By Adrian Musolino
November 19th 2009 @ 7:26am
Related coverage
A-League needs to make its summer count
Sydney FC'S Mark Rudan (centre) competes for the ball with Saso Ognenovski (left) and Reinaldo da Costa of the Queensland Roar during their A-League clash at Aussie Stadium, Sydney, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. AAP Image/Jenny Evans
If you take away Tiger Woods’ visit down under and the fortnight of tennis in January we are left with a pretty barren Australian summer of sport, particularly for those who don’t care for cricket.
And with Tiger leaving town, a weak West Indies arriving for a series of meaningless Tests following a year in which cricket has been overexposed, and the A-League failing to engage with fans, it’s not looking like a particularly tempting summer of sport.
If the early arrival of the heat across the country is any indication, we’ll all be at the beach over the next few months rather than at stadiums.
Summer seems to be a bit of a wasteland for Australian sport.
For codes that exist in this period they are afforded more media coverage away from the AFL and NRL spotlight while playing during the extended school-summer holidays.
And there is certainly little opposition with only one genuine force during the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year.
Away from the Australian cricket team, crowds for domestic cricket competitions, particularly for the Sheffield Shield but also the Ford Ranger Cup, are dire.
Twenty20’s popularity was meant to sweep through the domestic scene but the KFC Big Bash has failed to cause much of a dent in the sporting landscape – maybe because it’s called the KFC Big Bash! And, like the A-League, being hidden away on Fox Sports does little to reach the masses.
Cricket’s popularity isn’t as all encompassing, as is believed, witnessed by the lacklustre support for the domestic game. Yet it appears so popular because it has the summer to itself.
The fact is the Australian sporting summer is built around Australia’s cricket team. But against a weak West Indies, following a year in which the Australian team hasn’t stopped playing since the Ashes, in addition to the little impact the domestic competitions have, there is an opening here.
It’s in this barren period that football needs to assert itself as a genuine force of the Australian summer – an alternative to cricket.
The FFA knows this and the floating Round 19 – all games played in midweek over the course of six weeks in December and January – should help the league’s impact in summer, in addition to being a real litmus test for the success of midweek matches.
But better fixtures needs to be implemented in the future for this summer period of the A-League to really galvanise the public.
For example, Central Coast will host a match in their now traditional New Year’s Eve slot while the Melbourne Victory’s Round 19 midweek fixture falls on Australia Day.
The team they are both playing on those days? The Wellington Phoenix, typically one of the lowest drawcards across the league.
Finding better matches to maximise this summer period, and creating traditional fixtures around these key dates, is essential so the A-League stands out in the summer months
Despite all the protestations of a lacklustre summer of cricket, the fact remains the MCG will still be packed on Boxing Day because it matters to Australia. It’s tradition.
What Australian cricket also does so well is cater for the season. The crowds at the Test matches are there for the raucous fun of a day soaking in the sun with a stocked esky.
It’s these traditions and attributes that make Australian cricket what it is.
The A-League needs to learn from this example if it is truly going to be a summer sport.
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albe said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:55am | Report comment
the A-league isn’t going to be a ’summer sport’ … football is year round and its fast becoming that in Australia too.
Summer is a good opportunity to expose the league to a wider audience, for sure. The FFA are targeting this with some good fixtures over the new year. But more as a taster than turning the league into something that relies on support only over the summer months.
Robbos said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
albe, I totally agree with you. the A-League should run from at the minimum October to May (not just a summer comp), so we avoid this situation of A-League players having to go out on loan in a World cup year. Yes we will run against the AFL & NRL competitions. I believe while we are a distance behind those competitions, this should not deter us from doing it.
I would like our competition to run along the same timeframes as in Europe to minimise this country v club issues.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
I think the problem is that in summer all sports get swamped by cricket
Tennis, golf, The NSL, Baseball, Surf lifesaving and the NBL have all gone or are in big trouble.
It might be better for some sports to move back to winter
Freud of Football said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:19am | Report comment
“If you take away Tiger Woods’ visit down under and the fortnight of tennis in January we are left with a pretty baron Australian summer of sport, particularly for those who don’t care for cricket.” – Sorry, I went straight to the comments after that rubbish.
For starters, I think you meant “barren” Adrian, not a nobleman and to say that the Australian summer of sport is barren is nonsensical.
“For those who don’t care about cricket” – Cricket is the one sport that is loved nation-wide. You may not care for cricket but you can’t just discount the sport with the high popularity that it has. I don’t care much for tennis but I know it gets excellent TV ratings and every weekend the courts are full.
Further I think golf is no more of a sport than poker but I wouldn’t go out and make a blatantly ignorant statement like that, there are legions of people who love the sport for all its intricacies so each to his own.
