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After the best season on record - and the greatest game yet - it's time to get behind the A-League

27th April, 2016
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The Western Sydney Wanderers are pretty happy about making it to the grand final. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Roar Rookie
27th April, 2016
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The round-ball code is somewhat neglected in Australia, and with the English Premier League so easily accessible (for now), many are prepared to disregard the A-League as not worth watching.

Granted, the league does have some issues, the major one being the lack of free-to-air coverage it currently receives.

With one game shown on SBS2 each Friday night, the A-League is hardly a primetime, mainstream FTA fixture.

This is in direct contrast to the Big Bash League, which has seen its success boom on the back of outstanding Channel Ten production and the timing of the completion, which is in the middle of the sporting graveyard of the summer months.

This leads to the second major issue with the A-League, the timing of the season. Is it too long? Is it too short? When should it be played?

From a personal perspective, the A-League season should start in October and end in mid-March. Currently, the code is fighting too many other codes, and the quality of the league is getting caught in the Australian sporting shuffle.

This is the greatest shame of the A-League’s 11th edition, not enough people know how good the league has been this season. The lack of marquee power has been bemoaned by many, but while their names might not be as big as others, the likes of Bruno Fornaroli, Aaron Mooy and Diego Castro have lit up the A-League this season.

Fornaroli, in particular, has had an unprecedented season. Finding the net 23 times during the regular season, and scoring two sumptuous goals in an elimination final defeat of Perth Glory, Fornaroli proved that the A-League doesn’t need Alessandro Del Piero for the spectator to witness individual brilliance.

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The season itself has been pure madness. The Leicester City script has been remarkable in England, but the A-League has matched it for drama.

With a few weeks to go, seven of the ten teams considered themselves genuine chances to win the title, such the evenness of the salary-capped league.

The minor premiers, Adelaide United, were bottom after five weeks and winless before Round 9. They then embarked on an unprecedented 14-week turnaround, which saw them climb to the top of the ladder under the guidance of Guillermo Amor, a former Barcelona legend who lists Pep Guardiola as one of his closest friends. Is that the star power the league is looking for?

The regular season was madness, but the finals have been absolutely bonkers. The finals opened with defending champions Melbourne Victory travelling to Brisbane Roar. Led by ex-Roar striker Besart Berisha, Victory took a late lead, before Brisbane scored two goals in the final five minutes, sparking memories of their famous grand final wins under Ange Postecoglou. Meanwhile, emerging powerhouse Melbourne City secured a first A-League finals victory over Perth Glory.

However, it was semi-final weekend where the excitement levels went through the roof. In its own right, Adelaide’s 4-1 win over Melbourne City was a classic contest, but it was the second semi-final, between Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar, that stole the spotlight.

It was possibly the greatest A-League game of all time.

Brisbane had a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes, as fans north of Tweed Heads frantically scoured for flights to Adelaide to see their team play in the grand final. However the Wanderers got a quick response and were able to get to 3-2 just before halftime.

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The equaliser came after 53 minutes, and on 59 minutes the Wanderers were ahead 4-3. All of a sudden Brisbane were on the ropes.

In the 81st minute, the match took another twist, when Brisbane scored an equaliser. With the game moving into extra-time, the spectre of penalties loomed large, until Roar academy product Dario Vidosic popped up to score the ninth and ultimately deciding goal of the contest, sending Western Sydney to a third grand final.

Adelaide United and Western Sydney have both lost two grand finals in their history, meaning that one team is going to break their premiership drought. Between them they scored nine goals on semi-final weekend, showcasing their attacking abilities. Playing in front of a packed crowd at the Adelaide Oval, the atmosphere at 4pm next Sunday will be electric in a game that may just be the greatest grand final ever played.

The A-League has had its ups and downs, but crowds are increasing, as is the quality. Coupled with Postecoglou’s belief in the league and willingness to select players plying their trade in Australia, there is no reason the league can’t become the summer night staple the Australian sporting calendar is crying out for.

The majority have a Premier League team, so why not give the local A-League a shot? You could do worse than starting this Sunday.

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