Well, firstly, what a game!
The players, coaches, managements, clubs, administrators, commentators – a combination of free-to-air and pay-tv – should all be commended for putting on a grand final that will be remembered for the ages.
And, of course, the crowd. I have often rated Suncorp Stadium as the best stadium on the planet that I have been to.
More A-League grand final coverage:
– Full match report and video highlights
– Comment: Mike Tuckerman
– Roar revel in Suncorp success
– Brisbane puts on a great A-League final
– Mulvey: Roar now A-League benchmark
– The Roar‘s live blog
The Western Sydney fans and the Brisbane fans (‘The RBB’ and ‘The Den’ respectively) created a spectacle that you were drawn to and compelled to keep viewing.
It was a true grand final, in every essence of the way only the Australian sporting landscape can encapsulate it.
The first half was tense. The second half was exhilarating, with goals scored, last minute excitement, and any big game match that provides extra-time while avoiding penalties is a memorable and grand occasion.
The grand final was a perfect microcosm of all that football in this country has become. It has become bigger than we have previously known it to be. It has become a spectacle, as well as respected. It has become joyful, where football was once joyless.
So where does A-League 9.0 leave us?
For starters, the post-game analysis by the one and only Craig Foster was spot on – Thomas Broich is the most talented, complete and skilful foreign player to play on these shores.
No, he’s no Alessandro Del Piero, or Shinji Ono, or even a Dwight Yorke in terms of big-name recognition. But his talent was cemented by a singularly magnificent performance on the game’s greatest domestic stage.
However, what is clear is that the A-League has not just arrived. It has staked its claim. It has planted its flag in the sporting landscape and reminded anyone who will listen, and even those who won’t, that football is now a permanent part of Australia whether you like it or not.
Football in Australia deserves its place permanently in the psyche and social reckoning, to be celebrated, analysed, watched and embraced.
I have seen some truly great grand finals across the codes in my lifetime. The 1991 and 1997 ARL grand finals, the 1989 and 2009 AFL grand finals.
Well, the A-League has created its fair share: Archie’s five and the Roar’s three thrilling victories. No longer should the A-League consider itself the little red wagon of the four codes.
It is a code that very much is. Football has a place among its supporters – as proven by the fanatical fans of each club, whether it be the Cove, the Squadron, or the above mentioned grand final participants.
I tweeted during the game that a full-house in Brisbane with a high quality game would have the AFL and NRL distinctly displeased. I guarantee you, those AFL and NRL boffins will be scurrying to their boardrooms and putting together plans of attack to counteract the football movement more so.
So A-League 9.0 leaves its supporters with a strong and distinct sense of urgency, expectation, excitement and unbearable anticipation for the tenth edition.
Make no mistake, the tenth season has the makings of only being better.
There are no longer weak clubs (at least in terms of representation, maybe not performance).
There is also the culmination of the year long FFA Cup to look forward to, with the potential for A-League clubs to strive for a domestic treble: FFA Cup, Premiers Plate and the grand final trophy. You add a potential for a Quadruple with the Asian Champions League, and football is looking massive in this country.
It is looking veritably huge.
Football around the world, or at least in Europe, is debating the merits of parking the bus (Chelsea) versus attacking football (Real Madrid) versus possession (or Tiki-taka, Barcelona).
Would Brisbane’s possession style game be enough to break down the defensive colossus that is Western Sydney’s game plan? Mulvey against Poppa?
In the end Mulvey has triumphed, but nevertheless Poppa can be proud of the style his team played, and the performance they put on.
And Australian football is rightly discussing differing styles and bringing itself onto the global scene in the process.
No, now is the time for football to mark its territory as bullishly as it wants to. You mix a successful ninth A-League season, throw in a sold out, compelling grand final, you then add the impending World Cup, suddenly football is in the spotlight every day of the year.
And Foz is right: as I watched a sold out Suncorp Stadium rollicking with a vibrancy that would not have been out of place in Europe, I wondered why can’t the A-League dream of a sold out MCG in five years if a re-vitalised Melbourne Victory or a re-financed Melbourne Heart host the occasion?
If we can sell out the MCG to watch Australia draw with Iran in 1997, or to watch a friendly involving Liverpool in an exhibition match, why can’t football’s showpiece demand the same type of attendance?
Let’s not settle on 50,000 attending. Let’s aim for 100,000.
The A-League can now do what it has always threatened to do: create a league that showcases the best that Australia has to offer of a global sport that is hugely popular both within and beyond these shores.
If A-League 9.0 has taught every team, club, administrator and fan one thing, it is that we can be, and need to be, proud of the code that we support. We must be passionate about our team, we must be confident.
Well done A-League. Bring on season 2014/15!
Please feel free to follow me on Twitter @KdogRoars
More A-League grand final coverage:
– Full match report and video highlights
– Comment: Mike Tuckerman
– Roar revel in Suncorp success
– Brisbane puts on a great A-League final
– Mulvey: Roar now A-League benchmark
– The Roar‘s live blog
Bondy
Guest
AR I asked you roughly 2-3 weeks ago your motive of being on the Football Tab and threads where no response was given. I'll again ask what are you doing here when you clearly give no detailed account of what what actually happens on the Football pitch itself, I.E are the flanks being used sufficiently with speed and gusto, are there to many touches of the football by HAL players are defensive structures tight enough or to loose ,are players attacking the line sufficiently, is the final ball sufficient enough or does it lack character and purpose, is the game actually fluent enough or out of rhythm . Because it appears you come here to complain about confetti on the ground, the noise at a match too much or lack there of,how many did or didn't walk through a gate, how many did or didn't view on either FTA or subscription tv, the ownership of clubs whether that be Australian or Foreign interest . Sir can you actually give some form of constructive thoughts as to what happens on the f^^^'n pitch please,your becoming ever so tiresome .
