- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy overseeas a training session in Melbourne, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Melbourne Storm will play the Parramatta Eels in this weekends NRL Grand Final. AAP Image/Julian Smith
Melbourne’s dominance of the Australian sporting landscape was almost complete in 2009. Victorian clubs claimed the AFL, NRL, A-League, Sheffield Shield, Netball ANZ championship, and NBL premierships.
It is an impressive feat, and one that seems to have been overlooked by pundits and fans alike. But how do we account for it?
Melbourne is undoubtedly a sports mad town.
This point was reaffirmed for me when spending time in Melbourne last week. Sports journalists from the two newspaper dailies are plastered on billboards across the city, front pages are often hijacked by sport, and the popularity and influence of the SEN radio station shows the populations constant need to consume sport.
It’s a cultural thing.
Melbournians grow up with sport, particularly the AFL, in their blood, and they seem far more accepting of other codes than other states.
They have a closer bond with their clubs through the greater practice of having memberships with them and attending matches, trainings and functions, especially compared to Sydney where crowds and memberships can’t compare to Melbourne levels, and tend to fluctuate to a greater extent.
Perhaps this greater love also results in youngsters growing up with a greater hunger to succeed in sport, helped by healthy support structures and well-funded state league competitions.
This love of sport has a knock on effect of ensuring healthier and more financially stable clubs.
Indeed, it’s hard to fault Melbourne franchises administratively.
Take Melbourne Storm as an example. Their success, in the heartland of the AFL, is quite remarkable.
And it is thanks to the talent of Brian Waldron and the support staff around him. Melbourne’s ability to manage a squad – especially how they rebuilt after losing key members after the 2006 Grand Final – highlights an administrative strength that has ensured their survival and successes.
Despite operating in a foreign territory, they have carved out a niche market for themselves, and Melbourne’s sports mad culture ensures they won’t hit rock bottom crowd figures should the club falter on-field.
Likewise, Melbourne Victory has been the best run and most stable A-League franchise.
The club stayed loyal to Ernie Merrick in their bleak first season and reaped the benefits in having the long-term vision to give him the time necessary to build a winning culture.
Re-signing Carlos Hernandez at the end of last season was a brave decision considering the financial investment needed to keep him – especially in such a tight, salary capped competition – and they have been handsomely rewarded for their bravery.
With Melbourne Heart – the second A-League franchise – and a possible Super Rugby franchise, Melbourne’s sporting hub will continue to grow.
And their 2009 on-field domination appears set to continue in 2010.
Only an ever-improving Adelaide, and possibly a rejuvenated Brisbane, have the capability to stop Victorian clubs from dominating in the AFL next season, and even then the interstaters are considered outsiders for premiership success.
Also, the Storm has the capability to stay at the top of the NRL, especially considering their Toyota Cup triumph this season.
When you consider the sporting culture that has developed in Melbourne, it really shouldn’t be a surprise they dominate as they do.