Why do Melbourne teams dominate Aussie sports?
Columnist 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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October 28th 2009 @ 8:49am
AndyRoo said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Victory and Storm are both really well run. Their recruitment is excellent.
I especially admire Victory because they have pulled talent from different sources and only Moss comes to mind as a good player recruited from another A league Club.
Contrast that too Sydney FC who after their first year sacked their coach and let their star player walk with barely a murmur. Then went out and bought Brisbane’s best player (Brosque) and Auckland Knights best player (Brockie). Even this year Sydney FC have Mark Bridges (Newcastle) and Colosimo (Perth).
Meanwhile MV are recruiting from Costa Rica and Thailand.
If they weren’t from Melbourne they would be likeable.
October 28th 2009 @ 9:24am
Republican said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
This heading smacks of hyperbole.
“Melbourne Teams’?
Pick the Melbournian in the Storm line up. Certainly they have had some success this year in this respect, which has more to do with the corporate clout that attracts the cream of any given talent pool as much as anything else.
This will probably be true of any Union team based in Melborne i.e to say the franchise will lure very good Union talent from around the country to the detriment of poorer demos.
Melbourne will always have the wood on smaller cities in that respect, as will Sydney. Perth also punch above their weight due to their corporate muscle given their mining wealth.
This ‘success’ has very little to do with on the ground credential for any particular code anymore, although I will say Vic continue to produce Australian Footy players of a high standard but then so too do SA, WA and Tassie and guess what, most of their good ones end up in Melbourne!
Bring on an origin Aust Footy derby I say; the proof will surely be in the pud.
October 28th 2009 @ 6:09pm
amused said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:09pm | Report comment
Republican, every article Adrian posts is 1% fact, 99% hyperbole, that or he is the designated troll for The Roar ( think Andrew Bolt, Janet Albrechtsen etc etc….there to elicit a response. )
October 29th 2009 @ 9:20am
Zac Zavos said | October 29th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Amused, your criticisms are too harsh.
The Roar is a site entirely focused on sports opinion. Adrian has interesting and insightful opinions which do attract responses. This is the point.
But we also welcome your views on where you feel our writers have it wrong in their arguments.
October 28th 2009 @ 9:24am
Firestarter Bob said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Is it correct to use “Melbournians” (as used by Adrian) or Melbournites or Melburnians or something else?
October 28th 2009 @ 9:34am
Gibbo said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
The Vic cricket team has the Aus selectors to thank for our dominance – they leave all our good players at home to clean up while they pick whichever new guy who happens to be playing for NSW for the national team.
October 28th 2009 @ 9:39am
AndyRoo said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
There have been a lot of mediocre Victorians selected for Australia, I would suggest the bias is well and truley in favor of Victoria.
The new guys for NSW always have talent becasue thats what NSW and WA does, produces talent rather than mediocrity suitable for winning shield cricket matches (Victoria and QLD)
October 28th 2009 @ 12:11pm
Michael C said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
what are you saying about Ian Callen, Richie Robinson, Trevor Laughlin, Gary Cosier, Graham Yallop, Ray Bright, Jimmy Higgs, Wayne Phillips, Simon Davis……….??
actually main issue of late, the NSW Shield team went thru a horrible year but persisted with 19 year olds…..all about producing future Australian representatives.
The Vics, persist with over 30s aiming at winning ‘titles’,
and too many of our star bowlers in recent years have been ‘late bloomers’ – for whatever reasons,…..Nannes, Lewis, Harwood, McGain etc.
October 28th 2009 @ 9:59am
FIsher Price said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Gibbo – which NSW cricketers have failed at international level?
October 28th 2009 @ 8:45pm
Mad Mex said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
I suspect Gibbo is one of many Victorians who feel there is distinct bias shown to NSW cricketers.
Dean Jones and Brad Hodge are but two examples of Vic cricketers whom were axed prematurely.
In fact an argument can be made both were at the height of their powers. Jones had just scored a century
in the series vs Sri Lanka while Hodge was dropped two tests after scoring a double ton (only to be recalled
again later, post a hal century and be dropped again)! McDonald played a key role against SA but failed to win
a start in the Ashes.
Jamie Siddons and Darren Lehman also spent considerable time at Victoria without achieving a baggy green.
Compare this to players such as Katitch, Jacques, Hauritz, Clark etc who were all given ample and repeat
opportunties to establish themselves.
Back on topic, the cty of Melbourne has a vibe that inspires athletes to reach their potential. Playing in front of
houses and the constant media propel sportsmen (and to a lesser extent females) to achieve. Its a vibe
that every other state aspires too but will never reach. The close proximity of sporting stadiums, easily accessible
by transport also adds to the package.
As for the CC comparison, redb summed that up best.
November 6th 2009 @ 3:55pm
Dave1 said | November 6th 2009 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Darren Lehmann only played for Victoria from 1990/91-1992/93. I would be good to compare the opportunities he got to play for Australia to the many chances Steve Waugh got.
October 28th 2009 @ 9:57am
FIsher Price said | October 28th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
in the case of the News Limited Storm – because they’ve been propped up all along by Murdoch!
It’s a disgrace.
October 28th 2009 @ 10:58am
westy said | October 28th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Fisher price one would be a very poor manager not to subsidise a new entrant in a ‘foreign ” market. News ltd take over 8 million a year from rugby league under the NRL partnership agreement. that they have been forced to reinvest these moneys back into a NRL franchise in Melbourne and to the development of the game is actually a good thing.
