There is a pin-prick of light at the end of that long dark tunnel otherwise known as the A-League off-season.
Despite there being two interminable months to go, pre-season friendlies and practice matches have begun in earnest, and for desperadoes hanging out for a local football fix, we can at last get our appetites whetted.
Melbourne Victory begin their pre-season with a series of five Tuesday night matches against Victorian Premier League teams. This of course means forgetting about the shmick and polish of AAMI and the vast dullness of Etihad.
Instead, we are opening our street directories or firing up the GPS for the likes of the JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne, and the Jack Edwards Reserve in Oakleigh.
What a joy it has been these past two weeks to attend Victory’s practice matches against Port Melbourne Sharks and Oakleigh Cannons. Filing into the single gate entry at the Sharks game last week (“no tickets, hava’ you five dollars cash ready!”) there was a momentary feeling of being at a Gold Coast United game, with three side of the ground cordoned off. That feeling quickly passed as we soaked in that unique atmosphere you only find at suburban football grounds.
A-League supporters accustomed to modern ground border signage for Telstra, Qantas and Hyundai were now confronted by the quaint and mildly amusing suburban advertising alternatives such as “Tim and Terry Oyster Supplies” and “Joe 1 and Joe 2 Marketing”.
Then of course there were the beguiling scents of souvlaki and hot chips drawing us to the impossible half-time queues at the club shop-stall (“no chips for five minutes, you wanna two potata cakes instead?”). And of course in the match itself, standing just a metre or so from the sidelines, we felt the crunching tackles as much as saw them.
It’s cold, it’s basic and it was very much the norm in the old days of the National Soccer League. My experience last week at the Sharks game brought back strong memories of Esther Park Mooroolbark circa 1977, the first year of the NSL. Basic they may be in terms of facilities, but charm, character and close-as-you-can-get action abound.
Of course from my own point of view (and that of the thousand plus other Victory supporters at both matches) we get to watch at the closest of range the re-birth of our beloved boys in blue, under the watchful eyes of our new leader Ange. It is very much early days, but it is a privilege to have the chance to be there and to bear witness to the changes taking place (it is not only a significantly altered squad, but already one practicing an entirely different style of play).
It is also watching the rough pre-season edges gradually being knocked off, and even seeing the growing potential of players previously thought of as sows’ ears benefitting from the silk-purse training that Ange and his coaching team are implementing.
But this is not so much a story about Victory as it is a timely reminder to all those other A-League fans who have yet to make the effort to go and watch your favourite team play its own pre-season matches. Do yourself a favour, attend the next game; not only will you get to scratch that football itch, but as I have discovered over the past two weeks, other unexpected rewards await those who make the effort.
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
Nice comments Rusty. I was at the Port match too, getting the scent of football, beer and chips back in my nostrils after a long off season. There's something to be said for returning the grass roots grounds and matches occasionally; watching the guys try and control the ball on a bumpy cow paddock, under lights not much brighter than a moon lit night. Archie missing from 5 yards, Danny missing from 2 - some things don't change. But they are just warming up and some new blood was on show. Ahh, good to know it's all starting again and the season is not that far off.
Ian
Guest
I agree wholeheartely with your article I attended the Brisbane Roar vs Olympic game at Yeronga on Tuesday night just gone with my wife and 5 year old girl. I have to say it was so much fun and the atmosphere was terrific. Fun may not be the word you would normally use - but naturally going to Suncorp to see the Roar in the A-League is what we are in it for, but there was something special going to this suburban ground I had never been to before, walking up part of the dirt track near the club and sitting in their grandstand. I'd estimate about 1500 fans were there and it was just a lot of fun. There was no 'hava your 5 dollars cash ready' ;-) ......just a gold coin donation to the Childrens Hospital. of course all the takeaway foods were available, coffee plus the toilet seat on show from the Roar. my wife used to attend all the Brisbane league games two decades ago with her father, so it brought back a lot of memories walking into this ground she had only visited as an 'away' supporter against Olympic. Roar fans should check out the roar website as there are a few more of these matches around brisbane. can't wait for the game against the Rochedale Rovers closer to my home next month. (it didn't hurt seeing the new south korean signing for the roar in action. he has a bit of pace to burn.) The night wouldn't be complete without a couple of flares being let off just before fulltime. a good cheap mid week night out and you can see the Roar up close.