It featured a one-off – and last-ever – appearance by the former captain of the Greek national team, Kostas Katsouranis, and it was a game that celebrated the Bergers' chance to make a real splash on the national stage against an A-League club that is part of one of the richest football businesses in the world, the Manchester City-owned Melbourne City. Katsouranis' presence clearly swelled the numbers for this largely Greek-supported team, while anecdotal evidence suggested a fair few Victory fans turned out to barrack against City as well. Everyone expected the gulf between the full-time professionals of City and the part-timers of NPL Heidelberg to show up eventually, and it did. It was always likely to, especially as City's players were hard fit on the cusp of their season, while the hosts' campaign had ended more than a month ago. Leaving aside the quality gulf, what did the game say about the desirability of a second-tier league in Australia with promotion and relegation? Competition is the essence of all sport, but it is sadly lacking in the A-League, where there is no penalty for failure.

All 9 Australian teams have been guaranteed a spot at the top table long into the future, with commercial imperatives dominating the game's thinking: the idea of a Perth club, for example, being relegated and not having a top-tier team in WA for sponsors to advertise nationally or the broadcasters not to have an Australia-wide footprint is unthinkable for the game's administrators. There are understandable fiscal reasons for the game's governing body thinking that way. But at some point, if it wants to underwrite the future development of the game – and most of the players come through the non-A-League system, even if it is during their junior phase – they have to provide some kind of incentive for these second-tier clubs to invest and continue to produce players and grow the game at the grassroots level. At present the FFA Cup does that as it gives them a chance to shine on Fox Sports and in front of a bigger crowd – at least to the quarter- and semi-final stage, and possibly to the final, although it is expecting an awful lot for Hume City to knock over Melbourne Victory in the semi-final later this month. There are arguments against, of course. Crowds during NPL games during the winter are hardly exciting and while the diehards make a lot of noise, few neutrals seem too concerned.

But is it a chicken and egg situation? If fans of local clubs knew there was a chance that their investment in juniors could see them produce a team that could take them into the A-League, would they care more? Would more business get behind them to support them and make it a possibility? George Katsakis, the Heidelberg coach, is hardly a neutral, but like so many who have given a lifetime to the traditional clubs, he is hoping that one day the FFA will relent and find a sponsor or commercial set-up that allows them to create a national second division, which will give clubs such as his the chance to dream of a spot in the A-League. "Having been born and brought up at this place I haven't seen anything like it for a long time," he said after the game. "We may have been losers on the park but in football and community terms we made ourselves very proud. It [a game of this sort] gives you a foundation to build on. It's something every club would aspire to every time, and it's very important to try and continue to build momentum. "That match was a great indication of grassroots football and its history, and we have forgotten about its history. No doubt Kosta's appearance had something to do with [the huge crowd] but it took an NPL club to bring a marquee player and make the message that we did," said Katsakis, arguing that there is clearly scope for a second division.

Not everyone would say that clubs such as Heidelberg (and South Melbourne, Melbourne Knights, Sydney United, Sydney Olympic and Marconi) are small clubs anyway, as they have often been painted in these days of A-League franchise teams. Certainly not Katsouranis, who led the Greek side in the 2014 World Cup at Brazil. His take was quite interesting, as he suggested that the facilities and support at Heidelberg were better than at many clubs in Greece. He announced his retirement after the match, and it's fitting perhaps he should have the last word. "I am very happy. I play in front of many Greek fans and I help a big club to grow up."