A-League needs to make its summer count
Columnist
By Adrian Musolino, 19 Nov 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
120 Have your say
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.