This season a new 11th club in the A-League kicks off when Western United FC become Melbourne's third club.  

The Green and Black are based across a multicultural, population growth corridor in western Melbourne. 

Macarthur Bulls will enter the A-League in 2020 as the 12th club, representing another eastern seaboard growth corridor with over 100 nationalities to call on.  

For the voice of the A-League on Fox Sports, Simon Hill, the Bulls’ growth potential remains strong despite the news that inaugural CEO Archie Fraser had resigned last week after just four months. 

“I think Macarthur has a strong enough regional identity,” Hill told FTBL.

“They have Campbelltown council behind them, and they are going to redevelop their stadium at Campbelltown.

“Plus, they have Ante Milicic as a coach and are trying to connect with the community and the Indigenous community via their academy.”

The Macarthur and south-west region of Sydney is a 500,000-plus population area, with around 25,000 registered football players male and female.

Australia’s population is tipped to surge - both Melbourne and Sydney are expected to reach eight million populations over the coming three decades - the ABS suggest Australia could add a further 10 million to our current 25 million by the year 2043.

Can the Macarthur model be a blueprint for future A-League expansion?

A blueprint that focuses on new A-League clubs in areas of population and housing growth as major cities expand out.

The A-League has a golden opportunity over the coming 20 years. 

And with football's grip on grassroots as strong as ever, the theory appears sound.

Though Hill offers a note of caution.