The ideal blueprint for the A-League might’ve been for two teams in Melbourne and Sydney from the outset, but the FFA has stumbled upon gold by delaying the introduction of main city derbies.
Fans have been treated to both of the rivalries in the last fortnight and the passion displayed by the fans in both states must have administrators of rival codes just a little bit jealous.
Allianz Stadium was a sea of red and blue for the return bout between Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers, and flares aside, the atmosphere was exceptional.
On Saturday night at AAMI Park, Melbourne came alive for the eighth instalment of their derby.
The two markets are completely different.
The Victory and the Heart aren’t divided along geographical lines like Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The “about us” section on the websites of the two clubs couldn’t be more different.
The Victory blurb lists their achievements while the Heart blurb uses phrases like “a vision for a broad based community team” and “drawing a link between past, present and future, the Heart’s founders aimed to develop a club truly representative of the wider Victorian football public.”
Match meet fuse.
Sydney FC had seven seasons as the only club in the harbour city but expecting them to have won the hearts and minds of the metro area and the western suburbs is ridiculous.
They would’ve needed a super-human level of man power and resources to engage that whole market.
People in Sydney’s west don’t generally identify with people in the east and vice-versa. The location and identity of the two clubs was a no-brainer.
There’s no doubt that the rivalries would’ve been successful if the Heart and Wanderers were introduced in season one, but has the unintentional stagger of their introductions made the rivalries better?
Heart fans had to wait six seasons for their team while Wanderers fans looked longingly at the A-League for eight seasons.
Both sets of fans already had football available to them in their city, yet chose to either not support the Victory and Sydney FC, or saw something in those clubs they didn’t like.
On derby day, that makes for that special football atmosphere that other sports struggle to replicate.
If all four clubs were around in season one fans would’ve had to choose a side without really knowing what the other one stood for.
It’s hard to dislike something just because you’re told you have to.
Now, armed with at least six seasons of evidence, supporters have been able to make a firm decision about which camp they belong in.
There’s also the big brother/little brother scenario that is hard to manufacture.
The Heart and Wanderers supporters will feel like their clubs are the smaller sibling for a while yet, but that only serves to increase the level of passion again.
Victory and Sydney FC fans also get to play on the fact that another club has moved in on their city.
Certain elements of this would’ve happened in season one, but the delayed introduction of the Heart and Wanderers has made derby day something to savour.
It has made it genuine. The passion is real.
Football fans in general know how lucky they are to be seeing these matches because they’ve experienced the A-League without them.
Football Australia might’ve stumbled their way towards this outcome, but in a strange way, it has given the competition a sense of growth and development.
Perception is everything and at the moment the perception is that the A-League is booming.
Titus
Guest
Parramatta will never be a bigger club than Sydney mahonjt. It's great that everyone loves them though, it's really sweet.
mahonjt
Guest
wont be too hard after the Del Piero effect wears off. WSW are allready averaging about what Sydney FC did last year.
mahonjt
Guest
what was that sonny?...... eh?.......the fifty overs are out the back on the ground? (grabs ear trumpet)
mahonjt
Guest
Its all a matter of public record, so no comercial-in-cofidence conspiracy theory here, unlike the very strange rant above? I just followe the development and introduction of the A-League cloself at the time like all lovers of football. Maybe you were just embarrased? Sorry to have done that to you.....
mahonjt
Guest
I would have Tasmania before Nth Queensland - but only if the Goldcoast can get going again. I think a moderately subsidised Tasmania sends a lot of important messages about one of the key strengths of our game. Its truely national footprint.
jbinnie
Guest
Mahonjt - Don't really know if this offering was aimed at me ,not to worry, but you could enlighten me as to where you got your information, for you are bordering on quoting what should have been at that time, pretty confidential info. I do agree the format, ie 8 teams & 8 teams only, was planned before successful clubs were named but your interpretation of how the FFA arrived at that format is diametrically opposed to what actually took place for it has to be remembered that to gain a "franchise" spot the incumbent had to raise $5,000,000 to gain entry.!!!!!!! When it was found the Groff Lord consortium could only raise $4.500,000, that " conservative " FFA you describe agreed to take a 10% share in the new club with the proviso that they,that same conservative FFA, would allow the consortium to purchase back that 10% of shareholding. This was done inside 2 years. Now ,if you analyse that factual information, are you still trying to tell me that the FFA were the people who awarded the moratorium to protect their $500,000 investment or would you think it may have been the G Lord group who asked for the 5 year moratorium in order to raise the extra capital they required to buy back their 10% of shareholding that constituted the "loan" they had been given from FFA, plus, to show their investors of $4,555,000 that they had gained extra time to build more capital with the use of normal commercial practices,sponsorship,advertising etc etc etc without any competition from within our code.? I'll leave that answer to the more intelligent readers that use these columns. PS Strange that you didn't care to comment on the same "moratorium conditions" that existed for Sydney FC. Are you afraid to suggest anything untoward occurred for it should be remembered our chairman had a "holding" in the early days of that franchise &, if you are to be believed ,did the other six franchisees just sit on their hands & play dumb with all this money being "lent " in Melbourne & Sydney. I think not,do you??????? jb.
