The big winners from an entertaining weekend of football were Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, even if it was not immediately apparent.
Congratulations to coach Mel Andreatta and her Brisbane Roar team, after they topped the W-League standings following a commanding 4-1 win over Canberra United at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.
The Roar needed only a draw to finish their premiership campaign on top of the table and claim a much-deserved piece of silverware, but in the end a double from Abbey Lloyd on the back of goals from Matildas duo Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik was more than enough to see off the visitors in front of a healthy crowd.
And the Roar deserved their silverware after losing just twice en route to finishing top of the standings.
They’ll now have to do it all again in a finals series which also features Sydney FC, the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City – with the Roar no doubt eager to avoid the fate of last year’s table-toppers Canberra, who were subsequently beaten in the semi-finals.
And Canberra’s presence in the W-League, not to mention the four-team (out of nine) finals system, are surely concepts worth considering for the A-League.
The Roar women certainly fared better than their male counterparts, although you can’t say Melbourne City’s 2-1 defeat of Brisbane Roar wasn’t entertaining.
Massimo Maccarone has been one of the Roar’s better performers this season, but he’ll have had nightmares about his poorly-hit penalty, which ended up costing his side at least a point.
Yet the Roar’s defenders were just as culpable – even if both Daniel Arzani and Marcin Budzinski were proving adept at unlocking the Brisbane defence.
Arzani is clearly one of the revelations of the season, yet in the introverted Budzinski, City may just have the player to fill Ross McCormack – not to mention Tim Cahill’s – now departed boots.
(AAP Image/Hamish Blair)
As for the Roar, the fact there was a minor fracas with security over the removal of a banner in the home end at least proves one thing – there are still enough fans in Brisbane who care about their club to challenge the status quo.
Although they’d already displayed a much wordier tifo, the banner that prompted security to step in was the simple “Stop the rot” line which first appeared a few weeks ago, and was presumably not on the list of pre-approved banners fans are allowed to display.
Frankly, it’s a bit ridiculous that fans have to have banners pre-approved in the first place, although the offensive banner Western Sydney Wanderers fans held aloft at the Sydney derby last year is a prime example of why it happens.
Speaking of the Wanderers, they did just enough to see off an inconsistent Central Coast Mariners 2-1 yesterday, thanks to goals from Jaush Sotirio and Oriol Riera – or a Ben Kennedy own goal, if you believe the sticklers.
Sotirio was born in Cyprus, while Riera was made in La Liga Santander, to borrow the convention from commercials we see ad nauseam even though we’re already watching the A-League.
And in a team also containing the likes of Raul Llorente, Roly Bonevacia and Marcelo Carrusca, there aren’t too many opportunities for players from Western Sydney to represent their local region.
But hopefully that will change now that Western Sydney are the new National Youth League champions, after the Wanderers downed Melbourne City 3-1 in a thriller in Saturday’s grand final.
Both City’s Denis Genreau and Western Sydney’s Lachlan Scott possess A-League experience, and it took extra-time to separate the two sides after the pair saw their early goals cancel each other out.
In the end, it was goals from Mark Tokich and John Roberts that helped see off a spirited City and hand the Wanderers their first ever NYL title.
Congratulations, then, to Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney.
Their senior men’s teams may be experiencing mixed fortunes, but they proved this weekend that’s there’s more to football than just the A-League.
Kangajets
Guest
grobelaar As if we didn’t know that you make up your fake ratings up already . But I hope Peppa pig moves up your fake ratings chart soon .
Kangajets
Guest
Red b Of course my opinion doesn’t carry more weight . I just stand up against Ozzie rules fans who come on the football site to stir .
Kangajets
Guest
Red b No worries , thanks for the feedback. Some people love Green Day and some people love Mozart People like me love both green day and Mozart and critique them if they feel obligated. Better to think for yourself then follow the sheep .
Redb
Roar Guru
Kangajets, Your entitled to your opinion. However just because you profess to like both sports does not mean your opinions carry more weight. You seem to enjoy being a contrarian. Just an opinion ;)
Redb
Roar Guru
AFL womens comps are booming. Huge growth at grass roots. TV ratings are probably more realistic this year. it aint going anywhere. Sorry.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
You're right, I did err, I am mistaken, noticed I had erred only late last night. Please accept my humblest apologies. Also, Sunday's A-League ratings were higher than the Women's AFL, so there is still some life yet in the A-League. After accounting for the fact that that's the opening round of the Women's AFL, all in all, the A-League does not look too bad in comparison.
Midfielder
Guest
G Not ditching Fox more ditching FTA ...
Nemesis
Guest
"Unfortunately, neither of the A-League games made Fox’s top 20" This is what we call an ALT-FACT.
valhalla
Guest
or at the very least, seek permission of the author before posting (as fuzznuts comically demanded of one poster recently)
Griffo
Roar Guru
Let’s be happy with what we’ve got and figure out how to grow that and not compare ourselves to other codes. Been the refrain for years. Doesn't help if head office dives in as well.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Mid, hard to see FFA ditching FoxSports and going YouTube...and while they own the licence and intellectual property of all the clubs, they won't allow an individual club to negotiate a separate broadcasting package. I can't see an independent A-League governing body doing something different, either. Still you never know, and taking a percentage of the rights would provide the 'operating' funds. Less might be more initially. From a fan perspective purchasing a separate A-League package alone would be a better choice, no matter where it's on.
Kangajets
Guest
Roar are definitely leading the way in women’s football on and off the field too.
Kangajets
Guest
I think we need to carry on with this Stop the rot campaign ... right up to the World Cup , where there will be decent media focus on the Socceroos before they leave for Russia
Kangajets
Guest
Nemesis Come and save me from the Ozzie rules Aligee/ grobelaar Grobelaar thinks I am you f f sake . I dont think the two of us could be more different. You only have to hear our different opinions on Kevin Muscat to start an debate
LuckyEddie
Guest
FOX run all sports in Australia. We could get rid of the FFA and save football some money. FOX has done a lot for football but they will eventually destroy it.
Kangajets
Guest
Ratings As Shakespeare said “”Thou blunt monster with uncounted heads “” Good day to you Ali b
Aligee
Guest
Me : interesting Me ( you) : interesting Some other bloke ; interesting Another random guy : not interesting Kangajets : only interesting if soccer wins. Fussball : only interesting if soccer wins. See you must be the same bloke Kanga
Kangajets
Guest
No worries Ali b
Kangajets
Guest
Griffo U could be right .. , i don’t mind boisterous crowds , but a handful of the victory mob were a bit too angry ... no place for my 8 year old . Some people on here want Kanga out ... and who can blame them .
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Double checking the ratings for the weekiend: Saturday - Top five on Fox: 1. NCIS - TVH!TS - 46,000 2. MIDSOMER MURDERS - UKTV - 46,000 3. LIVE: AFLW: MELBOURNE V GWS - FOX FOOTY - 45,000 4. DEATH IN PARADISE - BBC First - 44,000 5. LIVE: AFLW: ADELAIDE V BRISBANE - FOX FOOTY - 42,000 Unfortunately, neither of the A-League games made Fox's top 20, cutting out at 35k with Play Along Sam. Peppa Pig was in 18th spot, also getting 35k.