By Adrian Musolino
March 3rd 2009 @ 3:37am
Related coverage
How will Version 4 of the A-League be remembered?
What looms largest when you look back at the A-League season: Melbourne’s second title, Adelaide’s extra curricular activities, a betting scandal, or Lazarus like comebacks?
The reality is the ongoing concerns over crowd figures and the player drain did somewhat overshadow the football.
It was as if the FFA and A-League supporters, who were labelled as over protective for their efforts, had to constantly justify the competition to the wider public.
But what was missed in this debate was the product on the pitch.
While the quality unquestionably still has a way to go if we are to become a benchmark league in the Asian region, there was no doubting the excitement, spectacle, competition and closeness of the season.
The theories for why the crowds dipped across the county are many and varied. Indeed, there can be no definitive reason why it was so, and those issues have already been discussed in depth.
However, these are teething problems expected from a league still in the early stages of childhood.
But there were positives and season four could well be remembered as the time when several young Australians emerged to the forefront of the domestic game, some of whom are already leaving the nest for the greener pastures of Europe.
While the likes of John Aloisi and Edmundo Zura stole headlines, there was Scott Jamieson, Tahj Minniecon, Shannon Cole and Nikita Rukavytsya, shinning brightly and becoming integral members of their respective franchises.
Then there are those who will feature prominently next season, having shown glimpses of their enormous potential: Kofi Danning, Brendan Gan, Thomas Oar and Michael Marrone.
With teams needing to replenish their squads following the Asian exodus, there will be further opportunities for talented youngsters in the State leagues to work their way into the top flight.
In the end, Melbourne were deserving champions, the benchmark in every way.
What is clear is Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United are pulling away from the rest of the franchises.
Sydney FC showed potential in the early running, but their season fell in a heap of controversy and they quickly became the basket case of the competition.
Newcastle fell heavily from champions to also rans, not surprising given how their squad was pillaged. But they will bounce back. They are, along with Gold Coast, the best performers in attracting quality players to the club for next season.
But for mine the most positive signs emerged from Perth and Wellington.
Under David Mitchell, Perth Glory showed signs of improvement as the season progressed and, encouragingly, as the performance improved, so too did the crowds.
With Eugene Dadi returning next season, a return to the NSL glory days doesn’t sound too far-fetched.
Also a special mention to the Wellington Phoenix who made significant progress on and off the field despite the AFC bombshell that threatened their very existence,.
Full marks to Terry Serepisos and his team.
For the first time, the New Zealand based franchise didn’t claim the wooden spoon.
They must, however, fill the huge hole left by the departure of Johnny Warren Medallist Shane Smeltz if they want to carry on this momentum.
With the Version 4 of the A-League consigned to the history books, so too does the first era of the competition.
Next season, a new era dawns: two new teams with the first phase of expansion coming into effect.
It is badly needed.
With only eight teams in the competition, teams were meeting far too frequently, matches therefore being harder to promote.
Encouragingly, both new franchises have the potential to draw crowds across the country.
Let’s hope we won’t have to worry about crowd figures next season.
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Towser said | March 3rd 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
Version 4 will be remembered for me at least ,for the same thing that the previous 2 seasons did, the failure of SFC as a football club(cant count the first season because of the newness of everything A-League).
Its failure this season cost the Roar & other clubs big dollars at their home gate let alone at the SFS for itself.
We can prattle on about everything & everyone else in the A-League, but unless Australias biggest Football market by a country mile gets its act together,the A-League will remain a bit player in the Asian & the World football scene.
The A-League cant be carried for ever on the back of the Socceroos as far as TV deals go. One day it will have to stand on its own two feet.
That day will never happen if the top 4 teams are NQ,NUJ,CCM,GCU or even the other capital cities on a consistent basis.
Every league has to have a succesful team it can hate. Sydney fits the bill in Australia for everybody else.
