Newcastle’s 5-1 FFA Cup win over local rivals Edgeworth was a reminder that when football does things right, few other codes can match it for storylines.
So the Jets look like a half-decent team again. Who knew?
Certainly not many outside of Newcastle, since the Jets seem to fly so far under the national media radar their existence barely even seems to register.
But the Jets threatened to run up a cricket score against their outmatched NPL opponents and a couple of their players looked particularly sharp, including, it must be said, 37-year-old former Norwich playmaker Wes Hoolahan.
Whenever an A-League club signs a player in their 30s, the online comments about the competition being a retirement league are never too far behind.
But Gianluigi Buffon rejoining Juventus at age 41 or 40-year-old Claudio Pizarro becoming the Bundesliga’s oldest goalscorer naturally goes unnoticed.
One of the more frustrating elements of football in Australia is that the narrative around the game has been hijacked by people who don’t even watch it.
And the game needs to do a much better job of celebrating its successes and reminding stay-away fans what it is that makes the sport so special.
That just under 4300 fans turned out at a jam-packed Jack McLaughlan Oval to watch the Jets put Edgeworth to the sword is one such success.
(Tony Feder/Getty Images)
And the fact that former A-League star Daniel McBreen scored Edgeworth’s only goal against the club he works for on a full-time basis is the sort of romance you’d struggle to find in any other sport.
McBreen, who officially retired after the match, hasn’t just been a wonderful servant to the game; he’s also an erudite, articulate presence on camera, as he demonstrated in his post-match comments to Fox Sports.
Speaking of which, how good is it to be able to tune into an FFA Cup game from a suburban ground and hear a world-class commentator in Simon Hill paired with his most entertaining sidekick, Andy Harper?
By now we’ve all heard Fox Sports is making cuts to its football coverage, so it’s nice to still be able to hear two of the best in the business bring the games to life in our lounge rooms and on various devices across the land.
Credit must also go to Lake Macquarie City Council, who helped produce the kind of pitch at Jack McLaughlan Oval you’d expect to find at a top-flight European game.
The pristine surface in turn helped the Jets play the sort of slick football we all want to see in the A-League.
And it’s not like the other fixtures failed to provide their fair share of entertainment.
Both Olympic FC and Marconi came within an inch of forcing extra time against Adelaide United and Melbourne City respectively, while second-tier Victorian state league side Moreland Zebras are through to the quarter-finals.
It was the sort of night that reminds us all of why we tune into the FFA Cup in the first place.
And there’s more to come next week, with tickets flying out the door for Brisbane Roar’s clash with the Central Coast Mariners, while Sydney United are set to face off against the Western Sydney Wanderers in the ultimate grudge match.
Western United were in action last night as well, beating George Cross 4-0 in the club’s first official game at Fraser Rise.
They’ve sold a few memberships too, and if nothing else, they’ll give armchair critics like me the chance to write about some new storylines this season.
That’s nothing to sniff at in a land where spruiking football remains a hard sell.
On a day when 134-year-old English Football League club Bury FC may tragically go out of business, things aren’t quite so bleak down under.
But football in Australia simply must get better at promoting the brand.
The on-field action is entertaining enough – we just need to convince a few more fans of that.
Freddie
Guest
Robert, not sure you fully understand how business works, but in a nutshell, they do it for the money, and that includes TV networks. So, the audience for the EPL isn't huge because of the time difference. A lot of the games start after midnight. Man U-Liverpool might get a decent audience, but Watford-Sheffield United will get next to nothing. No ratings, no advertising interest, equals no coverage. You say you have approached FFA about the lack of English football on free to air? Are you being serious? On what planet is that their responsibility, or even within their control? Football fans have to wise up. Nothing comes for free. If you want English football you have to pay for it. If you want Australian football to succeed, you have to contribute. More eyeballs, more money, more exposure, better league etc etc. It's that simple.
Robert Brooks
Guest
Football fans in Australia are being denied the chance to follow English teams on free-to-air. It is my understanding that the FA Cup in England has or is going to the BBC on free-to-air. One of our tv channels need to be working to ensure ha we Football Fans benefit. Promotion of Football, in Australia, of all types is vital for the progression of this number one sports code in the World. Well done to Optus for capturing the Pay rights but the vast majority of Football Fans do not want to subscribe. Having approached the FFA about this they do not seem to care!
c
Roar Rookie
Don't talk to me about media coverage of soccer in Australia
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Could be.... but I’m only referring to midweek night game and work commitments preventing me from getting there.
