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After years of being seen as the B-league in the eyes of world football, our A-League is slowly but surely shredding such stigma and living up to its name.
A name, that although pertaining to the main country of the league, sparks inevitable scrutiny of its class.
Seen by many as the lesser cousin of football leagues throughout the world, the A-League has long battled with a label of mediocrity both here and abroad. It was after writing my last article on the EPL, that I was forced to reassess my own stance on the A-League.
As a fan of the Premier League, I fell into the trap of belittling the A-League in expressing my passion for the EPL. A mistake many readers were quick to criticise, and rightly so.
Too long shrouded in the shadow of other football leagues around the world, the A-League is finally growing, and in more ways than one. Admittedly disadvantaged as a result of its short history, lack of funding and location; the A-League is quickly beginning to shine from the shadows it’s been long lost in.
In the 2013-14 season there was some impressive growth in terms of crowd numbers, TV viewers and general acknowledgement within Australian society. With an average A-League crowd of 13,000 and four games surpassing the 40,000 mark, the popularity of the A-League is undeniably growing and this in turn, is creating some truly stellar atmospheres. Both Melbourne and Sydney derbies are consistently creating some impressive atmospheres that in being so raucous are highlighting the passion the Australian game is evoking.
In terms of TV viewership, growth has inevitably come with SBS ensuring free-to-air coverage of all Friday night matches, a deal worth a respectable $160 million. According to the head of A-League Damien De Bohun, the A-League is now shown in a whopping 154 countries with the 2013-14 grand final earning a global audience of 250 million.
Coinciding with this supposed global growth, the A-League has earned greater prominence on its own shores with the exploits (both good and bad) of the RBB ensuring the league is becoming an increasingly engrained part of Australian sporting culture.
As opposed to popularity of the A-League, its quality may not be growing quite so fast, but progress is being made. Obviously marquee signings of the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono and this season Damien Duff and David Villa (on a 10-game stint) have contributed to a gradual growth in quality for the A-League.
Such signings bring the league a class, attention and experience akin to no other. But that’s not to say our local Australian’s aren’t capable of putting in quality performances as well.
Consistently our A-League players are putting in such quality performances that they draw the attention of other footballing leagues; a doubled edged sword if i’ve ever seen one!
Often the A-League is bringing through quality Australian players much like Matt Ryan and Tom Rogic, only to see them depart for bigger and better clubs overseas. Is the A-League not good enough? Why is it just a stepping stone for young footballers and a final pit stop for the older ones?
Whether it be because of money, level of competition or opportunities available, such a pattern for the A-League must eventually change for if not, it may forever remain a B-league for many.
I say ‘for many’ as the A-League for quite a few, has already earned it’s ‘A’. Providing Australians with accessible and regionally relevant football, some now favour it above all other leagues. This is a great thing for the A-League as it is ensuring passionate fans are busy converting those unaware of it’s attraction while also ensuring football fans (myself included) are reminded not to under-rate the league.
Returning to the debate on the quality of the A-League, the Western Sydney Wanderer’s recent AFC quarter-final first leg 1-0 win over Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday night is an encouraging sign that our teams are capable of matching it with the world’s best. Evergrande finished fourth at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013, missing out on the final after losing 3-0 to eventual winners Bayern Munich; three goals mind you, that came in a ten minute period.
Regularly over the past seasons our A-League teams have been playing with rapidly improving skill, team cohesion and finesse. Some of the goals scored are more than worthy rivals to any scored in the EPL or Bundesliga. Often though our A-League players show moments of brilliance only to push it one step to far and make us question just whether we’re watching a professional game of football.
The Wanderers on Wednesday night for example had some incredible touches, only for the next touch or pass to discredit all the good work done. Mark Bridge and Shannon Cole to players that showed fantastic first touches but not so convincing second and third ones.
Much like Bridge and Cole, the A-League is showing some promising signs and although prone to the occasional stumble during an over-zealous set-play, are earning their ‘A’ in the hearts and minds of many; even if it’s involved a prolonged climb up the alphabetical ladder.
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