The A-League has carried an undesirable reputation in the past for at times being cringe-worthy and difficult to watch.
The league has suffered from a poor tempo, teams’ inability to retain possession and a lack of quality in key areas.
For example, Australian players have often lacked the presence of mind to play the right ball, deterring some football connoisseurs. Many fans, hungry for some true footballing pedigree, have felt inclined to watch football from the European leagues.
But the Melbourne derby, which also served as the opening game of the season, gave us an indication that the competition has finally turned a corner after eight seasons.
The gradual improvement of the league has resulted in a larger pool of home-grown talent. This talent is now discovered and nurtured more rapidly and effectively.
From within the junior and senior ranks there are more cogent systems in place to recognise and develop the prodigious. As a result, the A-League has become a much more attractive prospect for overseas players.
Every year the quality of player the A-League attracts improves, and this year was no different. The acquisition of Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey, Shinji Ono and Richard Garcia has again given us a talented list of footballers who have enjoyed illustrious careers.
These players should prove to be lucrative signings both on and off the field in their debut seasons.
On Friday night, Garcia, a man who was an integral part of Hull City during the club’s tenure in the top-flight of English football from 2008-10, proved his worth in what was a sharp and definitively watchable A-League opener.
Although Garcia’s arrival was overshadowed by the likes of Heskey and Del Piero, the midfielder played a key part in a high quality clash between the Melbourne clubs.
The game featured qualities which are commonly attached to a higher grade of football – qualities that the A-League has been missing since its introduction.
Traditionally, A-League matches which are built up in the same vein as the Melbourne derby have tended to be cautious and anti-climactic on the day.
Coming into the fixture, there was some inevitable scrutiny of these two clubs and the manner in which they have refreshed their squads for season 12/13.
Both clubs boasted new coaches and a series of personnel changes from last season. As a result, some expected this match to either flourish or flop spectacularly.
But, rather refreshingly, and to the relief of the footballing public, the league’s opener managed to live up to its lofty expectations, and perhaps even exceed them in certain areas.
The game was far from a rash, physical affair, unlike past encounters. Friday night’s game was a pulsating, end-to-end tussle of high quality attacking football, the sort of contest that A-League fans have been craving for years.
The match featured characteristics that were either unseen or inconsistently present in seasons past. Players were able to retain the ball for longer periods and pick the right pass, and the tempo was fast and fluid.
But perhaps most crucially, the players displayed greater technical ability than we are used to – more evidence of a term that has become a football cliche in the modern era, namely ‘class’.
Two excellent runs in behind the defence from Marco Rojas and Dylan Macallister, accompanied by sublime deliveries from Mate Duganzic and Archie Thompson, resulted in goals for their respective clubs.
Both were an utter joy to watch, and both signified landmark moments in the league’s history from an aesthetic footballing perspective.
Unlike matches before it, this Melbourne derby has set the tone for not just the weekend ahead but perhaps the rest of the season. It could be the catalyst for a higher grade of football, which has largely eluded fans thus far.
The drastic improvement in the game’s quality has provoked a craving for more; an expectation that this is just the beginning.
If these two clubs can produce a game of such quality from the onset, it’s hard not to ponder what could follow once every club’s squad is match-fit. The league’s potential is undoubtedly exciting.
It may be slightly hasty to hype up the A-League’s ninth season after a solitary game, but the 42,032 fans who flocked to AAMI Park probably drew similar conclusions.
Friday’s encounter gave us an indication that the A-League has transformed from a rudimentary stepping stone, vulnerable to ridicule, to a league which has a real presence and is genuinely on the rise.
The league is more watchable than ever before. The fans must now believe that it was always a worthy project.
Cameron
Roar Guru
@Sportz, unfortunately for those without foxtel we are missing out on the Saturday nights on the couch, watching an enjoyable game of football. lets hope a deal can be done soon to ensure the game is being accessed easier and the fan base look to grow. In the mean time the next best thing has arrived! ABCGrandstand Radio. The coverage in my opinion is good enough when pay TV isn't at our finger tips.
Sportz
Guest
"The league is more watchable than ever before." How about for those without pay TV? Doesn't seem to be that watchable for them.
cliffclavin
Guest
the stadium in melbourne does have the foundations for upgrade, but lets keep walking before we can run - in terms of bigger stadia for football
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Footballl
Guest
A 50000+ capacity rectangular stadium would be terrific for Melbourne but at the moment AAMI Park is just the right fit for the HAL.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
I think the capacity is fine for the A-League. If somtimes people will miss out then so be it. As for the NT? If Etihad is no longer an option then it's back to the MCG for the massive games which could attract a 50000+ crowd I guess. I know it's not the ideal stadium for our football but what can you do? All internationals with less crowd-pulling potential should be staged at Aami Park.
