Sydney FC won the title, Melbourne won the true game
Roar Rookie
By The Fun Cool Man, 22 Mar 2010 The Fun Cool Man is a Roar Rookie
101 Have your say
Many of you will read the above title and think “what is this author saying?” It’s OK guys, I’ll explain it to you.
Sitting inside Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, an amazing sensation came over me. Whilst it took 80 minutes to happen, the “sensation” bit me quicker than you could say “Archie Thompson ACL Joint”.
The sensation, as one may put it, was the absolute roar and thunder of the crowd inside the stadium willing (mainly) Melbourne on to a second goal during normal time.
Now I’ve been to a few football matches overseas in my time but, for sheer intensity and willpower, nothing matched that magical 10 minutes inside Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. The stadium heaved with noise and colour, it was a unique and special experience to be a part of.
The problem with Australian grand finals, of any code, is the large element of “bandwagon” support they receive. Whilst many in the stadium may not be Victory home-game devotees, let me tell you that, after the 80 minute mark when the home team scored, they found their voice and enthusiasm for the game.
Australian soccer is still in its early redevelopment stages. Whilst triumphs like Sydney’s Premiership/Championship double are good, the importance of developing a fan culture, and unique Australian “football game day atmosphere”, cannot be ignored.
In summary, whilst Sydney won the official trophy on offer on Saturday night, I can’t help but think that Melbourne may have won the long term “war” of being the key developer and innovator of football game day culture in Australia.
I’m sure the other 44,595 spectators in the crowd, besides yours truly, would find it hard to argue with that.
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Midfielder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:02am | Report comment
You may have a point but to say it is unique to MV .. HHHHHMMMMmmmmm … no me thinks it is more a football thing…. YF in NZ could lay claim to the same thing … the Cove not half bad either…
I can recall going to Northern Spirit games … very similar… MV like YF have expanded from the Home End to the greater crowd … but so do others as well at times…
However take nothing away from the MV fans … they did a great job ….
Roo Star said | March 22nd 2010 @ 6:30am | Report comment
Melbourne has the best fans by far!! Midfielder, the author is not talking about the organised support behind the goals. He is talking about the general supporter who turns up and sits for most of the match. Melbourne’s “inactive” support is the most “active” of any club in the A-League by far. The North-West-South-East chant is another example of how Melbourne crowds can unite around all parts of the stadium. In Sydney, it is just the couple of thousand behind the goals.
The Fun Cool Man said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
That’s correct Roo Star, I was referring to the WHOLE crowd, not just the ‘official’ supporter groups.
As a collective on Saturday night, I’ve never heard anything to rival it. Australia vs Uruguay in 2005 was good, but maybe because Etihad is a more compact stadium that ANZ, did the noise and colour reverberate like nothing I’ve seen before.
Was a magical, awe-inspriring place to be at and be a part of.
punter said | March 22nd 2010 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
I wasn’t there at the game but this probably explained why Sydney were so rattled in the last 10 minutes, we were definatley hanging on.
This is all good for the A-League creating that huge home crowd advantage.
The 2nd semi in Sydney was also huge, the atmopshere, the game the tension, the ebb & flow of the fans emotion. The Cove was going off (i don’t sit in the cove, but I looked around & saw the other bays were also all in full swing (these same bays were empty unfortunately for the Wellington match). It was the best atmospheric game I have attended for the last 3-4 years of following the sport (since the WC).
agga78 said | March 22nd 2010 @ 7:36am | Report comment
The last 10 minutes of normal time was like an Old firm game, having been to Ibrox to watch Celtic play Rangers, the absolute insane support for Melbourne in last 10 minutes was probably something never heard in this country before at any sporting event, the offsiders yesterday put it beautifully by saying the crowd were in a frenzy and they had heard nothing like it before in there life time as a sporting commentator, and these two guys were both AFL men you have seen 100k people at games.
AGO74 said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:15am | Report comment
Good on Melbourne for making such a fantastic atmosphere. I wasn’t there so I can only take your word for it but as for the implication that it is unique to Melbourne football supporters, obviously most of you guys weren’t at the Australia v Uruguay match. Nothing in all of my experience at English and Spanish domestic league or Champions League matches has even came close to that night at Homebush. The point is that it is not a Melbourne thing, it is a football thing. I also love NRL and have been to a few AFL matches but both of those codes supporters are generally ‘inactive’ in comparison to A-League or football in general. For the record when watching the game, a lot of the songs I could hear being sung were from the 2,500 Sydney fans.
Art Sapphire said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:53am | Report comment
AGO74 – I was at the Uruguay game. That night at Homebush will never be equalled in terms of pre-game, gametime and post game atmosphere.
But this was special in regards to getting a domestic team over the line with 10 minutes of sustained support. I have heard nothing like it in terms of Australian club football. The 2500 Sydney fans added greatly to the atmosphere but having been to the game and watched the replay you can blame foxtel for miking up the Sydney away fans.
