Would you play for the Socceroos for free? 🇦🇺⚽

On this week's Football Friends, Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk weigh in on the Socceroos and Matildas' pay dispute with Football Australia, with Ben revealing he'd represent his country for nothing.

Ben also opens up about his recent exchange with a Sydney FC supporter on social media, why he decided to respond to the criticism and how players deal with negativity from fans.

Plus, the boys discuss Melbourne Victory's difficult start to the season, whether Australian footballers are equipped to handle midweek fixtures in Asia, the Brisbane Roar concussion controversy and the latest Socceroos squad selections.

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Are football fans being unfairly targeted by police in Australia? ⚽🇦🇺This week on Football Friends, Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk weigh in on the growing tension between police and A-League supporters, following Western Sydney Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer's public criticism of the treatment of active fans.The boys discuss whether football supporters are being held to a different standard than fans of other sports, and what needs to change to improve the matchday experience.Plus, are A-League clubs getting enough quality from their foreign imports? Ben and Stef debate the league's recruitment challenges, declining investment and whether Australian clubs are falling behind their Asian rivals.They also unpack Western Sydney Wanderers' defeat to Melbourne City, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory's struggles in Asia, John Aloisi's title ambitions in China and Wellington Phoenix's flying start ahead of the Kiwi Classico.00:00 Intro00:19 The challenges of playing in multiple competitions02:43 Why Australian footballers need more games05:55 Western Sydney Wanderers' defeat to Melbourne City09:31 Are A-League foreign players good enough?11:34 The financial problems affecting A-League recruitment13:57 Has the quality of the A-League dropped?18:08 Why A-League coaches need to speak their minds19:40 Paul Lederer and the treatment of football fans23:51 Are Australian clubs falling behind in Asia?26:08 Adelaide United's squad depth problems28:00 Melbourne Victory's struggles against Persib Bandung30:35 Can A-League clubs afford to compete in Asia?31:31 John Aloisi's Chinese title ambitions34:15 Can Wellington Phoenix finally beat Auckland FC?35:25 A huge weekend of Australian footballSubscribe to Football360 for more Australian football news, interviews and analysis.#ALeague #FootballFriends #AustralianFootball

Should A-League players and coaches be punished for speaking their minds, or does Australian football need more personality and controversy?Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk are back for another episode of Football Friends, weighing in on the recent player bans, Patrick Kisnorbo's fiery media comments and whether the A-League needs to give players more freedom to express themselves.The boys also break down the opening two rounds of the A-League Men season, including Western Sydney Wanderers' impressive start, Wellington Phoenix's surprise form, Brisbane Roar's resurgence and the pressure building on Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.Plus, Stef reflects on a dramatic AFC Champions League victory over Kevin Muscat's Shanghai Port, while Ben discusses Sydney FC's comeback win against Adelaide United.00:00 Intro00:36 Stef's dramatic Champions League win over Kevin Muscat05:54 Stef's yellow card suspension07:16 Sydney FC's comeback against Adelaide United09:00 Adelaide United's brutal travel schedule11:09 Western Sydney Wanderers' flying start12:08 Wellington Phoenix's surprise start14:13 Is Brisbane Roar finally turning things around?16:26 Pressure building on Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City19:35 The financial reality of A-League squads21:27 Is the A-League silencing its own players?23:34 Should players and coaches be allowed to speak their minds?27:23 KEEP OR BIN: In-game and tunnel interviews29:13 The Akol Akon U17 World Cup controversy32:31 Looking ahead to Round 3Subscribe to Football360 for more Football Friends with Ben & Stef, exclusive interviews and the biggest talking points in Australian football.

