So the Newcastle Jets will host Melbourne Victory in the decider and the question must be asked: was that the best weekend we’ve ever seen in the A-League?
After a season to forget, the A-League has produced a finals series to remember.
And there are barely enough superlatives to describe a couple of crazy semi-finals.
Lets start from the beginning. First things first, congratulations to Ernie Merrick and his Newcastle Jets on their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Melbourne City.
Merrick, the taciturn Scotsman with the rapier-like wit, is often the forgotten man of the A-League.
It seems to suit him down to the ground, and he’s done a monumental job in steering a side that finished dead last on the ladder last season into next Saturday’s championship showdown.
Congratulations, too, to Football Federation Australia – who probably didn’t expect the grand final to be hosted in Newcastle, but who confidently proclaimed that the decider would take place at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
Last night FFA revealed the entire allocation of tickets given to Newcastle Jets members had already been sold, meaning some 20,000 tickets were snapped up within just six hours.
The game will be restlessly sold out on the night.
It will draw a similar-sized crowd to the 2015 grand final at AAMI Park, and for those who regrettably miss out on tickets in the general sale, there’s a lesson here too. Become a club member.
How about Riley McGree’s goal? I don’t think it was deliberate, but that’s really beside the point.
Because whether or not the on-loan Club Brugge midfielder actually meant to scorpion-kick the ball over his head and straight into the top corner, the fact is it was one of the most outrageous goals ever seen anywhere in world football.
Plenty of others certainly thought so. FIFA uploaded it to their Twitter account, where it racked up 1.5 million views within a matter of hours.
It’s those kind of metrics that make football the world game.
And McGree’s strike will undoubtedly be one of the first nominated for the Puskas Award for the ‘most beautiful’ goal of the year.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Let’s also raise a glass to Jason Hoffman, who butchered a handful of chances but still kept his head to convert the one that counted and send the Jets into the decider. Fabulous stuff.
Then, just when you thought the A-League couldn’t possibly produce any more drama, Melbourne Victory go and end Sydney FC’s season in the most dramatic circumstances imaginable.
What’s that, Victory fans? It doesn’t count because you’re all Euro-obsessed purists who insist the best team in the competition is the one that finishes first past the post?
Didn’t think so. And the truth is that for all their dominance this season, no one will be talking about Sydney FC come the full-time whistle next weekend.
However, there was plenty of talk about Terry Antonis and the fortitude he showed to bounce back from that calamitous own goal.
It just had to be Antonis. When he hooked Adrian Mierzejewski’s cross into his own net with what was literally the last kick of the game, it could have consumed him.
But the one-time Sydney FC midfielder silenced the critics and produced the ultimate redemption story with a lung-busting run in extra-time to fire home the winner via a deflection off Alex Wilkinson.
And his tears said everything about the emotion of the occasion.
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Less impressive was Victory assistant coaches Jean-Paul de Marigny and Dean Anastasiadis being sent to the stands for running onto the pitch and confronting David Carney.
It was crazy stuff, and the duo were last night handed a four-match ban by the Match Review Panel.
Better news was the impressive TV ratings across both Fox Sports and One for the game – said at some points to have peaked at more than 300,000.
It was a simply unforgettable weekend of A-League action. And with any luck, the best is yet to come.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Coming up at 1pm today - The Lowedown with David Lowe on The (Newcastle) Herald website fielding questions on all things Grand Final 8-).
