A second division is off and running, whether Football Federation Australia likes it or not. Semi-pro clubs from across the country are about to gather in Melbourne to kick-start a process which could well see a nationwide competition established in 2018. Good for them.

Tired of waiting for an outstretched arm from the FFA, the more ambitious semi-pro clubs are taking matters into their own hands. It was always going to happen in a vacuum of leadership and strategy. The only question was when. So now the ball's rolling, it's going to be impossible to stop.

The smart move from Whitlam Square would be to allow events to run their course. The worst move would be to try and crush the spirit of adventure. Truth is, the FFA has very little interest in doing the heavy lifting to create a nationwide second tier. It reckons it has got far more important issues on its plate. So why not let others do it for it?

There's no shortage of takers. What the arrival of the FFA Cup three years ago has done is revitalise this level of the game. But a knockout competition – by definition – can never really satisfy the desire for opportunity, or status. That comes with a competition which last for months, not 90 minutes. So having tasted the lights, camera, action of the splendid FFA Cup, there's a hunger for much more.