At this point in last year’s season, we were watching the Mariners and Wanderers in a tight race for the premiership, with third-placed Melbourne Victory a comfortable 10 points further back.
Riveting to watch, there was little doubt heading into the finals campaign both deserved their first and second places, and fans were eager at the prospect of the two juggernauts of the competition meeting on the biggest stage, the A-League grand final.
This season, the last four rounds of the A-League have seen an incredible three different teams hold second position on the ladder. While this weekend will see the Western Sydney Wanderers fighting off four other teams for runners-up, we need to remind ourselves that Brisbane wrapped up the Premiership title three weeks ago and remain an incredible 13 points clear of their nearest competitor.
Is there any team that can compete with the Brisbane Roar? One that can match the exciting brand of football the Roar have produced this year, and ensure this year’s grand final is the spectacle it should be?
At the halfway point of this season, we were all expecting a repeat by the Wanderers. By Round 14, Western Sydney was only four points behind league-leaders Brisbane, and held a five-point advantage on Melbourne Victory. Their record sat at seven wins, five draws and only two losses.
However, the form that propelled them to the A-League Premiership in 2012-13 was not to last, and their indifferent form since New Years has seen the gap above widen and the one below erode.
In their defence, and as Tony Popovic pointed out in his post-match press conference this week, the Wanderers have only lost two more than they had at this point last season, which would seem to suggest that the competition has been fiercer this year.
The statistics would tend to agree: by the end of Round 26 last season, teams placed fourth to seventh had a total of 126 points, however at the same point for this year we find them with 137. Lower placed teams have refused to go gently into the night and have instead made strong end-of-season runs. This has stifled the number of games the top two teams could reasonably expect to win, and explains why their collective points this season are a full 14 below where they were at the same time last year.
However, does this close competition for other finals positions translate to success in their match-ups against Brisbane Roar? The answer is an overwhelming no.
Against the current top-six teams, the Roar have a record of nine wins, three draws and two losses, with only one of those losses coming after the third round of competition. Only Newcastle appear to have the wood on Brisbane, beating them in all three fixtures this year. I am sure they will be praying to get another crack at the Roar in a finals context.
So should we expect differently from other top-six teams against Brisbane in this season’s finals? History shows it may be unlikely, with the A-League champion having placed in the top two of the premiership every season since 2005-06.
Even more telling is that the A-League grand final has been contested between the Premiers and runners-up an incredible six times in the last seven seasons.
If this is the case again this year, then can the Wanderers, Mariners, Victory, Adelaide or Sydney favour their chances when they have managed just two wins out of 14 matches this competition?
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
The Roar still usually look like the team who still have legs at the end of 90 mins (even with 10 men), so extra time would favour the Roar's odds I'd say. Of all the players, Matty McKay is ridiculous. He works so hard and often looks as fit and ready at the end of the game as at the beginning. Has he got a Phar Lap heart? Anyway, going by previous plot lines, the Roar in a finals will go down by a goal, or even two, then spend the rest of the game clinically coming back for a draw in normal time (in extra time most likely), then just be all over the opposition in the added 30 minutes. I won't be at all surprised if that's roughly the plot of at least one of the finals games.
AZ_RBB
Guest
It is first past the post. You didn't lift that trophy the other day cos Berisha is a top bloke. It was because you were first past the post in the A-League.
clayts
Guest
Nah, still think it should just be first past the post. I don't even think it is an "Australian" thing anyway. Most likely borrowed from somewhere else I'm guessing, which is fine. We can borrow the European (and a heap of other places) way in this case
clayts
Guest
Yep. I most certainly did, Fuss. Don't get me wrong, was great theater, but we did NOT win that season. We won the mickey mouse bit at the end
Dan
Guest
Really BES? Football is my favourite sport and although I stopped reading the telegraph years ago, I haven't noticed much love to football in general from the Sydney media. I know that the telegraph (Rebecca Wilson in particular) is quick to jump on any negative incident in regards to football (WSW fan behaviour/violence etc). I usually find that you have to flick deep into the sports sections on most papers or scroll down past Rugby League/ AFL and Cricket on most sports sites to come across football articles. Try to make it insignificant they might but the A-League will continue to grow and will (I think) become huge Downunder in the next decade or so.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
If Australia were still to only receives the current 2.5 ACL spots once the FFA Cup is up and running/completed, how would you (if it was up to you) award the 2.5 ACL spots between the three ccompetitions (A-League, Final Series & FFA Cup)?
