Just like last year, as the conclusion to the 2011/12 season approaches, we’re faced with an enticing football match to put the full stop at the end of a torturous 12 months for the game in Australia.
Talking points and controversy can be good – they are the lifeblood of sport after all – but with the game’s future looking more tenuous then ever, it is hard to shake a sense of dread.
In a piece I wrote for The Roar before last season’s grand final I argued that the prospect of a Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners clash was far from “a bad finale for a competition that appears to be stuttering its way towards a significant crisis.”
At the time it was Brisbane who’s future was in jeopardy.
While the defending champions are now safe, Gold Coast United has joined North Queensland Fury on the scrap heap and 2008 champions the Newcastle Jets may well be on their way to joining them.
Last season was also overshadowed by a sense of apathy after the season kicked off during the AFL and NRL campaigns, and while that issue was rectified, this season has brought its own tribulations.
The dream of a western Sydney club in the A-League is being realised, but as a rush job funded by a football federation fast running out of cash.
You can add to that the jeopardising of player rights and the battle of egos between some of Australia’s most powerful billionaires and the FFA, which is pulling the game’s reputation down with it.
In other words it’s hard to find the positive and focus on a game between two diverse teams in Brisbane and Perth Glory.
FFA are taking a massive gamble in western Sydney, and it’s one that must pay off if the game is to have any chance of avoiding finding itself in a similar position 12 months from now.
It’s hard to imagine this grand final reaching the dramatic standards of its most recent predecessor, but at least we can hope the horrors of recent weeks won’t be repeated.
Either way football needs another great occasion on Sunday to distract it from the growing sense of disheartenment as the A-League approaches what could be a long and hard winter break.
apaway
Guest
Fuss How come you get these Socceroos strips before anyone else? Go Guru! And as much as I try to never knock a writer for an "opinion" piece - Davidde, why are you so miserable? Roll on Sunday!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Can't wait to see what sort of away presence we manage to put in...
Kasey
Guest
Thursday afternoon (3pm) Hyundai A-league Twitter: Did I mention there are only 800 tickets left to the #ALeagueGF? A great effort by football fans and Brisvegas football fans especially, 2 years in a row!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The Official HAL GF Souvenir Programme is now available for only $10 ... postage FREE ... if mailing address is in Australia. http://store.haymarketmedia.com.au/products/a-league-grand-final-2012-brisbane-roar-vs-perth-glory
whiskeymac
Guest
remember watching gary lineker. classic poacher. wish the CCM had someone like him to finish off moves....
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Clayts Why are you diminishing the qualities of a poacher? I never said everyone can do what Berisha does. To score tap ins so regularly, Berisha possesses excellent tactical nous - the ability to read 1-step ahead of the play and predict what your team mate is likely to do with the ball. Perhaps, to stop you Brisbane guys getting upset I'll say Berisha is an excellent tactician; Smeltz is an excellent technician.
whiskeymac
Guest
i lived there once. very dark and gloomy in winter so it was, unlike western sydney which has, in comparison, mild sunny days to look forward to. in ugg boots maybe, but i know which winter i prefer. ... good luck to both teams. Am actually going to go for Perth for no other reason than their fans have put up with so much in the last 10 years, although i wont begrudge the Roar from an historic back2back. ... for me the most interesting part of the off season is going to be who is coaching where and the roster changes. am confident Jets will be there (but if not can we some of their players please...(too soon?)). onwards and upwards.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Of course, there was also the excellent team goal that put Miller through to provide the third goal of that match. You may think we're one-dimensional, but Ange has been in the media saying that he doesn't think that :D
Australian Rules
Guest
I fear I'll be accused of being anti-football here (which I'm not)...but has Davidde actually said anything that outlandish? He basically says it's been a horror year for the HAL and he's looking forward to the GF (none could ever compare with last year). After this week is done and dusted, so begins a critical period in the life of the HAL...indeed there are some tough yards ahead. I know the tone of the article is overwhelmingly negative (perhaps unnecessarily so), but has he actually committed a crime here?
Clayts
Guest
which means if Smeltz has a bad day... Surely if all Berisha's goals are tap ins, someone else could do it?
nordster
Guest
i have plenty of respect for the guy in business. I doubt he would have put this much time into being involved with football, only to let the job to go unfinished after his inevitable departure. A 10 or 15 year time frame (and beyond) for the league ... they have always been about building something to stand the test of time. With or without the current chairman. That was the whole point of him getting involved in football again from what he's said, otherwise he would never have got back involved. No quick fixes... All that being said ... i'd still Love It if part of yesterday's offload from the Westfield portfolio went some ways to making the league less susceptible to these manufactured crises that pop up from various quarters. :P
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
15 yrs ??? Lowy will be 97 years old (lol) you do realise that? I can't agree he is too old now; and has made too many mistakes---appointed the wrong lieutenant who all of the owners dislike and who totally relies on Frank Lowy to call the shots. 7yrs is long enough for Frank he has to resign now to allow a new younger energised generation of football brains to step up---starting with Brenden Schwab, Kimon Taliadoros and others of their generation to start up a new leadership under a football commission..
stam
Roar Rookie
Judging from his articles it wouldn't be out of line to assume he hasn't, looks like he reads the headlines from the local newspapers and bases his articles on them
Futbanous
Guest
Beware the White Walkers.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
The first goal of the 3:0 away win against Adelaide this year, our second match with them, was an classic example of this. All Smeltz from start to finish.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Relax, mate. In my opinion: * Berisha is a poacher - in the style of Paolo Rossi, Pippo Inzaghi, Suarez. * Smeltz is a true striker - in the style of Christian Vieri, Wayne Rooney, Davor Šuker Smeltz can create the goal on his own from nothing; the majority of Berisha's goals are put on a plate as a result of exquisite passing from his team mates.
The Bush
Roar Guru
If you don't think Besart Berisha is the most lethal striker in the HAL (Golden Boot Winner), as good as Smeltz is, then you're simply a "one-eyed" anti-Roar poster!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Davidde now lives in England, so we may not hear from him for a few hours. It would be interesting to know if Davidde has attended any HAL games this season.
stam
Roar Rookie
Well davidde the people have spoken, what say you? Not much im expecting
Raghu
Guest
Comon Glory. You can do it on Sunday. Its all looking good.