It is utter hypocrisy to pursue this vendetta against Melbourne Storm when the FFA currently fund Adelaide and a few others..
The AFL learned that the only way to have a successful team in “foreign” territory was to give priority picks and a million dollar subsidy to attract better players under cost of living adjustments. In the Gold Coast and Western Sydney the AFL is offering massive subsidies to ensure success. Even the priority draft picks are worth money. just ask the other AFL clubs.
I have no problem with this.
If these subsidies did not take place there would be no A league football in Adelaide no rugby league in Melbourne and no AFL in Western Sydney. That the FFA the AFL can subsidise but a 50% owner of NRL cannot is a mindboggling knit picking exercise and bluntly illogical.
I originally had a very poor view about the Melbourne Storm but after having seen two home games they have what i saw as genuine crowd support of 12000 to 14000 and to have carved themselves a little niche in a very difficult market
After 10 years the AFL will be very happy if Western Sydney AFL side regularly attracts 15000 to 20000 genunine core supporters.
Not to expect either team to be subsidised in its first fifteen years or so is ridiculous. by the way the melboune storm’s subsidy has declined from over 10 million to six this year to five next year. Sydney AFL and the lions are no longer subsidised but Western Sydney will be more like the Melbourne Storm experience and that is OK.
Melbourne had no junior rugby league teams prior to Melbourne Storm . None zero kaput. Sydney always had a vibrant second tier junior and senior Aussie rules competitions with many old and established clubs like East Sydney/ Pennant hills / balmaim and campbelltown etc. The fact that melbourne storm now have 98 junior teams from U/6 to U/17 from zero says someone down there is spending some of the News Limited subsidy in the right places
I witnessed a Melbourne U/18 SG Ball team lose the grand final of national U/18 competition in St marys. I actually asked the lads 11 of the 23 squad live permanently in melbourne either born in Victoria or emigrated as children from NZ or the islands and another 5 were NZERs 5 from QLd one from South australia the other from southern NSW.
Somebody down there is doing something right.
It is much slower grind but i think in another 5 years or so they will break even and survive.
October 28th 2009 @ 11:37am
megatron said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Great post westy. Melbourne Storms success is remarkable considering the lack of league history in the state and I think the parallel with the Melbourne victory is a good one in the sense of how well they are run.
October 28th 2009 @ 12:36pm
FIsher Price said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
I do not agree with News Ltd running Rugby League and I didn’t say I agreed with the FFA propping clubs up either.
It apears the Storm have done well in many areas of their business (and the administration deserves credit for this), but my concern is that they have had an unfair advantage over its rivals since its inception – not merely financially but also in terms of access to cream of Qld talent – due to Murdoch’s ambitions in the Melbourne market.
News Ltd Storm, that is.
October 28th 2009 @ 6:10pm
Hansie said | October 28th 2009 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
The Storm could be called the [Insert Location Here] Storm. There are no Victorians in the team, even after more than a decade in the competition and pushing $200m worth of subsidies. League remains a very minor fringe sport in Victoria.
October 28th 2009 @ 11:03am
Ben said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
I think it comes from the fact that Melbourne simply tries harder because without sports trophies and sports events they would have nothing to try and compare to Sydney.
As Spiro says Melbourne is like NZ, more chips than a Kabul taxi.
October 28th 2009 @ 11:11am
Pippinu said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
To be fair, whenever 85,000 rock up to an ANZAC Day footy game – the last thing they have on their mind is sporting domination of Australia – doesn’t even come into it to the slightest degree.
And as someone has already pointed out, Geelong isn’t even in Melbourne.
It’s also worthwhile adding that Melburnians have never really had all that much interest in state representative type games, of any description.
October 28th 2009 @ 11:33am
megatron said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
They are a Victorian club, as said at the start.
October 28th 2009 @ 11:38am
JimmyJam said | October 28th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
You could argue that at certain times Melbourne provides a great sporting experience, is even a great host of events, but the title……. don’t think so!
NRL (Storm… no locals.)
NBA, few locals,
Moto GP no locals (Casey stoner Qld),
F1 no locals( Mark Webber NSW).
Melbourne Cup….. (Bart is the king!! NSW)
Aust open Tennis (Lleyton H. SA)
AFL (Geelong….. NOT Melbourne)
Netball? (Yes, once)
Cricket?( Easy, when few in the squad are good enough to play for Aust. NSW have 9 players contracted who are regularly playing Int cricket)
Have I missed any?
Dominating? No Dreaming? Yes!
October 28th 2009 @ 12:07pm
Michael C said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Lacrosse.
October 28th 2009 @ 12:29pm
Firestarter Bob said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
NRL (Storm… no locals.).
Just how long must a newcomer have to live in Victoria before considered a Victorian? Didn’t Cameron Smith write in the Melbourne papers that “like all Victorians” he would be watching the AFL grand final? He also mentioned that his home was in Melbourne and that his kids all go to school in Melbourne.
October 28th 2009 @ 12:38pm
Republican said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
MichaelC
I think SA and WA are now on a par with Vic in the La X department.
October 28th 2009 @ 1:05pm
Chris said | October 28th 2009 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Aussie Rules – Geelong isn’t in Melbourne
Rugby Union – Melbourne doesn’t have a team.
Rugby League – Melbourne has a very, very good team.
Cricket – A full strength NSW would DESTROY (I’m talking an innings and 50+ runs) Victoria. It’s just that they are playing for Australia most of the time. NSW won the Twenty20 Domestic and World Championships.
Soccer – NSW’s talent is diluted across three teams – Victoria has just the one.