Cricket is the traditional summer sport in the country. That there has been a lot of cricket played has been discussed quite a bit over in the cricket section (where we haven’t had the pleasure of hearing your views) but the consensus is, while there has been too much of the game played this year, cricket fans are looking forward to the summer, the Windies are always fun to watch and with Pakistan, anything could happen so there is plenty to look forward to this summer.
@Zac Zavos: Why doesn’t this article get censored? Why can’t I report this article if you say you are against the code wars (basically, conflicts between competing sports), then why do you allow one of the columnists to just to and take a shot at cricket like that? It was purely inflammatory against a sport which isn’t trying to pit supporters of the sport against those of other sports.
P.S: Aren’t the editorial staff meant to pick up on spelling errors as blatant as “baron”?
dasilva said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:33am | Report comment
I think the main issue before was that if the article has code war elements in it. Then you can comment about it in those terms.
If the article makes no reference to another sport. Then there’s no point going in there, trolling and start turning a topic into a code war subject just for the sake of it.
JiMMM said | November 19th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Freud
just on the spelling of Baron it is a grammatical mistake as the word is still spelt correctly, it’s just the wrong word is used.
albatross said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
“For those who don’t care about cricket” – Cricket is the one sport that is loved nation-wide. You may not care for cricket but you can’t just discount the sport with the high popularity that it has. I don’t care much for tennis but I know it gets excellent TV ratings and every weekend the courts are full.
Cricket is the traditional summer sport in the country. That there has been a lot of cricket played has been discussed quite a bit over in the cricket section (where we haven’t had the pleasure of hearing your views) but the consensus is, while there has been too much of the game played this year, cricket fans are looking forward to the summer, the Windies are always fun to watch and with Pakistan, anything could happen so there is plenty to look forward to this summer.
There are plenty of people (even those born in Australia) who do not give a tinker’s cuss about cricket. You should not assume that your own preferences are universal.
Even after 20 years of assiduous exposure to the game my missus does not understand or like it and the kids would rather watch paint dry.
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Even amongst Cricket fans I am sure the hard core are still excited about the Windies who are allegedly “always fun to watch” but regular folk like me are struggling to get excitied and I live in the city that will be hosting the first test in 8 days time.
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
yeh no hype around, and with no gayle cant see more tickets being sold., but Im still heading up for days 2 and 3
danny said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
i’m very excited about my annual pilgrimage to the home of the game in this country on dec 26th to catch up with the boys, have a few frothies and generally cause ruckus.
might even watch some cricket if i get around to it.
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
lol..:D
Andrew said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
Totally agree. I used to love my cricket. Now days I couldn’t be bothered watching more than 5 minutes of it. There comes a point when their are too many meaningless games been played, and that was about 10 years ago.
Just glad I got to enjoy the magic of cricket in the 80’s and 90’s. RIP.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
You get old. I used to go to the soccer but I haven’t taken an interest in years
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/ben_macintyre/article6922253.ece
“………Of all British pastimes, cricket is the most prone to nostalgia, the wistful sense that the best is over. But nostalgia is not history: it is the past as we prefer to remember it. “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” They do not necessarily do them better.
Cricket, rightly proud of its history and its antecedents, has grown better, as both a spectacle and a sport, as it has shed its unnecessary traditions. When I first started watching cricket at Lord’s, 40 years ago, the skill levels were lower, the boredom higher, the snobbery extreme, the seats uncomfortable and the food inedible. In my recollection, the crowd was entirely composed of men, many fast asleep.
I defy anyone to witness the glorious patchwork of humanity that is the audience for a Twenty20 match and claim that the modern game is not an improvement on the old…………”
“………”Of all British pastimes, cricket is the most prone to nostalgia.”
Rubbish. Football is worse. Have you ever tried to watch the so called greatest match of all time between England and Brazil from 1970. The game is played at walking pace and like watching paint dry yet the pundits still get all dewy eyed over it………”
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
There are plenty of people (even those born in Australia) who do give a tinker’s cuss about cricket.
megatron said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Freud, your arrogance is becoming overwhelming. Just because you believe something doesn’t make it true for the whole of Australia!
Freud of Football said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
Hardly, I accept that there are people who don’t like cricket, as there are people who won’t care that Tiger Woods shows up for a round of golf.
However simply discounting cricket in Australia the way Adrian has is ridiculous. Look at the participation rates, press coverage, infrastructure etc. etc. Not everyone loves it but a LOT of people do.
James W said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
How does he “simply discount” it? Give an exact example.
