The A-League’s controversial new finals format is proving to be a success according to Football Federation Australia (FFA) boss David Gallop.
The decision to cram a three-week finals series, consisting of only sudden-death games, into the end of the A-League season after 27 rounds was greeted by derision in some football circles, but former rugby league chief Gallop says the format is providing an exciting finale to the competition’s eighth season at a time when it is competing with the NRL and AFL for the attention of fans, sponsors and media.
“Talking to people in and around the game about the change this year having sudden-death games where everything is on the line has been important because we are in a very competitive environment,” Gallop told an AAP Sports Editors’ Conference on Wednesday.
“It was a smart move away from a start in September when the AFL and NRL are at the pointy end.
“And at the end of the season, we unashamedly realise we are in a very competitive period and we need to adjust to that.”
The new top-six format, which provides for an opening weekend of elimination finals followed by a second weekend of semi-finals before the grand final on April 21, was a bold move for the A-League and the FFA, both of whom acknowledge the ‘consumer friendly’ nature of its make-up.
Critics of the format point out Premiers Plate winners Western Sydney Wanderers are not given a second bite at the cherry should they lose, although they and the second-placed Central Coast Mariners had a week off before this weekend’s semi-finals and have home-ground advantage for those games.
The format has given the game’s governing body a dream set of semi-final match-ups, with the Wanderers hosting defending champions Brisbane Roar on Friday and the Mariners playing Melbourne Victory on Sunday in Gosford.
“It’s an exciting conclusion to the season, there are no dead rubbers and it is a quick finish to the season and that is why we created it,” Gallop said.
Gallop also defended the need for a grand final in the Australian market.
“In Australia, it is about the grand final and, while we will certainly recognise the premiers, sport is all about seizing the moment and that is what the grand final is about,” he said.
nordster
Guest
Exactly lol...should have been presented on the day...i prefer the stand-in trophy anyway...that salad plate has legendary status. Wonder who owns it?
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
finals is different to knockout tournaments. Thats where you dont get it Fubball ist unser leben... Also we hardly need to bring up the term wogball and the ignorant jerks who call it that. These are the same people who still want to call it soccer and are stuck in the past.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
You are 100% Deakie. This finals format is a farce. As a WSW fan im nervous and excited about tonight but I rate this finals format just slightly above the ridiculous McIntyre system. -Beardan (writing under Jaiden Florimo as the raor banned me from comments cause i had a dig at Kate Lundy like we dont live in a democracy anymore)
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
When are they giving WSW their trophy? What if they lose tonight. You know that trophy might end up through the FFA's window for their short sightedness.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Ive been banned by the Roar cause i had a go at Kate Lundy and that ridiculous press conference in Feb. Which so far I have been proven right and Lundy/The Roar wrong to ban me for saying the press conference was ridiculous. Speaking of ridiculous, either you do the A-League finals properly or you dont do it at all. If WSW get knocked out tonight it will be a disgrace. -Beardan
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
I'm very sick and tired of people bagging the A-League finals as "rewarding mediocrity". Every team that made the finals deserved to be there. Only 5 points separated the bottom 5 teams. It wasn't till the very last round that the finalists were decided and the number of teams chasing the final play off places created a lot of extra interest for the game and the A-League. We've always had finals in Australian football going back to before the NSL even started. How are major tournaments around the world like the FIFA World Cup decided - first past the post? No, they are a knockout competition and the best team in the competition wins the final. Its a different sort of pressure and a different type of skill, stamina and courage under adversity for the manager, the players and the teams. Its great and I love it.
West
Roar Pro
The NSL had finals football for 27 years and state leagues have finals. How is this a Gallop Rugby League idea? What about the playoffs in USA and Canada football Leagues?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"That we manage to give formal recognition to both aspects of sports which is an advantage over most leagues in the world .." Let's not kid ourselves that we're doing something different. In England, they have EPL & FA Cup; Spain: La Liga & Copa del Rey; Italy: Serie A & Coppa Italia; Germany: Bundesliga & DFB Pokal The league system rewards the team that is best equipped to perform technically, tactically, physically & mentally over 30+matches - home & away, in all weather & pitch conditions conditions, with drawn games being vitally important. The Cup/knock-out/finals system rewards the team that is best equipped to perform - technically, tactically, physically, mentally - over 5-6 matches. Home ground advantage is often random; matches ending in a draw can lead to extra time & penalties. Happens all over the world .. not just AUS.
Deakie
Guest
Agree jonno. Here we have an ex-NRL administrator who suddenly thinks that what works for the NRL is instantly transferrable to the A-League. Agree with Beardan that after 27 rounds that we should invite 6 from 10 to a finals format that rewards the best teams on the day. Heck lets make it 10 from 10 and maybe Phoenix will thrash everybody and win the grand final! What will that prove......absolutely nothing! First past the post has it in my view always. Extend the season and be done with it.
Unrealistic
Guest
May I add to that? Ok now I love it when people say it's Australian tradition in Australian Sport to have the Finals series, ok fair enough. But aren't the so called traditionalist's the same Aussies that despised FOOTball and called it the Wog Sport for many years? Do I need to say more..?
nordster
Guest
All in the mind of the beholder :) The WSW fans value the Premiership, thats what counts. And to their (partial) defense, FFA have always recognised the title as distinct and not minor. Even if they have always tried to play down the presentation of the trophy, which is quite shameful to the purist.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
So, why would football fans give a stuff about how other sports conduct their business? The other sports may be right; we may be wrong. But, it doesn't matter because .. WE ARE FOOTBALL! PS: Football has its own finals. In fact, finals/knockout tournaments in football are amongst the most watched competitions on the planet.
Richo
Guest
Every sport around the world has a final series except for European soccer. It means team have to win the pressure games to win the title which I think is great. Only European ex pats cant get their head around finals series. Much better format this year, go victory! P.S. Gallop is the biggest knob in Australian sport.
Football United
Guest
This, it's not all about the grand final. It supposed to be equal.
Football United
Guest
i wish it was like that but the FFA are trying their hardest to only value the finals
jonno
Guest
I think finals football is wrong. It should be first past the post. You want a knock comp then organise one instead of using it to decide on who are champions. Champions are who finish first during season.
Roarsome
Guest
The rules haven't changed. It's been that way since the A-League started with or without Gallop.
dinoweb
Roar Guru
“In Australia, it is about the grand final and, while we will certainly recognise the premiers, sport is all about seizing the moment and that is what the grand final is about,” - spoken like a true Rugby League man
dasilva
Guest
Let's go bck to the 50's with the Hungarian Football team that dominated world football In a six year period they only lost one match in six years. One of the greatest sides ever with talented players and shown consistency for such a long period. Unfortunately that one loss was the World Cup Finals to West Germany So who were the greatest side in the world back then. The Mighty Magyar for the mighty talent and their consistency or the World Champions West Germany to had the mental strength to win in a sudden death do or die encounter where everything is on the line. I'll say they are both Champions and great team in their own right. Mighty Magyars for their shear consistency and surely if the World Cup was determine by league they would have won it easily and West Germany for winning when everything was on the line. Of course The Mighty Magyar apart from the olympics never got a trophy for the six year trophy and never were officially champions of the World and that was a shame Fortunately in Australia we have a system that rewards both consistency and the mental strength to win in do or die sudden death encounters. That we manage to give formal recognition to both aspects of sports which is an advantage over most leagues in the world and it's an advantage the A-league has over the World Cup and the Champions League.
nordster
Guest
Thats the beauty of having two titles...the League Prem for the consistency trophy...cup finals is the cherry on the end of the season.