The A-League on the ABC is good news for the competition, but it won’t count for much unless teams play attacking football and get viewers coming back for more.
At least the A-League doesn’t have a monopoly on refereeing disasters.
Last night’s “six again” NRL grand final debacle will rumble on for some time yet, but the good news for football fans is that the A-League season is finally upon us.
Even better news is that 29 A-League games will be shown live across Australia in high definition on ABC television and catch-up service iview.
If the goal was to get football onto as many screens as possible, then it’s mission accomplished – sort of.
The fact that no commercial network was seriously interested in broadcasting the competition is a reminder of the task in front of the A-League.
And club officials can probably thank the W-League for opening the door, because it’s doubtful the nation’s broadcaster would have been interested if the package didn’t include the right to screen women’s football alongside the men.
Thanks too to Fox Sports for coming to the party, even if the word on the grapevine is that they’ve been looking long and hard at what their contractual obligations actually are to even broadcast this season.
Read into that what you will, but it seems obvious that one of the things an independent A-League needs to work on – and quickly – is generating new revenue streams.
By the time the Fox Sports deal is due to run out in 2023, Sydney FC attacker Kosta Barbarouses may well be set to retire.
He should at least have some coin in the bank, with Dom Bossi suggesting in the Sydney Morning Herald that Barbarouses is “set to earn $750,000 per season” wearing sky blue.
More power to the Kiwi star. Who among us would turn down that sort of money?
But Barbarouses might be a bit of a bellwether in more ways than one this season, and not just because Sydney FC need him to drive their attack.
Because if there’s less money coming into the league either now or in the future, then A-League clubs may need to re-think the sort of salaries they’re willing to pay to players.
And even if the A-League remains on Fox Sports for the foreseeable future, the clubs will probably still need to use whatever free-to-air exposure the ABC affords them to try and generate some outside interest in the game.
That’s where a player like Barbarouses can help, and where some of these seemingly disparate threads come together.
Because one thing the A-League hasn’t always done – particularly in the last couple of seasons – is provide much entertainment by way of attacking football.
Kosta Barbarouses when with the Victory. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett)
Too many A-League coaches and the clubs that hire them see their solitary role as to avoid defeat.
That might be fine if A-League games were always sold out and commercial suitors were banging down the door.
But is sitting back and absorbing pressure the sort of mentality the A-League needs to showcase to a new audience on the ABC?
The reality is that this A-League season has the potential to be the most exciting campaign yet.
Between the addition of Western United, the expected resurgence of Western Sydney Wanderers, a Melbourne Victory rebuild and the return of last season’s champions Sydney FC and premiers Perth Glory respectively, there’s not exactly a shortage of storylines.
But someone might need to remind the clubs they’ve got a duty to entertain as well as simply collect competition points.
It’s attacking football that will have repeat viewers tuning into the ABC’s free-to-air coverage, so here’s hoping the Wanderers and Mariners serve it up in Round 1 on Saturday afternoon.
Plenty of things need to go right this season, but the ABC’s new free-to-air television coverage may just be the most important.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Con What has blond hair blue eyes got to do with rugby league. I’m sorry mate , I don’t agree Seriously the best players in league are generally not white Anglo’s . The most exciting players this year had names like Tedesco , sivo , Moses , Papalii . Not to mention the saga around Farah , I believe a Lebanese name . The nrl is probably more ethnic diverse then the A league in this era to be honest.
clipper
Roar Rookie
What's even funnier is countries teams in a World cup which contain not one person from that country, nor anyone that can even speak the language - when it gets to that stage you know it's farcical.