Freud of Football said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
“we are left with a pretty barren Australian summer of sport, particularly for those who don’t care for cricket. “
James W said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
“for those who don’t care for cricket” – people like that do exist, even if you’re not one of them.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Freud you are exaggerating to the extreme
Gibbo said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
“for those who dont care for cricket”… seemed like he was just addressing a minority of the population rather than inflaming the majority. i dont see what the big deal is, but then that’s my usual post Frued conribution…
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
The thing is with cricket is there are three forms of the game. You not going to find many people who cant be interested by one or more forms of the game.
It takes up all the space in summer
It is now causing problems for other ports out of summer as well
John O’Neil talking
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/slumping-super-14-undermines-new-tv-deal/2009/04/13/1239474817216.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
“….Our ratings were affected early on by the Test match cricket coming out of South Africa and we’ve been hoping for a bounce back. But we haven’t seen that yet. The global economic crisis has also had an impact on the game. People are being more selective with their discretionary dollars……”
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/07/gone-trouble-in-paradise.html
“………Last night Nine lost its all-important Thursday night to Seven. But all the networks took a hit with SBS screening the Ashes series and managing a 14% share.
The Footy Show plummeted to 785,000, most of which went to the AFL edition. The NRL version slumped to an appalling 138,000 in Sydney. It continues to be immune from any axe because of Nine’s NRL branding and it is known to be a favourite of David Gyngell’s…………”.
GazGoldCoast said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:21am | Report comment
You have to wonder how a prime time FTA TV advertising campaign would go down, don’t you?
…
… and then you just keep wondering!!
I think the best thing is for fans to drag along friends and family whenever they can, and try to get more people hooked.
K B said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
GazGoldCoast,
I’m hooked although I’m primarily a SFC supporter expat Sydney-sider now permanently residing on the Gold Coast. My football experiences have been limited since my arrival on the Gold Coast some 14 years ago … However, all of that has now changed and I will be out at “Fortress Miron” to cheer on the GCU FC with my family …
btw I hope the playing surface is much better than it has been at the start of the season, someone should tell the ground staff there to fix it immediately to make the football experience even better…
~~~~~~
KB
agga78 said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:37am | Report comment
I don’t think there has been 1 advert on commerical prime time tv for the A league this year and with the mainstream media basically black listing any A league coverage, it’s no wonder crowds are down a bit, Even on Foxsports news for example on Foxtel, the 1st 15 minutes of the bulletin is dedicated to AFL and Nrl clubs 1st pre season training session (who cares some guys on a bike and lifting weights) then there is all manor of sports and then the A league gets one or two segments at the end. Ben Buckley and Lowy needed to pump a few million into mainstream tv advertisment at the start of the season so people could know the league has started and continued throughout the season, because unike AFL, NRL or Cricket the media are not going to generate the interest for the league because they ignore the game to the best of their ability.
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment
The summers surely would be more of a Cricket and Football one if the AFL did not have one hand down the pants of Fox/NewsLtd.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Fox knows that there are lots of people interested in the AFL off season. AFL Draft is being televised on Fox on Nov 26.
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Like how News Ltd say that lots of people “want” to know about Pauline Hanson’s nether-regions. Yeah, sure, the demand is there, lol. Redb it’s practically paid endorsement at Fox.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
chicken and egg argument your running there Bear.
Fox paid the AFL becuase it wants AFL viewers and then shows AFL to those viewers – makes sense to me.
K B said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment
careful Redb, you are trolling…
and heading off topic…
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
take my chances. Suggest you read the thread line KB.
How are the fingers these days?
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Interesting to see the contract… my bet is that a certain other code stipulates that a certain media outlet gives the “news” are particular “placement”. ESPECIALLY in the offseason. I know Michael C has a view on this, I wonder where he is? Probably watching Foxsports News channel, to catch up on the latest pre pre season injury report. That’s all I have to say on the perceived obstacles for the A League coming from media outlets over the Summer.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Agga 78 -
yes, the HAL or it’s wealthy (club) owners might need to spend some of their own money for a change to promote, promote, promote.
The Bear –
huh!?!?!
how do you single out the AFL with respect to NewsLtd when NewsLtd owns half the NRL??
do us a favour – check out the Herald Sun sports homepage and tell me how that is AFL dominated.
To save you time – - it ain’t. There’s thumbnails there about Greece and Nick Ward, and the only AFL thumbnail is about grounds in Tassie and Canberra were Australia to host the FIFA WC….so, a pseudo soccer story anyway!!!!!
