There’s a growing consensus that home-produced players should be given a better chance to shine - and ultimately restock the Olyroos and Socceroos.
And cutting back on the existing five A-League visa spots - especially those signed within the salary cap - could pave the way for the emergence of more home-grown heroes.
The introduction of the ‘three-plus-one’ rule was advocated previously by the ousted Steven Lowy-led Football Federation Australia board.
But it has never enjoyed the backing of the A-League clubs, some of whom want the foreign player threshold raised to seven.
The system would see an allotted spot outside the salary cap reserved for a quality capture from within the AFC in the form of another Keisuke Honda-type figure.
FFA’s head of national teams, Luke Casserly certainly feels it is a discussion worth having.
“I think it’s important for us as a nation and a league to enhance our relationship and rapport with Asian football, while also providing a bigger platform for our own kids to get the first team football they need and deserve,” Casserly said.
“A greater alignment with Asia, and the way they do things, makes sense.
“Why not have clubs looking to go and get a top player from football mad market like Indonesia, or another big name from Japan or maybe Korea, or and pay them outside the cap.
“Whenever we have quality Asians in our league like Honda and previously Shinji Ono, it’s had a big impact.
“There are enormous markets in Asia to tap into.
“Under the existing system we are seeing situations where the fourth and fifth foreign players at any one A-League club aren’t starting matches and in some cases aren’t even making the bench.
“Clubs also have to leave foreigners out when they complete in the ACL.
“There’s an argument that since you can only have two players outside of the cap, and have to fit so many within the cap, that’s the level of foreigner you’re going to get.
“Ideally, if a foreigner comes to the league they should be better than what we have at home and should be a starting player.
“But when you have foreigners who are taking the positions of Australians, and they aren’t any better, then I can’t see the value or the point of it.
“When we have foreign players who raise the level of the league, assist the development of our players, excite fans to buy tickets then I am all for it.”
Casserly’s remit is to provide the best possible platform for Australia’s myriad of national teams to spring from.
Closing the gap on the emerging and pre-existing powers of Asia, where the investment and resources thrown at their youth development has left Australia languishing, has become a burning issue.
Giving more A-League opportunities to local players is one way of beginning to address a growing chasm, with Casserly saying: “Obviously expansion over the next couple of years (with Western United and Macarthur South West Sydney coming in to the competition) will give opportunities to Australian players, which is great.
“I look at our Young Socceroos and Olyroos, and the level of those players, and to think many of them aren’t playing in the league I scratch my head.
“I have enormous belief in the ability and talent that we have in Australia.
“It’s vital that we grow the pathways for these young players so they can get minutes for their clubs and give themselves the best chance of going on to carve out a professional career and play at national team level through the age groups.”
An example of how effective these under-utilised talents can be was evident last week after Kevin Muscat handed starts to rookies Elvis Kamsoba, Josh Hope, Jai Ingham and Kenny Athiu as the Victory held Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande to a 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League.
Teenagers Jack Palazzalo, Anthony Lesiotis and Rahmat Akbari were also used off the bench.
The young brigade similarly came to the fore for Newcastle Jets in their 6-1 slaying of Brisbane Roar last weekend, with Roy O’Donovan the only starting visa player, and greenhorns Joey Champness, Ivan Vujica, John Koutroumbis and Angus Thurgate all flying the homegrown flag.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City’s vanguard of kids showed their qualities in Friday’s 5-0 thumping of Central Coast Mariners.
The argument is less accomplished imports, who command between $150,000-$200,000, are a poor investment when you have hungry locals banging on the door at less cost.
On any given weekend in the A-League, there are up to 35 foreigners on show in the competition, severely limiting opportunities for the next generation of Australians.