Michael C said | March 3rd 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
(this is the view of a non-soccer person, not to bait, not to be overly negative, but, this is the view I come out of the season with )
Version 4,
as distinct to Version 2 which had the great attendance bubble of MVFC moving games to Telstra Dome, and a TD avg of 32K, and an overall increase incrowds across the HAL due purely to this,
and Version 3 that saw most of the increase in crowds coming from a decent return on Wellington as compared to the previous deadend incarnation in Auckland,
Version 4 saw not a levelling off – but a return to V1-V2 crowd levels. A heap of sub 10K crowds. The reasons applenty. Honeymoon over? 8 teams is a tired format.
So – - V4 – - the ’sluggish’ back in the real world season. A consolidation season. That’s not a bad thing. The MLS and J-League suggest to all that in bigger and in the Japanese case a less cluttered sports (footy) market that a period of consolidation would be required.
V4 made the headlines, sometimes for the wrong reason – - for me, as a non soccer person – my primary rememberance at this point is some fellow called Trinidad carrying on like a goose, another couple of fellows with gambling issues – - and oh shouldn’t they have known better but got off with a slap on the wrist. Beyond that, SFC were ordinary – - so that’s good. MVFC won again, so that’s good.
V4 also saw pretty large re-fixturing to facilitate Ade Utd in the ACL. Mid week games and the like. It certainly puts the HAL in it’s place. This I say from the perspective of the NRL example of how the SoO month really impacts AGAINST the NRL regular season. Suddenly, the HAL was a inconveniance for Ade Utd. So, all the more well done to them for making the top 4 and making the Grand Final. I reckon not enough credit has gone there – - oh, well, I guess Vidmar got coach of the year.
And that leads to the other outstanding memory of the season………’pissant’.
And what will V5 hold, with an expansion of the league in teams and games?
Pippinu said | March 3rd 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
As much as I hope MV continue on its merry way, I think it’s incorrect to say that MV and AU are pulling away from the rest of the compeition.
MV have the crowds, good management, a long list and good cash flows – but no one could say that they dominated on the field this season (and a return to the pack is only a $1 mill transfer fee away).
And let’s be honest, in the end, AU only just snuck into the grand final, and are likely to have to go through another rebuilding phase.
If anyone shows signs currently of pulling away from the pack, it’s not these two – indeed, it’s not even one of the present 8 teams.
I leave it to others to decide who best fits that bill.
Pippinu said | March 3rd 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
The young guns mentioned in this article are certainly worth a mention, as are a couple from this year’s wooden spooner, namely: Jesic and Katarovsky – the latter, in particular, must be the most talented 17 year only currently playing in Australia – by a country mile.
Towser said | March 3rd 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
“But what was missed in this debate was the product on the pitch’
My observation of the product on the pitch, was particularly from the Roar perspective rubbish for the first half ,captivating for the second half of the season. My general impression was that this appplied to all matches.
Does this then go back to Pims ‘Internsity of training point”? So that because the training here is less intense than Europe(laid back almost according to Craig Moore-see below) it takes halfway through the season due to matchplay, to see the intensity you get in European matches from the start?
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abroad/moore-europe-a-meat-market-175057/
Simmo said | March 3rd 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
I don’t say this often but…
I agree with Michael C. That’s more or less my impression of season 4 as well.
I will add to “8 teams is a tired format” though. In case anyone’s fogotten it’s worth having in the front of our minds the rather profound notion that Adelaide and Melbourne played each other 6 times this season.
6 times.
3 regular season games. Twice in the finals and then again in the GF.
If they weren’t rivals that would be boring as all hell. The same thing happened last year when CCM and Newcastle played each other 6 times. We were lucky their rivalry only grew with each game.
But this would be worse than stale if non-rival teams squared off 6 times in 6 months.
Simmo said | March 3rd 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Towser
I’m not sure about the training. Pim could be right.
