Why do Melbourne teams dominate Aussie sports?
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By Adrian Musolino, 28 Oct 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
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Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy overseeas a training session in Melbourne, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Melbourne Storm will play the Parramatta Eels in this weekends NRL Grand Final. AAP Image/Julian Smith
Melbourne’s dominance of the Australian sporting landscape was almost complete in 2009. Victorian clubs claimed the AFL, NRL, A-League, Sheffield Shield, Netball ANZ championship, and NBL premierships.
It is an impressive feat, and one that seems to have been overlooked by pundits and fans alike. But how do we account for it?
Melbourne is undoubtedly a sports mad town.
This point was reaffirmed for me when spending time in Melbourne last week. Sports journalists from the two newspaper dailies are plastered on billboards across the city, front pages are often hijacked by sport, and the popularity and influence of the SEN radio station shows the populations constant need to consume sport.
It’s a cultural thing.
Melbournians grow up with sport, particularly the AFL, in their blood, and they seem far more accepting of other codes than other states.
They have a closer bond with their clubs through the greater practice of having memberships with them and attending matches, trainings and functions, especially compared to Sydney where crowds and memberships can’t compare to Melbourne levels, and tend to fluctuate to a greater extent.
Perhaps this greater love also results in youngsters growing up with a greater hunger to succeed in sport, helped by healthy support structures and well-funded state league competitions.
This love of sport has a knock on effect of ensuring healthier and more financially stable clubs.
Indeed, it’s hard to fault Melbourne franchises administratively.
Take Melbourne Storm as an example. Their success, in the heartland of the AFL, is quite remarkable.
And it is thanks to the talent of Brian Waldron and the support staff around him. Melbourne’s ability to manage a squad – especially how they rebuilt after losing key members after the 2006 Grand Final – highlights an administrative strength that has ensured their survival and successes.
Despite operating in a foreign territory, they have carved out a niche market for themselves, and Melbourne’s sports mad culture ensures they won’t hit rock bottom crowd figures should the club falter on-field.
Likewise, Melbourne Victory has been the best run and most stable A-League franchise.
The club stayed loyal to Ernie Merrick in their bleak first season and reaped the benefits in having the long-term vision to give him the time necessary to build a winning culture.
Re-signing Carlos Hernandez at the end of last season was a brave decision considering the financial investment needed to keep him – especially in such a tight, salary capped competition – and they have been handsomely rewarded for their bravery.
With Melbourne Heart – the second A-League franchise – and a possible Super Rugby franchise, Melbourne’s sporting hub will continue to grow.
And their 2009 on-field domination appears set to continue in 2010.
Only an ever-improving Adelaide, and possibly a rejuvenated Brisbane, have the capability to stop Victorian clubs from dominating in the AFL next season, and even then the interstaters are considered outsiders for premiership success.
Also, the Storm has the capability to stay at the top of the NRL, especially considering their Toyota Cup triumph this season.
When you consider the sporting culture that has developed in Melbourne, it really shouldn’t be a surprise they dominate as they do.
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tifosi said | October 28th 2009 @ 5:18am | Report comment
Because the fans show passion for them so it rises them to a new level perhaps?
Dom said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:14am | Report comment
Because there is nothing else in melbourne, least in most other cities you can o to the beach
Ted said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Most people i know in sydney see the beach just a few times a year, and maybe go into the city twice a year. Melbourne is the best city in the australia 150%
roary said | February 9th 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Melbourne is more like a real city you get in Europe or North America. I’d hate to live in Sydney, whenever I go there I think I have left the real Australia. What do people do there? get stuck in traffic jams and watch tv or maybe go to Bondi beach to beat up arabs. Interestingly Sydney folk turn up in their droves for an ‘alternative lifestyle’ parade, but they shun world class sporting events. I think that says something right there. They are a weird mob.
Robbo said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:19am | Report comment
Well I don’t know about the rest but if NSW ever had a full strength Sheffield Cricket team they would have annihilated Victoria.
Chaos said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:31am | Report comment
Adrian;
While us Melbournites are passionite, your article is slightly flawed.
AFL – Interstate teams won for 6 years straight. With 10 out of 16 (soon to be 18) I would expect them to turn the tide for a couple of years. Only the last three years have the Victorians come back into ‘power’. I estimate 2010 as the final year for the Premiership window of St KIlda, Footscray and Geelong.
Cricket – Most other sides have more critical people selected for Australia hence Victoria’s dominance.
Mattay said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
This was going to be my reply as well. In regards to AFL, it’s all swings and roundabouts. It wasn’t that long ago there were talks of a crisis due to the poor performance of Victorian AFL clubs, with the dominance of Brisbane, Port, Sydney & West Coast along with Adelaide and Fremantly being strong regular season clubs. It won’t be too long until the premierships are dominated by Gold Coast, Western Sydney, and Adelaide and West Coast again rise to the top.
Melbourne Victory & Storm are quite fortunate to be the sole representatives of a code in the 2nd biggest city in Australia. It’s no surprise Melbourne has the strongest following in the A League as there is no other competition from a local rival club. It doesn’t draw a long bow to link their off field support and security to on field success. In fact, the stability they have had in being able to retain key players such as Kevin Muscat and Archie Thompson among others only emphasises this fact.
Cricket as has been widely mentioned is a flawed concept. Arguably, NSW can have greater claim due to their national team numbers.