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
Even though the question was addressed to clayts, I will answer it also (if clayts replies also). Yes I did. Central Coast were the best team that season and should be classed and recognized as the real Champions. I do sort of like the idea of replacing (I used to/still am in favor I getting rid of it completely) the Final Series competition with a League Cup comp with all 10 A-League teams competing. But no use thinking about it as it will never happen.
BES
Guest
Amen to that Dan - and I'm so totally over the gushing love affair of every Sydney based media outlet (which appears to be absolutely ALL of them: paper, digital, TV & cable) over the FFA Wanderers too. If per chance it doesn't end up being Bris crowned as Lords of the Ring come May 4 - then I hope it is AU.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Thanks for the reply BES. I take it from that you wish there was more involvement from the Bakries? From memory they were promising a plan on some facilities not that long ago.
Grandfinal & Premiership Roar Lover
Guest
Keep both. It is the Australian Way. Two competitions in one. When the pressure is really on, then the real class shines through. No more boring I bought the competition such as in the EPL. We already recognize the premiership. Get over it and support the Grand Final as well. Look at the excitement this week as five teams are still in the race to get the week off, and Sydney and Newcastle are still in the hunt for the final six. IF your team finishes sixth, but manages to make the Grand Final, I know who you will want to win it! Go Netball, AFL, NRL, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket, Rugby, Marbles. Sports lovers unite.
Dan
Guest
As long as Victory get crushed in the finals then I'm happy. I do think it'll be one of Roar, WSW or AU holding the toilet seat aloft.
BES
Guest
Actually no. A quick look back at the season will tell you that only 4 teams have and of those, only 2 will be playing any part in the finals series.
BES
Guest
Genuine response from a Brisbane tragic: the who?? There is zero evidence in Brisbane and has been since day 1 that we are owned by anyone. Zero additional money spent on players, grounds, training facilities, promotion, advertising. Nothing. Zero. Nadda and Zip.
bill boomer
Guest
Who can beat Brisbane? All of them but AU probably the best chance.
bill boomer
Guest
Agree that the finals need to go. I (and many others) have espoused that if we are to have a proper league this afl/american system has to go. That the only other league that have this is America should be enough. Using the season as some sort of qualifying tournament devalues the game and league. The ludicrous situation of a team winning the premiership being usurped by the fourth place getter may not have happened yet, but it will. Some think its all ok and are quick to say so but i will keep advocating for a change. We should follow the rules and conventions of world football. We are not afl/nrl. thank god (who doesn't exist).
Midfielder
Guest
Just on who could beat the Roar ... this must be one of the goal of the year nominates ... but this would unlock their defence .. http://giant.gfycat.com/BitterUnhappyFeline.gif
Mazzalenko
Guest
I feel WSW are only team that can knock Brisbane off in the GF especially if WSW finish 2nd after this round, then I feel it will most likely be a Brisbane v WSW GF @ Suncorp, and I expect WSW to actually win it. I just have this feeling that Popovic will be proven right with their squad rotation policy plus they would want to make up for their loss in the GF last year. If WSW finish outside the top 2 then it will be either AU or Victory however I was not impressed with AU last Friday night against Heart has Heart had nothing to play for and they almost lost to them at home. I feel AU took the foot off the gas after the 1st minute goal and they found themselves 2-1 down at HT. Victory need to be more consistent and if we can get a great win against the Nix (and get revenge for our 5-0 thrashing from January) then we can possibly get 2nd however we will need the lovely Heart to do us a big favour and knock off WSW in Kewell's last game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@clayts Did you have the same attitude in 2012, when BRI didn't finish top but won the knock-out competition?
clayts
Guest
"IMO It should be you come first, you’ve won the comp." It is. The more times we repeat it to everyone we know, the quicker it will become reality. It's all about marketing and education I reckon. We can still have a post-season competition, but rather than the utterly farcical, embarrassing and laughable situation that we currently have where over half the competition is awarded entry, let everyone in and play a proper cup or something. They way it is now that the home and away legs are gone just make it seem even less noteworthy. Call it a League Cup and the FFA awards some prizemoney or something. I reckon it would go great guns.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I guess that's the impact the clash with the NRL/Rugby season has. But also remember those two were against CCM right? If you play MVFC, SFC or WSW I'm sure each of those clubs will send up 5k fans.