But what I am sure about is that the best football is played toward the end of the season. The first month or so of each season has been criticised for the poor standard of footy on display. It takes most teams in most leagues time to gel and for players to get up to full match fitness. Even longer for the A-League with such a long off-season.
By the time teams have got themselves sorted out we’re already too close to the end of the season.
I think a move to a longer season (27 games) will have a positive impact on the quality of football.
Michael C said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Simmo -
interesting, the 2 examples of 6 match ups thru the year in V3 and V4.
The reality of ‘rivalries’ is normally born from playing each other in important games.
Some important games are a fraction manufactured – such as the AFL Anzac day clash that puts Essendon and Collingwood on show ever year. (don’t get me wrong, I quite like it, and if 2 other clubs perhaps only Rich and Carl could ensure an 80K-90K crowd each year – - then good luck to them).
Finals matches invariably ARE important. That’s the benefit of finals missed by some anti-finals folk. A final and more so a GF IS an important game.
Ade Utd now MUST be a team (and supporter group) DRIVEN by loss. Often LOSS is what aggravates supporters/players MORE so than the victories. Example, many Essendon folk will happily talk about the premierships, but, when you ask them about ‘90 GF loss, or the prelims of ‘96 or ‘99 – - that’s when you find a spot that is deeper hurt than is the delight of the premierships. It often does not balance. (Redb????)
Sorry about the AFL examples – but, I know those.
At any rate – - MVFC fans might have a different view of their rivalry with Ade Utd. Perhaps disdain. Ade Utd surely have a super drive to gain revenge. Twice over.
However, the 2 legged finals in the first round, is perhaps overkill. But, then, you could have a 2 legged GF too.
Or — go down the basketball path – - in Melbourne we’re about to have a best of 5 GF series with the local derby of the Tigers vs the Dragons. Should actually be a ripper – and a nice lead into the AFL season on the back of the HAL Gf and the up coming F1 GP. Ah, what a time in ‘winner’ central – - Melbourne (okay, Storm came 2nd, but, that’s respectable out of 16 teams)……hmmm, actually, it’d be nice for the Vics to actually WIN one of the cricket finals too. But, at least every VIc team is making just about any and every Grand Final available.
btw – 27 rounds still means 3 match ups, just more of them.
Have we found out whether the fixture will definitely be 27 wks? and if so, an expanded calender or a more intensive one (i.e. mid week fixtures?).
3 match ups still leaves it unbalanced – i.e. 2 H and 1 A or vice versa. Do you reckon when they get to 12 teams, they’ll play a nice and neat 22 week season? With a top 5? (be just like the old VFL!!!)
thinker said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Season 4 is known as “the pissant season”
what the seasons will be known as until 12/12/2012
Season 5 ” the Russian Revolution” 09/10
Season 6 “the (Un)civil wart” 10/11
Season 7 “Wellington booted’ 11/12
Season 8 “Capital Punisment” 12/13
Luke W said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Small crowds won’t be a concern for long. The addition of two new teams (with two fantastic marquee players) coupled with the growing euphoria of the 2010 World Cup will see crowd figures reach new highs.
For mine, this season will be remembered for the kids. The introduction of the NYL meant that clubs could give their youngsters exposure to better facilities, training and more professional matches. Given Australia will always be a “selling” league (where the best players move to Europe/Asia to further their career or pay packet, we need a steady production line of good young players, and so far so good.
Simmo said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
“At any rate – - MVFC fans might have a different view of their rivalry with Ade Utd. Perhaps disdain. Ade Utd surely have a super drive to gain revenge. Twice over.”
Judging by the fans on the forums this week, MVFC love lording it over Adelaide. And AUFC fans just don’t want to talk about it. It’s a strong rivalry on both sides of the ledger even though it’s remarkably one-sided.
“However, the 2 legged finals in the first round, is perhaps overkill. But, then, you could have a 2 legged GF too.”
