“You’ve got to have a team,” the marketing campaign says. Get behind your local club! But what if that does not apply to you?
All of us want expansion, and there are those in Canberra, Tasmania and of course the South Melbournians who eagerly await news in the face of overwhelming odds. But there is a group of fans who go largely unrecognised.
They are fans who do not have a local club, who have no home crowd. These fans are the people who have moved interstate and as a result have no club to support. I am one of these fans and this is my story.
I moved to Melbourne approximately three years ago from Adelaide and at the start I was determined to remain a passionate Reds supporter. Yet over time I believe I have only attended two games where Adelaide played in contrast to the many Victory home games I was invited by friends to go to.
Naturally, over time, my support for Adelaide has diminished. But I can’t bring myself to support Melbourne City or Melbourne Victory for numerous reasons.
Despite City consisting of former Adelaide players in Bruce Kamau, Eugene Galekovic, Marcel Carrusca, Osama Malik, Iacopo La Rocca and more, my own personal morals prevent me becoming a ‘traitor’ like the former Reds. It’s petty, I know, but a complaint nevertheless. In addition, my own stubborn views prevent me from supporting a rival club like Victory, despite knowing full well that my allegiance to Adelaide is dwindling due to a lack of personal attendance.
What I love most about the A-League is the fans, the crowds and the atmosphere at home games. I miss the cheers, the chanting and the obligatory jeers against the opposition – particularly when you have the support of the entire home crowd.
I feel like an outsider when attending games at Melbourne; peering into a culture that could have been with somewhat wishful thinking.
At work, I regularly get asked who I support. What follows is me responding that I support Adelaide, then they ask the standard why and how, and then they finish with “Time to jump ship to the Victory/City.” I do want to support another club; I miss the home crowds and feelings of belonging but I don’t seem to fit with the current Melbourne teams.
I personally do not care if it’s South Melbourne or Southeast Melbourne that join the A-League next year. Just give us more football, and more fans – a sentiment I believe many of us can get behind.
Naturally, this is all meaningless without some statistics to back my arguments up. Granted we are talking about a segmented population of interstate travelers that is further segmented into football fans. But bear with me until the end.
When considering expansion, it is important to know where the people are heading, and the reports suggest that it is Melbourne.
Melbourne is the second most populated city in Australia, with 4.5 million people. In comparison, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Canberra all have populations under two million, albeit Perth is close with 1.9 million. Brisbane was third highest with 2.3 million and Sydney the most populated with 4.8 million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Given these results it would make sense to establish a new side in Sydney in an attempt to create a second Wanderers effect. However, I raise this counterpoint: Melbourne is growing at a much faster rate than Sydney.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported in 2015 that “Victoria pulls far more migrants from the rest of Australia than any other states, gaining 9340 new arrivals.” New South Wales on the other hand had a net emigration of 5570.
In addition the ABS also revealed that Melbourne grew more than 107,000 people in 2015-16, taking the title of Australia’s fastest growing city.
I also find it somewhat comforting that as many as 2,100 South Australians fled for the border as well, giving some relevance to my earlier anecdote.
Football is a business, set up where the money is, and set up where the people are. While Melbourne is AFL-centric, I feel the Football Federation Australia (FFA) are in a very advantageous position here.
Considering the migration of people and the desire for the FFA to expand the A-League, I propose that they capitalise on this upward trend in Melbourne. I know myself and a few others who would instantly support any new Melbourne side over their original team.
Doing so would provide the FFA with a means to differentiate from other clubs across the codes. A new team would bring huge marketing opportunities and perhaps with the right investment could have a Western Sydney effect in Melbourne.
Yes, AFL is huge, and trying to expand more in Melbourne could be risky. But with an upward trend of interstate travels from cities where AFL isn’t the most popular, for example Brisbane, Sydney and to a lesser extent Adelaide (and following the Crows performance I am extremely reluctant to announce that I’m a Crows supporter in Melbourne), the FFA have the chance to capitalise on those sports fanatics by giving them a new team that allows them to feel at home.
I am not suggesting a team for migrants. While I would particularly enjoy it, creating a team as such would result in it enjoying a considerably smaller supporter base, and would presumably generate less income than another expanded team. There is also the dangerous return to the National Soccer League (NSL) days – something no fan wants.
What I do want the FFA to consider when deciding on the next A-League side is these people. If everyone has got to have a team, then so do the interstaters.
However, I understand that this would be an extreme minority perspective, and once again this is just my own experience. I call out to readers of The Roar: are you in a similar position? If you have swapped teams, why and what was the transition like?
As always, this perspective comes from a place of passion. I want to experience the home games as I did three years ago. But I just can’t see that happening with the current Melbourne sides.
George K
Roar Pro
Actually, its not really a lack of research; more so laziness on my part. Apologies if I have offended anyone by not mentioning the wolves.
George K
Roar Pro
A lack of research my bad.
Kenny
Guest
Why dosent the author of this story includ Wollongong wolves .the storybook mentions canberra tasmania and south Melbourne .wolves are wanting a spot in the A league and have everything in place.lets not forget the south coast in expansion discussion. We will not support a southern Sydney team on the south coast .
chris
Guest
I didnt realise football was the only sport that attracted "oik's".
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
'I wasn't sure which team to follow' That comment right there is exactly why the FFA needs to be very careful - especially with a weak club like Sydney FC - where they place their next expansion teams.
