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Opinion

Fun factor back in A-League opening rounds

29th October, 2019
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Expert
29th October, 2019
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I struggle to remember enjoying A-League football as much as I have over the opening three rounds.

There is still so much I would love to see change.

From a national second division and promotion and relegation, to the need for a more clearly defined – and cheaper – pathway for our best young players, there is much work to be done.

But you certainly could not complain about the quality of play.

Few teams represent this juxtaposition of off-field anarchy and on-field quality as much as Western United.

When announced as the winning bid, officials claimed they would be in their new stadium by 2021-22.

With no shovels in the dirt yet, that seems less achievable by the day – particularuly when we’re no closer to discovering specifics surrounding infrastructure required for such a stadium. Who is footing the bill?

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Yet Mark Rudan has held up his end of the bargain by putting together an incredibly competitive team that’s easy on the eye.

The club failed to win the first of their Melbourne derbies – this time a ‘home’ encounter against Melbourne City in Geelong – but they certainly provided an entertaining spectacle.

When it comes to derbies, Melbourne’s newest cross-town rivalry could not hold a candle to the occasion in Sydney – not helped by a ludicrous 6pm Sunday kick-off – but it was arguably the better game.

City’s triumph with ten men and the outstanding marksmanship of the red-hot Jamie Maclaren was the perfect response to their disappointing midweek display in the FFA Cup final.

Jamie Maclaren

Jamie Maclaren of Melbourne City. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Erick Mombaerts and Co. certainly made a fool out of me and my lofty final predictions, but their performance in Geelong was more what I had in mind for the showpiece in Adelaide.

Much has been written about the raging success of the Sydney derby, which undoubtedly found new life in the brilliant surrounds of Bankwest Stadium, and no doubt a thriving Harbour City rivalry only adds to the league’s excitement.

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As it stands, the wet blankets have been Wellington Phoenix and, most disappointingly, Melbourne Victory.

Phoenix look a far poorer outfit from last season, understandably so given the loss of Rudan and so many of their on-field talents.

Hopefully, Victory’s first win inspires them to bigger and better things, but they lack direction. It’s early days for Marco Kurz, but fans will be looking for vast improvements in style and application.

Brisbane Roar’s Round 1 heroics keep them off this list by the barest of margins.

Perth Glory look solid. It would be easy to judge them harshly when compared to last season’s performances but they remain a strong team and, even if they don’t seem to be as good as last year, they still have plenty of upside with the likes of Bruno Fornaroli, Diego Castro and Chris Ikonomidis yet to find their best form.

Adelaide United and, in particular, young gun Al Hassan Toure have been a pleasure to watch, even if most results have not gone their way.

Under Alen Stajcic, the Central Coast Mariners seem far more competitive – their derby against Newcastle Jets was another enjoyable game.

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As for the Jets, they’re not a team I’d break an appointment to watch, but their first-half performance – and the stunning goal scored by Adbiel Arroyo – might be enough to pique my interest next week.

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Attendances have been encouraging in the league’s ‘key demographic’ areas, but one hopes with the quality of football on display this continues to improve.

Even if many will rightly feel this sport has a long way to go, it’s refreshing to be able to say nice things about the A-League for a change.

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