How about that for a final round? The A-League finals will kick off with some serious momentum and with any luck, in front of some big crowds.
Where do we even start with a round of football like that? Some weeks there’s barely a single noteworthy topic to talk about, but this was certainly not one of them!
It all started on Good Friday, when Besart Berisha finally notched his 100th A-League goal in Melbourne Victory’s 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners.
It was hardly a vintage display from a stuttering Victory outfit, and the relief on Berisha’s face after he scored – not to mention Kevin Muscat’s – was palpable.
Do Victory have what it takes to win the championship? They’ve got plenty of finals experience, but they could hardly be described as in-form.
Sydney FC celebrated winning the Premiers’ Plate on Saturday night as they steamrolled the hapless Newcastle Jets 2-0 in front of a jubilant Allianz Stadium crowd.
It was another stellar performance from the Sky Blues, but it all could have turned out so differently had Jets midfielder Andrew Nabbout not blasted his penalty kick wide.
Did Nabbout’s miss cost coach Mark Jones his job? Not likely.
But it won’t have helped a club now in desperate need of regeneration, not least because the Jets can ill-afford to waste another season as they’ve arguably done with this one.
The grand final replay between Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers finished in an enthralling 2-2 draw, but it also signalled the final Reds game for the one of the A-League’s finest creative talents, Marcelo Carrusca.
What is it with A-League clubs jettisoning Latin American players? First Carlos Hernandez, then Marcos Flores, now Carrusca. And it’s not as if the league is flush with individual brilliance.
Most clubs are quick to blame salary cap constraints for the chopping and changing of personnel.
But as Mark Bosnich said on Shootout last night, the lack of transfer fees means clubs are reluctant to sign players to long-term deals, with the players often leaving the A-League altogether once their contract runs out.
Let’s hope that’s not the case with Carrusca, who has proved – on his day, at least – one of the most entertaining talents in the competition.
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If you thought there was drama in the preceding three fixtures, it was nothing compared to what we saw on Sunday.
What was it again about football being boring? Tell that to the fans who watched 16 goals scored across two rollicking Sunday night encounters.
Brisbane Roar booked a home semi-final with a stunning come-from-behind 4-3 win against a shell-shocked Wellington Phoenix.
It would have been even more had Jamie Maclaren not fired his spot-kick straight at Lewis Italiano – missing the chance to claim the Golden Boot outright in the process.
If that wasn’t enough, Perth Glory then downed Melbourne City 5-4 in a frankly ridiculous encounter at nib Stadium.
The hosts blew the chance to confirm a home semi-final of their own, but surely the bigger story is Melbourne City finishing fourth and missing out on an AFC Champions League spot in the process.
That won’t sit well with the City Football Group, although there’s still time to inflict some serious damage in the finals.
That may include a Melbourne derby in the semi-finals – and if the stars align a Sydney derby as well – with both Etihad Stadium and Allianz Stadium set to be packed to the rafters for what would be a surefire money-spinner for Football Federation Australia.
They certainly have no qualms about asking A-League fans to reach deep into their pockets for finals tickets, with the cheapest seats behind the goals at Suncorp Stadium costing a hefty $45 for an adult ticket.
It will cost them plenty of fans at the gate – but that rarely seems to concern an FFA determined to wring every last drop out of fans.
That’s a story for another day, though. Right now it’s full steam ahead for the A-League finals.
And if the Easter weekend is anything to go by, it could be the best A-League finals series yet.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
How do you know that the skill level is woeful? You must watch and take an interest in the sport.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Stay with the item. This is not an AFL agenda.
Marc
Guest
How is the SANFL going? Second biggest afl competition in the world and the skill level is absolutely woeful and the crowds continue to fall off a cliff. 2011 - 3,236 (average) 2016 - 2,313 (average) - that's down 29%
Nemesis
Guest
Just an observation. As an Aleague fan I'd be thrilled if you could go through life not knowing the A-League existed. Maybe, you'd stop these senseless & juvenile posts? I urge you to seek professional medical help before it's too late.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Just an observation. Maybe the A-League needs to look at how they market the sport. I could very easily go through life not knowing the A-League and Super Rugby even exist such is the poor marketing.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
You sound desperately insecure.
Post_hoc
Guest
Yep, and it's a plate not a cup
Nemesis
Guest
"I would actually attend a few soccer games in summer if there were cheaper tickets or promotions such as $15 tickets for one off games I'm an Aleague fan. I don't want to share the stadium with people like you. Hope Aleague does everything possible to keep people like you away from our competition. Go back to where you came from. AFL is a crap sport. When I was in Sydney, I was offered AFL tickets with when I bought a burger from MacDonald's. I took the tickets & took great delight tearing them up & throwing them in the bin.
punter
Guest
If AFL had a crossbar, a goal keeper, no pts for missing & didn't use their hands & were $5 a game, I might attend the odd mono-culture Victorian game.
punter
Guest
And they will still get 80K. But biggest game ever in Sydney in AFL, major semi finals between 2 local teams 60K, who combine has a combined membership of 'cough, cough' 70K.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
$45 is absurd to watch the equivalent of third division soccer in England, especially if you have Foxtel and can watch in HD for no additional cost. A-League prices in general are too high for the regular season too. I would actually attend a few soccer games in summer if there were cheaper tickets or promotions such as $15 tickets for one off games. Go to see what the fuss is about, maybe have a couple of beers once I'm there. If these teams were regularly getting crowds of 20-30k the ticket prices could be justified, but many teams barely crack 10k people and play in stadiums with swathes of empty seats. There's obviously an appetite for live sport in Australia. Football regularly gets 70k plus attendances for matches between suburban clubs at the MCG. Doesn't seem to translate to soccer. General admission is only $25 for football despite massive crowds at the MCG.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
$100 to watch a professional team vs $35 for glorified amateurs
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I have to say I had no idea the soccer finals were about to start. Soccer seems to get drowned out when the football season begins. Maybe they should host the soccer Grand Final in March rather than May.
tully101
Roar Guru
imagine if city & wanderers both win two derbys for the semi finals
Kaks
Roar Guru
Wanderers finals series to lose.
ac
Guest
Isnt it a done deal that Sydney FC will win.
Cool and Cold
Guest
Also, Lowe wanted to impress the boss by winning to get 5th rank. How many coaches of Glory have been sacked these years? They had something to play for.
AGO74
Guest
It's the same for everyone so I don't have a problem with it.
AGO74
Guest
There were still 4 goals scored which is a high amount compared to the average top flight game. Even if it was a dull game most people would generally see a 2-2 draw as more memorable than a lower scoring draw. Putting that aside it was riveting viewing as a high quality match in a high stakes derby. Interesting fact - both teams now owned by Chinese which was apparently the reason it was held at lunchtime for prime time Chinese viewing (first time they've ever played a lunchtime derby).
Buddy
Guest
AZ - I don't actually switch off from football, just the end of season nonsense which I acknowledge is great entertainment for some and extremely enjoyable and of course, makes money for FFA, but not mine. I will focus on running my grassroots club and coaching an under 14 team with one eye on the run in to the end of the league season in europe. "If I don't watch it, it didn't happen" is how I deal with it in my head! Plenty of other stuff to fill the space, like imagining how much faster they could rebuild Wanderland so as to avoid having another 2 seasons in the soulless concrete wastelands of Homebush!