#56 – Australian Football Fans Have Had Enough (feat. Blayne Treadgold)

In this episode of Green & Gold FC, Graham is joined by Blayne Treadgold from the Football Supporters Association of Australia to discuss the state of fan representation in Australian football, and whether supporters can turn years of frustration into something constructive.The conversation begins with Blayne’s own football story, from growing up in Western Australia during Perth Glory’s rise, to becoming involved in the local game and eventually helping establish the FSAA in response to the A-League grand final decision and the lack of consultation with fans.Graham and Blayne then explore the deeper issue of power in Australian football: why supporters often feel voiceless, how decisions are made across the FA, APL and member federation structures, and why fans have so often been left with no real option other than walking away from the game they care about.Blayne explains the FSAA’s approach to fan lobbying, including the challenge of representing a diverse supporter base, the importance of formal consultation, and the organisation’s work toward a memorandum of understanding with the APL. The discussion also covers Football Australia’s response to the FSAA’s recommendations, the need for a long-term national roadmap, and what Australian football could learn from countries like Japan.Finally, the episode looks at how fans can get involved, why membership matters, and how supporter frustration can be channelled into building a more connected, accountable and ambitious football future.A thoughtful discussion on fan power, football governance, and why Australian football needs to start treating supporters as stakeholders, not just customers. Join the discussion: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenandgoldfc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@fcgreenandgold⁠