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
How about we just play good football whether its attacking, tactical or defensive. It shouldn't matter. Obviously the idea is to score goals, but that doesn't seem to be a problem in the A-league. Goals have always been scored, some might say a little too much. Perhaps a reflection on the naive way we play our football. I am not fussed about whether we score heaps of goals or its just attacking football. My contention is to always run the competition with honesty and integrity. Something I can't say is forthcoming this year. Anyway it is what it is, bring on the season already.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You make some good points but what you didn’t say is that there is a mentality, a mindset and a culture that comes with all that physicality and it begs the question as to whether it’s a positive one one that we want to be a significant part of our national identity?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Are you aware of the business facilitation that is being actioned by government? The Commonwealth government has been using football as vehicle for international engagement since 2006 and our World Cup qualification in Germany. If you think the AFL is breaking new ground I apologise for bursting your bubble. The honest truth is that the MCG is the pinnacle of AFL. The game is unique but if you think that it will compete I have to doubt your aspirations. You are going to have a mighty hard time changing cultures, attitudes and beliefs that have been built on and around football for over a century.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
There was a time when "The World Cup" meant what it really is, 200 nations competing in the World Game every for years for the trophy. Now,according to the print media, any old sport that has a handful of nations competing claims World Cup status. And dont underestimate the AFL, they may well have been a flop in China but they are already claiming the avenue for business investment between Australia and China. How? because of the following of AFL in this country which the Chinese recognise. Whats more with more money than they know what to do with wait until the AFL start throwing cash at a few struggling national economies to set up they will be claiming W C status as well.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Of course its about exciting, attacking football – our code has been bagged for far too long just cos its a low scoring game by comparison to the egg ballers. Whats exciting about AFL when you can catch a ball in front of the posts and boot it in unhindered and score 6 points – tens of thousands of delirious fans cheering something almost impossible to miss in many cases – its goals that count. At least there is something to stir emotion in the other two codes with players battering the christ out of each other.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
The fact that an attitude like that still exists is disgusting. Football has enabled me to meet some amazing people. I played for Newcastle Olympic many years ago and those guys were legends. My brother in-law is friends with a guy called Hypiä. They played together when they were younger. I pray that I see the day that generational transition kicks in
Midfielder
Roar Guru
hehe Mike.... just because someone is in their mid 30's does not mean they don't have business acumen... Waz is correct in what he says about the say under 30 market... we need someone who has grown up in this world and understands it and has lived it .... getting a 50 + person to work out the streams etc is akin to getting the AFL bloke into run Football they know the general but not having lived it they cannot see the obvious.. they live their own experiences..
Griffo
Roar Guru
ABC-ME doesn't have a bad reach with kids there could be more potential to incorporate football content. BTN (Behind The News) will often mention football stories; Mustangs FC has a Matildas bent and a grassroots focus. Incorporating some of the players on the Channel in the various regions may help with that.
con
Guest
the people running free to air channels are afl and rugby league man and are not at all interested in letting in wog ball into mainstream channels, I have worked in that area and have met and know them well for a long time . Blond and blue eyes rule
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I'm flattered that you've nominated me for the CEO role because I'm in my mid-30s, Middy, but I suspect they'll be looking for someone with a bit more business acumen than me.
Freddie
Guest
I think most on here are missing the point. Of course everyone would love it if every team played attacking football and to hell with the result, but not every team can, and not every coach will take that risk because of job insecurity. What really needs to happen is for fans to become rusted on. Fall in love with the club, not the size of the name that wears the shirt, or the brand of football they play. It's about tribalism, community. Football here is so desperate to appeal to the style purists they forget they can just switch on the TV and watch teams who are better at it overseas. Build the connection, then fans will go every week, win or lose.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Worth remembering that the A-League represents an opportunity for the ABC too. Having worked at the joint years ago, they're certainly in tune with the idea that they need to reach a younger audience. Football can help them do that.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I agree, Lionheart. The fact is women's football will (once again) drive viewers to the ABC.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
every game but yes, 4k thereabouts
Waz
Roar Rookie
That’s why we have to market to the 1-2 million ex-footballers under 35. There’s a good chance they’ll “get it”
Waz
Roar Rookie
There’s always a reason to pass around. It’s part of football and if that’s youre style, that’s youre style.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nim I think you have nailed it....re FFA & Indy Hal... FFA needs as you said an old hand capable of working with government, whereas Indy Hal IMO needs a younger switched on CEO, someone who understands and has worked with things like streaming... actually a CEO of a major E-game could IMO be worth considering ..
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
or play in winter