Fadida
Guest
Ive always preferred coaching from the stands JB. You get a better perspective of shape and tactics, plus it allows you to concentrate on the game without getting involved with refereeing decisions etc
j binnie
Guest
Waz & Lionheart. Getting inside a coach's mind is an extremely difficult task, and in JA's case it is even more difficult for he handles himself very well in public appearances, be they on TV shows,, fan forums, or for that matter, in the day to day dealings with players, sometime called "man-management". One has to divorce themselves from these factors and tend to examine,with great care, his performance in putting together successful teams on the field, and it is in this area JA starts to show his immaturity in management thinking, for, over his 3 seasons in charge, he has consistently dabbled with formations,and tactical ploys which never seemed to quite fit the players he was using,or to be more correct, the positions he was using those players in, when trying to come up with a workable eleven,which on many occasions mirrored the formations being used by the Socceroos.. Lets ,for a moment , examine the players , some with extensive overseas experience,he has brought to the club or inherited ,and who duly have moved on or retired.. Players like Broich,Corona,Hervas,Kurtisi,Solorzano,Kalderovic,Arana,Khalfallah,and the 4 he has used this season Kristemsen,Papadopolous,Holman and Bautheac and you could add Henrique and Franjic as "second time " around men. That is 14 players. Add to these numbers the "local content"like Petratos,Donnachie,Brattan,Lustica, Skapetis,Clut,Oar,McLaren Borello,Sarota and Danning all playing elsewhere and you have only Gamiero,Pepper,Caletti and Hingert left in the squad for this season just closed. In total we have named 29 players of which only 10 are still on the clubs roster. Of course there are some on the list who it could be argued have bettered themselves with their moves, McLaren and Borello the obvious duo, Now you two and another 10,000 like you are faced with a new season. What is ahead? Is it more of the same for with the signing of Taggart it appears an attempt to replicate MacLaren is being made ,leading to the question who is gong to replace the marquee and experienced players who have already gone or are moving, players like Theo,Brown, and others who may follow despite what is being said by those who are already gone or may yet go. Cheers jb.
j binnie
Guest
Lionheart - Those quickfire lectures ,accompanied by print-outs etc are a result of a coaching technique known as "charting" In this "technique' it can be decided to watch and analyse any part of your own, or your opponents performances and re-act accordingly. Originally it was a technique that measured individual player's strengths and weaknesses but with the ever growing number of specialist and assistant coaches it has become fashionable to use these men to do the "charting" of not only how a player is playing, but as to how a team is playing whether in attack or defence. Many years ago managers used to spend their time high up in grandstands watching the game and the differing tactics being used so they could make decisions that could be passed to the players at half time but these days coaches regard it as more important to be at ground level where they "feel" more involved in the game. Cheers jb
Dean
Guest
The thing about finals is that you're reasonably assured of a close match. These were possibly two of the best matches all season, not just because they were well contested, but that you knew they would be and can plan your viewing accordingly. Matches during the season can be hit or miss, but the finals are regularly worth setting your night up around. Argue all you want about the merits of championship v premiers, but football is the entertainment industry and the finals add a lot to the overall product.
j binnie
Guest
Kris - This reminds me of the top soccer official (who is in the hall of fame) who, when asked how we could get more goals in the game ,suggested we do away with goalkeepers. !!!!!!!!!! I kid you not. That was a serious suggestion. Cheers jb.
Cool N Cold
Guest
You bring up https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-to-call-for-expansion-bidders-20180315-p4z4ig.html But the original discussion was https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/04/30/team-11-showcase-league-stadium-plans Finding excuses.
Cool N Cold
Guest
When someone can't read and being figured out, the finger pointer becomes the AFL supporter. What an excuse. I have been using Cool N Cold as alias for around four years and I have never got connected with AFL discussions. People have just been being too imaginative.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Cousin, you appear to have hit a nerve with some of the AFL folk, the quickest i have seen them being shut up, and again you showed that they don't actually have an interest in Football. Well done even if you do support SFC lol
BrainsTrust
Guest
No the season had already kicked off at the end of the previous month , 2 days before Nabbout gets selected for the Socceroos squad.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Loved the FoxFootball podcast description, Muscats Henchmen lol
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Challenge Cup, played at the start of every year, winner of previous League and Previous FA Cup, so the FA have it
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
can we add a cage?
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Tuckerman resorting to the 3rd Person, all hope is lost :)
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
That wins it in for me
Griffo
Roar Guru
My 8yo daughter at first didn’t want to go, now regrets it big time.
Griffo
Roar Guru
? Right. ·
Live sites·RAAF FlyoverAnything else I can suggest for Lawrie to get organised? Maybe a few of Newy’s famous bands to rock the precinct - Screaming Jets anyone? ?Kangajets
Guest
Midfielder Come up here to the game , let’s get the boys griffo and fadida together for a pre gsme ginger beer . General Roberts Lambton I think I can organise a ticket
Midfielder
Guest
G Not coming up, but will be watching...and wanting you guys to win ,,, LM is a special CEO he is everywhere ...
Midfielder
Guest
From the local TV station First one is worth watching ... http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2018/04/30/jets-home-grand-final-sells-out-in-record-time/ http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2018/04/30/business-as-usual-for-jets-coach-ernie-merrick/