As we draw closer to the conclusion of the Foxtel Cup, I find myself asking the same questions: who will win and does it really matter?
The answer to the former is I don’t truly know, although I am fairly certain it won’t be one of the two remaining SANFL clubs. And to the latter, I answer no. It does not matter.
At all.
Of course, the prize money and pride on offer is definitely important for the winning club, and I would love to see my beloved North Adelaide Roosters fill their coffers slightly and win our first trophy since 1991.
But in the grander scheme of things, victory in this ‘Champions League’ means little to the fabric of football.
This league, while interesting to watch, fails on several counts. It does not show which state has the best football league, does not suit the needs of the AFL nor state leagues, and will ultimately be a subject for sporting trivia buffs one day.
For the experiment to have been a success for the AFL, the GWS Giants needed to have made it through to the semi final stages. Some cynics argue that this was the whole point of the league, to give the Giants a taste at some league action and greater exposure.
Regardless of the conspiracy theories, the AFL’s new project has not made the inroads that Andrew Demetriou would have undoubtedly envisioned or hoped.
For the league to have been a success for the respective state leagues, a better scheme of payment to the participating clubs was needed. The meager compensation clubs received for the travel interstate ultimately turned the competition into an expensive footy trip for the lower ranked clubs, and an expensive gamble for the higher ranked.
If North Adelaide, who has suffered in the past from poor economics and nearly folded, or the Port Adelaide Magpies, who are currently undergoing fiscal hardships, do not win, a serious please explain will come from fans and members of the clubs as to the travel costs of these games, especially if either makes the final, not to mention the ire of sponsors who have lost a great chance to advertise to larger markets.
And perhaps most criminal of this league’s failings is it does not definitively prove which state has the strongest league. Should East Perth win, WAFL fans will have a strong argument for theirs being the best, likewise for VFL fans should the Northern Bullants take the cake.
Ultimately, pitting strong clubs against essentially amateur clubs from the lesser leagues proves little to nothing, and the boycott from the strongest state league team in the Central Districts Bulldogs, who chose to concentrate on winning another premiership in SANFL, demonstrates a lack of real gain for the club, and only potential loss.
Footy fans really only want to boast that their state is the best at the game. Lets face it, we’re all hungry for something to fill the void left from State of Origin.
Origin won’t be coming back – that’s obvious – and neither will this costly, deceptive and underwhelming experience.
Get your pens ready future quiz night goers! The winner of the one and only Foxtel Cup is …
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley concedes his punt on Connor Rozee backfired spectacularly after the captain was hurt again in a 30-point loss to…
For somewhere between two and three and a half quarters, depending on how generous you want to be, Adelaide didn't do a whole lot…
Hopefully Jake Soligo doesn't keep it in there for too long!