jbinnie
Guest
RBB - Sometime one has to wonder what makes the minds of our administrators tick. Two glaring examples. Last season Brisbane Roar,despite having one, if not their worst, season ever still attracted nearly 15,000 to their opening game against CCM, and in their final home game against Adelaide still managed to attract nearly 12,000 people to Suncorp to see them finish well down the table. Since then ,as you are aware ,much has happened at Roar with a clear-out of players and staff,a signing of almost a completely new team,and a well known ex EPL player running the show, and in early matches,achieving a 100% record. So the next home game.to be played in the FFA Cup against what we all hope will be a resurgent CCM has been moved from Suncorp to Dolphin Oval,a ground with a 10,000 capacity. Can you even begin to comprehend the logic in this decision. In what potentially could have seen a 20,000 crowd showing up,the crowd has been restricted to 10,000 max. jb.
rolly
Guest
so so true thats why i switched off main stream media dont watch breakfast tv anymore first sports story of the day is aussie rules every morning and radio is no different even Sydneys two talk sport radio stations its all aussie rules and league their pathetic crowds at games don't warrant all these media coverage lleague crowds are at their lowest ever in history yet the media coverage is saturated 2ue talk sport audience is under one percent of sydney radio audiences and they still persist with their rubbish content. newspapers are no better try and find stories on any soccer is impossible so i go to facebook for local football A league and local leagues and talk sport UK for all my football (soccer) epl and other euro leagues
jbinnie
Guest
Mark - Yesterday's Courier mail in Brisbane had at least 8 full pages dedicated to rugby league,covering player injuries,player suspensions,players "coming back", coaching feuds, and all in all any type of "rubbish" the writers could think up to fill pages. Football ,on the other hand ,with 2 teams still involved n the FFA Cup and an HAL team populated by at least 5 or 6 new players and a worldwide known coach,didn't even "score a mention in the sports section,the best that could be raised was an EPL result, so you are not alone in your observations. Cheers jb.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"I cannot get to Campbelltown in time" - If that's the case then the reverse must also be true for people in Campbelltown trying to go north. It just goes to show why a new team in Campbelltown is a good idea.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think Bosnian is okay and has good points when he doesn’t lose his head and get emotive. Similar thing that could be said about Foster - remember post Germany comments in 2010 World Cup - but seems to have controlled and levelled that to good use now.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I’ve heard Brisbane can be iffy but thought it better than that. Appreciate the Newcastle Herald even more. Imagine being able to chat with a former Socceroo every week during the season about the Jets and all things Newy Football?
jbinnie
Guest
Fadida. - This throwaway comment of yours actually highlights a flaw in Australian football publicity, when a "myth" actually becomes a "truism' over time. Mark Bosnich had a 13 year career in the English top level of football, 4 seasons (2x2) at Man Utd, 7 season at Aston Villa and 2 seasons at Chelsea. In those 4 years he amassed 26 games for United,(average 7 per season), 179 games for Villa,(average 26 per season) and 5 games for Chelsea,( average 3 per season,) so why he is constantly "pushed" as a Man Utd player is an insult to the intelligence of anyone who knows the least thing about the game. Cheers jb
Griffo
Roar Guru
I don’t watch the game for Harperisms, either. I don’t find him as annoying as others. In the end I’m just watching the game. Optus is good. FoxSports not too bad depending who’s talking. SBS will depend on who is commentating.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Every team starts somewhere
Kannga2
Roar Rookie
Where wolf’s ears are, wolf’s teeth are near.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
It would just be nice if we had a reasonable amount of mainstream media coverage. I was thinking about this this morning as I drove into work. Every week most radio stations have an AFL person on talking about tips for the upcoming matches over the weekend. We never hear any A League equivalent during the A League season. I reckon that’s the type of marketing that really gets into people’s head.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Edgeworth "popped up" one day too
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Harper says too much too often, and when he doesn't think about what he's saying, which is often, he's very biased. When he thinks about what he's saying, he's quite good.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Brisbane paper filing on soccer? You're kidding. But often the national reporting, for national bulletins, comes out of Sydney and/or Melbourne and focuses almost exclusively on Sydney and/or Melbourne.
Kannga2
Roar Rookie
My lad reports that he and school mates are talking about the Edgeworth game., it’s amazing when soccer involves the community in their game Could be that people like their own soccer clubs as will continue to support them . Rather then a pop up franchise team
Fadida
Roar Rookie
I don't mind Harper at all. Slater is terrible, offers generic statements with no insight. I know he doesn't do co-comms but Bosnich is my Lex Luther. It just goes to show that being coached by one of the all time greats (Fergie) doesn't mean you necessarily learn anything