Ballymore
Guest
Haha very good, they were a highlight of the Melbourne derby. The flairs & post-match singing especially.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Dear Ballymore This is especially for you from the North Terrace :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNjS3xFV8mA&feature=youtu.be
Ballymore
Guest
My personal opinion as a BNE fan of our rivalries: 1) MV - Surprisingly not because of AP, but the arrogance of their players & fans. And also their carry on after the 2-2 draw @ Docklands last Spring. I can only hear the "biggest club" comment so many times before I roll my eyes. 2) CCM - 2010-2012 were/are our key competitor. In the first few years (say 2005-2008 maybe) I would have said Sydney. I feel that has dropped off in recent times. During GCU's first two seasons they were a main rival, especially due to the unspeakable match that occured 3 years ago tomorrow. Their wealth, proximity and all star list (JC, SS and co) added to the spice. In Asia it is Ulsan. I won't forget their dives & play acting in a hurry. Them winning makes it worse. Merry Christmas! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
The Bear
Guest
lol....thanks, Nath! Right back atcha : )
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Merry christmas to all but Brisbane :D ... ah hell, even you Brisbane guys, too!
Titus
Guest
Love how the CBD is the Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta is the city centre in this new Wanderland........haha, love ya passion guys.
Evan Askew
Guest
Good point. Another good thing about the delayed untroduction of a western sydney team is that the disenfranchised fans of NSL clubs can't claim that Wanderers robbed their team of a place in the A league which they can claim with Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Whether the hardcore supporters of those team will get on board with Wanderers remains to be seen but the delayed introduction has removed a potentinal barrier.
Kasey
Guest
Yes its odd, but honestly I've spent so much time enjoying HAL season 2012-13 that I have paid next to zero attention to the cricket between the Adelaide Test and the Boxing DayTest...If CA want to spend a bucket load of money..I don't really care what journos or Roar bloggers write about the BBL lack of crowds football and Cricket have far different histories in Australia and are bound to be treated differentlyby the establishment for this reason. I'm just happy that football is prospering and that I'm a part of it. We are Football and we are bigger and better than ever :)
Kasey
Guest
Matt F HaHa zing! 12th man impersonation: "Got im? YES!!...p*ss of you're out!"
Kasey
Guest
There's always room for improvement and we football fans are notoriously hard markers so FFA have their work cut our for them evicting the culture of victimsation and/or pessimism and installing a culture of exellence demanded and achieved via constant improvement of our methods. Onwards and upwards seem to be the zeitgeist of the moment for the game...long may it continue to be so:)
Kasey
Guest
there ould be huge a difference between folding a team and telling Wellnix that due to AFC we have to replace them with an Austalin team (Canb/Wol'gong). I my Crystal Ball I see both Wellnix and Auckland represented in the HAL of the future . Sadly I do not see a Tassie team(the North/ South divide sinking that potential team). Canberra and the 'gong are cerain to be in before we celebrate our 25th season. Anybody else will depend upon the continued growth of the game and the willingness of the more financially successful clubs(or the FFA) to subsidise a loss-making smaller market team for whatever strategic goal is determined to be the best path forwards in the future.
pete4
Guest
Kylesy - I'm guessing the strategy now from the FFA is consolidate on the existing 10 clubs. If they start turning a profit fairly quickly invest that into club infrastructure i.e Training complex (or the FFA may put any money aside from future TV deals to do this). With new markets it appears to me this is where the APL will come in. It's possible the A-League will eventually be 12 clubs but it may be an APL team that gets "promoted" once the competition is up and running
Football United
Guest
They do create atmosphere, except if you're of the central coast variety.
Football United
Guest
how shorts that tight were ever acceptable continues to confound me today