If the larger public could have seen the two Melbourne sides play on Friday night, football would become a mainstream sport in this country in no time at all.
Incidentally, if I heard the commentators use the word ‘derby’ one more time, my nausea would manifest and I’d be reaching for the bucket to save the mess.
But, ironically, I use a cliché myself: football was the winner on the night. That game was, and is, exactly what we need for the growth of the local league in Australia.
The quality of play was good and engaging. But the crucial factor was that a crowd turned out; a full large capacity stadium for a local game, with no vacant seats, and genuine atmosphere.
We usually expect this from overseas, but here it was, the real thing, large and loud. Even a few flares showed up, all from within our own fatal shore.
The existing attitude towards football in Australia is a huge barrier to the acceptance of the game here. Just the other night a friend commented: “The A-League, the most boring thing in the world”.
He has never seen a game at all, save a few snippets on the news, yet felt quite confident his statement would go down well. Most people like this have the same opinion.
I felt compelled to argue, and did, but I didn’t really have any evidence to show.
It reminded me of when I represented myself in court once. My opposition, a bulbous red nose under a wig – a barrister or something – pulled into court with a pile of documents six feet high on a removal trolley, peddled by some young eager law boy.
They had all the evidence in that tower, all indexed with hundreds of flourescent little tags sticking out.
I had a shirt with a button missing, a jacket with fur around the edges, and a coffee stained manila folder with one piece of paper and a few stray dog hairs inside. He foamed at the mouth as he presented Your Honour with all his research.
I gave him an A+ for effort.
Funnily enough, the outcome of that fiasco was better than my defense of local football.
I assured my opponent it’s because of empty stadiums that it appears dull. But I had no smoking gun, no evidence to the contrary, until now. ‘The local derby’ (that’s it, where’s that bucket) provided what I needed, a true spectacle of world class.
If this was more the norm, the public would not be able to resist such entertainment and, if then made aware of it, they may lower their psychological barrier and give the game an Aussie ‘fair go’.
The FFA has been widely criticised but you have to admit they’ve done something right here.
Keep it up and I may be able to employ a boy to wheel my own trolley of evidence about, and maybe get me one of those wigs and a fine scotch addiction to match my arrogance as I confidently show the judge how engaging the local football product can be in Australia.
Hilditch out!
Guest
Am I missing something? The NSL had loads of derby games. Always great for the fan clashes.
Mister Football
Guest
Well - one night in Spain is enough to know that what I'm saying is true!!
Art Sapphire
Guest
I haven't lived in Spain. I visited the place over 20 years ago. Good times.
Mister Football
Guest
As I said, interest amongst the general population has been dropping gradually over a 28 year period. One hopes that this means that the Government will have the courage to implement the recommendations of the Crawford report.
punter
Guest
How unusal, a guy who follows a sport with NO international flavour is not interested in an International event.
Mister Football
Guest
You've never slept in past 11am? C'mon - you've lived in Spain - you'd be getting home at around 11 am!!
Art Sapphire
Guest
Considering the replay was on at 11am that's quite a sleep in. Anyway, just means that people who were at the game and watched the game are better placed to make an assessment. Describing how FTA's operate is not required. I am sure most people would have a handle on that.
Mister Football
Guest
I needed to have a sleep in on Saturday morning. You can be assured that the commercial FTAs would have all relevant data on hand to put a proper value on all potential TV product. They would have assessed a certain value in the derby. But equally, they'd be aware that they can't buy the three derbies each season. There's no reason for anyone to get upset about that - it's business.
Art Sapphire
Guest
I had a prior engagement on Friday Night too. I went to AAMI Park. I also watched a replay on TV the following morning when enjoying my morning coffee. Commercial networks would have seen that the product on Friday night and realised that the "product" when done right has a big future. Everyone knows Channel 9 are going big with their AFL TV rights bid. No surprise then that the only news service in Melbourne to portray the derby in a negative light and not show any match highlights was Channel 9's.
Mister Football
Guest
I had a prior engagement last Friday night.
GeneralAshnak
Roar Pro
One of my 2 favorite shows :D
Art Sapphire
Guest
MF's sole contribution to this thread and what was one of the best nights of football ever witnessed in this city and the A-League is a blinkered observation on the worth of TV products.
Mister Football
Guest
When's the Burn Notice coming back?!
GeneralAshnak
Roar Pro
I know one thing, the Commonwelath Games has seriously impacted on my crime drama viewing!
Mister Football
Guest
The Commonwealth Games are probably a slow burn issue - a very, very gradual decline in interest over a 28 year period. There must come a time when even the average Australian must see that it's bordering on ridiculous that we would be winining half of the gold medals on offer.
TomC
Guest
They should be pretty good at it, but I they aren't always. Channel 10 appear to have greatly overestimated the value of the Commonwealth Games, for instance.
Axel V
Guest
They commericial networks are also pretty good at lacking credibility and pushing their own agenda's!
Mister Football
Guest
Commercial networks are pretty good at assessing the commercial worth of TV products.
hardsy
Roar Pro
Great game, and hopefully the start of a great rivalry. Maybe if the 2022 bid is successful football might even receive the coverage it deserves from commercial networks
Rellum
Roar Guru
Channel 9 were a discrace on Sat night. It was the worst case of anti football bias I have every seen. If channel 7 and the Herald Sun can bring themselves to report on the game properly, you would think 9 could as well. How scared of football can they be? On the game, I was proud to be there as a Heart fan, hopefully being part of something that will grow into a great sporting event in this country.