The A-League is finally commanding large chunks of real-estate on the pages of our nation’s newspapers, but sadly it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Gold Coast’s billionaire owner had stirred the hornet’s nest with his unrelenting accusations and barbs directed at the FFA.
Whether we agree with Clive or not, his actions have brought to the fore, debate over the state of our domestic league, its health, its direction and its future.
Opinions from all corners have been voiced on what needs to be done to make sure we achieve a self-sustaining domestic league in this country, because at the end of the day, that’s what we all want – a domestic league that stands on its merits, one that is not at the mercy of wealthy billionaires or continually propped up by the FFA.
Since Clive’s outburst, social media, the print media, TV and radio, have been alive with calls for the FFA to direct more funds to struggling clubs, for TV rights to be shopped around, for more wealthy billionaires to be enticed into ownership.
Opinions on how to ensure the survival of the A-League are coming from every corner of the land. While this level of debate is healthy, the sad thing is, in my opinion at least, we are all missing the crucial point.
Our domestic league will never survive, no matter how many wealthy owners we entice into ownership, how much funding the government and the FFA release to clubs, if we do not develop the culture of the game among its supporters.
How many soccer AMs do we have here in Australia?
How many shows of the likes of AFL and NRL footy shows, that are football-based do we have? How many shows on radio?
How many commentators? How many sports journalists devoted to football?
The answer to all these questions is not many.
For me, developing media talent is as important as pouring money into clubs or spending it on marquis players. For our A-League to grow, the growth must be organic from the bottom-up, generated by the fans and fed by robust and healthy media representation.
And so, I believe strongly that the FFA should spend some of their money providing funding for media projects and the identification and development of media talent in the same way the Film Financing Corporations and many other peak bodies do in order to inspire and nurture the next generation in their field.
AFL and the rugby codes have their legends born over many generations, created as much by those who perform the deeds as by those who capture them.
These legends fire the imaginations of the supporters, urging them to become part of the sport.
The A-League needs to begin creating its history, its legends, its heroes, to inspire the fans and get them engaged, but it will never do that by leaving it to the few we have in the media – we need more, more people behind microphones, in front of cameras, writing stories, capturing heroics and sharing them.
The FFA could do it as simply as providing scholarships, funding TV program development, supporting bloggers and the list goes on.
A few months ago, a mate and I started a soccer program on local community radio in Victoria. Nothing big, just a humble one hour program that’s all about soccer.
We’re not receiving any coin, it’s all volunteer-based but we do it because we are passionate about the game and are willing to put in our time to make it grow.
The response from the community has been fantastic, especially one from the two Melbourne based A-League clubs.
Buoyed by the response, we contacted the FFA for help with media passes so we could cover the A-League and promote it, we have not heard anything from them.
Maybe we need to be billionaires?
Joe Novella
Guest
Hey Jb, thanks for your words of encouragement. I'm fed up with football bashers but I realize we need to take ownership if changes are going to be made. So I've started a radio show to get some football in the media and a facebook page www.facebook.com/2upfront to get some like-minded people together who are passionate about the game and want to see it prosper. I know the big boys won't exactly be shaking in their boots at my efforts but I have to put my money where my mouth is and see if I can shake things up a little. Hopefully we get a few onboard, if there's enough of us making noises then change will be swift and for the betterment of our game. Jump on board. You're welcome! Cheers mate.
jbinnie
Guest
Joe - I have been involved in local football for nearly 50 years at all levels from playing to State administration.In that time I have come in contact with many many football publicists and the Courier Mail has not had a positive spin on the game since an amateur,one Ron Mitchell,who was a contributor,not a paid journalist did the football input between 1963 right up to 1980.After that time it appeared either the paper's corporate decision makers or alternatively the journalists union embarked on a course that saw only journalists, (in the main juniors who were just starting their careers) given the task of publicising the game.Now it so happens that most of the young men appointed to these positions had never played the game at a high level so obviously,as the standard of the game improved so the nuances used by players and coaches became harder and harder for them to follow, so the standard of the "reporting" became less and less opinionative tending to follow the well worn path "he said that, he said this, etc etc.,in fact other peoples' opinions. Your plan may cure this but it will be a long long road to follow. jb.
Joe Novella
Guest
Here's why we need investment from the FFA in developing media talent, last week this was just one of the incredibly biased stories run on the Herald Sun in Melbourne (Full back page spread mind you) "Soccer in Crisis" by Marco Monteverde with Val Magliaccio - Really? Marco and Val, you guys should be ashamed of yourself for writing such sensationalistic crap and the Herald Sun is just as guilty of sensationalistic and opportunistic journalism for running it. Soccer is NOT in crisis, the game is multifaceted with huge participation at grassroots levels as well as enormous growth in the women's game. The A-league is not perfect, yes, granted, but to hold the recent A-league shenanigans up as a measuring stick for the game in general is disgusting journalism to say the least. We need fresh voices in the media, and soon. Thank goodness for The Roar, at least us fans get a voice that's not tarnished by political or editorial influence.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Maybe Sydney Rovers would like to join us.
striker
Guest
Qantas go and join Plamer new league i mean one team league,this years comp has been great with viewers increase both on tv and in the stadium, there are problems with the league but its heading in the right direction with some top notch games this season that would be inline with the EPL in terms of quality, even the NSL had much better crowds than GCU so go blame Palmer as the whole of football community are happy he is gone.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
"A domestic league that stands on its merits, one that is not at the mercy of wealthy billionaires or continually propped up by the FFA". Nice article, however after the recent events on the Gold Coast this sentence should read: A domestic league that stands on its merits, one that is not at the mercy of the FFA or continually propped up by the wealthy billionaires ". Sack Ben Buckley for mismanagement and throw out Frank Lowy, he's lost it, and now belongs in an institution.
jbinnie
Guest
Joe - Not only a thinker but a doer.Great stuff. You hit so many "boundaries" in this offering and it can only be hoped you get some success. Keep up the good work.jb
MG
Guest
Joe, best to try the clubs for Media Passes. Bonita who used to be at the FFA was brilliant at dealing with community radio stations. Would always answer emails.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
"The A-League needs to begin creating its history, its legends, its heroes" Brisbanes streak started down the path of creating some history, but these things do take time. When another streak starts being compared to that run, when comparisons with teams and players past becomes more of a possibilty, the legnds take shape naturally. Until then, you true believers are the best thing the game has. You are the people who will begin these debates; online, at the púb, at the game, and some of that may rub off into the media. It is exceptionally difficult for any sport to create its media agenda, even the AFL and NRL can not do that, but they at least are assured that anything and everything will get reported on - and torn apart - somewhere. The A-League will probably never compare in media coverage, it simply does not have the hold over the populace that those two competitions do in their respective heartland areas.
Passionate Fan
Guest
Social media and the cult 'ure' that goes hand in hand with football should never be ignored. Im sure the FFA feel that they do a lot in the community, supporting clubs - an ongoing requirement for diverse radio and TV shows committed to showcasing our wonderful game, via humour and 'street' culture as Joe states is a must. Live, delayed or highlights packages of games are fundamental no question asked basic requirement. There is no 'corporate' quick fix here, football related media needs investment and more time to sink into the psyche of this great sporting nation. The every changing social and diverse culture in Australia means that there is a groundswell of people disenchanted and disengaged from the FFA and sadly from football, which is a catch-22 as over time this means lost revenue for the FFA. Bloggers and similar media are almost like an underground 'resistance' movement fighting the business men in suits who do not own the game, we do. Football for the people.