As expected this season’s standout side, Brisbane Roar, dominated the PFA’s Alex Tobin Medal awards night in Melbourne yesterday. With seven players in the starting eleven plus a substitute and coach all coming from the A-League Premiers, Ange Postecoglou’s Roar revolution can add another notch to its belt.
There’s a bigger message to come out of last night’s ceremony, however, and it’s that the reference point for the A-League has changed.
Since the competition’s inception football lovers and neutral observers alike have compared the fledgling league to its older siblings in Europe, but for no longer.
In Brisbane Roar and the Central Coast Mariners we have two local teams who can be used as suitable yardsticks when we consider the merits of an A-League squad and their performances.
Both clubs have based their success on “systems” that have single-handedly raised the level of expectation in Australian football, so this is a key moment in the league’s development.
No longer do we have to support Australia’s domestic competition simply because it’s ours, now we can implore our friends and families to take in a game because we’re proud of what it has become.
Furthermore, as the on field quality has improved so has our respect for the past.
What a wonderful way John Aloisi and Josip Skoko were acknowledged by Melbourne Heart on Saturday night as they farewelled professional football.
Well done to the Melbourne Heart and the Yarraside who have shown the kind of reverence and respect we should show the greats of our game both past and present.
Last night this theme was continued with the awarding of the Alex Tobin Medal, arguably the highest acknowledgement a player can receive in Australian football, to former Socceroo Mark Viduka.
It’s a credit to a man who became the second Australian to captain his side to a World Cup that we are now wondering whether he was the best our game has ever produced.
To think it wasn’t that long ago the Australian football community was debating whether ‘Dukes’ was scoring enough goals for Australia.
What all this says to me is that last night Australian football continued to grow up.
PFA A-League Team of the Season:
GOALKEEPER: Michael Theoklitos (Brisbane Roar)
DEFENDERS: Ivan Franjic (Brisbane Roar), Matt Smith (Brisbane Roar), Luke Devere (Brisbane Roar), Cassio (Adelaide United)
MIDFIELDERS: Marcos Flores (Adelaide United), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar, captain), Thomas Broich (Brisbane Roar)
FORWARDS: Kosta Barbarouses (Brisbane Roar), Sergio Van Dijk (Adelaide United), Robbie Kruse (Melbourne Victory)
SUBS: Glen Moss (Gold Coast United), Josh Rose (Central Coast Mariners), Kasey Wehrman (Newcastle United Jets), Carlos Hernandez (Melbourne Victory), Jean Carlos Solorzano (Brisbane Roar).
COACH: Ange Postecoglou (Brisbane Roar).
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
The key here is to whether Brisbane can maintain their form for another 12 months so that they can have a serious crack at the ACL. I'd love to see some of the free flowing game on display in the continental showpiece, let's hope it happens.
David V.
Guest
In terms of actual quality players being produced, this is where Scotland really is taking a battering. In the last 5 years there's really been only Charlie Adam (who is class), James McFadden and Darren Fletcher. A far cry from the days when practically every English club could boast Scottish players. There's far more quality if you look at Japan, Korea, Egypt, Colombia, Bolivia, etc. especially in terms of technical quality. Scotland used to do well in that department.
Realfootball
Guest
MacDonald would be a useful striker in the A-League, nothing more. He has obvious limitations in pace and size. I certainly see him as a less dangerous striker than Smeltz, who has far more all round athtleticism. Good point on comparing leagues, tho - just endless hypotheticals.
Realfootball
Guest
It's statements like this that remind me how every football thread has its troll from other codes seeking to denigrate the code. You simply have no idea what you are talking about. A waste of screenspace.
BrisbaneBhoy
Roar Rookie
Ah ha? What has that got to do with how A-League clubs would go in the SPL? Skippy and Boyd would also score goals for fun in the A-League. I honestly don't see the point to compare one league with another as it is almost pretty much impossible, and somewhat pointless. The A-League has improved a fair bit with each passing season, and I believe will continue to do so. Here's hoping the the teams and FFA can be run as well off the field as the likes of most of the teams on the field.
BrisbaneBhoy
Roar Rookie
I've heard other call Sydney - "FC" or "the FC" before.
David V.
Guest
Look at how Scott MacDonald and Kris Boyd have struggled at Boro this season. Those two had no trouble scoring north of the border.
