After a splutter or two, the draw for the 2019-20 A-League season finally saw the light of day on August 8.
After a minor delay due to some dissatisfaction around the scheduling, it appears the FFA, PFA, Fox Sports and clubs constructed a mutually acceptable draw, despite its quirks and complications.
While much has and will continue to be made of the compromised nature of the competition, as it moves away from the parity and purity of traditional home-and-away play and into the dark realms of match-ups based on metrics and popularity, the decision-makers have actually done a decent job.
The introduction of Western United provides Melbourne with nine derbies. The Wanderers and Sydney FC will stand toe-to-toe on three separate occasions and the Victory and Adelaide will, predictably, enjoy three incarnations of the original rivalry.
The Big Blue – Australian football’s most passionate and often spiteful match-up in recent history – will also play out three times and the Mariners will host the Jets twice in F3 derbies, with an away clash at McDonald Jones Stadium sandwiched in between.
All up, the draw designers had 21 derbies to work with. They are the matches around which a season can be anchored along with an effective spread and timely placement of games.
From what I can see, they have done a very good job.
Sadly, the A-League has generally started with a whimper as opposed to a bang in recent years, yet it hasn’t been for want of trying with scheduling. Once again, Round 1 will feature Melbourne’s City and Victory in a blockbuster at Marvel Stadium.
The F3 Derby takes centre stage the following week, whilst Round 3 will feature the Western Sydney Wanderers playing their second ever match at Bankwest Stadium when they host Sydney FC.
Even by that early stage, the venue will have become something of a cauldron. Opposition teams should steel themselves for what will be the noisiest and most claustrophobic venue they visit all season.
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
Just a day later, Western United will host City in their first ever Melbourne Derby at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, with all eyes noting just how many people the match brings through the gates.
Continuing the clever spread of derby action, the Victory host Western United on November 2 during Round 4, and Round 6 features the always anticipated Big Blue, this time at Kogarah.
Just a week later, Adelaide United host the Victory on November 23 and Round 9 sees Western United up against their other Victorian rival Melbourne Victory in Geelong.
The effective spread of derby action is consistent across the remainder of the competition.
Rounds 11 and 13 feature Melbourne derbies, Round 15 an Adelaide-Melbourne clash, while the second Big Blue takes place in Round 16 at AAMI Park.
The pattern disappears over the weekend of February 7-9, where a monumental round will feature Melbourne, Sydney and F3 derbies on consecutive days. However, the more balanced spread of blockbuster encounters returns soon after with a Round 21 original rivalry match and a Round 22 Big Blue to whet the appetite.
March 21 brings the two Sydney teams together again at Bankwest and a week later in Round 25, F3 Derby action is on the agenda.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Even over the final weeks of the season, the attempt to thin out the biggest and more profitable A-League clashes remains obvious. Rounds 27 and 28 both feature Melbourne derbies with top six ramifications likely.
The draw features 18 rounds laced with derby action and cleverly, the other 11 have been planned to feature potential draw card matches or given added meaning via thematic labelling.
Round 5 contains no traditional rivalries yet does play the role of Remembrance Round. Victory and Glory have been specifically slotted into Rounds 8 and 17, while Sydney FC vs Melbourne City matches also feature twice in rounds without derbies.
Such thoughtful, strategic and pointed use of the league’s traditionally more attended and interesting matches must have taken some time to achieve and plenty of discussion. The creators should be applauded for their efforts.
The draw also features an attempt to increase fan engagement and attendance by bringing many matches’ starting times forward to dusk. It appears that the powers at be have been listening. Let’s hope the intended impact eventuates.
The effort to position matches so A-League fans are never more than a week away from a huge derby is obvious and meritorious, and made possible by the introduction of Western United.
If the new kids on the block do take the fight right up to their Victorian neighbours, a potential surge in interest seems likely.
It would also set the scene for Macarthur FC to hopefully do the same in 2020-21.
Admiral Ackbar
Guest
In 2006/07 Melbourne Victory played Sydney FC at Marvel Stadium (I think it was called Telstra Dome at the time) and they got 50,000 people. With all this obsession with "derbies" we've lost the ability to think about how many people one team can pull.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
oops! Ironically, was just tutoring an international student and explaining the difference between there and their. Put a pumpkin on my head!
Waz
Roar Rookie
Just end this little argument... the FFA said they had selected fixtures to maximise tv ratings
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
*there Will be very interesting to see whether crowds respond to this or not...
