This was one of the most dramatic weeks ever in Australian football, as the world game finally made its presence felt and helped us take another step towards creating a genuine football culture.
How could you look past the saga of Ange Postecoglou as the story of the year, let alone the week?
His decision to step down as Socceroos coach caught everyone off guard on Wednesday – including the mainstream media, which covered the shock announcement with relish.
For once the major outlets willingly pursued a Socceroos story, instead of delivering the faux-enthusiasm and hackneyed stereotypes we’re usually lumbered with.
Want a measure of Postecoglou’s success? How about the fact the rest of the country cares about the national team again?
On Tuesday, we had the FFA Cup final. It would have been worth discussing even without that incredible finish.
But then Michael Marrone went and crash-tackled the ball boy.
I’ve got to be honest – and with the greatest of respect to the two protagonists – but when I saw the replay, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was just such an Oz football thing to do!
Marrone is not a dirty player. He’s one of the nicest blokes around. But all his heartfelt apologies and “sincere regrets” won’t spare him from a lengthy ban.
Already the players’ association has slammed Football Federation Australia for citing Marrone, which probably saves the rest of us from doing so.
To quote David Gallop, the situation was indeed “unfortunate”. But what on earth was the ball boy doing?
How often have we seen ball kids around the world play a vital role for their team by taking an eternity to hand the ball back to the opposition, or in the case of the FFA Cup final, shielding it altogether?
The whole thing happened in a split second and was probably as much a result of Marrone being unable to halt his momentum on the slippery touchline, as it was anything malicious.
As for the ball boy, the fact he was on stage receiving a medal along with the triumphant Sydney FC players says everything.
Think the Sky Blues cared about the drama? Not for a second.
It wasn’t even the only incident involving a ball kid this week! When the Newcastle Jets thumped Melbourne Victory 4-1 overnight, a quick-thinking ball girl played a key role in Newcastle’s third.
It was former Victory man Andrew Nabbout who had the presence of mind to take the quick throw to play in Joey Champness to score, but Nabbout only had the ball in the first place because a Jets ball girl chucked a spare one to him while the Victory defence was looking elsewhere.
It’s a scene we’ve seen played out hundreds of times in Europe, only this time the ball girl’s antics were taking place in our humble little league.
And I’ve got a confession to make. I love watching midweek football.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – whenever. I’d venture to say I’m far more likely to be in front of my TV on a weeknight, like I was for the Matildas 3-0 win over China on Wednesday night, than I am on a Saturday afternoon.
I feel like that’s an important distinction to make, because plenty of us – myself included – have been critical of midweek action in the past.
But as Fox Sports’ executive producer of football Murray Shaw highlighted when he dropped me a line during the week, the lowest-rating FFA Cup final to date was the 2015 edition – and that was played on a Saturday.
So there are no plans to move future FFA Cup finals back to a weekend any time soon.
It just means we need to start making a habit of turning up to midweek fixtures, like fans manage to do in Europe for the UEFA Champions League.
If nothing else, we’ve had plenty to talk about this week.
Our football may be weird and wild at times, but at least it’s ours.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It's good to know that Thursday night crowds can be above-average attendances. As we grow to a 16 team top tier we will need to fixture more games on Thursday and Monday nights - the time as come for football fans to no longer be scared of mid-week fixturing.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
You are forgetting the bit about the FFA attempting to bring a case against FIFA through the Australian court system. Under that scenario, FIFA's bag of tricks is far greater than that to which you have alluded. You know that right? Otherwise, we know from the Argentine experience that it took the Normalisation Committee about 9 months to bring about the election of a new board.
chris
Guest
Thanks for clearing that up AR. I can sleep better now.
Nemesis
Guest
AAFC has no authority to do anything. The way the process works is (broadly): 1) FIFA appoint a Normalisation Committee to replace the current FFA Board The Committee is usually a small group (under 6 people) drawn from retired judges, politicians, sports administrators" 2) The NC has the authority to a) alter the FFA constitution to ensure the FIFA requirements for a diverse Congress; and b) organise elections for a new FFA Board That's it. The existing FFA administration will continue to do operate AUS football as they do now.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
With the FIFA Normalisation Committee set to step in and take over the running of football in this country, word has it that should the FFA dig their heals in, the AAFC is ready to step up as the guardians of the game in Australia and plans are already afoot for a two tier professional league with at least 30 clubs to be involved. We might get two divisions and full P&R a lot sooner than we had anticipated.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Although population wise, the 9 Australian A-League teams would cover at least 85% of the Australian population.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
90+% of all kids in this country get access to football at some point through their school years.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Let us all hope it doesn't come to that. Football deserves better in this country.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
When FTA finally goes broke by paying overs for the NRL and the AFL, football might ultimately be the beneficiary.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Only four days away now from a FIFA takeover. I do wonder if there is a role for Ange after this in rebuilding football in this country.
Kangajets
Guest
Nemesis The victory players were way to slow to even try to foul the jets players
AR
Guest
“Last season, the AFL rostered several Thursday ‘by popular demand’ night games – result: lower average crowds.” This is not true at all. Last season, there was 8 AFL matches rostered on Thursday nights in Melb, Geel, Syd, Adel & Per. The average for those matches was 42k. The season average was 34k.
bobbym
Guest
Ange will head up the FFA once the current board is dissolved by FIFA
Nemesis
Guest
Foul count. Jets 22 MV 7 Jets fouled Troisi 7 times, which is more fouls on MV playmaker than the fouls committed against whole Jets team. Leroy George was fouled a further 4 times. So cut out the nonsense about Berisha fouls. You can have your own opinion. You can't have your own facts.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Merrick post match presser was basically saying we don't play football until we concede. Merrick is happy for us to let a goal in if it gets us angry and going for the jugular of the opponents keeper.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Berisha wasnt happy all night. The stats may say otherwise but Victory were dishing out fouls that went unanswered but that wasn't what hampered Berisha. Berisha isn't getting the service to influence games like he's use to and he's getting frustrated.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
I actually thought the same about Merrick whilst watching his post match interview.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Think, then R King, what a pure, full-blown P/R could do to the 'national' football competition if only one or two states ended up being promoted. It took years for Perth to get a side into the NSL. Even with all the effort to create professional clubs, I think the potential loss of a full national footprint isn't something the FFA would want. They may not have the choice in a few weeks time anyway in their current guise.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
You're right, Berisha did exit quickly after Muscat. Left wondering tho, whether Berisha ran off to console Muscat or simply just to cry on his shoulder like he normally does.
Rolly
Guest
Just goes to show the power of the Socceroos brand and that's why the FFA need to invest in the best possible coach for the team to give it the best chance of success even if it means an overseas coach because a successful national team can only help grow the sport in this country at a faster rate than any A league could ever do . The Socceroos brand is inclusive of all of the nation the A league is exclusive to the ten cities it has teams in only. . That's a big chunk of the country that is not part of the A league .