“We have all those advantages," he says. "But we’ve had those advantages for many years.

“We also, unfortunately, have disadvantages. We’re seen not only as a challenger sport but an outsider sport by mainstream Australia. That’s a cultural problem.

"Economically other codes have an iron grip on the finances available to support professional sport in this country, and they’re not going to give that up easily.

“And the fact is, we still don’t have enough people in football with influence in positions of power.

“Government money, there’s a lot. It’s changing slowly.

“I think the FFA has done some good work in that regard of late, but too much money still go to other sports that don’t have nearly as many participants. Particularly in females, which is the big growth area as football does.

“So we must fight much harder for that corporate dollar.

“If we can, those natural advantages should see our game kick on and become much bigger than it is.

“But we need inclusivity and if the huge participation base is disconnected from the A-League the professional game then we’ll remain where we are. A big participation sport. And that’s all we’ll ever be.

“We have to translate those advantages into commercial opportunities and media coverage. And we still struggle in that regard."

The Bulls’ inaugural CEO Archie Fraser departed the club last week four months into his tenure.

It was a shock to many and raised some concerns.

But as a new Sydney derby looms in 2020 when the Wanderers and Bulls meet head-on, Hill believes the new club won't cannibalize the existing A-League market. 

And the fans will turn out for the Bulls as the A-League powers forward in western Sydney. 

“It becomes a more crowded market in western Sydney but there are more than enough football fans out there," Hill added. 

“And if the Bulls can get that strong local identity. And I know they have some good ideas around that, then that’s what building a club is all about.

“That’s what the Wanderers did so well. They built their identity from day one, and that’s why it’s worked.

“Unfortunately it’s just faded away, temporarily we hope, because of the move away from Parramatta during the construction of their new stadium.”

For more of Simon Hill's thoughts, look out for Inside Sport magazine's A-League season preview by Aidan Ormond, out soon.