Nick Symonds
Guest
FFA CUP FIXTURES: Sydney United vs Western Sydney Wanderers at Campbelltown Stadium Brisbane Roar vs Central Coast Mariners at Dolphin Stadium - OTHER MATCHES AT DOLPHIN STADIUM: Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne City R6 Brisbane Roar vs Perth Glory R20 Brisbane Roar vs Newcastle Jets R27 SYDNEY FC FIXTURES: All matches at Leichardt or Kogarah - None at the SCG or on any ovals
AR
Guest
7 of the 11 teams in the competiton are from NSW or Vic. That there are derbies spread across the season seems like inevitable fixturing, rather than some artful master stroke. It’s no big deal, I just wasn’t sure what all the clapping was about.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
Rubbish.....the same fans watch every week ......no increase in 5 years. There’s the metric you should focus on. A League needs FTA - end of story.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thank you Franko. That was meant to be the driving argument. They have spaced things out well and their will be a big crowd pulling contest in the majority of the 29 rounds.
RbbAnonymous
Guest
Its never a good draw when you comprise the integrity of the competition. We are on a slippery to jokeville.
Nemesis
Guest
How? One options would be to simply look at all the PayTV ratings for each fixture over the 14 seasons and identify the fixtures that have the highest PayTV ratings over 14 seasons (or eliminate the fixtures that have the worst PayTV ratings), maybe attach a weighting to give higher value to higher ratings in recent seasons compared to 2005/06. It's basic stuff.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
Ok ....so how do you maximise "TV Metrics" when A League is almost exclusively on limited subscriber pay wall transmission via Fox / Kayo & Mobile based devices. Educate me !
Franko
Guest
I'm not sure if you read the article? He's pointing to the fact the derbys are well spread without ever having to wait a fortnight for another. In the past the F3, Sydney and Melbourne derbys could be in the same round which also has positives and negatives but not this year.
AR
Guest
The fixture is a “work of art”..? More derbies are “clever”, “thoughtful”, “meritorious”..??? What on earth are you talking about. The fixture is designed to maximise tv metrics. That is the stated objective by the governing body. As for the extra derbies, there is now another Melbourne team, meaning more derbies in Melbourne. How does that reflect clever or thoughtful fixturing? It’s just inevitable fixturing.
Nemesis
Guest
"not sure where you coming from here? – it’s not on TV" Perhaps, educate yourself about a topic before you comment. Every A-League match has been broadcast LIVE on TV since 2005. You're not sure where I'm coming from because you're not informed about football issues. Read the FFA's explanatory notes about the fixturing and educate yourself.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
"A schedule to maximise TV metrics, not sporting excellence"...........not sure where you coming from here? - it's not on TV .......and may not be if Ch 10 don't come in soon! The fixture is structured to maximise crowds - nothing more, nothing less. Most competitions do it!
Nemesis
Guest
He's a professional footballer, who wants to play for Australia. It's his job. Why isn't he in form every day when he's at work - training & competing? For sure, we all have bad days at the office, but imagine telling your employer: I can't guarantee I'll be 100% focused on work for a few weeks after my holiday, you need to give me some time to get back into it. You'll soon be looking for a new job.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"This would leave just 48 outfield positions for Australian players in a 12 team league." I was thinking of a 16 team league with Australian 3 outfield players per side. - 3 x 12 = 36 3 x 14 = 42 3 x 16 = 48
dan
Guest
will teams and players get into form so i'm a city fan i would rather play victory when jamie is on fire then first match of the season
Nick Symonds
Guest
The APFCA want to admit up to 6 foreign players per team next season and 7 after that. This would leave just 48 outfield positions for Australian players in a 12 team league. Adding Auckland won't help. If expansion is based around derbies it will most likely be Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Dandenong. - https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-foreign-policy-deserves-a-vote-of-no-confidence
Nemesis
Guest
Compromised draw is a compromised draw. No matter how we try to spin the story, the A-League competition is now the same circus that we laughed at with: AFL, NRL, BBL, Rugby, etc. It's no longer serious sporting competition, but it's more reality tv show. A schedule to maximise TV metrics, not sporting excellence. As for the order of fixture, I don't understand why people get so frenzied about which opponent you play in which order. What difference does it make if Melbourne Victory plays Adelaide in Rd 1 or Rd 7? Aussie sports fans make me laugh. The sporting contest seems to be of minimal focus.