I prefer single legs. It’s a matter of taste generally, but I think we need a showpiece like the GF to be a one-off.
I would kill the 2 legged finals series as they are currently. Sudden death is way more interesting anyway.
“3 match ups still leaves it unbalanced – i.e. 2 H and 1 A or vice versa. Do you reckon when they get to 12 teams, they’ll play a nice and neat 22 week season? With a top 5? (be just like the old VFL!!!)”
Nup.
The season will just get longer and longer. I’m not one to say “they do it that way in Europe therefore we should too” but futbol being the more moderate athletic game leads itself to more games over longer seasons. In the UK 50+ games over 9 months is about standard. In South America some clubs play close to 70.
And those are the leagues we’re competing with for players. So we need to offer similar sized seasons to earn money and also get the players properly experienced.
22 games is hopelessly short. I believe the FFA will keep expanding the length of the season when teams are added.
It will also remain as an unbalanced season because that’s really the only way to flesh out the season when there are so few teams in the league. Note that it does balance out after every second season (ie/ season 2 was the opposite fixturing to season 1 and 4 was 3’s opposite etc).
chris said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
season definately will be remembered for Vidmars rant. Good on the bloke, he spoke from his heart.
Michael C said | March 3rd 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Simmo -
main thing really is if the HAL were to run that much longer, they’ll be more and more overlap with RU, RL (for media AND venues) and AFL.
In a saturated sports market – - it might just drag on too long.
That may also really stretch the attendance market.
or, it may provide such a depth of tv product as to make the package more valuable if not via quality then at least quantity.
Vicentin said | March 3rd 2009 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Michael C – (and note that I’m not trying to be atagonistic – and this is largely rhetorical because I think I’ve read all the answers already…). But why particularly should football really be concerned that if it is a saturated market? Our game’s aim is clear – to get a bigger slice of the pie, to become a truely mainstream sport in this country. I don’t think anyone is under any illusions/delusions that anyone else is just going to roll over and give us their fan base, but what is the alternative? Do you think we should just be really polite and ask the other codes if it is ok if we play at this time of the year and if they get upset just give up?
All those things you say about saturated markets and attendances are probably true – there is definately risk, but I would hope nothing that couldn’t be overcome with a decent strategy and sufficient finances – hope springs eternal. I see having a larger competition and better quality football (it improves every year) will make it a more compelling “product”. Hey I’m even going to start going to games again now that Sydney’s dumped Kossie and can’t wait to see the Gold Coast and NQLD teams in their first trips to Sydney. I’m pissed off about the proposed finals format though – I agree with SJ (elsewhere) that is a dreadful idea. A longer season and first past the post for me.
Simmo said | March 3rd 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
“main thing really is if the HAL were to run that much longer, they’ll be more and more overlap with RU, RL (for media AND venues) and AFL. ”
True.
But it’s the classic balancing exercise. We have to balance the need (not just desire, but an actual need) to give all our players a lot more game time with the necessity of not really going head-to-head with the other codes. I’m not belligerent about Futbol’s place in the pecking order. It shouldn’t compete directly but instead should seek to minimise the confrontation.
I’d prefer to start the season the week after both the NRL and AFL GFs have been played as well as have heaps and heaps of fixtures over the summer holidays.
“or, it may provide such a depth of tv product as to make the package more valuable if not via quality then at least quantity.”
I’d expect the price for the additional games to be lower than the price of the original games (you know, on a per game basis).
This is also the point in the debate where we’d need to start discussing the introduction of a cup competition. Fans want it to happen so there’s some variety in the season and there’s another piece of silverware availabe. And those are good reasons. I also see it as a way to flesh out the season.
(the following are some rough ideas that I don’t expect anyone to take seriously)
Personally, I favour the amalgamation of the nearly useless pre-season comp with the mooted cup. By playing it as a series of groups with the State league sides it can serve as a warm-up for the A-League but also be interesting enough for the hardcore fans to turn up to. But it’s also not so important that we’d be missing out on momentum by trying to start the proper season during the AFL/NRL finals.