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Well we can thank Tierry Henry for taking some media realsestate today. But a more long viewed perspective shows it is uncommon for Football to make the headlines. But I will be a little more open minded hence forth. Foxsports News even ran the France/Ireland game before some transfer news in AFL. Not sure why when the final eliminating qualifiers also included Russia, Portugal, Uruguay, among others. Is it cos there was controversy? Or cos it included the Irish? Or a bit of both?? Thanks for chipping in, btw.
albatross said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
>> manor of sports
That must be where the “pretty baron” lives.
danny said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
hehehe. nice.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:44pm | Report comment
If you dont like the first 15 mintues of Fox sports dont watch it because they depend on ratings and spubscriptions
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
“If you take away Tiger Woods’ visit down under and the fortnight of tennis in January we are left with a pretty baron Australian summer of sport, particularly for those who don’t care for cricket. ”
Cricket is struggling a little due to the absence of big names like Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, when these blokes were running around cricket was huge in Summer like it has been for many decades.
Summer is holiday time and there is usually a TV on somewhere with the cricket on in the background its the perfect sport for a laid back time of year.
The West Indies may not capture the public imgination like back in the day, but next summer its the Ashes and the crowds and interest will come again.
Redb
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
India, England and South Africa are the draw cards now. And I think most people would rather watch Warney or Mcgrath go around again, or even Andrew Symonds than the new generation of M Clarke, B Lee and co who aren’t very likeable.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
have to admit this All Star game has peaked my interest due to the presence of those former greats.
Lazza said | November 19th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Cricket is so popular that they had to put the Ashes on SBS? The ALeague, whatever it’s faults, gets much better crowds than domestic Cricket ever will. We only get crowds of THREE people at Adelaide Oval for some days and yet they spend $90m to upgrade the stadium.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
careful there, domestic cricket has 3 main product offerings (I know which one you’re referring to, BUT….)
correct – everything beats the sheffield shield crowds (which is a sad given the fine standard),
but, the Ford Ranger Cup draws reasonably well (5000-10000) normally and that is on a par with all but MVFC in the HAL,
and the KFC Big Bash T20’s draw very well, generally around 10,000 to 20,000, so, in that MVFC range.
You need to be careful about being TOO selective in your comparisons.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
Cant see the socceroos on SBS
domestic crowds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008-09_KFC_Twenty20_Big_Bash
and these crowds after there is the alternative of hours and hours of international cricket you can watch.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
Cricket last year had the battle for the top team in the world against south Africa.
The year before was the huge international incident that was the tour from India.
The year before the Ashes was the biggest thing in the history of Australian sport after the 1956 and 2000 Olympics. The game is massive, its all right if every 4 years it just has a normal season like every other sport.
Fisher Price said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Meaningless Tests? Pah!
Allen said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
I played cricket for 15 years, yet I really couldn’t give a rats’ about Australia’s test series against West Indies.
All signs point to another summer with a predictable ‘feel good’ 3-Nil series win for Australia with 3 or 4 day tests the norm. Sure it keeps the punters happy, but where is the contest there? Cricket fans would be better off watching state cricket where you actually get a contest.
The 20twenty games will be worth a look since thats what WI’s are good at these days, but we’ll probably only get our mandatory 2 or 3 ‘hit and giggle’ games for the summer, because CA wants to protect its antiquated 50 over product.
Freud of Football said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:50pm | Report comment
Allen, perhaps you should look at the schedule. The Windies are playing 3 tests followed by another 3 tests against Pakistan.
The Windies team is certainly not as strong as in the glory days but they are improving, there are factors off the pitch which are continuing to hinder their improvement but Pakistan, well we don’t really know how they will perform.
Further, CA doesn’t have a vested interest in protecting “its antiquated 50 over product.”, nor does it own the format (which you imply). I’l assume you didn’t watch the recent series against India which was full of some excellent cricket.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
“antiquated 50 over product” does pretty good for itself
http://www.thesportscampus.com/200911132706/the-business-of-sports/indiaaustralia-series-ratings-32-more-than-ipl-2009
“…………India–Australia Series ratings 32% more than IPL 2009
The TV ratings for the recently concluded India-Australia series have dispelled all notions that ODI cricket is on the decline. According to release from Neo Cricket, the channel airing the seres, the ratings from TAM on a CS 4+ audience averaged 5.53 TVRs for 5 ODIs, which is 32% greater than the ratings of IPL 2009. The highest ratings peaked at 20.36 TVRs, which is 55% more than IPL 2009. ………..”
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Cricket is at its best when Australia lose or have just lost a series..this series would have been actually good if the Windies had a bowling line up as their batsman are okay and will create some entertainment
Thats what happens after 15 years of domination
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Is political correctness, concern over sponsors and overt professionalism robbing cricket of its characters?
Andrew Symonds anyone?
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
He was a tad over-rated for test cricket anyways…
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Michael Clarke is a character….I just don’t like his character
K B said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
That’s because he is a poor substitute for a David Beckham…
Gibbo said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
personally i’d take Lara over Victoria…
but i’d settle for either quite happily.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Gibbo……
Lara IS in Victoria,
oh!!!, I see what you were talking about….
still…….wouldn’t mind seeing Lara in Victoria!!!! (oops, x’d the line there!!).
