Brisbane player Kosta Barbarouses reacts after scoring a second half goal. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Today is rightfully a day of great celebration for the A-League, with the two best teams in the competition this season, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners, fighting for the right to be crowned champions.
Those two teams, chiefly responsible for raising the technical standard of the league, have significantly raised the benchmark leaving the traditional powerhouses of Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United and Sydney FC in their wake.
They will play in front of an expected sell out crowd of 52,000 in a stadium and in front of a community devastated by floods.
Like all grand final days, it will be a grand celebration of the league and code.
But don’t fall into the trap of viewing today’s proceedings as a total vindication of the A-League.
It’s too easy to do so and is too short-sighted.
Many will point to the 52,000 in Brisbane, a city which has had a mixed relationship with its A-League club, as proof that the league is making inroads on the Australian psyche.
It’s proved grand final tickets weren’t too expensive, and the Roar can take on and match the high level of crowd and traction set by the NRL’s Brisbane Broncos, they say.
But those same people seemingly overlook the crowd of 7539 for the preliminary final the week before; they will ignore the fact the Roar will be handed back into the hands of the governing body come Monday morning; and they will ignore the doom and gloom around the league.
Such is the power of a grand final.
Brisbane Roar has come to typify the fortunes of the A-League this season.
The on the field product is the greatest we have ever seen in the domestic game (certainly in the A-League), raising the standard with quality imports, impressive locals who, as demonstrated by captain Matt McKay, can stand side-by-side with Australia’s best football exports within the Socceroos, and a domestic coach shining and producing brilliant football.
But the on field product, no matter how improved, cannot mend the off-field dilemmas, as Brisbane has shown.
If a club on a record unbeaten run, playing the most attractive football we’ve seen, cannot find the necessary funding and owners to support itself and avoid going into the hands of the governing body, then the issues facing the game are very real.
Clubs remains at the whim of millionare owners, who are either losing too much money and could potential leave their clubs rudderless if they pull out, or won’t be interested in investing the A-League until it is in a better economic state.
Don’t fall into the trap of seeing the grand final as an accurate picture of the game’s position.
Remember the cautionary tale of the Brisbane Strikers in the NSL, who attracted a sell out crowd of over 40,000 to their winning grand final in 1997 only to see their crowds plunge to 3000 the following season.
Even the great Brisbane Roar team could suffer the same fate if the off field situation doesn’t resolve itself quickly.
Enjoy the grand final as a great occasion and celebration of the A-League and the great football being played, but don’t be ignorant of the off the field plight.
Follow Adrian on twitter @AdrianMusolino
Marsh
Guest
Billionaires could lose interest as FFA hesitates (via SMH) bit.ly/dNNkzL
John Ryan
Roar Pro
Well gents you had all better hope that the Glory is still in the Comp next year as ATM I dont think it is looking very good for them,and I,m an occasional follower I watch them on Foxtel in the summer
JamesP
Guest
@ Punter: gee those assertions foz made in that article are looking rather foolish now eh? Kinda reminds me of the fat man saying the Suns would go bust... http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/palmer-tips-gc17-to-fail/story-e6frep5o-1225698913158
jamesb
Guest
In a way mona, its good that Brisbane did win, so that other sides can lift their game and play similarly to Brisbane Now that would be good for the A-League!
mona
Guest
Well done to the Roar, anyway, for winning. Hope Roar fans go off tonight and enjoy it. I hope that every team in Brisbane looks at the Roar and tries to emulate that success and every fan of every Brisbane team has something to cheer about.
Aidan
Roar Pro
Fuss, gaz is clearly here because he is after someone to bite and you have taken the bait hook line and sinker. Gaz's comments are clearly inflammatory but you also need to understand that there are many of us out there who enjoy all sport. While not experts we should be able to throw in our 2 cents worth.
Aidan
Roar Pro
I agree the timing of this article was a deliberate grab to take away from the grand final. Not only that, it adds nothing to existing arguments on this topic. Very disappointed...... again.
nordster
Guest
man i gotta cringe whenever i hear people say what all Australians do or love, or that something is the 'Australian way' , or 'quintessentially Australian' as Goolia would have told Barry aka Borat ;)
nordster
Guest
i dunno ... they are in the ACL, perhaps they should have done it last week. There is also a new chairman there who will want to look to be acting on the situation after the Gamba loss and the general perception they don't take Asia seriously. and hard to see this weekend's final getting that much attention in Melbourne without one of their teams in it anyway.
jamesb
Guest
Yeah the NRL is just BEHIND the AFL in audience figures, to use an AFL term
JF
Guest
how many A-League games were shown live at 4am? The ratings from the RSA games would have seriously knocked the SR numbers around.
Fez's are cool
Guest
At least the A League isn't Super Rugby. Did you see how terrible their ratings were? A League might struggle with crowds, but there is definately a TV market for it, especially if next TV deal they get onto free to air in some form.
Fez's are cool
Guest
Have you never watched a Broncos home game, a Brisbane Bledisloe Cup match or a State of Origin match? Suncorp goes off many times a year.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Fuss----well said, I'm off to the Palm Beach Football club now. Hoping to get back in time for Tony's analysis.... Cheers
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Totally agree with AF & punter. MLF is one of many AFL fans, who is openly hostile towards football and football fans. Lads, I will be watching the game and won't be on the PC but ... ... if ANY AFL fan were allowed to initiate a LIVE blog on the A-League GF, my suggestion would be simply don't correspond and leave them to "play with themselves", since this seems to be their forté .... metaphorically speaking, of course ! ;-)
Twatter
Guest
Did anyone notice Julia Gillard with Borat Obama on that A.F.L. show Offsiders today, julia was showing Borat(with a sherrin) what all Australians live and breath Aussie Rules, then they put up the T.V.audience figures and A.F.L. just shades the N.R.L.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
As Punter has said---here's another one of MLF alias names and his real beliefs... an anti-football commentator.. http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/01/18/taxpayer-funding-lobbyist-just-to-be-lobbied/
John
Guest
Yep a big match today a true derby Sth Melbourne vs Heidelberg Utd cant wait
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Whiskey "LesMeringues" ? Who or what is this---can you enlighten me on what this is suppose to mean?
punter
Guest
I'm with Australian Football here, put in under the AFL tab, not football. MLS is a AFL cheerleader, who shows interest in other sports as long as it doesn't affect the AFL dominance. See his article below for his real thoughts; http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/08/24/fos-concludes-that-the-afl-is-weak/