Both active sets were as loud as each other and did a marvellous job. Its when the rest of the Melbourne fans decided to get stuck in in the last 10 minutes did it become a crescendo as Ghost alludes to so well in the post below.
Axel V said | March 23rd 2010 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Actually Art, i dsiagree in terms of the active fans.
I thought that the Sydney active fans were more organised and had louder bursts of chanting, but they didn’t chant anywhere near as frequently as the Melbourne fans throughout the game. Also lets not forget that the cove have been using alot of football chants that Melbourne have brought in from oversea’s
One thing that i thought was disapointing was some families that have never been to a game the whole year, incorrectly sitting in the active home section. Many part time NT and SE active supporters missed out due to not being members.
I’m quite young and i’ve been to approximately 50 (20 victory) major sporting events over the years, i was wow’d at the levels of intensity in the stadium and EVERYONE getting involved,I have never seen anything close to this, I couldn’t help but suspect that the NT and SE members that missed out were at the forefront urging the casual fans to lift our boys! What a moment.
MELBOURNE MELBOURNE MELBOURNE!
Still shattered about the result and I think I will never get over this, my passion for Melbourne has only run deeper.
Art Sapphire said | March 23rd 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Axel V – Maybe these part time active supporters should just pay up and become members if that is the case. Then they can’t complain about missing out on a ticket. The bays either side of the BWB were pretty much empty during the season. With the seats in rectangle mode the best seats for $50 were behind the goals. You can now see why some non-active members bought ticket for that area. The good thing was that they got involved in the last 10 minutes.
I agree the Sydney chants were more focused and they did a great job. That will always be the case with away support. Only the most passionate supporters travel. The good news is non-active fans will feel more able to participate at the new stadium as they will be closer to the action. They already like doing the north-east- south- west end chants and that will sound great at the new stadium.
Axel V said | March 23rd 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Agreed, they they’ve no-one to blame but themselves, but I still can’t help but feel it’s unfair for them.
Ghost said | March 22nd 2010 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Was a Sydney guy in the crowd and I have to say I agree with you others on that last 10 minutes. The way Melbourne pushed with all those set pieces and the way the crowd lifted with them was amazing. I have not seen so much collective willpower ever in my sporting life. Thank god we survived that period – every second until the final whistle, signalling a break in momentum as the game went to extra time, seemed like an eternity. More generally I can’t believe all those journos that said this game didn’t ‘rise up’ at all as a grand final. It wasnot a pretty game, but the even-ness and intensity and tension was everything we could possiby hope for.
Art Sapphire said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Slowly but surely football spectating in this country is evolving and Melbourne is leading the way. But you need events that signpost this progress. We witnessed such a moment on Saturday night in Melbourne. That invisible barrier between passively spectating and actively participating was well and truly shattered.
Victory might not have scored the winner in those last 10 magic manic minutes of normal time but when we walked out of the stadium on Saturday, it was not with the usual disappointment that follows such a bitter defeat. We walked out collectively knowing that we can recreate those 10 special minutes over and over again next season.
Bring on next season and the new rectangle stadium, the A-League football experience will be taken to another level next year in Melbourne and that is worth more than missing out on a trophy.
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Pity the Melb Victory supporters didn’t stay for the handing over of the Toilet Seat.
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AF
Towser said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:20am | Report comment
MV is the benchmark for spectator support in the A-League as witnessed during the frenzied last 10 minutes of normal time.
Guess the key is that theres more of those “real club fans” supporting them than at other clubs.
That to me is the major difference,numbers.
Art Sapphire has hit the nail on the head. Bring on next season. Although not a fan of either club,revenge is sweeter after such a bitter defeat.
ren said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Yes.. MV won on the day… lol
Slowly crowds are realizing that they are encouraged to take a more vocal and active angle to their support, and MV like supporters at every other A-League club are trying to demonstrate and encourage this at every opportunity. The difference as described above is sheer numbers and for that MV deserve some kudos.
I don’t know exactly why football over all other sports seems to generate the most volume and passion in it’s support, perhaps its because of the emotion tied to the low scoring?
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 9:56am | Report comment
GCU FC have their first piece of silverware––courtesy of our national youth team. We are building up here as well––we will be bigger and stronger for next season as well.
Midfielder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:47am | Report comment
AF
How is Fat Tony going …. cong’s on the youth title…
See that the other blue team …gave you the blues … sorry could not help myself…
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:58am | Report comment
yes we made short work of your junior Chop-Chop-Mongrels on the way through. How is dopey ZZZZ McKinna doing at his desk asleep no doubt.? lol
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Midfielder,
This bit off topic but where is Jesse Fink? has he quit the roar.. ?
Attention: the Roar moderators where is Jesse Fink?
