John Aloisi – Melbourne Heart. Slattery Images.
When you take a closer look at the A-League 2010/11 season draw, released yesterday, you can clearly see the tactics the FFA is employing to curtail last season’s crowd slide. But the big talking point is the fact we’ll have to wait two months to see the first Melbourne derby.
The Melbourne Heart will kick-off the new season on Thursday August 5 at AAMI Park against the Central Coast Mariners.
It’s almost a carbon copy of last season’s opener when the Mariners traveled south to face the Melbourne Victory on a Thursday night at Etihad.
While it’s the logical and correct option to afford the Heart the right to host the season opener, the decision to stage their first clash with cross-town rivals (are they even cross-town rivals?), the Victory, in October, a week after the AFL grand final, is an indication by the FFA that the A-League will once again suffer in silence as its season opening fixtures cross-over with the AFL and NRL seasons and finals.
Why else would they make us wait two months for one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in the A-League’s history?
With the AFL grand final to be played the week before, and with the Melbourne Storm no chance of making the NRL grand final, the A-League should have the week preceding the derby all to itself in the Victorian media.
It will, in effect, be the unofficial launch of the A-League’s summer season, away from those media hogging codes with the weird shaped balls. Week 9 of the season: when the A-League emerges from the shadows with a bang.
Should the season have started with the Melbourne derby?
There are two schools of thought here. One suggests the best option was for the FFA to schedule the derby as the first game of the season to start with a bang.
The opening round of the season is intriguing enough, with Heart’s debut, the grand final replay between fierce rivals Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory, the Perth Glory with Robbie Fowler hosting his former team North Queensland Fury and the meeting of Queensland rivals Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United.
Looking over these matches, it’s a very strong round of fixtures, but it would have been even bigger if it kicked off with the derby.
The other school of thought, therefore, is that having the Victory face the Heart in the first ever A-League derby would have been the perfect tonic for the ambivalence of the season start.
After all, it needs to start with a bang. As we saw last season, when the A-League commences and intrudes so much into the AFL/NRL seasons, it inevitably suffers from the lack of media and casual fan interest.
While this season will be able to ride the wave of World Cup euphoria, with a few of the bandwagon Socceroos supporters hopefully tempted to get behind their local club, they still have the same problem of intruding on the other codes’ seasons at a time when the momentum is with these rivals, as opposed to ending the season later and intruding into their season starts, when the momentum is with the A-League.
At least there is this derby fixture to look forward to and build up towards.
There were little other surprises for the Victorian clubs.
The Victory will move to the new AAMI Park for the majority of its fixtures, playing five at the bigger Etihad Stadium. These are against big rivals: the Heart, Gold Coast, Sydney and Adelaide twice.
It’s also interesting to note that on the weekends when the Victory play at Etihad, the Heart will be playing away, giving each team the Victorian capital to themselves – perhaps an indication that the FFA feels there will be a large number of fans who support both teams.
Other features of the draw are positive.
The fact the competition plays through January’s Asian Cup means the A-League avoids the savage blow of stopping at a time when it has so little competition from other sports.
The increase in the number of midweek matches is a step in the right direction, although I believe they start too early in September. They should instead be more condensed into and left in the December-January summer period, particularly to take advantage of school holidays.
Another tactic being used by the FFA in the draw is to give particular teams regular timeslots.
Adelaide United, for example, has yet again been given a bunch of Friday night home fixtures (10 in total, only one less than last season), while Sydney FC have a notable increase in Saturday night home fixtures.
This tactic is well and good to develop habits in the mindset of fans in terms of when their teams are playing – particularly handy when promotion is so limited – but it means there isn’t enough of a spread of these popular fixtures around the comp. So while some teams are rewarded with great timeslots, others are stuck with the unpopular afternoon matches in the height of summer.
A better spread of timeslots is needed.
For Adelaide fans, the news that United will be playing two games at the revamped Adelaide Oval is a huge fillip.
While Hindmarsh is undoubtedly a perfect home for an A-League club, the new Adelaide Oval, a key component in our World Cup bid, shows the progress United has made in developing a fan base, and it’s encouraging that they won’t miss out on the fruits of the new look CBD stadium.
