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Melbourne Victory's Kevin Muscat is tackled by John Aloisi of Sydney FC during their A-League major semi final leg1, played at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. Melbourne beat Sydney 2-1. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
The recent Sydney-Melbourne clashes have had many of the attributes that the A-League has aspired to, and a great rivalry has undoubtedly built between the two over the past week. But will the match-up still excite should they meet in the Grand Final for what would be their fourth clash in five A-League rounds?
That’s the prospect if the loser of the major semi-final, currently balanced in Melbourne’s favour following the first leg, goes on to defeat whichever team emerges from the other three currently in the finals series.
Sydney and Melbourne would, therefore, have played in the final round of the regular season, the two-legged major semi and then the GF.
By the time we reach the Grand Final, the two teams will know each other so well that they could cancel each other out, stifling what should be the biggest game in the A-League.
There are also only so many times two teams can meet in such a short period for the match-up to retain its aura.
The incredible fact that Melbourne had only played Adelaide United in its entire A-League finals history before last week’s clash with Sydney highlights the staleness of the A-League finals.
The system is obviously heavily weighted to favour the top two sides, and with only six teams in the mix there is only so much variance in fixtures the FFA can squeeze out of its finals system.
With the Asian Champions League opening matchdays impacting the finals scheduling, to the point where Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord admitted his team could have boycotted the finals series had they claimed the Premiership Plate and Asian Champions League qualification, it hasn’t been an ideal start to the finals and must force an examination of the finals concept.
While the ideal scenario would be to extend the season beyond March to avoid a clash the ACL opening – not to mention to start the A-League season away from the AFL and NRL finals – stadium availability becomes even more of an issue.
It’s a difficult balancing act for the FFA when it comes to the finals.
What’s clear though is the A-League finals need a complete makeover; including the finals system and its timing.
It poses the question: Could we do away with the finals series?
It always seemed to me that Australia was years away from eradicating the finals and deciding the champion on the first past the post-system. But the success of the final round regular season premiership decider, in terms of attendance, atmosphere, understanding from the public about the significance of the premiership (or minor premiership, as it was incorrectly labeled incessantly) and intensity from the teams, poses the question of whether we need a finals series at all – especially in light of disappointing crowds at the opening finals games.
If the final rounds of the regular season were manipulated so the likely favourites of a given season were pitted against one another in the culminating rounds, then perhaps the excitement levels would crescendo toward the end of the season.
In doing that this year with Sydney hosting Melbourne on the final day, the FFA have inadvertently overshadowed the finals series.
With the importance of the Premiership Plate growing in stature, and the biggest prize for clubs remaining ACL qualification and the riches and exposure the tournament offers, the finals series could well be diluted.
Eradicating the finals would also make it easier for scheduling around Asian commitments, with flexible fixtures easing the pressure on the competing ACL teams, and midweek alternatives available throughout the season.
Some will say finals are essential when there is no threat of relegation, as teams out of contention for top spot would have nothing to play for, whereas under the current system they could at least try and squeeze into the top six.
On the other hand, is it right teams like Perth and Newcastle, who have been mediocre and inconsistent for much of the season, can walk away with the biggest prize by merely playing themselves into form at the right end of the season?
There are no simple solutions to the issues that have blighted the A-League finals thus far, but the FFA need to either revitalise the whole finals system or do away with it completely.