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AF
Zac Zavos said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Hi AF- Yes, The Roar and Jesse have parted ways.
Roger said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
I think that’s probably for the best. Jesse was a bit of a ‘glass half empty’ man.
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
That’s a damn shame—offer him more money—we “Football Posters” need him back..
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AF
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
I agree with Roger, he is a great writer but it seemed like he wasn’t watching any football.
He wrote an article calling for Dave Williams to be taken to South Africa!
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
I didn’t see that article – that’s unbelievable if that’s true.
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
AndyRoo,
Jesse also wrote some very good articles on Pimbo’s dislike for Jogo Benito.. Jesse also called for the sacking of Holman and the disgraceful treatment of our Nicky Carle, and David Williams should go as did Kaz Platasta (sp) under Hiddink—geez what more do you want.?
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
To be fair to Jesse though soon after that he got on the field against Indonesia…. which I thought was pretty incredible since he has about 3 A league goals to his name from 23 appearances.
Art Sapphire said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
He’s probably busy ghost writing Carle’s auto-biography
Midfielder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Sad in some ways … opens the door for others…
Zac … you guys play an important role… still considered by many a RU site, however that is slowly changing … need to be careful of the charge of the paid posters but that is a whole other story…
But the traditional media from the preseason has been hitting very hard the NRL & AFL line… all other sport is suffering even cricket & RU are struggling to keep in the media… Football well huge issues with getting seen and reasonable coverage…
The Roar to it’s great credit does not play favorites and at least here football controls its own media…
So Zac keep it up …
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Some bloke on another thread reckons the Roar is soccer site!!
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Midfielder
If it means more time for Tony and Nick then I think it’s a good change. Fink has a massive body of work and gigs elsewhere so he will be alright.
Some of the old guard of football journalism (Gatt comes to mind) are better at writing about issues rather than the football so I really enjoy the fresh blood and it brings more balance.
Thankyou Roar for TonyT, a football writer that wrote about football instead of giving us the 1,000,000 th article about crowds (good and bad) in the span of just 5 years.
@AF
We have different views on Holman so I won’t go there, I don’t consider his Holman bashing as constructive.
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Was it Gatt who got stuck into Rugby League about six months ago?
James said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
@AndyRoo, who is Nick? Do you mean Mike? I think football is covered well here. Tony gives us the football analysis of the football, Adrian looks at the game from the big picture perspective (and I think the articles about crowds are important), Mike (Nick
) tackles the issues too with a good Asian perspective and Davidde gives us the world perspective.
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
AndyRoo,
bashing David Williams is OK but an incompetent Holman is not.. Williams is a fine indigenous talent that should be encouraged for further exposure with the national team. Under Hiddink Kaz and Milligan were taken over to Germany to learn not to be selected in the starting XI. David Williams for the Fury was an inspirational young player for the Fury and finished his season magnificently.
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
He wasn’t arguing for a training spot, one for the 23.
I suspect we will be taking 3 proper strikers and Kewell as the 4th, there is no place for an unproven talent, which is what Nicky Carle was as well until he started to get regular club time.
Holman is great off the ball (the majority of the game you play without the ball) and has good stats. He has played Champions League football and yes he spurns chances, but they wouldn’t necessarily eventuate with a slower less athletic player or someone without the same football vision for space.
He is something different from our older attacking midfielders and while not Ronaldo will be valuable for some encounters and various stages. He always puts in for the Roos and doesn’t deserve the bad treatment.
Frustrating to watch though
Australian Football said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
AndRoo,
I think you are wrong—Williams is only 22yrs old and would only be a fringe player—so Jesse saw in him an option for pace. We know that Pim only starts with one striker—even Jesse would concede that fact and we anti Pimbo advocates have been lamenting for years on his pragmatic style. Jesse was just offering up alternatives that’s how I read his comments thinking outside the square.
Holman has proven to be a waste of space—a complete failure and his club was not worthy of UCL spot like a number of smaller clubs who enter and out the door in the first round.
Cpaaa 2018 said | March 23rd 2010 @ 5:45am | Report comment
I joined this site because i followed Fink from Fox. Even though the great HTO has now found his way home to the Mecca of Australian Football, SBS. This site still remains as one of my favs with some quality football writers coming through.
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
@James
Who I meant was actually Con Stamocostas. I have a mate with a very similar last name and for some reasons I got their first names mixed up sorry.
I think Con is taking a break from blogging (at least on 442) though. I would have liked him to fill the void of Jesse but Mike Tuckerman has been a good get too. I know he’s been at the roar for a while but now that he’s back in OZ it does make a (positive) difference.
The Roar does have a good balance though, and it puts the traditional media to shame (especially news limited) which often have one football writer who writes issues and their match reports come from AAP or such.
Zac Zavos said | March 23rd 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Thanks Andy.
