Expansion. Like Facebook, iPhones and a fascination with Lady Gaga that I just can’t quite grasp, the world is obsessed with expansion. This is no more prevalent than in our domestic football competition, the A-League.
Since expanding to ten and then subsequently eleven teams recently, the FFA and the masses of football fanatics in Australia are fixated on growing the A-League by inserting more teams into untapped areas.
Areas like Canberra, Tasmania, Western Sydney and many other regions have been suggested as potential expansion hot spots. Many people believe the solution to the A-League’s woes is growing the competition to a staggering 16 team two-tiered competition with promotion and relegation.
But has anyone actually stopped and asked, why the passion for expansion?
A-League crowd figures are dropping. Clubs are losing money like it’s going out of fashion. Even the recently crowned Premiers and new A-League trendsetters, Brisbane Roar, are losing huge amounts of money and had to be bailed out with a cash injection of $1.5 million from Football Federation Australia.
The standard of the A-League is as good as it’s been in its (admittedly short) history.
Teams like the aforementioned Roar, Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners have revolutionised football in Australia with smart implementation of the import rule, the promotion of hungry and talented youngsters, and a style of football that while attractive to the eye has also has brought plenty of success.
So if, as a majority of football fans have suggested, expansion is the way forward, what will happen to the A-League?
There is no question that a dilution of talent would occur. If two new teams were added, around 50 extra players would need to be found. While some would be imported, some would be poached and some would come from state leagues, there simply is not the talent to facilitate this.
This is why the argument for consolidation should not be ignored or shunned like it came from the mouth of a Middle Eastern dictator. The impending demise of the North Queensland Fury will not be a terrible thing for Australian football.
While losing the team from the area is not ideal, the Fury have barely been competitive in their two seasons in the A-League, and with no realistic solution to their funding woes, their departure is not the death knell for Australian football in North Queensland as many commentators would make out.
Many of those footballers with talent would be picked up by the other ten A-League sides, strengthening the A-League and providing an even better product for the Australian public. Funds and focus can then be directed towards the other ten remaining sides in the A-League.
So let’s not view expansion as a magical saviour and only way to solve the A-League’s problems. Consolidation is not a dirty word, and the focus of the FFA should be on improving marketing, crowd numbers and participation throughout Australia.
Football has come a long way since the first ball was kicked in the A-League some six years ago.
Let’s focus on growing the brand, and making an even bigger impression on Australia and the world stage.
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