Kasey
Guest
Isn't this the point where Dmak realises (s)he was wrong and posts a mea culpa? An adult would. I guess we're just going to have to continue to fight the usual AFL/NRL trolls with facts and watch their credibility continue to tumble as football's star continues is steady rise:)
ian
Guest
Hey Fiver you goose , who will get the highest ratings Aust V Spain in the World Cup or the AFL and NRL finals put together???? How do you like those apples??????
ian
Guest
AR you are a tosser and have absolutely NO cred what so ever . Fussball Guy is eating you alive. You have lost that argument 100%.
ian
Guest
The Link , you are actually incorrect on this one mate . Just open up the Courier mail any week you want in the months of Feb or Jan and see the amount of Football news on the Broncos and compare that to the Roar. When you consider the fact the RL is out of season you get the point that you are 100% incorrect.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
i was not a fan of the current season until I went to some games at night and loved it - leave it where it is
ian
Guest
Yo you are so correct on that fact , I hate R league and AFL what a load of crap those games are.
ian
Guest
GF Robbie are usually that way in the first half . You really do not have much experience in this football thing do you??
ian
Guest
I think Bill put you in your place Fiver.
ian
Guest
Gyfox, What a load of rubbish you speak.
Post_hoc
Guest
Hate him, if he plays against you, love him in your team, the perfect player for a sport
Post_hoc
Guest
Tottenham Hotspur, Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal (used to be Woolwhich Arsenal I believe) one could argue MK Dons, Just a few examples of English clubs with a 'nickname'
Timber Tim
Guest
the point of difference with football compared to AFL/NRL. Teams outside of NSW and VIC do have the opportunity to host the A-League grand final decider instead of always been played at the same ground regardless of the teams. The different styles of football atmosphere amongst the A-League teams which is slowly putting it stamp on what to expect at each A-League fixture. This will determine amoung casuals should I watch (no disrespect) a perth glory v central coast mariners or a Sydney derby. Lastly the big jewell in the crown the FFA cup by 2015 will bring about Football first truly national football competition. Hopefully with at least another 2 teams the A-League will be on the up and up. The big questions remain is venue availability and how long the season needs to be to properly develop our players.
Kasey
Guest
As an aside..I've never really understood the criticism: "that's too American" I remember a few anti-AFL types trotted it out when the GWS Giants and GC Suns launched their 'brands' As far as I can tell the USA is home to a group of highly successful and profitable sporting entities. If there's one thing our American friends know well its how to market their sports and make money from them. Perhaps living in the past is your thing; but for me I want my sport to progress and bedcome more professionally run. Over the last 10 absolutely nobody can say that football hasn't become a more professionally run sport in this country(at least not with a with a straight face ). When people say "its become too American" perhaps they are just pining for the days when sport was run on the sniff of an oily rag, by old ladies running chook raffles and with semi-professional players, much simpler times for sure, but were they better?
Kasey
Guest
Adelaide Crows, West Coast Eagles, Cronulla Sharks, Manly SeaEagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Colingwood Magpies,Melbourne Demons....Location + nickname Brisbane(location) Roar (nickname) Melbourne (loc) Victory(nickname) What excatly is the ' Australian perspective' ? and how is the A-League not meeting your need in this regard?
Kasey
Guest
regarding using Australia's biggest stadia which are invariably optimised for cricket and AFL in the Southern States, they aren’t ideal viewing forfans with their large distances between the stands and the touchlines of a football pitch, but then I suppose neither is Berlin’s Olympiastadion or Brazil’s Maracana (pre-WC upgrade). Here in Adelaide the strong rumour is that AU are going to ask FFA for a season opener of hosting MV at Adelaide Oval in October. Whether FFA acquiesce is an entirely different manner, but even the thought that AU are looking to open big in a 50k stadium is a sign of the expansion of the horizon of the game. Onwards and upwards for football. After another successful year of domestic football, the 10th A-League season promises to continue the steady growth of the game and thus its consolidation and resistance to a boom-bust cycle that plague sports like basketball. Along with our healthy attendance growth, the TV viewing figures for the GF are another sign that the oft used jibe: "Who cares it's only Soccer" is as outdated as a Commodore 64 at a gamers convention.
mahonjt
Guest
Rubbish, we have the grassroots at that time, semi-pro National Premier League, FFA Cup across the entire football pyramid and, for some A-League teams the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League. All of this - every year - during 'footy season' LOL. I suspect you don't quite fully appreciate how big football is..... Don't even get me started on the facts about how the international game, including All Stars, club friendlies and the Socceroos, fills up any of the winter gaps......
mahonjt
Guest
Nail - head. What a great time to be a football fan. As a middle aged man and long suffering football fan I can look forward to the games growth translate into a national icon in the second half of my personal game, and watch my son simply enjoy football as he and other citizens of an independent Australian Republic take on the world at its own game.
AR
Guest
"I’m not talking about attendances. Grand Finals always sell out." Do I need to write it in caps?
AR
Guest
"If you have faith in your product you’ll broadcast it when you can get the biggest dollars & be confident your product is superior to the competition". Ha. Completely wrong. If you have faith in your product, you'll broadcast it not when the television networks tell you to, or when the biggest advertising slots are, or when the biggest audience is already waiting (Sundays prime time)...you'll broadcast it when it suits you in accordance with *your* preference and traditions. And...you'll do this *knowing* the audience will come anyway, as will the advertisers. *That's* faith in the product. As you said, Saturday afternoons never have a show in the top 20 ratings...except when its the AFL Grand Final.