So I like the look of a season set out this way:
- group stages of Cup in late August/September + knock-out phase of ACL.
- start of A-League at beginning of October + knock-out phase of ACL.
- Regular season ends at end of March + Start of ACL
- A-League finals in April + group stages of ACL.
As you can see, there’s an ugly match-up between the A-League and the ACL. They’re completely out of kilter.
Robbos said | March 3rd 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Without a doubt the highlight of the season would be the effort of Adelaide United to get to the final of the Asian Champions league, the fact that they also did so well in the A-League on such a small squad & budget is a credit to both the coach & the players. well done Adelaide, the greatest achievement by a football club side in Australia.
The other highlight was of course Melbourne Victory, winning the double, though not as convincing as 2 years ago, I think their team was just as good. As Pip pointed out many times they never lost to the other teams in the top 4 & totally owned Adelaide United the other dorminant side this year, they also with Queensland played the best football.
The advancement of some of the kids this year was a huge highlight, Newcastle, who had a year to forget, produce 2-3 of the best Holland, Kantarovski and Jesic, Queensland Roar with Devere, Zullo, Minniecon, Oar & Nicholls, Perth Glory, with Ruka, Skorich & Neville, Adelaide with Jamieson, Malik and Mullen, CCM with Simon, Redmayne, Sydney, who were just as bad as newcastle also had some good young players, Gan, Grant, Danning & Cole, Wellington, Barbarouses & Melbourne had Berger, Celeski & Landeraak.
Next year 2 new teams which is badly needed as the same old teams playing each other grew tiresome.
I also believe in more expansion, we need desparately need to extend the season (yes & compete with the other codes) so that our best players like cullina can still return home & see the A-League season extended to April-May as most of our int’l competitions are in June.
jimbo said | March 3rd 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Most important thing that Craig Moore said in his interview was that he has been virtually injury free for two years and never played better. There are very few serious injuries in the A-League playing less frequently in warmer weather.
What has the “intensity” of the European leagues done for Viduka, Kewell, Chipperfield, Grella, Kennedy etc.
They would be better off finishing their careers in the A-League. The only way they would be worse off is financially.
WARNING: Go to an A-League game expecting to see an EPL standard of game or an English coal mining town “death to your children” derby rivalry atmosphere and you will be disappointed.
This is Australia and we are different – there are some wonderful things about our A-League competition – can you list some?
The highlight of Version 4 for me was Kevin Muscat missing a penalty – you don’t see that too often.
Pippinu said | March 3rd 2009 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
Other highlights (off the top of my head, and completely impartial):
1. Melbourne allowing Sydney to score two screamers in the first three minutes, and then coming back to record a memorable 3-2 win – must be close to the best match I have ever seen.
2. MV’s 5-0 and 4-0 drubbings of Jets and Glory respectively.
3. CCM coming back from 3-0 on at least one occasion (did they do it twice this season?)
4. MV v CCM, play off for top spot, both playing with three strikers, lucky 2-1 win to CCM in a very tight contest.
5. MV coming from behind, not once, but twice, to defeat AU 3-2 away.
6. Nix making a bit of a run to the finals and just falling over in the last match against the Victory.
7. Spectacular fall from grace for the reigning champs – to match a Trinidad dive (that also got GVE a bit hot under the collar).
8. AU’s embarassing failure in the ACL final.
9. The Roar winning a few games on the trot at home.
10. SFC’s throwing more money out the window on failed marquees.
Pippinu said | March 3rd 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Sorry, in no. 4 above, that was a lucky 2-1 win to MV!
Towser said | March 3rd 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
Surely Pippinu you jest?
Number 9 on my list is also 1-8 & 10.
