A-League draw throws up some big questions

 
Adrian Musolino Columnist

By , 22 Apr 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert

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Matt McKay (left) and Billy Celeski in action during Round 18 of the Hyundai A-League between Melbourne Victory FC and Queensland Roar FC at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. AAP Image/Raoul Wegat

Matt McKay (left) and Billy Celeski in action during Round 18 of the Hyundai A-League between Melbourne Victory FC and Queensland Roar FC at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. AAP Image/Raoul Wegat

A-League fans have their wish of more games with the release of the 2009/10 draw. 51 more games, in fact, with the season now further intruding into the AFL and NRL seasons.

With debuts at the SCG, Subiaco, Thursday night games, two new teams and a midweek round, this season may prove to be the League’s greatest test.

Firstly, the intrusion into the ‘winter codes’ season throws up some interesting dilemmas. For one, it results in Melbourne’s early season Thursday night matches at home.

It also raises question marks about the ability of the League to gain much traction during the first two months of the season.

With World Cup qualification a mere formality, likely to be achieved a couple of months before the A-League season kicks off, there won’t be a huge springboard into the season, unlike that which will help launch the 2010/11 season after the Socceroos take part in another World Cup.

This is why the next stage of expansion should take place immediately for 2010/11.

Strike when the bandwagon jumpers are on board.

But the addition of Gold Coast and North Queensland has already added much to the competition, depth in teams, fixtures, intrigue, and avoids, by a couple of weeks at least, teams meeting one another so regularly.

This can no longer be used as an excuse for poor crowds.

Debutant Gold Coast United is the first club to take issue with the draw, in particular the decision to stage their first round match against local rivals Queensland-Brisbane Roar at Suncorp, a decision they labelled a “slap in the face.”

It’s obviously a free kick to the Roar who is struggling financially and face increased competition within a state they once owned but now has a significantly reduced market share in.

As a result, Gold Coast fans are forced to make the hour-plus drive north for their team’s debut.

Both the Gold Coast and North Queensland have the potential to draw crowds across the country, and this adds so much to the schedule.

Sydney FC will meet the Fury and Fowler at the SCG in Round 6, due to the NRL finals.

Let’s hope Fowler’s hamstring is still intact by then.

Much is being asked of the Perth Glory, however, hosting Sydney FC at the 46,500 capacity Subiaco. It’s a difficult task for the Glory to even hope to half fill the ground when they can’t even fill the 18,156 Members Equity Stadium.

However, the Round 19 midweek round is a step in the right direction, a sign, with the added fixtures and calendar congestion, of our growing football maturity.

The tyranny of distance precludes too many consecutive weekend-midweek rounds, and so Round 19 is spread over six weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.

Smartly, too, the midweek fixtures have been given to teams able to pull a crowd: Melbourne, Adelaide plus a Queensland derby between the Roar and Fury.

Meanwhile, the much panned finals system, with six teams, at least keeps more clubs in contention, especially if we have the same bottleneck race as the regular season comes to an end, helping to maintain crowd interest for teams on the brink.

Crucially, too, there is fairness, the FFA resisting the huge to move toward an AFL type uneven competition.

All teams will play each other three times.

After last season’s stagnating crowd figures, it is only natural the focus next season will be on any changes in this regard.

The FFA is using the first stage of expansion to up the ante for this coming season, with bigger stadiums, more fixtures, and new initiatives.

They’ve really raised the stakes.

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