Winter football is upon us and with it we finally enjoy the annual traditions of smaller crowds, freezing conditions and degradation of the pitches. This winter however feels a little odd though, not just for South treading water in a relegation scrap but also for the late transfer window and subsequent competitions which confuse the narrative of the season. Is this the half way point? Are we near the end? Do I need to buy woollen gloves for matches now?

Firstly, although the spectator conditions are objectively worse we are blessed that the competition tension is as high as ever. Thanks to a ridiculous three team relegation zone and a six team finals series every game counts, even the ones not involving South. I’ve been watching more football this year than I have in my life and it’s been entertaining to see the least, although I stop shot of describing my experience this year as fun.

It’s the beauty of promotion and relegation I suppose, at least for now. There will also come ugliness however, especially as the last few weeks will likely condemn at least one big club to the lower division. Similarly finals football has proved to motivating carrot for mid table teams this season with Preston in particular fighting tooth and nail to scrape into the top six, however the inevitable philosophical conversation about the merits of finals football will come, especially if Heidelberg bow out early after a comfortable Premiership win.

And then there’s all the happenings outside of the league football, the late transfer window and the Australian Championship. How can we make sense of it all considering the anarchy it has unleashed this year? The late transfer window is hardly midseason, and of limited use for struggling clubs who now find it harder to sign players, while the Australian Championship effectively elongates the season and creates strange recruiting scenarios. As a temporary measure I think all are happy to deal with this glorified Cup competition, but in the long term a finals series after a finals series feels strange and confusing.

So… are we half way through the season? Kind of? How should we feel? Who knows! League football, finals football and the new competition effectively create three different competition environments, likely with strange dynamics that warm perception of club and season. South could get relegated and yet be crowned a National Champion? Preston can finish mid table and yet become State Champions? A player can sign in the mid-season transfer window and feature only 6 times for their new club, while some clubs may get a second window to consolidate state talent after the conclusion of the State competition?

It’s fun, but it’s disorientating! It’s cold but the games are exhilarating! It’s not even July!