Imagine an alternate reality, in a not-too-distant future. The world game has finally got itself together, and Alex Rance has intercepted the ball, in front of a packed stadium of 60,000-plus spectators.
Rance looks around, and with another of his pinpoint accurate passes, gets the ball to Patrick Dangerfield, who turns into open space, and runs.
He links up with Dustin Martin, who muscles two or three high quality opponents off the ball, and gets it back to Dangerfield again.
Dangerfield has charged toward goal, found an ageing but agile Lance Franklin in open space, and that makes the decision for him.
Franklin receives the ball, he turns around, lines up, blazes away, and scores the goal.
It’s early in the game, and Australia are up 1-nil, the travelling fans are in raptures, who by now have seen this all so many times before. It’s almost expected.
Our opponents, a somewhat confused Italy, aren’t used to this kind of fast, physical, and accurate football.
It’s 2022, the World Cup has remarkably, and soundly, moved out of Qatar, and the Socceroos are showing the world what we are capable of.
That is where the dream stops, because obviously the players mentioned are not on the world stage, and have given themselves to Australia’s biggest stage – AFL.
And good on them.
But why does the FFA accept that?
As Australia looks down the barrel of another walk down the plank to World Cup qualification oblivion, something we thought went the way of the NSL and the Howard government, here we are again, with hopefully four more cut-throat home-and-away playoff matches to get us back to Russia.
What an interesting way to mark 20 years since the Iran match.
All the focus on our failure to qualify directly (and remember, we are not yet actually out of the World Cup) has been aimed at Ange Postecoglou’s failure to properly coach a team of young players.
Quite frankly, that is simply and utterly preposterous. But Australia has a long and storied history of blaming coaches.
In 1997, our inability to convert 17,000 chances wasn’t the problem, it was Terry Venables’ fault for failing to make enough substitutions that cost us on that fateful night.
In 2001, Frank Farina, you madman, how on earth did you allow us to lose to Uruguay, in Uruguay? Clearly, you can’t cut it.
Can’t beat Argentina? How did we not sack Eddie Thompson?
Pim Verbeek left South Africa with a better record than Guus Hiddink on a win-draw-loss ratio, and the same number of wins at a World Cup. But he was to blame for the Germany loss and failing to get to the knockout round.
And Holger Osieck? He was runner-up at an Asian Cup, and qualified directly for a World Cup, and he didn’t even get to go to football’s showpiece.
(Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Ange should probably count himself lucky that he still (at the time of writing) has a job.
Mark Bosnich would have made Craig Foster blush the other night, as in his post-game analysis he skewered Ange on live television, accusing him of jeopardising the integrity of the national team with unnecessary experimentation.
Such superficial examination should not be the case.
Rather than tying our national coaches to a stake and lighting the torch, why don’t we try something different: let’s look at the players.
What if, and it’s a big if, but what if maybe our players aren’t good enough anymore?
Now can I be exceptionally clear, and state that, if I’m going to be remembered for one thing, can it not be that I said our players are not any good.
Our players are good.
Tom Rogic is a star, Tomi Juric is pretty decent and Aaron Mooy – that is an example of a god among men. In fact, across the board, any starting 11, I would have confidence in them.
On their day.
But 10 qualification matches across the largest continental division in the world over 12 months? That’s a big ask, and perhaps, just perhaps, having the best Australia has to offer might have made a difference, instead of simply the best out of the Australian footballing crop.
Which brings me back to my fantasy scenario.
Football, a game that prides itself on being the biggest in the world, and the sleeping giant of Australian sport, must wake up and start making some noise.
Why is it impossible to think that someone like Lance Franklin can’t leap for headers with Tim Cahill? A midfield comprising the likes of Rogic, Mooy, Dangerfield and Martin would be a frightening proposition for any other team.
The Socceroos could use Alex Rance or Rory Laird down back, cleaning up alongside Matthew Spiranovic and Trent Sainsbury. Why doesn’t the FFA make this happen? Obviously not with this generation of AFL stars, but why not the next?
