Brisbane Roar have announced plans to allow SBS to film their controversial series Struggle Street at the club.
The first series was derided by many as being “poverty porn” and exposing disadvantaged people to ridicule in a patronising manner.
In a move that may prove divisive among the club’s supporters, Brisbane’s board will grant unrestricted access to all areas of the A-League club, from the dressing rooms to the boardroom.
A club spokesperson speaking anonymously said, “The Australian media love a story of hardship, tales of people down on their luck and that is what we are trying to give them. We are looking to sign a deal with SBS to allow filming for the new series of Struggle Street to take place at the club.
“If you look at the way the public raised $60,000 for a man without a toaster then what will they donate to a club with nothing to its name but a few quality footballers?
“What could be more emotionally evocative than seeing John Aloisi and Craig Moore trying to find a few dollars under the couch in an attempt to retain their playing squad?
“Or watching Thomas Broich busking in Queen Street mall to raise funds to keep James Donachie in hair ties?”
“The truly heartbreaking sight of Ross Aloisi trying to rent out the training cones to a traffic management company will move even the most hardened of viewers to tears. If we don’t win a Logie for it I will be very surprised.”
The move is not just a public begging letter. In a sports market dominated by the omnipresent Brisbane Broncos, getting media attention is problematic for the city’s other teams.
“We looked to Europe, to England specifically. Look at what the Oyston family have achieved at Blackpool, on the field they have been poor but their media recognition is through the roof. Leeds United have stumbled blindly from one crisis to the next, do you remember their last result?
“Of course you don’t but the fan protests and the negative press for the owners? Everybody knows of these things. This is the template we intend to follow at the Roar. Not just to engage with our supporters through increased social media mentions (the Bakrie name seems to trend regularly) but also with the mainstream media as more articles are produced focusing on our uncertain future.
“Bad news, mismanagement and uncertainty will have a bigger media footprint than all the efforts of the coach and players. A successful season, against the odds, on the pitch has made us confident of a successful off season off it.”
“It is with these innovative measures that we intend to keep the club in the spotlight when all the Queensland public want to read are Wally Lewis’ thoughts on the catering arrangements in the away dressing room in the lead up to Origin 1.”
A Queensland government spokesperson expressed shock at the move.
“We have an A-League side, really? Well there you go! I never realised. I know there used to be an AFL side here at the start of the century but that news has really surprised me. Well, good luck to them,” she said.
The FFA welcomed the news.
“Anything that raises awareness of our brand has to be good for the game. We already have our media guys looking into getting a few slideshow galleries up on the website,” a spokesperson said.
“This development will really help drive page views and enable us to meet our key metrics, we’re really excited.”
SBS have defended the decision to make a second series.
“Struggle Street is an important anthropological document that highlights the vast imbalances in this country. We don’t intend to exploit people’s financial and emotional vulnerabilities for the titillation of the middle classes.
“However, if we can get some shots of one of the players going into Cash Converters to pawn some of their championship medals it certainly wouldn’t harm the ratings.”
A screening date for the show has yet to be announced.
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