The worst thing about Terry Antonis suffering a knee injury at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night is simply the fact it was so predictable.
We just watched a reasonably entertaining round of A-League action, but guess what? All the headlines were about an SCG pitch that clearly endangered player safety.
The Professional Footballers Australia association released a statement about it. So too did Football Federation Australia.
And everyone from Victory coach Kevin Muscat to Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend chimed in with their thoughts on Saturday’s diabolical surface.
There are no easy answers here. Football in Australia is undeniably part of a multi-code landscape and that means sharing surfaces with rival codes.
Add to that the uncertainty around where Sydney FC can even play their home fixtures for the time being and football ends up with the SCG as a supposedly suitable venue.
But a bit of foresight wouldn’t go astray either.
By quirk of fate I happened to be at the SCG last Thursday night for the Roosters’ clash with the Broncos in the NRL, and it was obvious then that the pitch was going to be in no state to host a free-flowing A-League match two nights’ later.
So how does the venue get signed off on game day? Do the wants and needs of spectators and broadcasters triumph over player safety?
It’s hard to imagine how anyone thought the SCG would make a decent football stadium in the first place, although it’s worth pointing out a couple of caveats from Sydney FC’s point of view.
The first is that they’ve been understandably reluctant to give up their foothold in Sydney’s CBD.
Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah might be a superior venue for fans and broadcasters alike, but it’s still in the city’s southern suburbs.
There’s also the fact that, when the fixture list came out, there was probably a hope that Saturday night’s encounter would attract well over 20,000 fans.
But the way this A-League season has gone that was never going to happen.
So it is that we’re once again left with the frustrating spectacle of an A-League game being played at a venue that is clearly not fit for purpose.
And the game has got to get better at making sure that no longer happens in future, including finding a way to convince decision-makers in government that it’s not merely a multi-purpose kickabout that can be played on any old surface.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The action itself was fairly entertaining across the weekend, starting with Melbourne City’s demolition of Brisbane Roar and ending with Perth Glory’s comfortable win over the Central Coast Mariners.
Was Ritchie de Laet’s or Riley McGree’s the better goal for Melbourne City? Was Brandon O’Neill’s or Milos Ninkovic’s goal more dramatic for Sydney FC?
Will we ever find out who owns Adelaide United?
Sorry, what I meant to ask was what exactly did Apostolos Stamatelopoulos put in his water bottle at the half-time interval?
In all seriousness, for the entire season the action on the pitch has been overshadowed by administrative problems off it.
It needs to change, although I suspect there are going to be some pretty seismic shifts over the off-season anyway.
At the very least it sounds like the SCG will no longer be considered a viable venue for the remainder of the season, with Sydney FC likely to switch their upcoming clash with Perth Glory to Kogarah and any potential grand final likely to be played at ANZ Stadium in Homebush.
That’s a sensible decision and one the FFA should be commended for, although it’s a shame it has all come to this.
Saturday night’s clash between the Sky Blues and the visitors from Melbourne was a gripping game of football.
It’s just a pity all the headlines were once again dominated by a dodgy pitch.
AR
Guest
You gotta love the logic. Sydneysiders have never attended live sport in big numbers (save for a few rare examples). They almost never fill their existing stadiums. Fans of clubs just don’t turn up week in week. They just don’t. And there is decades of data which proves this reality. Yet they go onto online forums demanding brand new shiny stadiums which are 100% govt funded...because...it’s what they deserve.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Don't think 10 is the right fit - especially putting it on bold. Ch10 hardly rates anymore and I think the perception of SBS being the home of Football has had a detrimental effect on the ratings. WSW attendance will improve once they get into their own stadium. Pity it wasn't open for their season as the first few games there will be pretty full due to the curiosity factor. SFC's attendances are OK - better than the majority of NRL clubs - SCG isn't ideal, but probably best they can do - after all the Roosters could only manage 9k there and they won the premiership.