You see, there has been a significant shift lately in player mentalities, and given that today the professional athlete wants coverage and top dollar, it’s no longer simply the case of playing AFL because that’s all they want to do.
Franklin is four years into a nine-year, $9 million deal. Dustin Martin has just signed for $9 million for seven years. Modern day players, you know what they want? Maximum dollars, and the way you get that is through maximum coverage.
Now in this country, absolutely, AFL has it all over the FFA for national coverage. But international coverage? That’s a different story.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Those $9 million deals for Dusty and Buddy? Those would be good starters in the English Premier League or La Liga, but let’s see what they would earn in Europe in their prime years.
All those kids that are playing junior football, wearing Lionel Messi’s boots, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirts, where are the scouts getting in their ear, telling them they could be playing in Messi’s boots and against the next Ronaldo one day?
Which then brings me back to Ange.
You see, Ange isn’t the problem. He’s the easy target. If anything, in lesser hands, we would have been talking about World Cup failure right now, rather than World Cup elimination playoffs.
But what if he had been given a Lance Franklin or Patrick Dangerfield, prime physical specimens, with a life of footballing history behind them, to craft a team out of?
It’s time for football to be bold.
If Kyle Chalmers can reject being a domestic star in AFL to be an international King at the Olympics, then it’s time for the FFA to start reminding young minds that they can be global gods with the round ball.
So as we lament failure to directly qualify for a World Cup, I ask you again: is Ange Postecoglou the problem?
Let us stop blaming one man, and let’s look at how we can get the next 11 men to fulfil Ange’s (and Johnny Warren’s) vision of not only qualifying for the World cup, but winning it.
esko
Roar Rookie
So, how do you define talent at 14?
LuckyEddie
Guest
Time the weak FFA started playing hardball politics instead of grovelling to other codes. Quite simply football has a huge participation rate and added to that number you can add family members etc. Queensland has a State election looming and it will be very close. The FFA , if they had any men type things, should be knocking on the door of all parties large and small asking what they are offering football. Get a list of what the parties are offering to to all registered players, Football family etc. and point out the party that has something to offer football. The Cowboys used the same tactics last Federal election and got a $200m stadium yet the gutless FFA do not use their clout. I think thats down to two thing, the FOX deal ensured the bosses pay for five years and the man leading football is not a football man and will not risk his future in sport. Play hard ball demand a stadium in Brisbane and you will see some action. On the political front the Labor party in QLD has no regard, knowledge or respect for football, they seem to be locked into the Origin mindset. Well the FFA could hit them with the real football numbers and make an offer to another party for FFA support for a stadium. Play dirty , do what ever but sitting around has given us sweet FA. Get a real football man /woman leading football and sack Gallop. He is just a career sports adminstrator , a highly paid waste of time. When he ;leaves football it will be back to the NRL. These imposters from other sports only show an interest in football because of the massive overseas junkets, after that they have no interest or knowledge of the game and basically do not care.
duecer
Guest
Agent 11, I think you've made a very good argument for the case clipper keeps saying that Sydney is a city of all codes - would never have thought that the Sydney NRL teams were doing so badly, but you've highlighted the case.
Caltex TEN & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Mickyo, please explain, if your premise is correct that the AFL players are the better athletes, how then, did the Irish lads beat up the AFL lads in the International Rules Cup. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all the Irish lads amateur status? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-22/irish-all-smiles-after-scraping-home-against-aussies-in-irs-test
valhalla
Guest
SMELL THE FEAR!!!!!!
Agent11
Guest
Thurs night, no competition from other codes, i guess those ratings aren't horrible. Maybe one day the AFL wont be relegated to 7mate in Australia's largest city.
punter
Guest
50% of Australians wouldn't know those names you mentioned & yet they (well at least Ablett) are the biggest names in AFL & it's the no 1 sport in Australia.
clipper
Guest
We'll have to wait and see when (and if) that happens. It does make it harder being an all code city with all the competition. You'll be pleased to know the GWS/Adelaide game got 91,000 viewers in Sydney - not even the Swans, certainly growing from last year.