Gibbo said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
you put the idea in my head and now i’m getting no work done for the rest of the afternoon.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Maybe these days, never a great Test player. Still remember his ton with Hayden at the MCG.
perfect for Twenty20, one dayers though. kids love him.
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Oh yeh, one day 20/20 is made for Symonds, but Ponting favourtism gave him more than enough chances in Test but that history now
K B said | November 19th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
“A-League needs to make its summer count”
Yes Redb, did read it thanks — fingers are sore — arthritis in the wrists — geez am I going off topic here…?
maybe I should throw in a Harrow Football vid if you would permit 
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
thread line not article. Don’t waste your dexterity
K B said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
ha, hah Redb !!! But you see that’s where I was; when commenting on your article about Carlton tanking, before BB took a hand and changed the subject, which led to my disgraceful treatment
with my posts being deleted … being accused of going off topic, when it was BB himself that, went off topic… Now that’s not fair is it… ? 
Go and check back and see for yourself…
~~~~~~
KB
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
KB,
I ignored the lot – I dont care about the what is football argument.
Redb
Fisher Price said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
A tad? He’s the most overrated cricketer ever.
As for him being a character; I’d say yob.
vinay verma said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Adrian,towards the end of the article you mentioned the key word..Tradition..this is the goodwill cricket is living on. But this goodwill is not infinite and cannot be taken for granted. As the ethnic mix changes Soccer will build its traditions. Traditions are handed down and have amazing regenerative powers. I believe if Sports Administrators concentrated on the quality of the product and stopped worrying about terretorail rights then their sport will prosper.
There is room ,always,for quality
Gweeds said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
What about tennis? I Iove the Australian Open!
But I agree with the way the A-League hasn’t been advertised much this year. It needs to be because it is not a sport always ‘on the radar’ so it needs the extra exposure.
I wonder whether the FFA is placing all its attention of the World Cup bid and taking its eyes off the ball regarding the A-League.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
It amazes me how you folk commenting tend to miss the points being made and assume it’s saying a certain thing. Tennis is mentioned in the first sentence! And it’s not saying cricket is crap rather that there is little else on – which there is, especially ball sports, and it’s not the most exciting summer of cricket, which even cricket pundits and fans are saying!!
Gweeds said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
True Marshall, my bad. Although I was reacting more to the comments than Adrian’s article.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
That’s cool. I just think commenters need to relax if they don’t agree with the points.
I for one think it’s a pretty straightforward and correct idea. There is little else on and the A-League can be an alternative to cricket for those who don’t like it by really plugging it’s summer fixtures.
Hauptmann Panzerfuuker Ronstermeister said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Well, I thought it was a really good article Adrian, so well done and cheerz for it. These things must be said or they remain un-said.
Gawd, I too just can’t wait for another riveting summer of the utterly irritating sounds of Richie Benaud or Jim Maxwell – or whoever – to pollute the airwaves with the thrilling news that the batsman has blocked 4 deliveries in a row and then stroked the ball through mid-on for a single.
Top stuff!!! Does life get any better than this? Oh yes it does, the bowler ritually returns to his mark 5 times during the over and fielders ritually have a stretch, a scratch and a swat. It’s the sort of thing stuffy old WASPS love. Who’d think a young and vibrant nation such as Australia would be obsessed by such banality? Well, migrants on the whole aren’t – except for the ones from the sub-continent of course.
Personally, I’d like to congratulate Cricket Australia for playing it cautiously and conservatively with T20 and instead subjecting us to the same old offering of test and one day cricket – and all in the name of maintaining tradition. Gawd forbid the hoi polloi and the plebians would be more interested in T20! God spare the memory of W. G.!!
Cricket might draw support from across the nation but here’s the rub – the passion just ain’t there. Football, irrespective of the code, runs deep in the blood of many Australians. At sometime in the 1970’s or 1980’s Oz went from being a football/cricket nation to a football nation.
For most Australians cricket is the TRADITIONAL substitute until the next footy season comes round again. The best TV rating for cricket in recent years was 2.2 million for a T20 match – BUT this was drawing on a market of 21 million – twice the size of the AFL or NRL’s core markets. Imagine ratings for one of the football codes if it controlled all of Australia – 8 million for a GF? However, ’tis all hypothetical.
