Around the Grounds: FFA Cup needs time to grow

Let me introduce myself first before you continue to read. My name is Donna, I’m a football enthusiast and a Melbourne Victory supporter living in the wild wild west, or Perth, whichever you’d like to call it.

I’ve spent many years playing football and now on the sidelines as a supporter watching games from all across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.

My motto is “Football is the way of life”.

My aim for this year is to share with you my insight on the A-League and the lives of players starting or finishing their career in the competition we all have grown to love.

My first article for the year will solely be focused on the FFA Cup. What to expect from me? An honest review of the game and hopefully some sarcastic comments which you’ll learn to love.

What an exciting year it has been so far, for me anyway. Being a Melbourne Victory supporter you learn to love winning and thrive for success. I’ve been able to experience all the success one can imagine this year.

Winning the premiership, the championship and just one week ago winning the FFA Cup.

So, let’s talk about the FFA Cup.

I flew over from Western Australia to witness what was an absolute cracker of a game by the boys in blue.

The night started off with “Bound for Glory” playing over the PA system and then “Stand by Me” for all the Victory supporters to belt out.

The away bay was full. It was great to see. Were they loud? Well, I couldn’t really hear them to be quite honest, that would purely be because I spent my first ‘home’ game of the year in the Northern Terrace and that experience in itself is one to talk about, great banners and full of voice the whole game.

Credit to both sets of supporters.

Onto the game and it was complete domination from the beginning. The Victory were all over the Glory in the first half and most of the second half as well.

Perth couldn’t string a pass together and when they did they would just lose the ball.

The linkup between Kosta Barbarouses, Fahid Ben-Khalfallah, Gui Finkler and the big man himself Besart Berisha was a delight to watch. They were running a riot.

The Glory defence had no room for error. Josh Risdon and Dino Djulbic were great despite the fact that four goals went passed the Glory defence (two goals disallowed). These two lads are the heart of that squad, and they both have a never-say-die attitude.

In the second half the Glory came out to play with Kenny Lowe switching things up and bringing on Guyon Fernandez, who hasn’t really impressed since joining the Glory. But he was the spark they needed – yes, you heard right, he had a good game.

The Glory started to play some good football but the Victory, even with taking their foot off the gas, looked as though they were running away with the three points. The Glory never looked in it to win it.

Some would say that the Victory had an advantage by playing at home and the Glory were unlucky that the final wasn’t played in Perth for a second year in the row.

I was a little torn on this situation, as a part of me thought fans should get over it. The cup is far too young to be worrying about what others think and the FFA need to do what’s right for the sponsors, the game, the growth of the cup and where they will make the most money.

The logical answer to all those factors was for the final to be played in Melbourne. A ‘full house’ would bring in the dollars, well that backfired.

Tickets costing from $40-$80 had the Melbourne fans running scared. The prices were just ridiculous. Some might say that it’s a final and what do you expect, but the FFA Cup is only in its second year.

Shouldn’t we be focusing on fan engagement and getting those fans to attend games? In order for the competition to grow you need the fans. It’s as simple as that.

On the other hand I did feel for the Glory supporters, the club and the players. The game in Western Australia needs help to grow but it seems as though the FFA don’t have enough faith.

Maybe they need to give them a chance? It was clearly shown that the Western Australia public have a thirst for football when more than 19,000 showed up to watch the Socceroos at NIB earlier this year.

I’m excited about the potential growth of the FFA Cup, like anything these things take time. They don’t happen overnight.

As for this current A-League season I have a feeling we’re in for a few surprises.

With time and patience big things can happen in Australia and the world game will dominate.

That’s it for this week, I hope you all enjoyed my first article.

Look out for my post next week when I take to the ground and interview a player at Sydney FC and discuss their career in the A-League.