morrison to share their thoughts on the two interviews from two people who have truly put Australian football on the map for future generations.

1:00 - Kayla Morrison is back.
2:10 - Week 2 of the A-League Men's Finals.
6:40 - Tom Rogic joins Football From A to Z.
7:35 - Saying goodbye to Celtic.
10:00 - Ange's impact at Celtic.
11:15 - Archie and Kayla discuss Tom Rogic.
16:15 - Ange Postecoglou joins Football From A to Z.
17:35 - What this season meant to Ange.
21:40 - Becoming part of the Celtic family.
24:05 - Archie and Kayla discuss Ange Postecoglou.
32:23 - Fun facts about Ange Postecoglou.
35:15 - Neds Multi of the Week.

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In this episode, Archie and Zappa sit down with the Michael Petrillo who is the Director of Football from Melbourne City, after they won back to back A-League Men's Premiers Plates. Michael has has a career in football which spans over 15 years. Previous to his position at Melbourne City, he fulfilled roles as the CEO and Director of Football at Adelaide United and the Head of Football at the North Queensland Fury.

Michael talks us through this season at Melbourne City, the disappointment of the Asian Champions League, the upcoming A-League Men's finals series and the future of the A-Leagues and Australian football.

0:45 - Neds Level Player (Club) of the Week: Melbourne City FC.
2:30 - The A-League Men's Finals Series is upon us.
9:45 - Michael Petrillo joins Football From A to Z.
10:50 - Melbourne City win the Premiers Plate.
14:20 - Qualifying for the Asian Champions League.
21:05 - Bringing marquee players to the A-Leagues and Melbourne City.
24:10 - Bringing Romario to Adelaide United.
27:55 - Who to look out for in the A-League Men's Finals.
31:24 - The future and expansion of the A-Leagues.
35:05 - Managing the Melbourne City Academy.
40:43 - Destination Melbourne City.
44:10 - Opening up FIFA Windows in Australia.
48:05 - Moving out to Casey.
51:24 - Neds Multi of the Week.

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In this episode, Archie and Zappa (and Zappa's dog CoCo) sit down with the Executive Director of the World Players Association Brendan Schwab. Brendan has over 25 years leadership experience in the governance, business, legal, player relations and human rights aspects of elite sport at the global, regional and national levels. As Executive Director of World Players, he has united the world’s leading player associations who collectively represent 85,000 athletes.

Prior to joining World Players, Schwab played an instrumental role with FIFPRO as a board member, Vice President and Chairman of FIFPro Division Asia/Oceania. He is a co-founder of the Australian Athletes’ Alliance (2007), which represents eight player unions and over 3,500 athletes in sports such as AFL, basketball, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, netball and football. He also co-founded Professional Footballers Australia in 1993, serving as its long-serving Chief Executive and General Counsel.

1:20 - Who will take home the A-League Men's Premiers Plate?
4:30 - Melbourne City missing out on progressing in the ACL.
6:58 - Neds Level Player of the Week: Alou Kuol.
11:07 - Brendan Schwab joins Football From A to Z.
15:18 - The obstacles when Brendan entered the football space.
19:50 - Getting government support.
24:40 - Are we really ready from a Second Division?
28:30 - Coaching structures.
31:40 - The Qatar World Cup battles and legacy.
38:20 - Scaling the A-League for the future.
42:28 - Is resilience the key to unlocking another Golden Generation.
50:00 - Men's health and battling Prostate Cancer.
57:10 - Neds Multi of the Week.

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In this episode, Zappa has returned from the sunshine state and joins Archie to interview the Chairman of Western United, Jason Sourasis. A passionate sportsperson, Jason grew up barracking for South Melbourne, a historically proud Greek club. Jason is the director and founding member of Strategic Financial Group Australia, which primarily invests in portfolios of assets within sectors, with sports being a high valued sector. According to Jason, Western United FC was the first public private partnership in sport to be identified in Australia.

Jason discusses the challenges and opportunities of building a club out in the West, the challenges COVID provided over the past 2 seasons, getting government support for our game and that stadium.

1:00 - The road to the A-League Finals
3:45 - The Asian Champions League
8:20 - Neds Level Player of the Week: Nestory Irankunda
12:05 - Jason Sourasis joins Football From A to Z.
14:45 - Appointing a new coach - John Aloisi.
18:55 - How Jason got involved in Football.
24:35 - A new stadium in the West.
31:25 - Tribalism returning to football in Australia.
35:35 - How COVID impacted the club.
42:30 - Getting Government support for our game.
46:45 - Looking at stadium options until their home stadium is built.
40:15 - From A to Z with Zac Wu.
56:05 - Neds Multi of the Week.

Join our FPL League - Click Here

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For professional enquiries, reach out to michael@nominis.me

Proudly presented by Neds.
A Max Events production.