As for the FFA, they’ve really grabbed the summertime opportunity presented to it with both hands and well and truly f*cked it up. In it’s defence, there is a massive oversupply of football product to compete with: EPL, UCL, WC (Q and F), Serie A, Bundesliga, etc. However, to not have a FTO presence is simply suicidal. A death by a thousand cuts, for sure.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
the previous incumbant…..basketball either did likewise “grabbed the summertime opportunity presented to it with both hands and well and truly f*cked it up”,
or,
summertime for some reason just isn’t the right time.
btw – problem with cricket now too, is, there’s a massive oversupply of ciricket product to compete with (at very least on a relative scale to what there used to be!!!).
Midfielder said | November 19th 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Adrain
Another doom and gloom unless hughly successful… the sky will fall…
Past Hal season indicate a lift in crowds over summer… this summer will be no different..
keeper11 said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
even Uncle Les picked up on the scant football coverage compared to the other winter codes in certain parts of the media ..despite this being in the supposed ‘off’ season ….
as he more or less summized… ” The ‘ Good ‘ol boys’ resistance club of NRL/ AFL/ News-limited is alive and kicking…”
Lazza said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Why does domestic Cricket get so much media coverage when : -
A) There is no-one watching at the ground.
B) There is no-one watching on TV.
Like a lot of sports fans I only watch international Cricket if there is a team worth watching. Currently there are about 4 or 5 countries that I would want to watch. The first test between England and the Windies drew 2500 spectators this year. They were out numbered by the stewards and security staff.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
oh dear….really – still going the conspiracy of silence,
you don’t just walk in overnight and become the biggest thing in town.
Reality in Melbourne (for example) presently is that more people are concerned with who their AFL clubs are trimming from lists, and who will get picked up in the draft. (we need only listen to what people call into SEN to talk about),
perhaps when the HAL is a 2 team town in Melbourne it’ll change??
so, Hypothetical – you are the Hun sports editor: what’s bigger news? MVFC having a leaky defence, or Greece making the World Cup?? You get one on the back page of the ‘HUN’ to sell papers…..which one are you going to run with.
likewise, in Melbourne, what’s bigger news? Hodgey still getting shafted in cricket selection, or some unknown from somewhere not able to get his transfer thru until the next window…….again, seriously decide – what get’s the back page in Melbourne town.
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
um, who really cares…it’s just a Melbourne rag. Oh, but it is News Ltd, isn’t it.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
if you’re going to run with stuff like ” ‘ Good ‘ol boys’ resistance club of NRL/ AFL/ News-limited”
just keep mindful that we don’t all live in Sydney.
At any time, if you compare the sports home page of the Daily Telegraph to the Herald-Sun you will notice that the DT sports page is about 55% NRL whilst the H-S sports page even during the AFL season proper struggles to slot a single AFL thumbnail in, let alone one of the looping photos. (it’s actually gone too far the other way).
The printed product on the street is different.
I’m not sure what market the H-S online sports page is trying to appeal to.
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
H-S online has a market? And has it come down to RL RU ganging up on poor Melbourne AFL? Thought you guys had a pact to torpedo the HAL and the Socceroos? BTW I am not a Sydney sider, nor a NSwelshperson, but I do know that they are bonkers for League. As is Queensland, hence SoO infiltrating sports-mad Victoria. A little of topic, feel free to ignore, but please tell me though why Foxsports have countless off season trades stories for the AFL, and very few RL ones? I think we know there is some substance to my speculations about their “relationship”. Summer is a time for Cricket, Tennis and the A League. Surely AFL and NRL news can scroll on the text feed for now?
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
most the NRL action happens during the season.
The AFL player movement is specifically limited and contained within a known and specific time frame. i.e. trade week.
then the national draft,
the rookie draft
and the pre-season draft.
It’s all the speculation in the middle -the supposed ‘done deals’ etc…..people love to speculate.
It’s the only news really the AFL get’s this time of year. The odd wedding, retirement, and muck up thrown in.
The NFL and NBA drafts are big news too in the US.
Now – whether it was a system designed to function as a system…..or,….designed to manage off season newsworthiness……or a bit of both…who knows.
However – if it involves Carlton or Collingwood – - – don’t got trying to limit that to a text feed.
The Bear said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:05pm | Report comment
Thanks for the reply, Michael. At least you are reasonably transparent about the “news” that gets covered. I do wonder about the worthiness of the AFL (why no NRL tho?) weddings etc that get thrown in. But a text feed just doesn’t do a wedding justice, now does it ; )
True Tah said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
keeper
I think you’ll find that the coverage of European futbol in the Australian media is adequate, and I doubt even a Eurosnob like Les will complain. I find it somewhat ironic that guys like Murray complain about coverage, but whenever I have watched the World Game, their is minimal coverage on the Hyundai A-league.
Maybe because its not European it aint worth talking about??
I guess its always easier to blame others than look at oneself.
