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.
MV Dave
Guest
With the fantastic crowds in Wellington (the next final may well be a sell out) and SFC pre sales going well for the 2nd leg semi v MV do you still think we need to rid HAL of finals Adrian,or change the system?
Axel V
Guest
I don't know, it doesn't make sense. Some sources say there is no away goals rule, others say there is. Is it possible that the FFA made a last minute change? I hope the away's goal rule is in effect as that would make it fair
Joe FC
Guest
The away goals rule is in effect. http://www.a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00001385-source.pdf
Moonface
Roar Guru
FFA don't always make everything very clear do they and there is even confusion amongst the football journos and Fox Sports commentators. :) But according to the FFA website - "with a 1-0 home win good enough for the Sky Blues to get straight through to the Grand Final" - which loosely translated means the away goals count extra if the teams are locked on the same aggregate score at the end of the game. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/2009InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem_new&id=32690
Footbal Person
Guest
CAN IT CAN IT CAN IT !!! the premiership trophy is perfect would make for an excellent champion trophy. Toilet time is over :)
mahony
Guest
I like this idea a lot! Well done rovingt2011.
Axel V
Guest
ok then, would you like to prove that the away goals are in effect over these 2 legs?
deadman
Guest
Lol using harper as source might as well use a wikipedia look it up on the A-league Website
Mick
Guest
Big deal, Sydney may Melbourne 4 times in 5 weeks or so & maybe 6 times in a season, it is the luck of the draw and it is not like it has not happened before in other competions
Axel V
Guest
Lookup on youtube" Kevin MUSCAT v John ALOISI " by Nostrokeeper, at 2:01 Andy Harper says Away goals are not in effect for Melbourne vs Sydney, I was very shocked after hearing that.
deadman
Guest
um the away goal rule is in affect
Axel V
Guest
I think that the FFA have done a brilliant job in constructing the format for the A-League. The only things that concern me is - Not having the away goal rule over 2 Leg's (It is part of all Football) - The matches not being simultaneously played over the final round(27 now, 30 next season) - The atrocity of the Referee's not knowing the rules of the game that include the amount of offsides that were onside, play ons(no foul given despite a clear as day penalty or free kick), double standards, lack of cards for dangerous play(studs from behind or physically assaulting a player that does not even have the ball, E.g Kruse 3 times in 3 matches).
Axel V
Guest
Also you might ask the question, is it right for Newcastle or Perth to go and win the Grand Final? Well here is the thing, there is a 100% chance that the 1 of the top 2, Melbourne or Sydney, will be in and will host the Grand Final. Now assuming whoever loses out of those 2 is of equal to win against the team they meet in the other Major Semi, they would have a 50% chance each. So there is a 75% chance of the top 2 being in the Grand Final, assuming all team's are equal. Now, not all team's are equal, and as we have seen, Melbourne and Sydney are clearly the best 2 team's in Australia at the moment. Realisticly there is more like an 85% chance of the 1st and 2nd place of the premiership being in the Grand Final. (As the loser of the 1st major semi, is not only a quality team but also hosts the 2nd major semi knockout) However, team's like Newcastle, Perth, Wellington and Gold Coast all had, and some still have the chance to make the Grand Final, it's a longshot, but it's something to play for, and that's what makes it so exciting. The Wellington vs Perth match had a great atmosphere and had breathtaking Football, it was exciting all through regular time, extra time and right to the end with the dreading penalties.
Axel V
Guest
Adrian, you might say That Melbourne And Sydney could be playing each other 4 out of 5 games, how boring is that eh? But if you look at the context, the 1st game was the premiership decider and was by far the most exciting A-League regular match i have ever seen, it meant so much and the result left me shattered and I cried myself to sleep. The next 2 are the semi final's, where the winner goes straight through to the final and hosts it which is a massive advantage, while the loser of this semi final will not host the final and has the very real chance of not even making the final (a very scary prospect given how well these 2 teams have done over the season) And well, The Grand Final speaks for itself. This has been an epic season so far, and no matter what happens, it will be talked about for a long time to come after it finishes. Finally, the Melbourne - Sydney rivalry will have dramatic history and substance to it.
MV Dave
Guest
"you’re constant attempts to spin the figures is." Errr Pot Kettle and Black comes to mind as my response! It seems difficult for you to understand that hundreds of thousands more people are watching domestic (and international and intercontinental) football in Oz than ever before. No spin needed.
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
If the NRL wants to organise internationals against the best 3 or 4 League playing nations in the world - that's their business. What has that got to do with the central question of this thread: Should the A-League revert to a more traditional process in determining the winners of its silverware?
keeper11
Guest
Well..NRL/AFL have no hesitation in aping tha sockah and holding international matches between national teams.. so after a sum total of just 2 to 3 matches they both shamelessly run around trumpeting themeselves as 'World champions' and 'Best NRL/AFL comps in the World' Utterly meaningless and ridiculous..but hey....it helps to sell a few more Murdoch tabloids
AA
Guest
Finals are fine mate, have to disagree with you.
hazza
Guest
Six years ago the NSL attracted on average per season of 750- 800000 fans. That is 8 NSL games on weekends. Fast forward 5 years and football has been turned on its head. In the last 12 months 1.8 million to 1.9 million fans have attended football games. That is 4-5 HAL games on weekends and SOCCEROO games. This figure does not include ACL games or friendlys against the likes of fulham and wolves where big crowds turned out.. So to get a 120 percent increase in attendances in 5 short years is impressive in anyones books. Fast forward another 5 years and you understand why the other codes are looking over there shoulders.
Deadman
Roar Rookie
Excuse me, why do you say its aping NRL & AFL when North (especially Mexico) , Central and South Aamerican football have been using finals long before any code of the football ever even thought of going national in Austraila