 As well as the club not being able to compete with the big dollars of the new non-ethnic clubs that would join the league over the next decade; professional clubs like Perth Glory, Parramatta Power and Carlton.These clubs paid huge salaries to players, the traditional clubs like the Melbourne Knights could not compete and they were priced out of the market.Before the start of the season the Knights won the Dockerty Cup, defeating the Altona Magic 4–2.