For so long, the Socceroos were a two-man show in the eyes of the Australian media and a large segment of the general population. In those days, in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Socceroos were Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka.
If neither of those two pulled on the green and gold, attention dropped and any attention the Socceroos did receive dropped even further.
Then came along November 16 2005 and a new bunch of heroes.
Suddenly the names people ignored for so long were now household names. Neill, Bresciano, Cahill. At 27, 25 and 25 respectively, they represented the “new” face of Australian Football. The media couldn’t get enough of them, even moreso after their heroics in Germany a year later.
Their feats at club level were, and still are, reported with pride and admiration and deservedly so.
Why then, after generation “next” stood out so much in South Africa and with seemingly every news outlet claiming an upcoming period of transition for the national team, are the deeds of our future national team stars being ignored?
While every movement of Harry Kewell is reported, the feats of Brett Holman, our best performer in South Africa, go unnoticed. Who knew that he actually scored for his club, AZ Alkmaar, in their Europa League Play-Off last week?
While every goal of Tim Cahill is reported, no mention is made of Josh Kennedy leading the Golden Boot in Japan, or of rising star Matthew Spiranovic getting on the scoresheet for Urawa.
Tommy Oar, the name on everyone’s lips before South Africa, now doesn’t even rate a mention despite game time for FC Utrecht who sit third in the Eredivisie.
Even our most consistent performer of the last four years and one of the “senior” Socceroos, Luke Wilkshire, can’t get a mention for his feats at club level. I’d wager that not many could actually name the team or the league he plays in.
And, regrettably, it’s not just the ‘mainstream’ media who are at fault. Take in an episode or two of The World Game or Fox Sports FC and see if any mention is made of the “other” Socceroos.
Whilst Australia has come forward in leaps and bounds in terms of our coverage of Football, we still find ourselves in the position where the focus is on only two or three players.
It’s time for the Australian media, and that includes most of the football media, to expand their horizons and give due recognition to the “other” Socceroos. Otherwise we’ll find ourselves in the same position where people only pay attention if the “stars” are playing.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Let's try one more time. What are the differences between Spiranovic and Lowry that would make one player better than the other and hence strengthen your league absolutism theory (distribution, movement off the ball, ability to defend set pieces, communication, ball control, pace, ability to read play..... these sort of things)? As for Vidosic, he did indeed go ahead of Burns..... though Culina (A-League) went ahead of Kilkenny (Championship), Chipperfield (Swiss Super League) went ahead of Lowry (Championship), Kennedy (J-League) ahead of Garcia (EPL), Valeri (Serie B) played in place of Grella (EPL) etc, etc, etc. Better players will indeed often end up in stronger leagues, this is true, however this is not an absolute as you advocate, it is merely a tendency. The world isn't black and white, as you leave school and get older you'll come to realise it is many wonderful shades of grey.
Davstar
Guest
Ummm Lowry isnt getting game time not to mention Lowry has been picked more then Spira has in the past 12 months. Here is a good example Dario Vidosic off the bench in Germany (good league) when to the world cup ahead of Joel Griffith, Burns etc all played more then vidosic in the last 12 months however in very poor standards.
Soccergirl
Guest
I agree with you Dasher39, the only socceroos we hear about on a regular basis in the news are Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell. However, as drew777 said "...the more die hard of us fans know what is going on..." - Because of sites like this one, it is basically always possible to find out what is going on in the Football world.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I think you underestimate the intelligence of the average fan there, Davstar. I am rather confident they are bright enough to differentiate between different players and judge them on individual merit and not use the league they are in as the sole measuring stick. Perhaps you could strengthen your argument if you could explain why you believe Mathew Spiranovic (J-League) is an inferior central defender to Shane Lowry (EPL). Explain the technical aspects of their game to us and help us understand why one was chosen over the other for the upcoming friendlies.
Davstar
Guest
whatsever if you people think if you want to applued Mediocrity go for it i wont support it, and im pretty sure most average fans wont either. If you want to support play crap like player in te J-league, Norway etc be my guess.
drew777
Roar Pro
Media has always been this way; they report on the stars because that is what everyone wants to see and hear about. It's the same for every code, every team. For example; ex knights star Joey Johns can still make headlines, yet their leading try scorer barely rates a mention, unless in game highlights. It's just the way it is, nothing to get too concerned over. Besides, the more die hard of us fans know what is going on anyway, especially due to forums like this.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I agree with you Dasher39, the focus is on the individual players not the league. We hear much about Culina (A-League), Kennedy (J-League), Kewell (Süper Lig) and much less about Valeri (Serie B), Holman (Eredivisie) or Wilkshire (RPL). To be fair some media outlets do make a better effort however most mainstream media need to maintain the focus of a broader sporting public and hence concentrate on the well known stars. Only when there is a greater volume of reporting on football in the mainstream media will a divergence occur as reporters seek to fill column width. As it is you have three columns and four stories, one about McDonald, one about Cahill, one about Kennedy and one about Kyle Nix. The editor needs to pick stories that will sell papers..... no prize for guessing which three he'll plump for.
Dasher39
Roar Rookie
Davstar, Who says they aren't as good? Luke Wilkshire might play in a lesser league in Russia, but I'd argue he's one of the best and most consistent Socceroos we have. In fact, I'd like to see him take over from Lucas as captain in the new few years. It's that attitude of "they're not good enough, we won't worry about them" that lead to my blog.
Dasher39
Roar Rookie
Got the city right Luke, but he plays at Dynamo Moscow.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Dasher39 I am 100% in agreement with your closing sentiment about the the Australian media expanding their horizons and give due recognition to the “other” players in our National Football Team. However, this will never occur whilst the majority of the people, who "report/comment" about football - particularly in the mainstream media (tv and print) - are football illiterates, who are sloppy in their research and their knowledge, appreciation and understanding of our Game is unsophisticated. The real football media - particularly the lads at SBS - have always provided deep and broad analysis of all Australian footballers - regardless of the league in which they ply their trade. As more of our "golden generation" retire and transition their career into media roles, without doubt, the quality of football analysis in Australia will quickly improve.
mahony
Guest
I disagree. Just becasue you don't know who they are does not mean they don't exist. This is why playing them is so important to develo0ping them as players and as media "stars". Anyone who watched this weekends fixtures in the A-League would immidiately see three young, powerfull and skillfull players who could be such stars - and that is just the A-League.....
Luke W
Guest
I know Wilkshire plays in Russia...FC Moscow?
Davstar
Guest
I dont agree players playing in top divisions in england, Spain, Germany and Italy have always been known. It's players who are in the lesser leagues that aren't as good get ignored, its like that in ever nation in the world, people only want the best. I also agree with tom in which we havnt had a decent group of young guns come through in 6 years. We havnt produced a player playing at the top level since the conception of the A-league.
Tom
Guest
Who's next???? There is a big hole in Australian talent at the moment. Australia has not performed well at junior levels for many years. Yes oar is a talent but will he end up like the many Aussies playing in inferior leagues in Europe/Asia ? The problems is we are seeing more and more Aussie kids head for overseas leagues but less are becoming stars. We have the quantity but not the quality.