Welcome to Football Friends with Ben & Stef!
Join Sydney FC's Ben Garuccio, and former Adelaide United captain, Stefan Mauk, as they chat about their personal stories, keep you across the biggest news coming out of Australian football, and give you an insight into the world of Australian Football like you've never seen before.
Episodes uploaded weekly, ready for your Wednesday morning commute.
Season Three of Football Friends, produced by Round Ball Australia.
The A-League is BACK, and Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk are making some bold predictions for the 2026/27 season!Could one of last season's biggest underperformers become genuine title contenders? Who are the favourites for the championship? And which clubs could be in serious trouble this season?The boys break down their title favourites, surprise packages, Johnny Warren Medal contenders and the players who could force their way into the Socceroos squad ahead of the Asian Cup.PLUS, following South Melbourne's incredible Australia Cup Final triumph over Melbourne Victory, Stef explains why the historic club MUST be brought into the A-League.And with Ben preparing for a blockbuster Sydney Derby to kick off the new season, there's plenty to discuss! 00:20 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=20s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) Stef's birthday and football in Asia 02:29 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=149s) Life as an ageing professional footballer 04:18 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=258s) Ben's final pre-season hit-out 07:12 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=432s) South Melbourne's incredible Australia Cup triumph 10:41 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=641s) Why South Melbourne MUST join the A-League 14:19 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=859s) Why this A-League season is so important 16:30 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=990s) Which A-League clubs are in trouble? 19:07 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=1147s) A-League title contenders and predictions 20:30 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=1230s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) Can Ufuk Talay transform Western Sydney? 24:55 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=1495s) The biggest surprise packages this season 29:06 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=1746s) Potential Socceroos bolters for the Asian Cup 34:23 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=2063s) Johnny Warren Medal predictions 39:20 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=2360s) Which A-League coach is under the MOST pressure? 41:18 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=2478s) Sydney Derby and Round 1 excitement 42:37 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhMN07wDaqs&t=2557s) Australian Championship kicks off
7 Oct 2026
Australia Cup final preview incl SAWYER and PASQUALI
The boys speak to Melbourne Victory's Harrison Sawyer and South Melbourne's Sebastian Pasquali as part of their Australia Cup final preview podcast.
They also discuss this week's key talking points, including Adam Taggart's shock exit from Vietnam, the Olyroos and more.
23 Sept 2026
What four clubs would you admit into the A-League?
Ben and Stef are back for a blockbuster episode of football friends - as Avondale FC star Blake Carpenter to discuss his side’s NPL Victoria Grand Final win, discuss the divide between the A-League and NPL and to bury the hatchet with Stef after his comments on the Suited & Booted podcast
Elsewhere on the ep:
Reacting to the incredible ticket sales for the Australia Cup final
Ben gives his verdict on his Sydney FC teammate Akol Akon’s impending move to Sydney FC
Bruno Fornaroli revealed he had to turn down a move to the Australian Championship due to a registration quirk - what’s the boys take?
A-League expansion: which clubs would the boys want to see come into the league?
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
21,003
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.7 / 5
84 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 74 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
83
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
85
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