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More than 25,000 people turned up to watch Sydney FC take on Melbourne Victory and again the A-League roared to its finale. Fan passion poured down from the stands. Who said Australian sporting crowds don’t sing?
The Cove and their Melbourne counterparts were fantastic.
Even the stands were rocking as the normally more sedate spectators got dragged into the whole occasion. This was Australian sporting passion to match the best in the world.
There was colour and passion in abundance, and Melbourne fans cheered until the end, despite the fact a defeat seemed inevitable almost the moment Nicky Ward missed an easy chance in the first minute.
And for this football fan, Sydney FC’s win was crucial: for all the blue noses, for the FFA, and I’d argue, for every football fan in the country.
Yes, even those travelling supporters from Melbourne. Although they may not know it yet!
Every league across the world is dominated by teams from its biggest cities. Think Glasgow, London, Manchester, Buenos Aires, and Madrid.
In Australia, for our league to grow, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth need to succeed. And often. Only Melbourne have obliged to date.
On Sunday, Sydney won.
On Monday, The Sydney Morning Herald Sport’s section could have lead with the Waratahs’ opening Super 14 win over their rivals from Queensland, or a huge splash on the Black Vs White Rugby League match. Or even the Australian cricket team’s convincing destruction of the West Indies.
It chose football, a picture of John Aloisi, and the words “Ticket to Asia.”
The Sydney Vs Melbourne rivalry continues to build. Positively, mostly, although the edge is already there. I guess you have to live in Glasgow, Sydney, Melbourne, Liverpool or Manchester to really understand this tension.
The A-League, despite its crowd figures (still a healthy 10,000 average) and financial issues, continues to build. It may take another five years, even ten, to get the Sydney derbies and Melbourne derbies rivalling yesterday’s passion and tension on a regular basis.
But on yesterday’s showing, football in Australia continues to rise.
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