Could smaller stadiums and a $100K-per-match model help solve one of the A-League's biggest problems?On this week's Football Friends, Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk tackle the economics of Australian football, questioning whether smaller clubs with lower operating costs could hold the key to a more sustainable future.The boys discuss the Australian Championship, Sutherland Sharks' A-League ambitions, South Melbourne's potential and why bigger stadiums aren't always better.Plus, fresh from a bruising Sydney Derby, Ben reveals the thinking behind Sydney FC's tactical approach, the extraordinary physical toll of the 0-0 draw and why there's more to the match than the scoreline suggests.They also unpack Auckland FC's impressive start, the Newcastle Jets' controversial decision to ban a journalist, and the biggest talking points from the opening round.00:00 – The A-League is BACK!01:02 – What REALLY happened in the Sydney Derby?03:08 – Why the Sydney Derby became a physical battle05:34 – Should derbies be played in Round 1?08:00 – Lachie Bayliss and Auckland FC's incredible start11:46 – What makes Auckland FC so successful?14:01 – Round 1 surprises and standout performances19:36 – Melbourne Derby preview and refereeing controversy22:05 – Should players be interviewed straight after matches?24:30 – Newcastle Jets' controversial media ban27:40 – Could Sutherland Sharks join the A-League?30:10 – The $100K-per-match model: Are smaller stadiums the answer?33:17 – Australian Championship penalty shootouts and expansion35:11 – Stef's upcoming Asian fixtures37:01 – The extraordinary physical toll of the Sydney Derby

The A-League is BACK, and Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk are making some bold predictions for the 2026/27 season!Could one of last season's biggest underperformers become genuine title contenders? Who are the favourites for the championship? And which clubs could be in serious trouble this season?The boys break down their title favourites, surprise packages, Johnny Warren Medal contenders and the players who could force their way into the Socceroos squad ahead of the Asian Cup.PLUS, following South Melbourne's incredible Australia Cup Final triumph over Melbourne Victory, Stef explains why the historic club MUST be brought into the A-League.And with Ben preparing for a blockbuster Sydney Derby to kick off the new season, there's plenty to discuss! 00:20 Stef's birthday and football in Asia 02:29 Life as an ageing professional footballer 04:18 Ben's final pre-season hit-out 07:12 South Melbourne's incredible Australia Cup triumph 10:41 Why South Melbourne MUST join the A-League 14:19 Why this A-League season is so important 16:30 Which A-League clubs are in trouble? 19:07 A-League title contenders and predictions 20:30 Can Ufuk Talay transform Western Sydney? 24:55 The biggest surprise packages this season 29:06 Potential Socceroos bolters for the Asian Cup 34:23 Johnny Warren Medal predictions 39:20 Which A-League coach is under the MOST pressure? 41:18 Sydney Derby and Round 1 excitement 42:37 Australian Championship kicks off

The boys speak to Melbourne Victory's Harrison Sawyer and South Melbourne's Sebastian Pasquali as part of their Australia Cup final preview podcast.

They also discuss this week's key talking points, including Adam Taggart's shock exit from Vietnam, the Olyroos and more.

Ben and Stef are back for a blockbuster episode of football friends - as Avondale FC star Blake Carpenter to discuss his side’s NPL Victoria Grand Final win, discuss the divide between the A-League and NPL and to bury the hatchet with Stef after his comments on the Suited & Booted podcast
Elsewhere on the ep:

• Reacting to the incredible ticket sales for the Australia Cup final
• Ben gives his verdict on his Sydney FC teammate Akol Akon’s impending move to Sydney FC
• Bruno Fornaroli revealed he had to turn down a move to the Australian Championship due to a registration quirk - what’s the boys take?
• A-League expansion: which clubs would the boys want to see come into the league?

🗣️ Stefan Mauk is joined by his former Fagiano Okayama teammate and current PSV midfielder Kodai Sano to explore the differences between Japanese and Australian football development.Sano reveals the demanding training environment that shaped him in Japan, including practising almost every day throughout high school, and explains the mentality driving so many Japanese players to succeed across Europe.The PSV midfielder also reflects on his journey from Fagiano Okayama to NEC Nijmegen, why he chose Champions League football with PSV and the surreal experience of hearing the famous anthem before making his competition debut.00:00 – Introduction and scoring his first PSV goal00:40 – Growing up playing football in Japan03:12 – Japan’s demanding high-school football system07:12 – Choosing the high-school pathway09:14 – Adapting to professional football at Fagiano Okayama11:49 – How Sano became such a versatile player14:06 – Developing the ambition to play in Europe15:16 – Adapting to life at NEC Nijmegen18:10 – Why Japanese players are thriving in Europe21:20 – The mentality behind Japan’s success21:58 – Why Sano chose PSV23:11 – His surreal Champions League debut24:08 – Asian Cup ambitions and facing Australia