Rolly
Guest
Good article great read .Oh how I long for those days of the wollongong wolves being in the NSL.How good to see them in the A league.they deserve to be back .those memories of the wolves winning the NSL against Perthth dramatic moment on sport for me. .two grand finals all those bus trips to Newcastle .great times great memories at Brandon Park .A real community club it was .One day the South coast of NSW with it passionate supporters will get the wollongong wolves in the top flight comp again.no southern Sydney just wollongong wolves.its the only team I'll support.we are not Sydney we are wollongong wolves..
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Living in Sydney, I was thrilled when Wanderers joined the A-League and like some of my mates I entertained the idea of swapping allegiances. I followed their early exploits with interest and cheered them on. I even live closer to Parramatta Stadium than Sydney Football Stadium, so it seemed like a logical move. I wasn't sure which to follow, but when the first Sydney Derby kicked off, I knew I was a Sydney FC fan. I still follow the Wanderers as my second team especially when they play interstate, but the extra Sydney team helped me to find my true A-League team to follow. But look at the legion of Wanderers fans now. Bring on the third Sydney A-League team. I'm sure they will be fine.
Peter
Guest
You're wrong. An apology is necessary, Bob. From you.
Peter
Guest
Do you take lessons at being an abusive oik of the sort that gives football a bad name, or are you a natural?
steve
Guest
Uh Oh! Nemesis is right on to another of this country's " Casual Sports Fans ". I'm surprised you even bother responding to these types.
bryan
Guest
George, you are but a lad! Yes, it is difficult to make the switch, but it can be done. As an old codger, I couldn't now imagine changing from The Glory in the "A League", or Fremantle in the AFL, but I at one time was not a supporter, because they didn't exist. As a kid, I went to the (then) WANFL games & followed East Perth. Over time,I drifted away from sports. Some of my mates went to the Football, (Sokkah :) ) back in the ethnic days, but I never got interested enough. When my own kids started following Perth Wildcats in the NBL I began attending their games, then for a while, WCE in the AFL When Freo came along, my kids made the switch, & I went along with them I still follow the Wildcats & East Perth, though, & can't bring myself to hate the Eagles. My son started following Football in the UK, &, on his return, encouraged me to go to some Glory games---I'm now a "rusted on" supporter. On the other hand, not everybody feels,that they can change. Before the AFL, some people in WA would watch the VFL on TV & started following a Victorian teams, so there is a sizeable minority who still follow those teams in the AFL. It is easier to be a fan of an AFL,team from another State, than to do the same thing as a Football fan, as the FTA coverage of games is better than for the "A League". The SBS was quite poor, unless you were a SFC, WSW, MV or MC fan. I'm not holding out much hope for Ch 10 either!
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
With a 2nd division looking likely in one or two years, and P&R soon afterwards, if you follow an NPL team, keep following it because you never know when it might get promoted to the A-League.
The FatMan
Roar Rookie
Anything but 'Southern Expansion'. The link between Sutherland and St George is tedious at best, Woolongong is like trying to say Melb Victory truly covers Geelong (which despite taking a few matches out there, just doesn't).
The FatMan
Roar Rookie
George I'm in the same boat as a Sydney expat living in Melbourne - the main difference is the Melbourne-centric AFL competition. In a regular season, I can go to roughly 8-10 swans games if I like, but only 3 SFC games (although this year with the SMFC FFA Cup match that was a bonus game/shower). So basically, I get to support the Swans on roughly the same scale as I could if I was still in Sydney, but only 3 SFC games a year makes ties somewhat tedious. I think you've already got your expansion team in Melb City, but being a ManU fan I don't know how well wearing city blue goes down.
The FatMan
Roar Rookie
As much as I'd love pro-rel, I think the better option to keep the A-League exclusive (at least for now). IMO, we should introduce a proper NPL as our national premier winter football competition, with four conferences sitting below it (North, South, East, West) and then state leagues below that. It's a lower risk attempt at expansion, gives us 'premier' football all year round and if done right, could be a great way to experience 'true football'. Crowds around the 5-10k mark would seem achievable if it was all marketed the correct way? If all goes to plan, this could be a perfect way to blood teams to bring into the A-League (although the season switch-over could be tricky) and then at some point down the track find out how the hell we can make pro-rel work.
Nick
Roar Guru
Oh, can we start a separate feed on the dreadful things about Adelaide? Or would that crash the internet? :p
George K
Roar Pro
Yeah Gavin I'm with you, There is a bit of a 'murky' line once you move. There is an expectation to keep supporting your local team however without actually 'revitalizing' your passion with attendance it kind of feels moot.
Gavin R
Guest
For me,.it hasn't always been easy to support an A League side in the sense i would like. Sydney FC was the closest side (3 hours travel each way with no public transport available) but i did support them upon inception and still do. I haven't been to a lot of games and am certainly not a die hard fan. Upon moving to Wollongong, it was a bit easier to support them by getting along to games. I had been hoping for a Wollongong side (not southern expansion!) for a while but have recently moved to Melbourne. I dont think I'll ever support another side. I may not get to games as often as I like but that's not what its all about for me. I don't think it would feel right changing allegiance to a new or existing club.
Bob
Guest
Yoshi is in therapy
Bob
Guest
apology unnecessary. you are like many sports fans in this country and there is nothing woring with it but dont try and choose a team because if you cant stick with Adelaide you wont stick with anyone else. just go with the flow and enjoy.