The football on the pitch was outstanding for the first week of the finals, but Football Federation Australia deserve a roasting for their administration off it.
Congratulations to Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar, who each qualified for the A-League semi-finals on the back of contrasting performances.
Glory were hugely impressive in their 2-0 win over a dismal Melbourne City at AAMI Park, with central defender Dino Djulbic turning in a man-of-the-match performance in almost single-handedly keeping City’s much-vaunted attack at bay.
It was a superb all-round display from the visitors – although it must be said City’s total lack of intensity was alarming for a game of such importance.
A campaign that started with so much promise for the A-League’s resident moneybags – and which included a mid-season FFA Cup triumph – ended with barely a whimper.
Is that a good enough result for the City Football Group? Probably not.
But when they neglected to replace the departed John van ‘t Schip with an experienced coach midway through the season, it said much about where the owners’ priorities lie.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar took a typically nail-biting route to the final four, coming from behind to beat the Western Sydney Wanderers on penalties following a gripping 1-1 draw at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Substitute goalkeeper Jamie Young proved the hero in a game that had everything, saving Jumpei Kusukami’s tame sudden-death penalty to book a semi-final showdown with Melbourne Victory.
The Roar shot-stopper ended hopes of a Sydney derby in the process, dashing the FFA’s money-spinning dream of hosting two semi-final derbies next weekend.
And with the elimination finals both attracting sub-par attendances, questions must really be asked of the way our game’s governing body continues to handle the game.
At some point, FFA officials need to ask themselves why they run football in this country. Is it to benefit supporters? Or simply to keep themselves in a job?
Because, for all intents and purposes, this season has been another public relations fiasco, with just about every decision seemingly made in spite of fans, rather than for them.
Take ticket prices. Where FFA could have had the easiest sell in the world and attracted a crowd of more than 30,000 for Thomas Broich’s potential farewell, they instead effectively halved the gate by charging fans more than double the price for the same seats they’ve sat in all season.
So not only do they infuriate rusted-on fans, they turn casual fans away as well, who baulk at paying such high prices for what many of them already consider to be a low-quality competition.
And the FFA do it all purely to make a quick buck, with no rationale offered to fans to explain the decision-making process.
One can assume they were satisfied with crowds of 17,000 in Brisbane and less than 10,000 in Melbourne – at 7pm on a Sunday night – but the truth is those figures are embarrassing for finals fixtures.
And when you combine it with how difficult it is to actually buy tickets – that’s if the Ticketek website is even working – it all adds up to a miserable experience for fans.
In fact, the match-going experience has been increasingly problematic for fans all season.
But given that most journalists sit high up in the press box – far removed from the concerns of the average A-League supporter – you won’t read much analysis about that in the mainstream media.
It all contributes to an us-versus-them mentality, and it means the various components that make up our football culture are rarely working in sync.
All of which is a shame, because both elimination finals were high-quality affairs. Here’s hoping it’s a similar story (on the field) next weekend.
And if FFA is hell-bent on continuing with a six-team finals series next season, maybe they could surprise us all by setting some sensible ticket prices and kick-off times as well.
Chris
Guest
Stewart I wasnt disputing what you are saying. I think its crazy that members have to fork out full price for kids. What sort of logic is that???
Vincent
Guest
Over $ 300- to renew my family seats for this weeks semi SFC V PG ( need I say more ?) I've been to world cups at a fraction of that cost. Criminal.
Stewart
Guest
My point is....why is FFA (allegedly) mandating that SFC members pay full whack for kids tickets for the semi-final when a non-member doesn't have to?
Neil
Guest
3 Suncorp Adult Premium seats cost 170 dollars, I thought that was good value for a finals football ticket, football will only survive if it has money. I have paid a lot more for other sports events.
Neil
Guest
Top call.
FootOverHand
Guest
I hear you
Elchapo
Guest
Fair and reasonable comment that will fall on deaf ears.
