There is little doubting the spectacle that was Sunday’s A-League grand final.
A sell-out crowd; an absorbing, European-like atmosphere that was spoken about across the media for days; and a tight battle between the two top teams from the season that was.
But, as Central Coast took out the Championship title with a 2-0 upset over their more-fancied Western Sydney opponents, there was something about it all that just didn’t seem right.
Did the Mariners really deserve to claim the accolades when, throughout the regular season, they were proven as second to the Wanderers outfit?
Just a few weeks ago, Western Sydney were in party mode as they took out the end-of-season premiership title with a win away to Newcastle – pipping Central Coast by three points.
Their vociferous fans chanted “Champione, champione, ole ole ole” as the playing squad danced away in celebration on the Hunter Stadium pitch with a fake premiership trophy (The real one would not be presented to Western Sydney until prior to their semi-final clash with Brisbane on April 12).
News outlets reported the Wanderers’ success as a ‘fairytale.’
It was as though Western Sydney had won it all. They were the best team in the competition. Yes, there were finals to come, but they would be a mere formality.
Wrong. Despite conquering virtually all competition until the final, which included a record 10-match winning streak, the Wanderers would stumble at the final hurdle to gift the Mariners the title of champions.
One might be forgiven for assuming the Western Sydney fans would be devastated at the loss. Their team had come so far, yet not far enough. But the Wanderers faithful were anything but, that as they defiantly broke into their ‘Champione’ song late into the game – when losing had become a foregone conclusion.
It was a poignant moment that made one realise we had really been left with two ‘winners’ from one season of football.
After all, few could argue Western Sydney are undeserving of due praise, merely for losing on Sunday.
It begs a question that is often swept under the carpet. What’s more worthy: premiers or champions?
We need some clarity here. It goes against football tradition to have two victors. Do we see both Manchester United and Manchester City celebrating at the end of a season when one wins the title? Or Real Madrid and Barcelona? No.
One logical step would be to dismantle the A-League finals series altogether. This, as a friend pointed out to me the other day, would go against Australia’s own football tradition, which has utilised a finals system consistently since 1988 back in the National Soccer League days.
Another option is to do away with the importance placed on winning the home-and-away premiership. For example, call it the ‘Minor’ Premiership as they do in other Australian sports such as the AFL.
But this step would surely be unfair to those sides that travel large distances, battling it out for months on end to be the best side in the competition – as Western Sydney did so this season. Not to mention it goes against worldwide football tradition that usually honours such teams who finish in first place.
So, what do we do from here?
It is an unrealistic suggestion to scrap the A-League finals right now when it is a big crowd-puller and money-earner for the FFA.
Moreover, some have scoffed at the idea of deciding the winner during the regular season of a 10-team competition that has no promotion-relegation system in place.
One alternative move could be found through the planned introduction of the FFA Cup next year, with FFA CEO David Gallop touting the final of that competition to become a showcase event on Australia Day.
If that idea comes to fruition, why don’t we shift our salivation with finals football to that contest?
We could remove the A-League finals and, perhaps, extend the regular season to 36 rounds, ensuring that every side plays each other four times – twice home and twice away (like in the Scottish Premier League). This contrasts with the current and arguably unfair system where some teams are forced to play more matches away than at home.
Regardless of the ideal solution, it’s hard to question that something needs to be done to escape the current paradoxical situation where there are multiple A-League winners in a single season.
clipper
Guest
I think winning the EPL league title would, especially now, be held in higher esteem than the FA cup, and rightly so, as you have fought all year to get there. I would be good if there could be more separation between winning the A league title and then winning the finals play off - perhaps a FA cup like affair.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
agreed!
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
+1
Mr Celery
Guest
WSW v CCM 0-0 in Wanderland WSW v CCM 0-2 in Wanderland CCM v WSW 0-1 in Bluetongue CCM v WSW 2-0 in Allianz P W D L GF GA Pts GD CCM 4 2 1 1 4 1 7 +3 WSW 4 1 1 2 1 4 4 -3 Best team honours looks pretty clear cut to me.
Ian
Guest
While the table doesn't lie, WSW were not far and away the best team of the year over CCM. It was damn close. There was 3 points between them and spoils were shared evenly between them during the year. No questions need to be asked of whether CCM were deserving. And its shown again the Grand Final winner has always come from the top 2 teams in the premiership. its now even - 4 times the team that won the premiership has won the GF and 4 times the team that finished 2nd has won the GF.
Deakie
Guest
Had the grand final contestants been other than the two top teams or a combination of one of the top two and others would it have proved anything? IMO no other than the winning team was the best on the day.