Agent11
Guest
Lots of reasons for that clipper but I suspect League crowds will improve once the NRL has more control over scheduling and stadium upgrades are completed. Wonder what comments you will if those crowds suddenly increase by 5%? you will have to find another way to prove League is dying. I guess you will bang on about participation...
clipper
Guest
Thanks, Agent11, I didn't realise that the Sydney NRL teams were doing that badly! So badly in fact that the Swans average is double that of the nearest NRL team, just shows how things are changing in Sydney. It should also be noted that one of the Storm's home games is played at Suncorp Stadium as a double header with Brisbane, so that inflates the figure somewhat. Anyway, some fair views from Football fans, they know that Sydney is now an all code city. Sydneysider makes some good points about league juniors in Melbourne too.
Agent11
Guest
The Storm were 2nd in the NRL in attendance this season and their average in Melbourne was higher than every sydney NRL team so they aren't doing too badly. Their TV ratings in Melbourne are about on par with the Swans ratings in Sydney (which is not great). One difference though is the Swans get oodles of promotion in Sydney whereas the Storm barely get any promotion in Melbourne. That's the NRL's fault i guess, though we know the media down there doesn't like to give much exposure to other sports, unless its an event like origin.
Nemesis
Guest
Wasn't Ablett is the bloke who was in a hotel room when a teenage girl overdosed on heroin? Yeah. I could probably pick him out from his police mug shot. Revealed: what took place in the hotel room http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/28/1046407751577.html
anon
Roar Pro
95% of Australians couldn't pick out Kruse, Mooy, Juric if they passed them on the street. They could have their names plastered to their heads and 95% of Aussies still wouldn't know who they are.
Sydneysider
Guest
Yep, Melbourne Storm have the 2nd highest average home crowd in the NRL, but what about junior participation? How big is the rugby league comp in Melbourne? Any players from the Victorian Rugby League system playing first grade? Melbourne is a city that is good at watching sport, that's true.
clipper
Guest
Agree with your assessment, Sydneysider - IMO they should've tossed the Rebels and kept the Force. The Storm have been ultra successful since they've started, but yet are thousands away from the average of the worst performing AFL team there - what would happen with a couple of bad seasons. they even do 2 for 1 specials to bulk up the attendance. The Swans too, have been ultra consistent and could fall back if they had a couple of bad spells, but due to their successful run are now thousands in front of the best performing NRL side in Sydney.
punter
Guest
Australian cricket just earned a 1-1 tied test series against one of these 3rd world nations. The Wallabies are consistently beaten by a country of only 4M, the Kangaroos only plays 2 other nations, the AFL allstars only play on paper. Outside of Ablett, don't know any of these names, if they were better then the current players in Socceroos side they would be earning a whole lot more money. Say 10 times more.
clipper
Guest
I don't know which suburb you're from Post_Hoc, but I can assure you from many people involved around the east and especially inner suburbs, they just don't have enough grounds to cope. This will be different out west, as there are not the numbers yet, but I would think they would be looking ahead to for the future. I don't have the figures, but the teams are easy enough to look up, and both AFL and Football are growing in Sydney while league and Rugby participation is declining, that was my point.
chris
Guest
PH I have found the same things. The garbage that they come up with at council meetings is amazing. We have 3 football teams having to share a field at times so it makes proper training almost impossible. People just have to get along to these meetings and defend your turf. They want what they want not because they need it but because they dont want their competitors from expanding any further.
Nemesis
Guest
" As for Patrick Dangerfield, he needs to grow up and get himself a contract with Barcelona, right now." Isn't Dangerfield the player who got homesick when he had to move from Geelong to Adelaide? Ha! If you don't have the mental strength to live in the same country with same language; culture, you're not going to make it in any meaningful sport. He should stick to his comfort zone, surrounded by his mates in Corio drinking Bundy & Coke on weekends as they drive their utes up Moorabool Street yelling abuse at ethnics.
Caltex TEN & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
SS - Melbourne Storm, in their last game of the season at AAMI drew a full house. I think the Storm are now making very good progress.