With two weeks to go of the A-League, it’s almost still anyone’s guess as to who will take out the 2012 title.
It seems an eternity ago that the Brisbane Roar looked impossible to beat; for those days have now been replaced with an unpredictability that may revitalize the national competition once again.
The top four places are separated by just five points; the top seven by less than ten.
And if the week just finished was anything to go off then picking who will and won’t be in the finals might just be toughest ask of all.
The Newcastle Jets went in as strong favourites against a struggling Gold Coast United and only walked away with a point. Upset number one.
Brisbane Roar dropped points at home to Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners goalkeeping howler cost them all three against the Perth Glory.
And once you throw in to that mix the fact that Melbourne Heart squandered a certain win against the Phoenix and Sydney FC scraped home with a penalty goal against a woeful Melbourne Vicotry, the competition truly is a level playing field.
This is exactly what Australian football needs. The national competition hasn’t quite taken off as those involved might have dreamed that it would, but it is still a young league, and the USA’s MLS gives much hope – dark days will brighten.
And, with matches unpredictable and nothing for certain, drama is coming back in to the A-League (and I’m not talking Clive Palmer and Frank Lowy).
I’m talking on the pitch, edge-of-the-seat, tough to pick matches that feature the gritty, determined style of football that the Australian national league is beginning to resemble.
It’s exactly what the competition should be like and it’s exactly what we’re getting.
The on-field drama is perfect for the game not only in that it distracts us from the issues off the field, but gives us hope in a revitalized national footballing system again.
I hope that the final two weeks of the league were everything that this week came to resemble – I truly do.
The drama is here to stay, and I for one, am loving it.
MHTID
Guest
how is it a joke, afl rewards teams up to 8th, what is point of the last 22 rounds, so that they can play a knockout final with the team that finished 8th. The AFL is a joke of a league
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
Ever heard of the MLS and their playoff series. Every League in the world has a knockout series with a final at the end of it. This is what people love all around the world. If you really were from West Sydney, you'd appreciate that.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Agreed, though I do love the concept of finals—maybe because that's just the way that it works in the younger years and the way I went through and came to love. The feeling of winning the grand final far outweighs the feeling of winning the regular season league. I guess we'd have to start at the grass roots if we were to amend the system in any way. Well argued though.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Thanks for your feedback Tom. Appreciate the kind words.
Stevo
Guest
Well there was drama today of all days. Harry Kewell paraded as King of Moomba! Who would have thought that years ago when only the sight of a flares and some ethnic "warfare" would have made the media spotlight. How times have changed. Now for HeartFC in the finals and more drama for us fans!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Well argued Futbanous.
Futbanous
Guest
As one born & bred on overseas football I have no problem adjusting to the Aussie way of doing things in relation to sport. Whilst one could argue that a final six in a 10 team league is a bit much,the idea of finals is well entrenched & can be an exciting end to the season. In overseas first wins the league,but the mindset(created by tradition & football history) is such that fans will follow no matter what. If that wasn't the case the EPL for instance would have empty stadiums ,because as it has stood for a while now only a few teams can win it. Unless of course a benevolent billionaire comes your way. Anyway the A-League Premiers & Champions have equal merit IMO since we joined Asia. The first on the ladder at seasons end has a very worthy reason to be crowned Premiers, they gain automatic entry to the ACL, satisfying the traditionalists . The Champions satisfy those who lean towards the Aussie way. A win win scenario for all football supporters in Australia. It requires little mental adjustment surely to acknowledge that their can be two worthy titles derived from the same competition.
amazonfan
Guest
Why does it matter if one is from New Zealand? Please tell me that you don't have an anti-NZ bias (or obsession in his case) like Republican.
tomdartnell11
Roar Rookie
Dan, got to say I loved reading this piece and agree with what you've said here. Both ends of the top six being hotly contested makes for exciting viewing, regular season is going down to the wire for both the premiers plate and last finals spot. I'm really hoping Melbourne Heart cement their top six spot as their season has certainly deserved it. Victory on the other hand have been shambolic throughout, and had they scraped in it would have papered over some serious managerial/personnel problems. I wrote about the need for Heart to grow their fan base in a blog post - http://tomdartnell11.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/melbourne-needs-a-bigger-heart/ - and I actually reckon that within Melbourne there's a fair portion of fans who just want football, and have less regard for which Melbourne team is playing. So hopefully with Heart as the Melbourne representative in the finals they might gather some more supporters.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Fair point there in comparison to other world tournaments. But why does our league have to be EXACTLY the same as the others. I for one like the finals. More excitement. Anything can happen.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Maybe but the top 2 and top 4 are both now torn open, including all the Asian Champions League spots.
West Sydney
Guest
yes it is a travesty that Syd Croatia didnt receive the recognition for finishing first then they lost the GF both times. but thats not my point. here you have a league that rewards 6 out 10 teams, 1 of them is from new zealand, and the gold coast which are a waste of space club, so if you think having 6 out of 9 teams qualify for the finals what is the point of playing 27 games? good one Fussy! defending the game no matter what, even when its ridiculous. 6 out of 9 teams make the finals, whoohoo if thats what it takes to make it interesting lets do it!
West Sydney
Guest
Im Comparing it to World football leagues, 99% of them 1st wins the league, not something called a premiers plate
pete4
Guest
West Sydney - the A-League was originally planned to be a 12 team competition that's why it has a top 6 finals series. As below the team that finishes 1st (Premiership) wins an automatic ACL spot. The Grand final winner (wins the Championship). Which exact league are you comparing it too?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
We love the HAL; you don't. Why don't you move along and let us enjoy the final 6 weeks? Win-win for everyone, don't you think?
Evan Askew
Guest
West Sydney, at least the team that wins the premiership gets recognition unlike in the nsl from 1988 onwards where only the grand final winner is considered the Premiers. In the a league at least the team that comes 1st is called premiers (though sometimes they are called minor premiers by misinformed pundits and gets its just props. And we still keep the finals series which creates interest in the sport in this competitive environment. It is a travesty that a club like Sydney Croatia who won the "minor" premiership twice has never recieved the official recognition it deserves for such efforts.
West Sydney
Guest
Drama filled maybe, but its not very fair that the team that finishes 1st hasnt won the league, and the team that finishes 2nd and 3rd has to play the team that finished 6th. 6 out of 10 teams make the finals? so if you have performed below par (top 4 or 5) and finished 6th you have qualified for the finals? thats a bit desperate i understand your trying to keep fans interested but if you love your team you go to the game no matter what. 6 out of 10 teams make the finals, so what was the point of the last 27 rounds? so that you can play a knockout with the team that finished 6th? joke league im sorry to say,
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
All football codes have shown that a bit of drama doesn't really hurt and can sometimes help - at least you are being noticed and get media space for free. Attendances and ratings for the A-League have been good since the Palmer dummy spit and not the end of the world as some pundits predicted. Even better, Clive Palmer doesn't own GCU any more and SBS look like idiots again. SFC crowd was the biggest all season by a few thousand and will be even bigger if they are playing the Jets for a finals spot in 2 weeks time.