Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson is challenged by Brisbane Roar's Craig Moore, during their round 9 of the 2009 A-League season, being played at Ethihad Stadium in Melbourne, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009.(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
If Newcastle were last season’s “last one out turn the lights off” club, then in Version 5 of the A-League it must be Brisbane Roar who have taken up the mantle.
First coach Frank Farina was sacked, then Charlie Miller walked out while Liam Reddy has shortened his contract to the end of the season. Now comes the news that Craig Moore is set to leave in January on a loan move.
It doesn’t look good for Ange Postecoglou’s men, but it would be simplistic to say that its clearly all because of discontent within the club (though I suspect there is quite a bit).
Moore’s seemingly imminent departure is different to Farina’s, Miller’s and Reddy’s. The Socceroos defender is only heading out on loan because of the short length of the A-League season and the effect that would have on his World Cup prospects.
The Brisbane captain will most likely be joined by Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne from Perth Glory on the plane out of Australia in January. Other Socceroos hopefuls could potentially leave as well.
It’s not what the A-League needs right now. Brisbane Roar might have finally got a decent crowd together on Wednesday night for their match against North Queensland Fury, but one game doesn’t make a trend.
A-League crowds are down and the forth coming player exodus wont help.
The saddest thing is this all could have been avoided.
Earlier this year, FFA released a couple of feelers amongst the A-League and football communities over the idea of starting the league in October and having it run through to May. This was to allow locally based players the best chance to stake a claim for a Socceroos place. The idea was up for genuine consideration and at one point looked like it would go ahead. In the end FFA bought the season forward instead of moving it backwards!
Ben Buckley and co made the decision not to delay the season because they felt it was too much of a gamble to send the season into such uncharted waters. Talk about getting a decision wrong.
Considering the apathetic start to the A-League season in August, where the competition failed to find traction amongst the NRL and AFL finals, this looks like even more of a mistake.
It could be argued that FFA weren’t to expect the “flood” of returning Socceroos that signed on in June, but I don’t buy it. In a World Cup year the focus should always be on helping the national team’s tournament prospects.
All FFA’s decision has done is harm the A-League (though I’d argue these players will get a better preparation in Europe or East Asia than in Australia, so maybe they have inadvertently helped the Socceroos.)
So if you turn up to an A-League game in the New Year and your favourite players are missing then thank Football Federation Australia on your way out.
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