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
TT
SBS are much better now they have some vision to do stories on. In previous years it was very hard to do a segment about the A league when you couldn’t show much of it.
Anyway, if Football fans want more coverage they need to show the game deserves it. More bums on seats and more people watching on Fox. Yes it’s a bit chicken and the egg but it’s not media’s job to grow unpopular sports.
Thankfully media is changing and it’s imposible to bury football from those who want to read about it.
Gibbo said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
i think it might have something to do with the HAL being another tv networks (FOX’s) product…
Simmo said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Because there’s resistance you have to work harder for respect. We’ve all identified the things that the FFA and A-League could do better to increase its credibility. “Success”, however defined, is not automatic. It will be earnt the hard way.
M1tch said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
acutally, the FRC gets similar tv ratings to a-league
http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/ASTRA-Ratings-for-Week-091101.pdf
beat a-league by nearly 20k
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
The A League ratings on Foxtel are abysmal.
Lazza said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Perhaps but the highest rating team on Foxtel are the Socceroos. All the international sports in Australia, Football, Rugby and Cricket have problems with their domestic competitions.
The sports that have strong domestic leagues, AFL and NRL, are forever trying to raise their international profiles.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
so how does the A League make summers count?
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Read the article! A-League is a summer sport cause it’s played over summer.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
it’s astounding really, only being gonig 5 years the HAL over summer and it’s got soccer in the Summer Olympics rather than the Winter Olympics……good effort lads!!!!
(yes, I’m being totally facetious)
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Lazza says “All the international sports in Australia, Football, Rugby and Cricket have problems with their domestic competitions”
Brett McKay said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Redb, games live on FTA on Friday nights comes to mind
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Brett,
It would definitely help (as it would basketball, hockey, or any other sport) , but those Foxtel ratings are lower than I expected. When you consider the NRL and AFL ratings are split along geographical lines whereas the A League straddles both camps so to speak, it is a low number.
FTA would help, but even on Foxtel which you assume most keen soccer fans would have to watch EPL,etc it is low.
Redb
Brett McKay said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Redb, I thought the same in research prior to, and discussions following my column this week. We reached the conclusion on Tuesday that T20 would probably do better in that Friday night timeslot on FTA, but I’ll still maintain that which ever sport gets there first will do well..
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Low compared to what though? A-League is still ranking in the top 50, better than all domestic cricket apart from the odd Twenty20. Your just make generalisations.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Ok Marshall, so everythings fine then.
See ya.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Sorry to fire up Redb I just think the leagues doing alright considering where it’s at. Let’s agree to disagree
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
no worries Marshall, passion is good.
I think the A League may have expanded a little early though. It really needs to bed down the teams in cities like Perth, Brisbane, Sydney (Melbourne OK) before adding other teams.
More promotion of core teams, less stretched resources. Did the FFA become panicked by the AFL and other codes expansion plans? Not sure?
Redb
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Probably. Everyones on the expansion train. Or maybe they waited too long – four or whatever was seasons in. Maybe should have started with 10 teams
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
The league was getting stale. If handled correctly (Fury) it has been pretty good for the league (despite their money worries).
GCU though are an example of how not to expand.
I am looking forward to the second Sydney Team for the East vs West rivalry. I really have no idea about how the second Melbourne team will go.
KB said | November 19th 2009 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Oh Bollocks Andyroo,
get off the GCU FC case, it is a good club, and will be proven to be one in the end; being just that… Blame Archie Fraser FFA, for taking away GCU FC first home match at Skilled Stadium, to play it up at Suncorp, which was a slap in the face for the Gold Coast Football community, and still no derby game in sight with the ROAR at Skilled stadium…
Had GCU FC first home match had been played at skilled stadium from the outset, events may have been totally different… The team is running third on the table… We have an excellent marquee player, a current Socceroo, and fine boutique stadium, which is fabulous to watch football from, NRL and Football…
Prices for tix where outrageous, because of the Qld state government bleeding of football clubs, all clubs, same with Titans too, which affected their gates as well, but all is back on track with new vigour…
Judge the club at the end of the season, not at the half way point of the season… GCU FC is in it for the long haul, and I shall be attending all the home fixtures from here on end… This is a first time venture, with a long term plan, with a long way to go, but it will be successful…
~~~~~~~
KB
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Stay strong KB but in regards to the GCU I would love a rewind button. I hope you are right but I am pretty much writing off this year for them to hit 10k apart from on Dec 26.
Hopefully Clive tones it down and they have a good pre season with plenty of good press and next season is like a rebirth.
The Roar are slowly coming good now we have a new coach, $15 tix and now a win…but it takes time KB. Both clubs made massive mistakes with their ticket prices and it’s a slow road back.
The second derby was a non event but Dec 26 should be a good one.