Also, scheduling Adelaide at home to Melbourne Victory at the Oval in the final round of the season is a masterstroke. Let’s hope both sides are in premiership contention at that point. If so, Adelaide fans could well fill the stadium.
The other big talking point is the historic double header at the SFS on October 30 when the Mariners play a “home game” against Perth before Sydney takes on Brisbane.
Once again it’s a clever ploy by the FFA to try and entice punters.
It’s no coincidence that the visiting team in the curtain raiser involving the two away teams boasts Robbie Fowler – last season’s antidote for crowds across Australia.
But the double header needs to be promoted so that Sydneysiders are made aware of the fact that Fowler’s presence is why they should get to the SFS early to watch two neutral teams, otherwise the fixture has the potential to be played in front of a small group of traveling Mariners fans and no one else.
Credit to the FFA for trying the double header, a proven success in other codes, but it shouldn’t become a regular feature in the draw. We don’t want teams being forced to sacrifice home games for gimmicks to entice bigger crowds.
The draw also contains some shortsighted decisions that will adversely particular teams.
These include:
– Gold Coast United having two byes within three weeks.
– Adelaide United hosting Newcaslte Jets at Hindmarsh twice in just over a month.
– Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar playing all their three meetings over the first 14 weeks of the season.
– Central Coast having three byes in the space of a month.
These inaccuracies will hurt these clubs, particularly those forced into hibernation by having their byes in quick succession.
It’s hard enough for teams to get much going in the way of traction with fans and the media, so such own goals don’t help.
But overall it’s a positive draw, with the expanded midweek fixtures and scheduling of blockbusters around significant dates and weeks the right approach for the youthful league.
But let’s hope next year’s rendition irons out some of the shortsighted congestion of certain fixtures. It will at least be without byes with the Sydney Rovers entering the competition.
Fingers crossed all clubs survive so we have 12 competing teams.
The full A-League 2010/11 season draw can be viewed HERE.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Fox want to show it alright and there are nearly twice as many games of A-League now, as when they struck the deal 6 years ago. There are more games to come next season with the Rovers, so FFA want more money. No one wants to sign up until the TV Policy is finalised by the government, but an offer of $300M is on the table from Fox already.
Chris
Guest
Going on the Anti-Siphoning list would literally halve the value (probably more) of the A-League. In any case it isn't going to happen as it is only Socceroos matches being talked about.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
It's the MUST be shown which is the bad part. Instead of being able to sell the rights to Fox, 7,9 and 10 they can only sell it too 7,9 and 10. In the last deal they could have sold it to whoever they wanted and Fox offered the most $$$, in the next deal for any part on the antisiphoning list fox won't be a player. Going on the antisiphoning list is good for fans without fox but isn't good for increasing the price.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Current Fox deal gives them exclusive rights to show on pay TV only - that's why its not on FTA. But if they are on the antisiphoning list then Fox Sports don't have exclusive rights and they MUST be shown on FTA as well, or Fox can't show it - makes a difference to the asking price and makes the PayTV FTA deal bigger if both want to show it.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
You don't have to go on the Anit Siphoning list to be able to go on FTA. In fact going on the anti siphon list is a bad thing because it reduces the people competing for the rights. The Socceroos and the Aleague could have been on FTA the whole time, the anti siphon list is not wy they are on Fox.
AA
Guest
You obviously haven't read recent reports about Terry Seperisos owing his local Council $2 million in rates. The locals hounded him about it for a while.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Art, FFA are holding out for more than 300million. Also the federal government hasn't released their new policy or brought out the new Anti-Siphoning list yet - no one is prepared to sign any deals until they know for sure who's on that list. FFA are also looking to negotiate with foreign TV networks instead of dealing through Fox, as the popularity and audience of the Socceroos and the A-League grows overseas. FFA asked for all Socceroos and all A-League games to be put on the anti-siphoning list so they could negotiate with FTA channels as well. Senator Conroy the communications minister is a football fan, but the govt is only agreeing to the Socceroos games at this stage.
Smokygrayson
Guest
+1. Newcastle's "family friendly" fixtures were poor. Firday & Saturday nights are the best slots.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Thanks---I shall sleep better now that I have passed on that important news to you :D Good night all.