Pippinu said | March 3rd 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Towser
but as you can see, my list was completely impartial and objective…
Dave said | March 3rd 2009 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
Many highlights for this season;
1. Setting up of the youth league…it will only get better
2. Setting up of the Womens league…it will only get better
3. Number of teenagers playing well for a broad cross section of clubs
4. AU’s ACL run
5. MVs winning the treble
6. General improvement in standard of goals…with increasing numbers of free kicks, long shots and team goals outstanding
7. 53,300 at the GF and the wonderful atmosphere generated
8. Socceroos progress towards the WC
9. News of 2 new clubs and the excitement already generated eg signing of RF by NQ and JC by GCU
10. Excitement of league run in and improved attendances over last third of the season
11. Top quality games including MV v SFC 3-2
12. Must be close to record pay TV HAL audience for Gf of 250,000 (double last year)
Ben of Phnom Penh said | March 3rd 2009 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
I agree with Robbos that in a few years hence season 4 will primarily be remembered as the year we became serious about the ACL. It is interesting how in seasons past the ACL was seen as a bonus, something novel; however following Adelaide’s feats it has become a serious objective in its own right. We have grown as a footballing nation because of it and hence season 4 may well be remembered as an important step in the maturation process.
Towser said | March 3rd 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
Ben of Phnom Pen
Agree the AFC is very important & this year it was noticed in Australia.
Millster said | March 4th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Good article and good input from all from my point of view. I agree that overall, this season was one of pause – it was a kind of no-mans-land where the domestic game was taking a breath before expansion and the only real development of importance was in our next step in Asia. For mine, 5 issues are top of mind as we assess the season:
1. The increasing aggression of (mainly) Asian recruiting of our players in large numbers, and our league’s and clubs inability to respond for various reasons.
2. However as a counterweight to the above, the excellent start to the NYL and the emergence of some young talent into HAL squads (admittedly initially as an injury/poaching/retirement stop-gap but they have mostly done pretty damn well for their experience)
3. SFC’s failings especially having picked up a super-team on paper which didn’t end up firing for various reasons. This to me is more important and more surprising than NJ’s fall from grace.
4. Despite some specific issues (eg the rant), the continuing emergence of MV and AU as ‘pointy bit of the season’ clubs which I welcome despite being an SFC man – we need a spine in the HAL of 2-3 clubs with deep finals and ACL experience over a bunch of seasons and to lead the way for the others.
5. The recovery from a shit start of the ‘extremities’ of the HAL – Perth and Wellington – who were both playing good football by the end of the season. I worry about these geographic extremities as they are fragile yet pivotal to the HAL’s overall footprint. Ditto what I think of NQ next year. So I am glad that these clubs showed some guts and promise for next year.
I had as a number 6 the fact that Asian Cup Socceroo squads were primarily A-League but I think the jury is out on the strength or weakness of that until we see a real vein of performance and competitiveness from that group at international level. Without taking anything away from the lively Indonesians, we should not have walked away from that match with less than 3 points. Lets hope for a good win against Kuwait anyway as the start to some ‘proving’ of the HAL guys at that level.
jimbo said | March 4th 2009 @ 10:35pm | Report comment
Another pleasing aspect of season 4 is the way the sport’s governing body conducts itself these days.
The FFA has been under a lot of pressure and under a lot of scrutiny this year with the ACL exposure, all the controversies and attacks from the not so soccer-friendly media and has come out of it very well.
Of course there is room for improvement, but no disrespect intended, compared to the bad old days of Soccer Australia, there is a distinct lack of infighting, finger pointing at the clubs, blaming players and coaches and falling apart at the seams.
The FFA is copping the criticism on the chin and taking on its detractors head on.
The league is not falling into a heap and the game is back on level footing and looking forward to a better season in Version 5.
And . . . they turned around an $11M loss into a $12M profit in one year, have become financially independent and will not need any government handouts this year.
Plus the bonus of qualifying for another World Cup on the horizon next year.
Well done to all at the FFA.