Whatever you think of some of their articles, Jesse, or any of our current columnists, must be applauded for their ability to consistently write interesting content. And for putting their ideas out there for public analysis. It’s not easy!
dasilva said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:02am | Report comment
“I don’t know exactly why football over all other sports seems to generate the most volume and passion in it’s support, perhaps its because of the emotion tied to the low scoring”
Absolutely
The low scoring nature of Football means that every single goal that is scored is absolutely vital to the contest and can kill of your team. Therefore everytime an attacking move is made, you feel excitement that this could result to a critical goal for your team, every time the opposition is in your half, you feel tension that this could kill off your team.
I feel the heart of football is essentially the tensions and emotion that results from the low scoring nature.
Of course the flip side is that every referee mistakes that result in a goal or stopped a goal is absolutely critical as well but that’s another topic
In any case the low scoring nature of the game is the game biggest strength and it’s biggest weakness (but overall I think the strength well and truly compensate the weakness)
Midfielder said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Das
Well said and may I add to your post…. most understand the rules and can see the angles and play being made and urge players to recover go left or right etc… it’s like you are part of the game…
In RL you would never consider screaming to a player go wide or an instruction on what to do… but in football it is common for a fan to scream out what to do … yes we get very involved in games… we are part of it…
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
“In RL you would never consider screaming to a player go wide…”
Is that true? I’m not so sure – I reckon in any game the spectators can get equally involved and shout out all sorts of stuff, e.g. hold on to it, hold on to it, HOLD ON TO IT!!!!!
MyGeneration said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Have to agree with Dogs. I think that’s a pretty silly comment, Midfielder. All kinds of (in vain) instructions to players can apply to RL as well. Not to mention “Get ‘em ONSIDE, ref!”
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
In fact, there’s no end of gratuitous advice that can be shouted out at the Refs!!
e,g. get your eye sight checked!!
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Hats off to the AFL for doing the deal with OPSM. Will save them a lot of money while the other codes have to pay for weekly checks
AndyRoo said | March 22nd 2010 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Mid their are plenty of oppurtunities for “educating” your players, the referee and the opponents what their doing wrong
If you ever find yourself watching and supporting (since their often the underdog and throw the ball arround) the Warriors then whenever they are in their own half you will find yourself like Dogz saying “hold it, hold it, HOLD ON TO IT!!!!!”…. always in vain
In fact I think I use “go left ffs” more at the league than in football because I have a little bit more time (while their playing the ball) to notice the lack of defence. In football by the time I get the chance to “educate” with my opinions the balls over the sideline or been lost.
At that point it’s time to “educate” whoever lost the ball on where they sit in my world wide ranking of players.
From a league perspective Matt Johns once said the best place to watch a game is from behind the goals.
punter said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:03am | Report comment
I’m a SFC fan & I hate MV. Fullstop.
Part of it is because of the Sydney – Melbourne rivalry.
Part of it is because of that thug Muscat
Part of it is because of the cockiness of the Melbourne players & fans.
But I admit part of it & a big part is envy, they are the benchmark of the A-League, their crowds, their recruiting, their stablibity, their adminstration & even I was thinking during the game why don’t we have a player as crafty as Muscat, not his thugish behaviour. Well done MV, that is why victory over you this year was so sweet. MV is the big success in the A-League.
We are getting to where you were 2-3 years ago, watch us grow, watch our rivalry grow.
Shodan said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:41am | Report comment
What’s this? was there was a game of soccor on during the weekend?
Ben of Phnom Penh said | March 22nd 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
and thus the high tide mark of his intellectual wit was reached
Ben of Phnom Penh said | March 22nd 2010 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I agree, TFCM, that Melbourne has indeed set something of a benchmark for crowd participation. Some other cities have also done well in galvanising the supporter base, notably Adelaide, Wellington and Central Coast. Also I think Perth may have turned a corner which is great.
I must admit though, the first Melbourne derby is going to test the system. Certainly there is going to be some noise.
Dogz R Barkn said | March 22nd 2010 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
The second Melbourne team might be a twin edged sword.
The SFC/Victory rivalry might dampen as a result.
ren said | March 22nd 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
For me it used to be based around a few key players:
Muscat: At last, you know what it means to hate. Now you’re ready to be a king.
Me: My hate will die with you.
But now, the hate has seeped into every facet of MVFC, coaches, staff, stadium, supporters. There is a healthy dose of respect for their enviable successes but it is easily outweighed by distaste.
As for Melbourne Heart, is the enemy of my enemy my friend? There will be alot of hate for Rovers too and I have a hunch some of the effnic feelings will start to creep back into the league when those 2 boats provide vessels for those that harbour resentment towards SFC and MVFC. It will be interesting to see where the vitriol appears in those battles, but I will always hate MVFC, just a matter of whether SFC fans in years to come will keep that going, i guess it comes down to education.