Kasey
Guest
Yes my understanding is that the foundations are already in place to increase AAMI Pk to 50-odd thousand capacity, but the cost is incredibly prohibitive due to the need to dismantle and then reassemble the bubble roof structure.
Kasey
Guest
Frack:( Shower or two 17C is also forecast in Adelaide on Friday (after a generally fine week :( Seriously we should just schdule games in areas affected by drought.....everybody would love us then!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
The foundations were built that way, but then someone put that lovely roof on it...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Rusty026, In a word, "Yes", although the clubs never see the money - it's essentially raked off the top of the TV money by the AFL. The longer story is more complicated - back in 1962, the 12 VFL clubs bought 212 acres at Mulgrave in Melbourne, which then turned into VFL Park, with the proceeds from the sale going into buying Ethihad in a rent-to-own plan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Park The SANFL did something similar with Football Park, by the way. Similarly, the AFL contributed to Metricon on the Gold Coast, and has management rights there, and also contributed money to Skoda. Rather than wasting money on retirement plans for aging champions *cough* Kewell, Heskey and ADP *cough*, I'd recommend a 20 year plan involving centrally contracted youth players with "on sale" clauses in their standard contracts, checkboxes on membership forms and a luxury tax on marquee signings aimed at getting Football Australia equity in grounds.
Rusty0256
Roar Rookie
So excuse my ignorance Ian, is that what happens in the AFL? Do AFL clubs raise money and give it to the government so they can improve their facilities and grounds? That is very generous of them to do that.
asanchez
Roar Guru
A mate of mine worked on the construction of AAMI, it's definetely been built with the future in mind, the foundations have been fortified for a possible capacity upgrade in future. Etihad had a massive say in AAMI being a 31k capacity stadium, as they knew they'd lose business. They lobbied pretty hard, the ground was actually gonna be a 25k seater till Victory got involved and it was increased to 31k. I see 2025 as the perfect time for Football and the Rugbies for that matter to lobby for an upgrade, which will probably be overdue by then.
Kasey
Guest
The AFL already practically gives away junior footy with its subsidies and yet football still kills everything else for participation numbers, that is the simple fact that scares the crap out of senior footy/NRL administrators.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Asanchez, You're starting to see the light there, but note that 55k to Ethihad does a lot more to make payroll for the teams involved than 25k at AAMI. It is in the AFL's interest to have the ground they will own used in their off-season. I suspect they will do a better deal than any other landlord in Melbourne. And if other codes dont like that, they should put together the money to get control of their own ground.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
That would be a great idea. The four professional non-AFL football sides in Melbourne should raise some money, offer it to the state government and make it happen.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Isn't there the option to increase the capacity of AAMI in the future?.Im sure i read somewhere its been designed to be added to if the demand is there,by 2025 im sure the demand will be there and there will be no need to play at Etihad at all.Maybe they'll be playing Melbourne Derbies at the G by then anyway,we can dream can't we.
asanchez
Roar Guru
The AFL can do what they want to be honest. You can subsidise whatever you like, that doesn't mean it'll translate into higher participation numbers. Good look to them as they take over Etihad, it's good business by them. For us rectangular sports, we now have a ground, hopefully we play every game there ASAP. Football supporters including myself don't wana watch our game at Etihad. Big ground, too far from play, lacks atmosphere, 25k at AAMI for Football is a much better atmosphere and spectacle than 55k at Etihad. I know that may be different for AFL. I hope they don't want us at Etihad when they take over.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Asanchez, The AFL is far more ruthless and long sighted than that. Ethihad wont be seeing serious use over the summer. At a profit of $5 per head to the landlord, the A-league clubs putting 500k people through the stadium over the summer represents 20 or so professional youth development officers. Remember, while association football funds representitive teams via charging kids to play the game, the AFL subsidises the next generation of players and fans.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Etihad is handed over to the AFL in 2025. I reckon Victory may have done a deal till that time to play 5 games a year at Etihad. The AFL will either kick Football off the ground for good when it gets hold of it, or increase the rent to use the venue. They'll also screw the FFA for Socceroos matches. Will be interesting to see if the FFA/FFV/A-league can convince the government by then to expand the stadium to at least 40-45k. Watch this space...
Kasey
Guest
Isn't there a theorem that shows that stadia are never really 'full'? That the best you can get is 90-something percent?
Kasey
Guest
Just checked the weather and wouldn't you bloody know it, rain is forecast for the Saturday in Sydney:( we must be cursed? Hurry up and improve the roof at SFS.