Brisbane Roar rolls on and on to Australian sporting history – unbeaten in 33 games and 13 months. And yet we acknowledge their remarkable run, nod graciously, then focus more intently on other A-League sub-plots – Sydney FC’s revival, starlets Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton, Antony Golec’s tweets, Ben Williams’ cards, Gold Coast United’s crowds and more.
While there’s been much praise from within the football family for the Roar’s achievement, are we are truly appreciating the greatness we’re bearing witness to?
Keep reminding yourselves that Brisbane’s run is in a salary-capped league renowned for its competitiveness.
It’s a league in which it’s almost accepted that the reigning premiers/champions will fall from the penthouse to the basement as market forces rob the champs of their stars, as happened to the Roar.
Yet they’ve rolled on unabated. Such is the strength of the system that Ange Postecoglou has instilled at the Roar, the conviction and confidence they are playing with, that they seamlessly adapted to the forced changes in the off-season and loss of key personnel. The system is so strong that players are almost interchangeable.
Already this season they’ve brushed aside three of the clubs many thought could threaten their rule – Central Coast, Sydney FC and Adelaide United (and how – 7-1).
On the same weekend as the Roar took a point from their trip to Melbourne – the scene of their last defeat two Septembers ago – yet again coming back from a goal down within minutes, such is their mental strength, their youth team destroyed the Victory’s 5-1.
We are witnessing something special, at a club which had, until Postecoglou arrived, done very little to threaten the A-League establishment.
Perhaps the length of the run and the Kewell and Emerton sideshow heading into this season has overshadowed Brisbane’s feat, somewhat.
But there must be more to the under-appreciation of the Roar’s achievements. Consider their crowd average of under 13,000, below the league’s inflated (by Kewell’s Melbourne Victory) average.
Where are the 50,000 who witnessed the drama of last season’s grand final? And why haven’t they returned?
Roar undoubtedly suffered somewhat from the arrival of Gold Coast United on the scene, robbing them of a portion of their supporter base from the Queensland Roar days. And, as with most A-League clubs, there were some self-inflicted errors along the way that alienated many a football fan. For example, in the Roar’s case, the greatly inflated ticket prices that ate away at their crowd average.
If the Roar has come to symbolise the evolution and progression the A-League, they also represent some of the limitations that still hold it back.
In trying to explain why the team unbeaten in over a year, playing in and representing Australia’s third most populous city, can’t crack the easily achievable 13,000-mark, you can’t help but uncover some home truths.
Is it a coincidence that the Roar is playing out of the biggest stadium in the A-League, barely filling one-fifth of Suncorp; atmosphere lost amongst the barren banks of seats?
How can one the greatest runs in modern sport galvanise a city when the achievement remains hidden from view to two-thirds of the country – those without Fox Sports.
In a society where the cult of celebrity rules, is it any wonder Kewell’s Melbourne has doubled its crowd average (15,000-plus to 33,000-plus), while the Roar, a champion team rather than a team of champions, has barely increased its average by 3000.
It’s these factors that make the Roar the under-appreciated greats of Australian sport – on the one hand taking the A-League to a new level, on the other hamstrung by the league’s limitations.
FootyWiffaJ
Guest
I agree that they may be an under appreciated side but I don't understand why people think that the crowds we see in the A-league are somewhat below par. Below par for what? Compared to other sports? Can someone explain why Brisbane SHOULD get more than a 13,000 average? The average is the number of fans that want and can go to a game. Melbourne, which is twice the size in population of Brisbane had an average of 27,728 in 06/07 when they won the grand final. That's only just twice what Brisbane get now. Seems to be about right. I understand as followers of the game we would love to see more fans, but I'm sure a record breaking Sheffield Shield side would love to see more fans at it's games too.
lucky
Guest
I considered going to see the Roar yesterday, in what would have been my first time watching an A-league game either live or on telly. Usually my only contact with soccer is via multi-sport websites, where I read a bit about each code as my free time allows. In the end my friend went to the game (he's a member), but I didn't because the game was on late in the afternoon and the weather was so beautiful that I wanted to stay outside. That said, I live in Brissy's CBD, read the papers every day, work in a sports-related industry and yet I didn't know that the Roar were playing, who they were playing against or how much tickets cost until my friend mentioned that he was going. I don't have cable tv at home, and I only watch Fox at the pub when my AFL team is playing on pay tv, so my exposure to soccer on a daily basis is almost zero. It's a bit of a shame, because at this time of the year I'd happily watch a game on telly or go along as there's precious else going on in the sporting world in Brissy. I'm not sure if that helps answer the OP's questions about low attendances, but in a city where most people are supportive of the four football codes and follow them, it is a bit surprising that so few get along to Roar games.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Roar is 35 games unbeaten W23 D12 Haven't been beaten for 12 months. Draws in Football are also very common, and as likely as a loss or a draw. Other codes have high points totals, so obviously draws are much less possible.