MV Dave
Guest
Damn...hoping you wouldn't see me :). Ok ok well done to Chelski...lucky that they were ;) Its about time someone started winning trophies apart from ManU...the trophy room extension wont be ready until next season :)
Australian Football
Roar Guru
And Chelsea took out the double :D congratulations to Chelsea and the Matildas...
MV Dave
Guest
Leading 2-0 to Vietnam...
Midfielder
Guest
Australia LIVE ON THE ABC SECOND HALF LEADING - NIL ... Ladies team... turn into ABC
TheStinger
Roar Rookie
I enjoyed all the friday night games Adelaide had, despite the scoreline most nights. There was a big crowd and a good atmosphere and made me buy a membership. I will buy another one this season as well, because i know (hope) this season will be better.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Another Adrian - Professional footballers in Europe on average play around 40-50 games of football a season, even in the lower league leagues. Playing 30 games a season is not too much to ask for. Players in the A-League don't train as hard as their counterparts overseas, this is the first thing players realise when they go OS. Why don't you check to see how many many " higher intensity" games players like Lampard play in a season. The extra games will actually make the A-League players fitter. Secondly, according to reports in regards to next TV rights deals. Fox had agreed in principle to pay $300milliion for a 5 year deal which will begin immediately, this is to account for the extra games they are broadcasting. Let's hope this report is true as it is a 45 million dollars a year more than the current deal.
MV Dave
Guest
Can really only speak for the Melbourne situation. Already have my season ticket for Melbourne Victory and although l prefer Sat nights, dont mind the occassional Friday/Sunday. Heart, as the new kids on the block, seem to have a good draw. First game at home to start the season...hopefully will get around 20-25,000 for a Thursday night (including me in attendance). We then have weekly games at AAMI for a couple of months...fantastic...a game every week at a brilliant football stadium. Certainly will attract me to watch a few MH games. Looking forward to a season whereby there will be a game in Melb each week which will bring more spectators and media in general to the game. Then the first derby in October! Should be a sell out and terrific atmosphere...bring it on.
Chris
Guest
"No need for them to even be in the League" Here is one reason - they are one of only a few clubs to not currently be on a form of advanced life support. Here is another - they have the 4th best crowd average in the League. Frankly the FFA isn't exactly in a position to be too picky when it comes to where teams originate. Luckily for Soccer in Australia and New Zealand this shortsighted "No foreigners allowed" view is not shared by the FFA.
Another Adrian
Guest
Art - My comment was around the final month of season 5 and "then other 23 rounds played?" Either way 27 rounds was still a long season, when you consider 6 out of the 10 teams still make the finals. My point is more in relation to the quality of the product, 16-20 teams can sustain a 30-38 round season but 11 soon to be 12 will struggle. To my knowlege most credible leagues don't play a final series either (MLS Excluded) While the quality of the HAL is improving the prospect of seeing mid week games with key players being rested doesn't excite me. The squads generally lack the depth to sustain 30 games of high quality football. My concern is the season will effectively becomes a war of attrition with a large amount of meaningless games as teams rest players for their finals campaigns. For HAL to be sucessful the best players need to on the park week in week out playing high intensity football. Moonface makes a good point as well why give away new content, Wait until the next broadcast deal due and then make the broadcasters pay for the additional games, like the AFL is doing with its new teams.
James
Guest
Agreed. Was sick of watching Adelaide every Friday night and this is another oversight of the current draw. Not fair to non Adelaide fans as Friday night games should be shared around.
StrikerX
Guest
Really looking forward to the new season. One thing I have to say is that last year it got very repetitive watching Adelaide almost every Friday night, especially as they were so terrible. The Friday night game is prime time viewing and needs to be a springboard into the weekend's round. I actually think the scheduling of Adelaide on so many Friday nights last season really hurt the league. It was like groundhog day. And you could see the Foxsports commentators really tired of it too. It is all well and good to try to form habits amongst supporters, but we need to mix up Friday night. It is no use holding back big games till later in the weekend all the time. We also need Friday night blockbusters to get people talking. So I am a little disappointed to see Adelaide have got more than their fair share of Friday nights again. Hopefully they can really amp up the entertainment factor this seaon or they will drag us all down again.