I just think the dominance of the current Victorian clubs is more of a coincidence – an alligning of the stars. And yes, I am jealous as well. I remember the buzz around Adelaide when the Crows won the flag (yes, even Port as well I suppose …). Also the 36ers and the Lightning. And I am old enough to remember Peter McIntyre winning us the Sheffield Shield as well. To have all that happen in the one year would be fantastic!
Michael said | October 28th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Agreed.
If a competition like the AFL has 62.5% of its participants from Victoria, you would expect Victoria to win most of the titles.
NSW is dominant in cricket, and some people would argue that the Storm’s success is due to the concessions they are given.
The Victory can’t be denied their success though.
Matt said | March 2nd 2010 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Just correcting you, Melbourne Storm get no concessions like the Brisbane or Sydney AFL clubs do/did. Melbourne simply recieves a grant from News Ltd every year, no different to Parra’s Leagues Club grant or Rusty pouring his own $$ into Souths.
Right now quite a bit of Melbourne’s money goes into things other than the NRL team (NSW side, Under 20′s side, Under 18′s side and I think they’ve got an Under 16′s side this year). Travel of these 4 (or 5?) teams to NSW for most of their games and occaisionally Qld or NZ costs a fair bit and this pretty much negates the impact of News’ grant on the NRL team’s success.
For the record in 09 the Storm’s NRL and U-20′s team won their comps and the U-18′s made the GF.
So no, their success is not “due to the concessions they are given.” They are without a doubt the most successful club in Australian sport atm.
And I’m a Brisbane fan btw.
Spiro Zavos said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
Melbourne is somewhat like Christchurch in New Zealand in terms of weather, intense support for the local team and a flat landscape that allows for many sports grounds and easy transport and access to them. There is a parochialism about the two cities too that becomes reflected in their pursuit of sporting trophies. Another factor may be the way this sporting obsession is inculcated in excellent schools with great facilities.
But having said that Sydney/NSW is where the majority of the Sheffield Sheild trophies have been won: the heartland of rugby league and rugby union: and where most of our greatest swimmers, tennis players, boxers and athletes have been produced. The city and the state must have something going for it.
Redb said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:54am | Report comment
No need to be accurate with sin city spin, but you better check the weather stats Spiro, Christchurch is much colder than Melbourne. The way the Avon River winds through CC does remind me a little of Melbourne but that’s where it ends – church/vibe wise its more like Adelaide.
For the record, I think its a moot point when you consider Geelong is not Melbourne, Storm are filled with NSW/QLders, Victory players from all over the world, basketballers the States,etc.
As for cricket, you know it’s a relatively minor sport in Melbourne in terms of elite player numbers, the best go to footy always have.
If you really want parochialism go to a Crows game at AAMI stadium with 50,000 painful Adelaide fans.
Redb
Ted said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
AFL, Adelaide and passion. NO SUCH THING
Dave1 said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
AFL, Adelaide and passion. yes there is such thing
megatron said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:22pm | Report comment
Adelaide fans only have passion when their winning.
Freud of Football said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:56pm | Report comment
What a ridiculously ignorant statement.
The Crows have always had some of the highest membership numbers in the AFL and they haven’t won a flag for over 10 years, yet you venture to call them fair-weather fans?
Port doesn’t get the fans because they are an extension of the Port Adelaide Magpies which if you knew anything, you’d know they are South Australia’s Collingwood, people either love them or hate them and not enough people love them.
Dave1 said | November 6th 2009 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
The crows are made up of the supporters of 8 SANFL clubs, port only 1 club. That’s why Port don’t get as much support
Dave1 said | November 6th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
How would you know?
They are always winning and have missed the finals only once in the last 9 years.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | February 28th 2011 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
Adelaide United had the same crowd figures when they were in the finals as they did when they took the wooden spoon.
Methinks Megatron is from Victoria and is feeling the fear
Ben said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
Not the government that is for sure.
anopinion said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
In studying history or geography or economics remember never take one moment in time and use it as proof that everything throughout time was the same.
The sun rises in the East, this is proof that the East is the best environment for the sun. Not true is it.
Well done Melbourne on a great year, I bet this dominance does not last.
Brett McKay said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Not sure if Geelong would enjoy being conveniently pulled into Melbourne here. Sure they’re close, but are they a Melbourne club??
Anyway, it’s a reasonable notion you put forward Adrian. You could take your prdictions of Storm success further than just their Toyota Cup side too: their SG Ball (U19s) lost the GF this season, but their squad incuded 10 or 11 genuinely local young league players. Even if only half that number make their NRL debut, that in itself would be a massive achievement for the Storm..
MattRusty said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Q. Why do all the people in Sydney drink out of mugs?
A. Because Melbourne’s got all the cups.
The Link said | October 28th 2009 @ 7:39am | Report comment
swings and roundabouts
didn’t Sydney / NSW have all of them in 2005?
megatron said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Sport matters more in Melbourne hence why they can sustain more teams. I think if you looked through the history of all codes in Australia you’d probably find Melbourne dominating the amount of titles won. It does swing every few years but when you stop and think about it Melbourne does tend to dominate – off field as well as on it.
AndyRoo said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Megatron, except they don’t dominate cricket, and previously never played Rugby or league at any sort of professional level.
AFL and Basketball yes.
As to Football (Soccer) I know Sth melbourne and Melb Croatia have had pretty good teams at times but I would give the points to NSW and in the latter days of the NSL Perth.