Nemesis
Guest
Asian Confederation Regulations: 1) Season must be at least 8 months in duration (including Cup Games) 2) All teams in the Top Division must play minimum of 27 competition matches (including Cup Games) Sorry for the reality check.
josh
Guest
I'm not worried either because unlike Sydney FC - WSW actually represent the entire West of Sydney, from Campbelltown to Penrith. I'm not happy that the only reason they will exist is because Sydney FC complained about Foster's project. SWS is growing - with WSW fans.
AR
Guest
“Our sport, like all the real sports (basketball, field hockey, athletics, swimming) knows that the quality of athlete on the park has nothing to do with the number of people watching on TV, or sitting in the stands.” Real sports? Field hockey, swimming and athletics..?? Um. Those sports exist in Australia primarily due to government Olympic-funding largesse. And none of them have a professional National competition. *They’re* you ALeague comparisons?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
You don't need to worry about SWS Josh. I don't think anyone will move from WSW.
Max power
Guest
Rectangle pitch codes haven’t been played at the SCG in 30 years
Max power
Guest
They have played many more games at Kogarah than the SCG this season They will be there twice this week - one champions league and 1 NRL
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
As the Old El Paso girl says, "why can't we have both?" You can stay a SW-based Wanderers fan but the SW is a rapidly growing area and a big percent of people who don't live there yet might not see it your way. I'm a SFC fan but I say bring on a southern team. Derbies are the sign of a mature sporting city and we're big and ugly enough to have all four.
Ac
Guest
I think the issue is the season is too long for a ten team competition. More compact more interest. Seems now it’s an out of steam. Sorry for this observation but think about it.
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Considering you same 4 or 5 jokers are on here doomsaying every week of every season, I'll take your comments with a grain of salt. Almost everything you just said is wrong, and it doesn't take much research to see that. Victory's first season average was 16K. It grew to 27K the 2nd season because they actually started to win, before shrinking again. No team has doubled its first season average, unless you count Phoenix nearly tripling what NZ knights could manage. Heart came along and more than recouped the crowds lost in Melbourne since the AL's previous most popular year in the city. WU will more than likely do it again
Punter
Roar Rookie
We all have to make the most of the ride RF. It's far from perfect, but it's also been a lot worse.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Also missed out, living in a variety of Eastern European countries but never missed a MV home game :)
Punter
Roar Rookie
I follow a wide range of sports too, up there with the biggest highlight of the year starts on Friday our time the Masters. I've also enjoyed the swims of some of our best swimmers in the Australian championship. The Rugby World cup is one of the world's biggest events (that I always look forward too) despite the game struggling in this country. I like Melbourne, great little city, just the insular view some have there that I find ironic.
RF
Roar Rookie
Punter, you do have to admit that it's quite a ride.
RF
Roar Rookie
Correction, MF. They were FACTS not facts.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Except I follow two footballs closely, and in fact, keep a bit of an eye on a wide range of sport. I don't really like Melbourne all that much. It's too big and busy, I like the quiet, calm life.
Punter
Roar Rookie
MF, he is from Melbourne, it's a very Melbourne thing, I always found those from down there, who like to talk themselves, their club, their sport, their city up, a sort of insecurity in some sort of pompous way. Hence why many thought you & him were one person, it may have been different sport, but my club, my sport, my city is the best.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Verifiable facts and figures are mind numbing, but very, very important. There was a bi-lingual poster on this site who went by the delightful name of Fußball ist unser Leben. He understood the importance of verifiable facts and figures and would urge all posters to rely on the best data available, and educate themselves on all matters before posting. He taught us so much. He was much loved and is now sorely missed.
Nemesis
Guest
Forecasting is not an exact science. The Youtube deal was available, FFA decided to stick with Foxtel. Now, in 2019, the 3 big State Feds are all broadcasting every NPL match on Youtube & Facebook. I've written quite a few discussion pieces on this website: new FFA Congress, costing a National 2nd Div, creating a new Independent ALeague, etc etc I'm certainly happy with all the strategic suggestions & solutions I've offered. We all can't write mind-numbingly inane articles on "who got the biggest TV ratings".