We have survived the year and given the off field issues it’s been a remarkable year to build on.
If you break up our season into three rounds, the opening round is our strongest with the closing round our weakest. The lead-in to the season meant we had a very poor opening nine matches. However our last round was the strongest it’s ever been.
Both ratings and crowds had only minor drops when compared to last year. We had a number of things to overcome.
This would be my list of preseason issues: overhang from the Perth salary cap debacle, the PFA and FFA dig fight which cost two senior executives their jobs, Brisbane ownership and poor past management, Newcastle ownership and poor past management and the grand final stadium issue.
Also during the early part of the season we had a number of issues that just kept coming. These included: FFA cup ticket issues, the Phoenix extension with conditions, the talk of a new Southern Sydney team and the gin queen attacks and resultant reaction by fans.
In all fairness to David Gallop and his team, many of the issues were forced upon them and decisions had to be made. On balance I think they got most things right.
Maybe some things took a little longer than you could argue they should have, but equally many if not most issues had more than one side and often the media and fans only looked at the FFA issue not the other side.
The future looks so bright, with Optus and beIn Sport looking to enter the broadcasting market. Added to this many of the negatives leading into last year simply will not be there.
Further Sydney FC, the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets will be all playing better next year and the FFA are looking for marquees.
With the Matildas at the Olympics, the Confederations Cup in September and difficult World Cup qualifiers coming, it looks like positive signs to come for the game in Australia.
josh
Guest
I like this guy.
Neil
Guest
Play all games at Suncorp.
aladdin sane
Guest
awesome, thanks mid!
Midfielder
Guest
SBS are down a heap but slight change crowds and Fox rating down just over 1% ... Best link I have is this it was updated for round 27 yesterday... http://www.footyindustry.com/files/ffa/media/tvratings/2015-16/2016FFARatings.png
Onside
Guest
Thanks for your response Peter, I thought for a moment my post was in a vacuum.
Midfielder
Guest
The build up to the start of the A-League this year will be totally different simply look at the international calendar the Matildas at the Olympics, The match against England The two home matches against Greece the Confederations Cup in September MD 1: 1 September 2016 – AUSTRALIA v Iraq MD 2: 6 September 2016 – United Arab Emirates v AUSTRALIA MD 3: 6 October 2016 – Saudi Arabia v AUSTRALIA MD 4: 11 October 2016 – AUSTRALIA v Japan MD 5: 15 November 2016 – Thailand v AUSTRALIA MD 6: 23 March 2017 – Iraq v AUSTRALIA MD 7: 28 March 2017 – AUSTRALIA v United Arab Emirates MD 8: 13 June 2017 – AUSTRALIA v Saudi Arabia MD 9: 31 August 2017 – Japan v AUSTRALIA MD 10: 5 September 2017 – AUSTRALIA v Thailand
aladdin sane
Guest
Mid, where are you getting those TV figures YoY%? I've only been keeping half an eye on them but was getting the general vibe they were down more than that. Great result if true!
Midfielder
Guest
Onside The lack of media for Asia Champions matches and when the Asian Cup was on reflects very poorly on our non sports media ... I cannot agree more ... Other codes would sell their soul for what Football has with Asia yet as you say the media often ignore it.
j binnie
Guest
Waz -With existing costs being roughly equal for all clubs(salary caps and ground costs etc.),and if we are to believe the information that this year Victory made a profit then their attendance figure of 23,000 per game has to be taken as the new target if clubs are to be profitable and the comp. remain healthy. Now the drop off from Victory in the "attendance league" is quite drastic with Syd FC "second" at 16,000,WSW "third" at 15,000,followed by Roar,Ad Utd, and Melb City all in the 11,000 - 13,000 range,and the other four ,all below that 10,000 mark,so as you can see the problem if a "profit figure" is to be attained is quite substantial. Re your suggestion about the FFA distributing some finance back to the clubs just remember they have costs too,not the least of which is a hoped for successful World Cup run coming up this year and those "runs" don't come cheaply as you are well aware. Hopefully a solution can be found. Cheers jb
MarkfromCroydon
Guest
"...the gin queen attacks", I love it. One of the quotes of the year in one of the best articles of the year. I agree that on balance, the year has to be seen as the year that football in this country finally took it's rightful place as 'mainstream' in the eyes of the broader public. Now if we can get some marketing happening and get the A-League on commercial free to air next year, we should be looking at getting exponential growth in 'metrics' over the next couple of years.
Midfielder
Guest
Agree Mo
Midfielder
Guest
Onside & Peter Could not agree more with what you are talking about.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Hope you're doing well Mid. Nice write-up. The main thing is that with all the screw-ups or perceived screw-ups the quality of play has been very good, maybe the best ever. Cheers
marcel
Guest
Ticket prices for the recent Jordon international suggest they haven't learnt yet Mark.
AZ_RBB
Guest
v Iraq - Parra Stadium (final event at the stadium) v Japan - Olympic Stadium (Australia's home) v UAE - Shark Park (Sutherland Shire, biggest district assoc in Aus) v Saudi Arabia - Kogarah Oval (best playing surface in Aus) v Thailand - SFS (2nd biggest rectangular stadium in Aus) It's an easy decision.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Stop it that is just cruel ... be better at Gosford Stadium...
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
Yes, maybe, take AUS vs JPN to Brookvale Oval..? Perhaps AUS vs Saudi Arabia should go to Endeavour Field - the local Cronulla community is very welcoming of Middle Eastern visitors
Midfielder
Guest
LOL AZ agree no games should be sent south of the Georges River...
Peter Cotton
Guest
They were great days Fuss. Laid back, with little or no agro, and no effing security guards, and bugger all cops in sight. Unless we were playing "The Poms", and then there might have been half a dozen extra cops on duty.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Still better than the AFL grounds Melbourne will use for these important football matches. Hope these games are rotated around the great football stadiums of Sydney.