BrisbaneBhoy
Roar Rookie
The SPL is in decline without a doubt. It has been for a while now. With that said, both Old Firm teams will still finish a fair way ahead of the A-League's best. The A-League teams will be in a battle for a top 6 finish (stupid split in the league) and wouldn't have to many worries about relegation as the bottom teams of the SPL are IMO poorer then the A-League teams. But as I said, the A-League teams will need to have bigger squads as having 20-23 players will be their undoing in a season where teams play 40-50 odd matches per season on some very dodgy fields in not so forgiving weather.
whiskeymac
Guest
haha fair nuff, was lazy is all, dont support them. funny however you understood who i meant though...
David V.
Guest
The A-League is improving continuously, whilst the SPL is declining continuously and one of the worst top-flight leagues as of now. Unlike the time when Scotland was spoilt for choice with quality players. I'd say the A-League is overtaking it if not already.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
BO'C How many A-League matches have you attended this season, or any other season? Or, like so many A-League haters is your assessment based on IGNORANCE of the facts, ENVY about how quickly the league has developed; and FEAR about the way Football is creeping into our daily lives despite the juvenile coverage by the mainstream print and TV media? Every day for the past 12 months the only constant in the sports pages - albeit never on the back page - is FOOTBALL ... there is simply no "off-season" for the Beautiful Game.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
Midfielder, regarding the A-League's current top 3 (Bne, CC & Ade), I agree with your assessment regarding them in the SPL. Celtic and Threadbares would finish 1st and 2nd some distance ahead of the rest, but the likes of Brisbane, Central Coast and Adelaide would be fighting it out for top 6 spots. In saying that, the SPL is a very unforgiving league, not just in the speed and physicalness of the games, but also the weather and pitches. With that in mind the A-League clubs would have to add to their playing roster as squads of 20-23 would struggle to compete over the whole season.
Midfielder
Guest
Beer What is your point ... Football has 204 nations with football leagues... my guess is 184 national leagues their teams could not play in the Seria B .... My guess is Brisbane, Mariners & AU will give outside Rangers & Celtic every side in the Scottish PL a run for their money... the same for all side in the Belgium league...
Beer O'Clock
Guest
"No longer do we have to support Australia’s domestic competition simply because it’s ours, now we can implore our friends and families to take in a game because we’re proud of what it has become." Implore all you want but the A-league is a substandard competition run by sub-standard FFA. The crowds and the lack of mainstream support from Aussies back this up. Can't see how anyone can be proud of the A-league and what it has become. Brisbane Roar wouldn't even win a game in the English championship or SerieB yet are portrayed as the greatest team ever. Its statements like this this that remind me why soccer is falling backwards every year in Australia.
Breen
Guest
The number of times throughout the season, Brisbane were pushing all 10 players forward as we love to do and something broke down somewhere - that moment when you turn with heart in your mouth to see absolutely no-one between their striker with the ball and our keeper - but then out of nowhere comes Smith! Absolutely busting his gut (and as an ex-player you can tell when someone is truly pushing absolutely everything) time and time again - giving instructions to other players as he goes - he runs them down, makes a crystal clean tackle and calmly plays the ball out. He did it again at least twice just last Saturday night. I have seen the entire crowd stand and applaud more than once at this throughout the season. A legend of the club already. Long may he and everything he stands for remain.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
So Sydney are known as FC?? You are aware that every team in the A-League is a FC. If people are going to/are going around calling Sydney just "FC", then that is even a worse name then "Roar", "Fury", "Glory" etc, etc.
Breen
Guest
Really?? Why on earth?? He is sensational at CB. That would be a real shame.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Yes of course. Updated, ta.
GibbonsMcGibbons
Guest
Disagree. Smith is the most dominant central defender in the league and the spearhead of the leagues best defense this year. TS is solid defensively - but slow, limited on the ball and poses little threat at set pieces, as his scoring record would dictate. Newcastle started shipping goals once Ljubes went, same can't be said about Brisbane and DeVere's departure.
TomC
Guest
Personally I'd rather have Topor-Stanley than either of them, but I would have been happier with Zwaanswijk than Smith. Nothing wrong with Smith. I just don't think he dominates forwards the way TS can.