Finals football is here to stay, and thankfully the destination of the A-League title will be decided where it counts – on the pitch.
It wouldn’t be the climax of another A-League season without someone suggesting we should scrap the finals, and this year we can thank Roar contributer André Leslie.
Leslie has plenty of journalism experience and even wrote a book about representing the German national cricket team, but he’s wrong to suggest the A-League should get rid of the finals.
Why? Simply check the ticket sales for this weekend’s semi-finals and you have your answer.
Barely 15,000 fans filed through the turnstiles to watch Sydney FC lift the premiers plate on the final day of the league campaign, but Allianz Stadium will be bursting at the seams should the Sky Blues host the championship decider.
And putting aside the fact that every year the grand final is a showpiece occasion we have every right to be proud of, there’s also the stone-cold economic reality that Football Federation Australia makes a killing off ticket sales.
Add to that the fact that finals have decided our national champions since 1984 and it’s clear why the format is not going anywhere.
If it’s good enough for Ange Postecoglou – he won two National Soccer League grand finals as a South Melbourne player and another two as coach – then there’s no point changing the system merely to mimic foreign football cultures.
That won’t stop some fans from complaining about the A-League finals in one breath and checking the beIN Sports schedule to see when Aaron Mooy’s Huddersfield are kicking off their Championship playoff campaign with the next.
Fortunately, the time for talk is at an end, and come Sunday night only two sides will be left standing following a couple of intriguing semi-final match-ups.
The FFA may have missed out on their coveted derbies, but on paper the two encounters look just as enticing.
Perth Glory turned in a defensive masterclass in shutting out Melbourne City last weekend, but is their back four strong enough to contain Sydney FC’s powerful attack?
Glory defender Dino Djulbic may have done a number on the City strikeforce last Sunday, but finding a way to stop Sydney FC’s returning playmaker Milos Ninkovic will be another story.
And if Ninkovic is still feeling the effects of the knock he sustained against the Newcastle Jets before the finals, the Sky Blues still have Alex Brosque in career-best title-chasing form.
With momentum playing an important role going into the semi-finals, about the only thing that could count against Sydney FC is the fact that they had last weekend off.
It’s not quite the same concern for Melbourne Victory, who must be laughing at the travails of Brisbane Roar over the past 48 hours.
Not only were the Roar forced to send a weakened squad to Thailand in midweek, where they crashed out of the AFC Champions League courtesy of a 3-0 defeat to Muangthong United, but they ended the game missing their two first-team goalkeepers.
And with Jamie Young racing against the clock following that shocking arm injury picked up in Nonthaburi – the club are surely exploring their legal options over it – the Roar could even sign a short-term injury replacement to cover themselves in goal.
That could result in the bizarre scenario of someone like Ivan Necesvki lining up in a semi-final just weeks after being deemed surplus to requirements by the Central Coast Mariners.
It’s the last thing needed by coach John Aloisi, who could no doubt do without the constant media speculation surrounding top scorer Jamie Maclaren as well.
However, all the subplots add up to a couple of fascinating showdowns in what is always one of the most exciting weekends of the season.
Manny Pacquiao and his entourage may have just rolled into town, but we’re not quite done with the A-League season yet.
And in the words of Guns N’ Roses, there’s only one thing left for our final four combatants to do.
Get in the ring.
Realist
Guest
I have listed three similarities which you once again do not address. 1) Winner is decided in a one-off game 2) Winner is presented with a trophy 3) Winner is granted entry to a higher level competition the following season Which of these are incorrect?
senner
Guest
As if India, USA and Australia is a "TREND". That's like the trend of the Jamaican bobsled team, Jesus Christ, give me a break... Do you know who RULES Football on this planet? I tell you. Spain, Italy, France and Germany. And then Portugal, Holland, England etc. Don't come with USA, India and Australia.
senner
Guest
Ridiculous argument. If there were no finals and the fans knew the premiers are the ABSOLUTE WINNERS, then of course there would be a huge celebration and more than 15'000 fans.
senner
Guest
You couldn't be more wrong. True Football lovers stream Euro Football. Every immigrant I personally know who currently plays or played competitive Football in the past streams EURO FOOTBALL and doesn't give a rats about the A-League...
Nemesis
Guest
Are you intentionally being obtuse, or are you genuinely unaware that there absolutely NOTHING in common between the knock out series to determine the ALeague Champions and the 3rd promotion team in English Division 2? If you can't work this out, you're not using common sense but you're just here to argue.
Realist
Guest
Where did i lay claim in my post to "the best team"? Once again, you fabricate an argument by falsely claiming someone has stated something when they haven't. I notice you have been unable to refute the 3 points i made in my post. I await with baited breath how you prove the 3 similarities i mentioned are not in fact similar at all. Address those and do not make up false claims.
punter
Guest
Apologies for all the grammar errors.