Nemesis
Guest
@Lee What is embarrassing is listening to football illiterates try to discuss football. The finals are just a cup competition that's open to the Top 6 teams in the Aleague. The FFA Cup is a Cup competition that's open to every senior men's football team in Australia. This is football. If you don't understand this simple concept, you'll never understand football.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Nemesis - Way to go again - angry dismal personal - boring irrelevant. I love by contrast - the comments of #Lionheart and #Marron. #Nemesis - get a life and make a better choice.
Nemesis
Guest
Fair enough. Answer: Yes, it is paranoid to think the FFA hoped it would push ticket sales up.
Pauly
Guest
Japan or the US, an admin from football in a non-traditional football nation would be ideal. Someone who is not only politically neutral but is also not intimidated by the rival codes.
Chris
Guest
I paid $60 for silver ticket. $180 for 3 of us. Not cheap but hey its a semi so...
saul
Guest
Great article, I am so fed up with the FFA that i felt like chucking away my membership card after they announced that there won't be any expansion till after 2018,19 season. Constant poor decision making is putting people off the game, supporters are beginning to lose enthusiasm and the FFA aren't taking any notice. A Friday and a Sunday are the worst possible time slots for people to attend, OBVIOUSLY They do realise people try to avoid Monday morning hang overs YET they have a Sunday game. The best step forward for the game is for Lowy and Gallop to get out, Let's bring administration officials in from Germany or America at least they will not get involved in Australian factional football politics. The yanks may not have a good reputation as a strong footballing nation but there football league has grown substantially and they have a reputation as being good sports administrators, Germans obsessed with perfection. It may seem farfetched what I have said but people are getting fed up, The state leagues want to start their own national competition, they see vision where the FFA doesn't.
tyei
Guest
Hello, hello!!! Did you know Messi is playing about 60-70 games per year???
BES
Roar Rookie
lol - that's the most entertaining exchange I've seen on the whole article RF and its between one person and himself.....
Realfootball
Guest
Free fall - honestly. Freewill isn't even a word.
Realfootball
Guest
There is of course a key NOT missing in that first sentence, a typo the malfunctioning website will not allow me to edit. And that should be freewill, not "freewill". Auto correct does it again.
Realfootball
Guest
Is there anyone who can say with any seriousness that FFA have made a dog's breakfast of running the A League for no less than two seasons now? The buck has to stop somewhere, and I see no reason at all that it doesn't stop on the desks of David Gallop and Stephen Lowy. The vacuum of leadership is deeply painful to behold. I honestly don't know anymore just what it is that Gallop does. What we are seeing is what the NRL got - reactive management devoid of even a suggestion of leadership or a vision for the game. He needs to go at the end of this season. Another year of this and the League could well go into freewill. There will be no more chances for the game in this country. If Lowy understands this, and I see no reason why he should not, he must replace Gallop.
FootOverHand
Guest
True, everyone has an agenda, the lack of open discussion, communication and inclusion from the FFA is helping to breed the discontent. On the tv and dollars, as I posted in another thread, we have the advantage of not being tied to Australia, we can sell our product overseas, most of the tv money the EPL, Bundesliga and La Liga get is from other countries, Optus pays $30M a year for EPL streaming rights example. We cannot expect exorbitant funds like they command, but we are in a unique situation where our games are played when no one else is playing, we have high scoring games and people like to bet on the HAL. It would also be more attractive to sponsorship, if the game is getting air time in other countries. The lack of leadership is apparent, the FFA admit that their structure is wrong and they have some crazy ideas. What is their plan for the future of Australian football, how are they going to grow the game, develop the next socceroos etc. I mean what's with the $16M marquee fund, why is an FA getting involved with signing players for clubs? This money could be better spent on numerous other things that could benefit the whole community and not just one or two clubs. How about advertising, setting up and helping to finance academies for every HAL club, a second division, there are endless opportunities that would help develop the game here in Australia, yet we get a marquee fund, that let's face it in world football is a pittance and better spent elsewhere.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Yes isn't that the truth---thank God for Aldi, for there wouldn't be any Football promotion at all.