However, through all that, three massive issues that will help shape the landscape of Australian football over the next few years stand out.
That tackle
I can’t remember the last time I was left with such a feeling of sadness after watching a game of football, as I was following the Melbourne derby and Kevin Muscat’s “tackle” on Adrian Zahra last Saturday.
Quite a part from the usual emotions of joy or disappointment a game brings, there was this immovable lump in the pit of my stomach brought on by concern for an innocent player’s well being and the regrettable sight of an icon of the game tarring his image.
Possibly for good.
As glad as I am that the injury to Adrian Zahra isn’t as serious as first feared, I’m also disappointed by the opportunism some have taken in not just criticising Kevin Muscat’s behaviour, but the character of a man many have never met.
In that inexcusable moment of madness Muscat crossed the line and will be duly punished. He’ll also struggle for a long time to live that moment down.
As angry as I am after watching a player be assaulted on a football pitch, mostly I’m just saddened by the whole affair.
Questionable player selections
Because of Muscat’s tackle, the biggest issue of the weekend has mostly gone unreported, and it’s one that could have longterm implications for the game.
If we look beyond Adelaide’s 8-1 victory of the Fury from Hindmarsh stadium on Friday night we can see two concerning trends.
First of all, Fury manager Franz Straka has made it clear he will be selecting youth team players in attempt to give his more younger players “valuable” experience.
However, Lawrie McKinna did the same thing at the end of last season with his Central Coast Mariner’s team and we saw the same outcome, a mauling.
The problem is, if you throw a group of unprepared young players into a starting eleven solely for the purpose of giving them experience you risk damaging their development. In such a case, the intended value of this approach is lost.
More concerning though is a trend highlighted in a press release from the Australian Players Football Association last week in which the PFA stated it was concerned by clubs that refuse to select a player who:
• in the last 6 months of his contract, has exercised his right under FIFA and FFA regulations to sign a contract with another club to take effect when his current contract has expired; or
• if selected, will meet an appearance quota in his contract that would trigger a contract
If these concerns are found to have merit, then the whole integrity of the A-League would come into question.
It’s the kind of problem you see regularly in the lower leagues of Italian football and quite simply it would be a travesty if they were to be repeated here.
Socceroos do us proud
After all that, though, let’s end on a positive as Australia’s historic success at the Asian Cup punctuated a dark few days for the game.
Going in to this tournament, all I wanted was to witness a Socceroos team behave in a way that represented Australia and its football community with pride.
I’d much rather have seen Holger Osieck’s men go out at the group stage in a respectful manner then a repeat of the debacle that was Australia’s 2007 campaign.
In the end we got the best of both worlds and in the process those 23 Socceroos have once again made us proud.
Jon
Guest
Ref. questionable player selection. The team the Fury took to Adelaide was possibly the best they had to work with. Due to FFA shackles, Fury has been unable to trade its list of under-performing strikers. Dahl, Payne and Seppuya (two of which are internationals) will not see the pitch again this year but Strakka cant replace them. Watch the first 20 minutes of the Fury game and tell me that a striker, who could find the back of the net, would not have made a difference? WTF - Williams even cleared a goal after Spag's shot looked like going in. Confidence is everything in sport. The FFA have to take some responsiblity for the 8-1 scoreline. Further still - they now owe it to football in North Queensland to throw their support behind its team. Blink now and you will loose the fastest growing region in Australia to the other codes for the next two decades.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Davidde - What a pity, Muscat overshadowed the culmination of a tremendous first season of derbies. Standing in the away section at Etihad on Saturday and watching the kids never let up in in their support even when Heart went 2 - 0 down was a credit to them. Heart did not get the winner they deserved but the everyone in the away section left the ground walking a foot taller. There is nothing that compares to derby football. The sooner Sydney gets a derby the better for the A-League.
Roarchild
Roar Guru
I think the PFA's concern was in regards to the Glory (Jamie Coyne and Michael Baird).
whiskeymac
Guest
and yes - otherwise a great round. some good goals - allover the HAL - including from NQF with Panni Nikos. and the roos are doing us proud, results, substance and even with the diplomacy the media so badly craved.
whiskeymac
Guest
amazing career in the sense he has achieved some memorable goals - a good player when he was playing the ball and not the opponent - and "amazing" in that he was allowed to play so long without proper reprimand for his assualts and foul play. At best he will be considered to have a chequered past: he will be remembered by many as a dirty player and a thug, by a few MV fans as a leader who had his heart on his sleeve (and the Heart on his shinpads). Vinnie Jones without the good looks. What i do hope is he, and this may seem contradictory, remains in the media. He has good skills for this, and can't end up relying on assualts to gain advantage - off the field he is less likely to break someones legs and get away with it by glaring at a copper or magistrate.
KP
Guest
OFS - your last question is a good one, possibly also relates to AFL clubs tanking later in the year for better draft picks, whereas in this case the clubs are probably trying to save money. The best thing for avoiding this would be to have a 2nd tier and the excitement that relegation battles bring, but thats probably some time away yet (if ever for the AFL). Great article Davidde - for all his faults you cant deny the amazing career Muscat has had and what he's achieved. Not the way to end, better a missed penalty than the vitriol from that tackle.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Nice column, Davidde. For me, Football - like life - is full of joy and sadness; moments that make you proud and others that lead to embarrassment; and actions that lead to success and others that lead to regret. And, as you rightly conclude ... all we can hope is to learn and not repeat the same mistakes.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
".... and the regrettable sight of an icon of the game tarring his image ... Possibly for good.".... somehow I think that horse had bolted many, many years ago ... horrible tackle - but in realty not surprising given his previous record - this bloke had his image tarred before landing back on these shores and as for what he's brought to the A league - nothing positive thats for sure draw a line from the numerous suspensions, the crude fouls, the attack on Kosmina up to Saturday night it all adds up to a blight on the league
Twatter
Guest
Good read Davidde. Lets not forget with the Socceroos we may very well be playing another game of football that last for another two hours and possible penaltys agianst the Uzbeks, and if we make the final do it all again against the Japanese. The boys mental strength's will be truely tested.