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I like the idea of the A-League All Stars. From the fan involvement in choosing the players, to the fact the very best of the A-League get a chance to play together.
I’m intrigued at the prospect of Alessandro Del Piero and Besart Berisha being on the same side, and matching it this weekend with Italian giants Juventus.
There are, I realise, some inherent difficulties with the All Star idea. It is hard to galvanise local support for a side that exists simply to play an exhibition game.
Especially when it’s early in the local pre-season, and against an opposition likely to beat them comfortably – like Manchester United did in the concept’s inaugural instalment.
This then leads to a muted atmosphere at the game itself and the expectation of a one-sided affair.
The first run of the All Stars was blighted by a raft of late withdrawals from the local clubs for various reasons, some valid, many not, which made that game more of a Some Stars versus Manchester United game.
This time around, FFA have insisted clubs treat the game as its highest priority, which would be fair enough except for that other event capturing the public’s imagination at the moment, a cup with FFA’s initials on it.
Last year the All Star game suffered by comparison with the spine-tingling atmosphere generated by 98,000 fans at the MCG to witness Liverpool versus Melbourne Victory, and that oft-repeated rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which gives me chills just typing this.
To write the All Star game off as a failure, however, is premature.
Juventus do not possess the glamour of Manchester United, even though they arguably have greater star power in Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal et al. Written into this game is the subtext of Alessandro Del Piero, the Juventus legend and the biggest of all the A-League All Stars.
Del Piero is a man who has helped transform the league into the vibrant competition it has become. If anything, the Del Piero factor has not been played up nearly enough, and it’s almost sacrilegious to run down the All Star line up and realise that Alessandro Del Piero is the only one not contracted to a club.
I think there is an idea that could help the concept work. If possible, contract the visiting European team, whoever it may be, to play two games. One is against the All Stars, the other against the reigning A-League champions. Whichever city the A-League champions emanate from, make sure the All Star game is not in that city.
It would help the All Star concept grow but gives the reigning champions a carrot as well.
For those casting a worrying glance at the possible crowd figure for the Juventus game, don’t be too worried. In 1984, Juventus toured Australia along with Manchester United, Glasgow Rangers and Greek club Iraklis.
Juventus played two high-profile games against a full strength Socceroos squad, drawing 30,000 in Melbourne and 16,000 in Sydney. The first game ended 1-1 and Australia beat the Italian giants 2-0 in Sydney.
There’s little doubt that Sunday’s game will draw more than the combined crowds for those two matches 30 years ago, which is a pretty nice marker for how far the local game has come in that time. To be able to draw an expected crowd of more than 60,000, for what is in essence an exhibition, is a healthy indicator that the game has appeal and potential to build on.
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