Socceroos voted Roar Sports Team of the Year

 

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By The Roar, 8 Dec 2009 The Roar is a Roar Pro

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 AFL, football, NRL, Rugby League, Socceroos

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The Socceroos agaist Qatar in their World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha in June. AAP Images

The Socceroos have been voted by you, the readers and contributors of The Roar, as the Australian sporting team of 2009, overcoming strong opposition from AFL frontrunners Geelong and St. Kilda, in the same week as their 2010 World Cup fate was revealed.

It’s been quite a week for the Socceroos.

With the World Cup draw in South Africa placing Australia in the challenging Group C with Germany, Ghana and Serbia, genuine confidence seems to be containing fears that the combined threats of Michael Essien (Ghana), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia), Miroslav Klose (Germany) and co present.

The draw was major news in papers and news reports across the country, highlighting the progress the Socceroos have made since their edge of your seat qualification and World Cup campaign in 2005-06.

They have consolidated the ground gained in that phenomenal run in Germany with back-to-back World Cup qualification.

In all the discussion of our World Cup group stage opponents, the likely make-up of Pim Verbeek’s squad for South Africa and whom he will rely on in the final third to score our goals, it’s easy to forget how the Socceroos breezed through World Cup qualification; conceding only one goal in the final group stage – in Melbourne, against Japan, when World Cup qualification had already been sealed.

It was a consistent run of form in both the World Cup qualification, Asian Cup qualifiers and some high-profile international friendlies; scattered throughout 2009, at all hours of the night, lacking that one culminating moment; quite a contrast from the sensational climax of World Cup qualification last-time round.

This makes their victory in The Roar’s sporting team of the year award, against premiership winners who are at the forefront of the Australian sporting landscape week in, week out, even more impressive; a genuine sign that the great underdogs of Australian sport for so long are building quite a following with their successes, beyond just football fans and into the mainstream.

No longer are they the forgotten siblings of the Wallabies and cricketers. Perhaps they have past them as the premier Australian sporting team, if not, equals.

The Socceroos claimed The Roar’s Australian sporting team of 2009 with 26% of the total vote; defeating AFL premiers Geelong who polled 18% of the votes, who in turn overcame season-long rivals St. Kilda on 13% of the votes.

It was close run battle between the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory – the respective NRL and A-League champions from the Victorian capital – and the Queensland State of Origin team, with the three only separated by 1% of the votes.

It was a close run contest.

To all the teams and their fans that were nominated for the award, congratulations on your successes in 2009, thank you for entertaining us, and good luck in 2010.

For all those who voted in the inaugural awards, thank you.

To the Socceroos, congratulations and good luck in South Africa. You can add The Roar’s sporting team of 2009 crown to your growing list of achievements.

Final results for The Roar’s Australian sporting team of 2009:
Socceroos – Football (26%)
Geelong Cats – AFL (18%)
St. Kilda Saints – AFL (13%)
Queensland State of Origin – League (10%)
Melbourne Storm – NRL (10%)
Melbourne Victory – A-League (9%)
Parramatta Eels – NRL (5%)
Australian Kangaroos – League (4%)
Australian Diamonds – Netball (3%)
Melbourne Vixens – ANZ Netball Championship (2%)

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