Sydney C
Guest
Not sure why league here in Sydney call the league winners "Minor Premiers". I'm sure thats why Scott called it such. I've always thought it strange that its called that.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Correct Mike. And for ever it will be thus. Can't wait for next season when City again will flatter to deceive and I'll be left to ruminate on another season lost. Such is the life of a supporter. I'm typing this from a rehab centre which I entered after watching last week's debacle from the stands. Yours truly :(
punter
Guest
Yes Arto, I agree!!! Hence why those who called minor premiership has it all wrong. Make it separate competitions, but don't belittle the premiership. But I like the finals Which is one the more important, I suppose the debate will, I know which one gathers more interest, everyone loves a KO final. But I know the one I regard is who is the best team of the year. Now being a SFC I hope we win the final series to put it in no doubt. Now I also ave no issues if SFC do lose, I can accept the word choker, but there is no doubt in my mind the best team this year in the HAL is SFC & they have proved by winning the premiership.
Arto
Guest
Great reply, Punter! Agree 100% The Finals system rewards something else compared with the League season - it's why we have this debate about what's better to win. IMO, both have a place, but FFA need to do more to promote those differences and ideally, make them separate competitions...
Arto
Guest
Rick, you seem to have quite a strong opinion about this, so I won't try to change your mind, but just bear in mind when you post that there often are many people who have equally differing viewpoints and the quicker one regresses to personal attacks (like Nemesis/Fussball has a tendency to do), the quicker the debate gets bogged down in off-the-topic drivel. My opinion on the topic for what it's worth is that FFA should separate the 2 'events' (ie: regular season AND A-League Cup). I see your point regarding the massive consumption of Finals soccer as a type of layman's mana, but I can't see why this couldn't be disconnected from a 'first-past-the-post' series of matches to determine the League champions (as opposed to Cup Champions for the GF winner). It's a question of whether the FFA has the gumption and ability to actually make a success of it - not whether it could work at all...
Arto
Guest
Mike, PG haven't looked like stealing a win againgst SFC all season and they're not about to do it now despite their recent upturn in form - which is a bit of a furphy btw, despite winning their final 2 games, there last win before that was back in Feb so over their last 6 League games their record is 2W, 2D & 2L (13GF 16GA) and they have the League's worst defensive record.having conceeded a whopping 53 goals - the same as NJ to put some perspective to it! PG are too slow in midfield & defence and have pretty much only 2 game plans - 1) give the ball to Castro & 2) play Route 1 football. A harsh (one-eyed?) assessment maybe, but tactically PG haven't managed to evolve much this season and that showed in particular earlier in the year when Lowe was simply trying to field his best XI and didn't have much of a gameplan for how to exploit their talents - your Roar colleague Tim Palmer, had a good article on it http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/02/01/kenny-can-keep-em-happy-perth-lowe-tactics/ As for MV vs BR, I think it's a bit more open, but MV will probably be too good - they did end up 7pts ahead of BR in the final standings, plus MV have more match-winners in their side than BR who are more of a collective. Coupled With the ACL travel and last week's 120mins, so whilst BR have a good team, MV have a better one and home advantage - in fact IMO the only reason people are questioning the outcome of this game is because MV stuttered to the end of the regular season (they too have only won twice since Feb - against PG and CCM at home). So all-in-all, I can't see past a SFC vs MV GF NeXT weekend...
Arto
Guest
Mike, just a quick comment on Your for/against Finals topic...(I'll comment on the upcoming SF games shortly) Why can't the FFA play the Finals as an extended knockout comp ala the WC? Say all 10 teams are involved and it's a straight knock-out format with the League standings determining seedings. Yes, there are more games and there's a risk of dilluting the excitement from it, but if it's the Financial aspect that dominates FFAs thinking on this, then more games = more Money (even if they dropped the prices - which would probably also be a winner given a fair few People are p***ed off about the prices last weekend!) Then to the attraction of it: 1 - everyone is involved 2 - it's a pure knock-out comp (ie: don't have a Group stage format) 3 - it extends the season for fans and players 4 - it represents an opportunity to celebrate the season (ie: FFA can make an event of it and glamourise it a bit - they liked their all-stars concept and they could possibly combine it with other events like Socceroos friendlies, etc.) Just a thought...
Sydney C
Guest
Midfielder
Guest
Off topic guys but 442, SBS & FFA all reporting an increase in player numbers ... we are number one by a long way.
punter
Guest
Thanks Rick, fortune & glory, but we forget the travel to get there.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqR_p_KFNsw Good luck to your boys.
ac
Guest
Season is way too long for just ten teams, Either more teams or cut the season seems to go in and on
70s Mo
Guest
Looks like you've given it plenty of thought! I still think in Aus we need a single game decider but I don't mind your playoff idea all the same. You should put it in article. I'd better sign off - the family about to shout me a birthday dinner! Cheers Nemesis.