Deakie
Guest
Nice article Rusty. Food for thought. Personally I would like to see the finals format scrapped altogether and the competition extended to the hypothetical 40 rounds, particularly, given the introduction of the FFA Cup. I feel the finals format where 6 out of ten qualify for the elimination finals is plainly ridiculous, although this final series saw the top two teams emerge for the grand final => but it could be different. Whilst finals football no doubt is exciting and adds the extra spice to the end of the competition, I believe its primary purpose is to add more revenue to the coffers of the FFA. No disrespect intended for the Mariners who are deserving champions of the GF but with 40 rounds of the regular season and the injury/suspension problems with the Wanderers the Mariners probably would have won the regular season anyway by overhauling them. Then we still have the top two teams settled and the ACL places determined. My twenty cents worth.
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Seems most of you think the more-deserving winner is the side who takes out the Grand Final. In that case, should we, then, do away with the current emphasis placed on the team who finishes first at the end of the regular season? As discussed in my article; should we label them the "Minor" Premiers rather than anything else? Rusty.
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
True re: the Mariners. They were certainly a dominant force, and have, arguably, been the most consistent side in the A-League to date (2x Premiers trophies and now a Championship trophy to boot). Mind you, the purpose of the article was to discuss the merits of finals football in the A-League. The discussion of the performances of West Sydney and CCM, whilst having its place, was mostly incidental. Cheers.
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Well, it's all down to interpretation. Either way, I think you'd be hard-pressed to say Central Coast were a better side than West Sydney this season. But everyone has their opinion, and rightly so!
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
But the odds obviously then become dependent on how the public is backing either side or the draw ;) But I think this is getting a bit off track .. and if we go any further you'll ruin me with whatever argument!
Bobbo7
Guest
The Mariners won and deservedly so. I picked them to win as did most experts (a 30 cent difference in TAB odds means very little in soccer games. Our system is that the winner of the grand final is the winner. That's it. With relegations and various cups the points system works but not really sure it would work here. Most teams would be out of it with weeks to go so there would be little interest for the final weeks of the season. Anyway, did not think this article gave the Mariners their due credit. The best side for much of the year and won the final while also playing in another competition. The right team won.
Melange
Guest
No need for pardons Rusty, I love poetry. I know a guy who works for TAB sportsbet, there's usually only a team of 2-3 working on odds on any particular sport, so my dozen odd are likely to provide a better indication on who is more fancied - no need to seek my pardon on that one either ;)
philk
Guest
Optimum word here is 'throughout'.....it wasn't until the last 3 rounds of the competition that the Wanderers moved past the Mariners, courtesy, of course, of their win over the Mariners at Bluetongue.
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Cheers Simon. The mentioning of 'all the dead rubbers' is a good point. Until we have a second league (if that ever happens), removing the finals system is more-than-likely out of the equation.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Good article Rusty & well said Mercator. I don't mind the current format. It gives clubs the chance to do 'the double', and also gives lower ranked sides something to strive towards in the final months of the season. Year in year out, nearly every side have something tangible - finals - to play for right up to the final weekend. Sure, that rewards mediocrity (Perth made the play offs this year winning only 9/27 games!), but without relegation what else would there be to play for?? Imagine all the dead rubbers! I see the split in importance and prestige as roughly 70-30 in favour of the Champion - a reflection of what finals mean to Australian sport.
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Well, on your first point: WSW were $2.45 favourites with TAB sportsbet whilst the Mariners were $2.75 - which, in my personal opinion, is a bit more indicative of the Wanderers' favouritism compared to a dozen-odd tipsters on the 'net. Second point: somewhat true, although that's being a bit pedantic over semantics (pardon the poetry). If you finish second on the table after 27 rounds then it's fair enough to classify you as being proved second over the course of a season.
Philip
Guest
Exactly, there is no paradox and no problem. One team won the Premiership for being the most consistent team through the home and away season and one team won the Championship for winning the finals knock-out competition of the top six sides. I don't see a problem celebrating two victors for two different trophies. AND one day an FFA Cup winner and etc, etc
Melange
Guest
A couple of corrections "Central Coast took out the Championship title with a 2-0 upset over their more-fancied Western Sydney", Wrong. As I scrolled comments before the grandfinal, which I did across 3 sites, I would say, conservatively, people tipping CCM to win outnumbered WSW tipsters (who I'm pretty sure aren't people) 5-1 "Did the Mariners really deserve to claim the accolades when, throughout the regular season, they were proven as second to the Wanderers outfit?" Wrong. Throughout the regular season WSW were behind CCM. It was only 5 or 6 rounds that CCM were second to WSW. Just little things, but worth mentioning I think. As for the questions posed toward the end of the article Dave, philk & Fussball say it best.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Beautifully put, Dave & philk Football fans are used to celebrating more than 1 trophy. At the start of 2012/13 A-League season, for me, the most important trophy was: A-League Premiers Plate. Once it became apparent MVFC were mathematically unable to win the Premiers Plate, the most important trophy was: A-League Championship However, when the 2013/14 A-League season commences, for me, the most important trophy that I want MVFC to win is ... .. the Asian Champions League. If we win that, the most important trophy (for me) becomes the FIFA Club World Cup - that's the ultimate prize in club football.