KB said | November 19th 2009 @ 8:53pm | Report comment
Andyroo,
I’m a SFC supporter but the GC is where I live… The crowds are small yes, but the atmosphere can be electric, it was against SFC in their last outing. The merchandise is being snapped up and there is a positive feeling amongst the supporters in the air, all now looks promising… Just give it a season and you will see next year, it shall be something to aspire to on the pitch… As far as Clive is concern, he is good for the club, not everyone’s favourite person, but he’s learning about football culture and how fierce the passion can be, with the right people at the club… The kids are taking to it, you can see that at the “Beach” end… It is growing with more and more of them turning up with the right gear on…
~~~~~
KB
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Setting up BBQ’s and setting up a pool (West Indian cricket style) in the rugby league dead ball area (that Football doesn’t use) for the fans comes to mine.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
dont think the stadium caterers would go for that. But a hit with the fans for sure.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
What are you guys looking at A-League 16th, only beaten by Australian cricket games! Where are te domestic cricket games? Nowhere. You can’t compare Australian cricket games to domestic A-League. Those ratings proves the point of this article – domestic cricket is nowhere.
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Devils advocate:
“number 19 is domestic cricket”
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I missed that sorry but A-League is above it. Comparing Australian cricket internationals to A-League is like comparing Ford Ranger Cup to Socceroos.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
” you take away Tiger Woods’ visit down under and the fortnight of tennis in January we are left with a pretty barren Australian summer of sport, particularly for those who don’t care for cricket. ”
Cricket means International cricket as well.
Marshall said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I was talking about the tv ratings comparison. That statement is in no way wrong. There are people who don’t particularly care for cricket – shock, horror!
Lazza said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Yes Redb and Soccer means International Soccer as well. The Socceroos can get big crowds and TV ratings for the 100th ranked team in the world. Cricket and Rugby would struggle with the 10th ranked team. I’ve never seen the country as excited or passionate about a sporting event as they were during the last World Cup.
Now the revisionists want to forget that ever happened and they pretend Soccer is just the Aleague.
Michael C said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
I thought this article was about the HAL and it’s position in the summer psyche of Australians…….
…..surely the Socceroos have stuff all baring on the the HAL.
Redb said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Who are you calling a revisionist? the author? This is about the A League.
Luke W said | November 19th 2009 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
The Socceroos have a huge influence on the HAL. The HAL was basically built on the Socceroos performance at last year’s WC.
Dave1 said | November 19th 2009 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
This particular week the a-league was beaten by ford ranger games
What’s it going to be like once the big bash starts?
http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/ASTRA-Ratings-for-Week-091025.pdf
AndyRoo said | November 19th 2009 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Ouch, no two ways about it that is a sad drop of about 20k for the HAL.
Art Sapphire said | November 19th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
When using ratings it would be wise to go back 10 months.
There you will find that the KFC Big bash was a Rating winners on Pay TV.
When cricket comes in an easy to swallow 3 hour package. Aussies just lap it up.
http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/ASTRA-Ratings-for-Week-090104.pdf
http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/ASTRA-Ratings-for-Week-090118.pdf
Freud of Football said | November 19th 2009 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
No need Art. There are a few people here who don’t like cricket. They wouldn’t bother looking at any tv ratings or participation numbers because in their minds its a rubbish sport even though a LOT of people don’t agree.
Save the cricket for the cricket section people.
Midfielder said | November 19th 2009 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
How about a little summer rain .. if you old enough to remember a great song .. small changes to words…. Enjoy
Das you will like this song I think…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGoXkWUJ4zY
My love is here by me
She stepped out of a rainbow
She is here by me…
All summer we spent watching Football
And the jute box kept on playing
Mariners Highlights
We sailed into the sunset
Drifted back to Gosford on a Southerly
Never gave a tho for other sports
She wants to live in Summer
She says that is were will find peace
Will get crowds
All summer long we spent watching Football
And the jute box kept on playing
Mariners Highlights
Winter snow North winds blowing
But my love will still burn like thunder
keeper11 said | November 19th 2009 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
A-league is not the sum total of football …..
i know…hard concept to grasp from some of our brothers where the terms NRL and AFL are so omnipotent..
Jayrev said | November 22nd 2009 @ 9:13pm | Report comment
Cricket is one of the most powerful sports in Australia. It pulls HUGE crowds and amazing ratings. The a-league season should be shorter. Previous seasons have proved that attendance and ratings have an abnormaly large slump mid season. a slump is normal in all sports but a-league is far bigger than the others. shorten the season and attendance/ratings will increase. also, i have seen alot of FTA ads for the a-league…still dont care for the sport though. to compete against cricket is has tough as the nrl/afl…when a test match is on.