Was it the best goal in A-League history? That’s the question plenty of fans were asking in the wake of Tim Cahill’s long-range piledriver in the Melbourne derby.
There have been scores of significant goals scored in the A-League over the years – from Noel Spencer’s 30-yard stunner in the first ever A-League game to Erik Paartalu’s incredible 120th-minute equaliser in the 2011 A-League grand final.
And while Cahill’s sweetly struck half-volley deserves a place in the pantheon of great A-League goals, there are plenty of other worthy candidates.
What Cahill’s goal will hopefully do is remind Australian sports fans who aren’t invested in the A-League that the competition is worth their time and money.(Click to Tweet)
Like Alessandro Del Piero’s curling free-kick against Newcastle in 2012, Cahill’s derby strike was as much about the A-League’s desire to reel in new fans, as it was a means to thrill the 43,000 fans in attendance.
The key now for Melbourne City is how they use it, with the A-League’s latest glamour club hosting Perth Glory in their first home game of the season at AAMI Park tonight.
Will they attract more than the 11,000 or so fans they averaged last season? Here’s hoping.
But given how much promotion Cahill has done since joining City, popping up everywhere from the AFL grand final to Channel Nine’s Today show, he can hardly be accused of not doing his part.
In fact, with Fox Sports aiming to hold on to the A-League broadcast rights and Football Federation Australia simultaneously hoping to attract a new free-to-air partner, Cahill’s highly-visible presence on our TV screens makes sense from a marketing perspective.
It’s a bit like Jarryd Hayne’s short-lived stint in the NFL – when Australians everywhere suddenly found themselves discussing the intricacies of American football, despite previously having little interest in the game.
What FFA will hope to avoid is Cahill’s Australian career fizzling out like Hayne’s did in San Francisco, with the A-League’s newest marquee man the key to tapping into a mainstream audience.
Cahill can put the cool into Melbourne City the same way Dwight Yorke did for Sydney FC in season one, and hopefully attract a new generation of fans in the process.
The last thing the A-League needs is more Eurosnob fans turning their nose up at the local product, and it’ll be interesting to see how many fans turn up tonight given Melbourne’s reputation as the nation’s sporting capital.
With two massive derbies already done and dusted, the A-League now falls back into a more familiar routine minus the sugar-hit of derby attendances.
That’s likely to be of some concern to head office, not least because Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners are both at home this weekend – and neither have proved themselves to be popular box-office drawcards.
Instead officials will be hoping for a packed house at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night for the traditional grudge match between old foes Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory.
It was interesting to see referee Shaun Evans relegated to fourth official duties for tonight, with FFA no doubt keen to avoid a repeat of the contentious refereeing which marred Adelaide’s last-start defeat.
Western Sydney Wanderers fans will also be venturing into the unknown, as they get set to follow their team out to Spotless Stadium for the first time on Sunday night.
It’s an unusual kick-off time and an unfamiliar venue, but after a stunning come-from-behind win last week, the Wanderers will be keen to continue their winning ways at their nominal new home.
And Melbourne City fans will be hopeful of watching their team continue their blistering start to the new campaign.
Tim Cahill’s derby goal was undoubtedly one for the ages, and having already done much to dispel the notion he’s only interested in a pay cheque, Melbourne City will hope he can help put the cool back into the A-League.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
86k tuned into SBS to watch a very entertaining game.
Lionheart
Guest
it was a great game last night, open and lots of skill and tactics for all to see, and controversy in bucket loads. It can only have added to the popularity of the League, being on sbs would've helped though why they show it on sbs2 is a mystery.
punter
Guest
Thankfully CityGroup can afford it. In the 1980s Juventus had Platini & Boniek as their guest marquees & though they played well, financially Serie A has been struggling ever since.
punter
Guest
JB, it's only 1980s Serie A football that gets Mister Football outta of bed. I walked past Charlie George in a park in Islington about 16 years ago, I was a little excited as I am a Derby county fan & he graced the Baseball ground for a few seasons too.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Fair enough, I accept that. An extra 2,000 at $25 per head is $50,000 directly into club coffers. That only needs to happen 80 more times this season and the club will break even on Cahill's contract.
j binnie
Guest
Punter- Paolo Rossi??? What about Craig Johnstone and Alun Evans (Liverpool), Bob Latchford (Everton).Alan Sunderland and Charlie George (Arsenal), Paul Reaney (Leeds United), Justin Fashanu (Notts Forest) Willie Henderson(Rangers) George Best (Man Utd.) and Dixie Deans (Celtic),just a few of the "guest players" who graced the NSL in it's heyday. I spoke to Charlie George just last year at Arsenal stadium and he remembered his time with Sydney St George with great affection. Cheers jb
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Thanks for the correction. At least I was aware there had been a definite uplift.
Evan Askew
Guest
actually I would say such a fixture would mormaaly have got 5 to 6000. 8000 in heavy rain shows an improvement. the season is young.
j binnie
Guest
Mister Football - Last season the same fixture played just one month later, 27/11, which was a Saturday, pulled a crowd of 5,953 so it could be argued that in attracting 8,076 on a Friday evening the "attraction" has increased by around 36%. For further comparison the HAL ,in the 11 games played to last night, has attracted 206,974 spectators compared with the 159,115 that attended last season, an increase of 30%. Timmy's "effect" will be better measured when he visits other grounds around the country, it was those figures that proved ADP's visit such a huge success. Cheers jb
punter
Guest
Was so different when Paolo Rossi had a few games in the NSL all those years ago. ahhh the memories.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
An attendance of 8,076 turned up for City's first home game, against Perth Glory. In years gone by, such a game would have pulled around 8,026. We can see that the signing of Timmy has made an immediate impact.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'm similar. Live 2mins from WSW HQ. Get to catch up with lots of friends at games. Home ground is a casual drive down the motorway. My seat is my second home (currently undergoing renovations).
j binnie
Guest
Mike - just a slight difference that should be noted. Last year City hosted 2 derby games and it was these 2 gates that pushed their average attendance up to the 11,000 you mention. If those 2 games were subtracted their average "gate" when playing the other eight HAL identities actually drops to 8,800. If trying to compare Tim's effect on their gates it should be this figure that is used as the base for the calculations. The same exercise could be done when City/Timmy visit other grounds, for in his first season here ADP lifted these crowds well abovre the home team's average,Adelaide excepted.. Cheers jb.
punter
Guest
We should when discussing smallish crowds, end with 'Long term project'.
Fadida
Guest
Only in Australia. This round of football could be the best we've ever seen (got to be optimistic), and yet all the talk will be of crowds next week. And possibly a flare. We know with the disparity between drawing power of clubs that some rounds will have substantially smaller crowds, so why do we need the inevitable in depth analysis of crowds on a weekly basis?
Fadida
Guest
Exactly
Nemesis
Guest
Agree, Marcel. So many A-League fans have the Goldilocks syndrome. Either they're complaining "FFA is not trying hard enough"; or "FFA is trying too hard". It's really strange behaviour. I wonder if they're like this in their engagement with family, friends, at work?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Surely the sports capital of the world will not let a little bit of rain stop them from watching Timmy play?
marcel
Guest
"The FFA is trying too hard".... We really have reached the depths of absurdity if that's our latest criticism of the governing body.
tully101
Roar Guru
i support a team from my city, i live 5km away from the home ground and go to uni across the road from thier training ground. I feel sorry for people who feel the need to wake up at 4am sunday morning to support a club from half way across the world.