Welcome to 2019 Australian football family. Hopefully, the talk around the game is a little more positive this year.
Yes, the A-League is struggling to grab people’s attention during the summer of cricket even though live crowds are fine. However, TV audiences are dropping and everyone has their own theories as to why this is occurring.
Did Foxtel lose a substantial amount of football friendly subscribers, when they lost the EPL rights? Probably.
Are more people streaming A-League games on services such as Kayo Sports and the My Football Live App? Yes, but the public will never know how significant these figures are.
Or has the A-League just stagnated and viewers are simply switching off? It could be the case.
The FFA has tried to address this query by approving the introduction of an 11th A-League team in 2019.
The new team from Western Melbourne will bring new players (with the promise of big marquees), new rivalries and new fans to the league.
I’m excited by the future of this team when they eventually have their own purpose-built football stadium in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.
The present may have some teething problems with games held down in Geelong. This sounds like a case of short-term pain for long-term gain. The team’s colours and badge are expected to be announced this month, so watch this space.
The Western Sydney Wanderers will finally play in the new Western Sydney Stadium in 2019, which will hopefully bring back the intimidating atmosphere their fans created for opposition teams.
We must not underestimate the impact stadiums have on not only the attendees but also the TV viewer. An almost full Western Sydney Stadium is a lot more attractive than a Spotless Stadium or an almost empty ANZ Stadium.
The announcement of the new model for the A-League is expected in March of this year, which will likely see the A-League become independent from the FFA. This model was recommended before the creation of the A-League and transition into the model will give clubs like Melbourne City the chance to flex their muscle.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
On the international front, we will all be behind the Socceroos who will be defending their Asian Cup crown in the UAE. It won’t be easy, (when is anything in Australian football ever easy!) especially considering injuries to players such as Aaron Mooy, Mat Leckie and Daniel Arzani. But don’t Australians love a battle?
Japan, Iran and South Korea go into the tournament as favourites. We are not in that bracket. Good. Use that to fire us up, we love being the underdog.
And what about our Matildas? Just the small task of a World Cup in France. Italy, Brazil and Jamaica are their group opponents. How far can they go? Go on girls, do something special. Make 2019 a great year for Australian football.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Haters gonna hate ... T. Swift
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
What issues are they? Low gates? Low TV audiences? Poor media coverage? None of these.
con tripodis
Guest
a league div 1 and 2 less hassle and we can than have relegation without any legal implications as who ever goes down to div 2 is not relegated from A league
con tripodis
Guest
So true, football is trying to be a Christopher columbus where as assie rules plays it safe ,no way to Tasmania, no way to any thing that wont make millions for them, super smart, know their market and are heartless and ruthless in their projections and protections ,not like our codes bumbling stupid ship of fools on stupid decision after the other
Philip Panas
Roar Rookie
My football app doesn’t show Socceroos games for Asian cup
chris
Guest
Good post Mark. I'm also enjoying the A-League. With attendances up on last season, lots more people are enjoying the A-League as well.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Mark Great post
AR
Guest
This is amazing. For years, Fussball told us there were potentially hundreds of thousands of ALeague viewers that were excluded from SBS ratings due to undercounting by the rigged OzTam cartel. Then he said that the commercial FTA channels were ‘lining up’ to bid on the ALeague, and we would all see the ‘real’ viewing audience numbers. There were zero FTA bidders. Now that the ALeague is on commercial FTA, and the ratings have bottomed our way below SBS numbers, he says the two are incompatible. Is he still declaring Tassie to be the next expansion franchise..?
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
I am pumped for 2019. Looking forward to the Asian Cup and hopefully us retaining our title. Also thoroughly enjoying the A league at present. I’m loving the quality of play. It is exceptional at the moment. Every season, the standard seems to just get better and better. It’s great to see our domestic league filled with quality players and coaches and putting on great matches every week. I’m hopeful the Matilda’s can go all the way, but it will be hard to stop the USA juggernaut.
Nemesis
Guest
Never said it didn't. I said it didn't rate well. Certainly didn't rate as high as whatever garbage reality TV shows they put on. Pretty sure The Sopranos didn't rate all that well over the years. Certainly, Nine Network treated viewers with contempt with how they broadcast the episodes. No problem. Now, the smart viewer knows how to get access to the best content & never come near FTA TV.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A quality cult show - that's not a bad description. Seinfeld ran on FTA for years and years.
Nemesis
Guest
To be honest, I think FTA have made a good call on A-League. We have enough data to tell us A-League is not matched to the FTA TV market. Just like many high quality cult shows never really rated well on FTA TV in Australia, including: Seinfeld, West Wing, Homeland, The Americans. But, Ninja Warrior, The Bachelor/ette, cooking shows, "I want to sleep with you wife", all rate very well in AUS. I think A-League needs to be: a) not exclusive to any platform b) matches should be LIVE - on PayTV (Foxtel) - online for free: Youtube, Twitter, Facebook - online subscription: MyFootball App, or Optus Sport. The market has clearly spoken. ALeague fans don't want to watch ALeague on FTA TV.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nem Not sure if I am right but it seems no FTA for the Socceroos of the Asian Cup. In lieu of this I have looked at the my football app. $100.00 for 12 months of all Australian Football if a non Telstra customer and free if you are. Wonders aloud if the FTA's have made error of errors. The my Football app looks amazing value and what it can do has the potential and price to hurt traditional media had.
Philip Panas
Roar Rookie
I wish it was the latter, but it's the former.
BigAl
Roar Rookie
Are you meaning "...should have written that..." ? or is your humour one step ahead of me.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That sounds highly unusual, as you say, plenty of iffy items get published on here. The only piece I ever had knocked back was something I wrote about the volleyball world league, because it wasn't long enough.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It was a cool story, I certainly enjoyed reading it. Not sure why you are constantly attacking people on the soccer board.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Yes, a large bracket of the RBB can still be a tiny minority of all soccer fans. Actually, not can be, is.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Apology accepted
chris
Guest
Cool story