Bob
Guest
News Ltd, the owner of the Courier Mail, is also a 50% owner of the NRL, the majority owner of the Brisbane Broncos, and the outright owner of Melbourne Storm. News has a lot of balls in the air - it's role extends beyond objective reporting, particularly in the arena of professional sports (NRL) in which it is also an active player in the creation of content. I suspect the Brisbane Roar would have a lot more coverage in the Courier Mail if they were owned by News. Highlights the danger of cross and consolidated media ownership.
Crazy Dave
Guest
Can anyone tell me how many of these 34 games have been won by the Roar, and how many have been draws?
asanchez
Roar Guru
Great response! More people need to do this so the TV stations and newspapers take notice. My suspicion is that they do take notice, know full well what they are doing, but arent willing to change just yet because these media outlets are guarded and hesitant about other sports, especially Football, to not take anything away from Rugby League. It's the same in Melbourne with the AFL. This mindset will only change with time, and if the next TV deal includes a FTA component, then we will get at least 1 channel promoting our game well, to get viewers to the games on their channel. I hear in Adelaide their local paper The Advertiser is very positive about the A-league and Adelaide United, and promote them very well, and give them the attention they deserve.
Myself
Guest
There are two main reasons why the roar is struggling for recognition and support in Brisbane. Firstly; Brisbane has a strong rugby league culture that is hesitant and guarded about letting football get a strong hold in Brisbane. Football will break through but it will not be as fast as we would expect. Secondly; we only have one newspaper in Brisbane (The Courier Mail) which is also embedded in the rugby league culture. A growing number of the football community in Brisbane refer to the paper as The Courier FAIL because they are so anti football. They hardly ever promote the next game, well they do but just a bare minimum. When the Roar beat Adelaide 7-1 there was hardly anything in the paper. Let me add a third reason; Chanel 7,9 and 10 in this city are very much like the Courier Fail. They will show the results of less popular sports before or instead of football and if they do report on the roar it's only a mention and never do they mention the other A-league games. My answer to this is to boycott the Chanel's and the paper and get my info from the net. More of us should do this to quicken the changes in Brisbane. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
BA Sports
Guest
I think the football public (who watch A-League) appreciate the Brisbane Roar's achievements, but the sporting public have only taken a passing interest. Why? I would guess it is because the sporting public do not percieve the A-League to be of a high enough quality to warrant recognition. The NRL and the AFL have the best of the best playing against the best. And to those for whom football isn't their first choice sport, they see a 33 game unbeaten run as impressive, but other great runs in league and AFL have been consecutive wins, not consecutive non-losses.
pbedo
Guest
Cant wait until all the Aleague teams catch up to Roar, then I won't bother with European football
pbedo
Guest
I don't think the public at large would consider winning or losing to an Asian team a big deal. I'm afraid I'm with Krasic on this one. You have to love the game, be born with it otherwise there's no passion even when Australia or the local club wins. It's only socka!
Galaxy Hop
Guest
Maybe if our national team could win against Oman, there'd be more enthusiasm.
Midfielder
Guest
Seems to me that taking a crowd from under 4 K in the NSL to over 13 K in the FFA is a reasonable outcome... it will build slowly... also Brisbane never had the European migration that other cities did... so there is not the same support base ... however as I said it is building ... just let it happen... but I agree play out of a smaller and more affordable stadium...
Izzy
Guest
Im from Sydney but Brisbane have been fantastic and it has been a joy to watch them last and this season.
Krasic
Guest
It shows how football is regarded in this country. Ignoring a great team....sad but true.
Hamblin
Guest
From my perspective the average crowd is where I thought it would be in a rugby/NRL dominate city. I am an EPL follower and only this season have i really been interested, I think the other/new football fans will come out of hiding in a year or 2 plus I would say half of the GF crowd was either not from Brisbane or not usually keen on Aleague. I'm from sunshine coast and the travel sucks but I hear even in bris it sucks so go figure. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Hamblin
Guest
Well 15,000+ probably from the GF were not even from Brisbane, another 10k+ only have enough time/money to go to one game, also others that don't usually watch football came, or those that are usually sit at home fox sports watchers. I'm from the sunshine coast and recently (this season) am a member and follower of the a-league because euro football had my eye, so there r those ppl that really don't want to watch a low grade game, plus it's better then last year average so it can only pick up ! From my perspective the avg so far is what I expected. Fan base really is still progress in a NRL/Rugby dominant city -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Galaxy Hop
Guest
The Brisbane Who?