Melbourne Victory’s derby win over Melbourne City was what we’ve come to expect from one of the best fixtures on the calendar, but that doesn’t mean everything about it was perfect.
What’s more important to the A-League right now: a winning Melbourne Victory or supporters in the stands?
At least one of those wishes came true on a pulsating afternoon at AAMI Park on Saturday, as a brace of Ola Toivonen headers fired Victory to a desperately needed 2-1 win over City.
It was festive football at its frenetic best and as a broadcast spectacle it was one of the most enjoyable TV watches of the season.
Lucky it was the free-to-air game on the ABC. It’s just a shame about all those empty seats, right?
The official crowd of just over 18,000 fans was padded out by plenty of heavily discounted tickets after AAMI Park and City had tried to charge Victory fans $55 to sit in the active area.
(AAP Image/David Crosling)
In the interest of fairness, it should be acknowledged that AAMI Park is not the only venue to have employed the tactic, even if cheaper tickets weren’t made available to away fans until a couple of days before kick-off.
And as I wrote on Friday, the high cost of entry to A-League games – especially for away fans – is a problem that needs fixing.
That won’t happen though, because no one is quite sure of exactly who’s in charge of the A-League these days.
And even if we did know, the tendency for the game’s officials to bury their heads in the sand means that problems rarely get resolved anyway.
We saw that when Sydney FC fans complained about heavy-handed treatment from security in Geelong, prompting A-League head Greg O’Rourke to tell SBS journalist Lucy Zelic the story was “a gross exaggeration”.
So we can’t rely on officials to rekindle interest in the A-League because they’re more or less content with the status quo.
What we need are a few more games like the Melbourne derby, which was entertaining enough on the pitch to ensure the fans in the stands were rewarded off it.
It should have been lights out for Melbourne City when Andrew Nabbout butchered a couple of glorious opportunities to kill the game off, but even so Victory were much the better team.
Ola Toivonen starred again for Victory in their Melbourne Derby win. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
But when Harrison Delbridge nodded home with more 35 minutes still remaining, he at least ensured there was still plenty of competitive tension left in the game.
And truth be told the best thing about the derby was simply watching two sides who don’t like each other go at it hammer and tongs.
Say what you will about Melbourne City’s reason for being, but there’s no denying that Victory don’t mind trying to put them in their place.
That’s something we need a bit more of, because although the standard of football is as high as it’s ever been, the lack of narrative around many fixtures is reflected in the dwindling attendances.
The Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Western United on Friday night ended up being a fascinating tactical battle played out in front of a brand new stadium that was two-thirds empty.
That said, the Red and Black Bloc deserve plenty of praise for raising almost $50,000 from their bushfire appeal for the Australian Red Cross.
It’s a reminder of all the good football can do at a time in Sydney when many are doing it tough.
On a personal note, I’m taking some time off for the holidays for the first time in a long time because I’m heading to Japan for a couple of weeks.
I had hoped to be watching Shimizu S-Pulse in the Emperor’s Cup Final on New Year’s Day but their loss to Vissel Kobe in Saturday’s semi-final meant it wasn’t to be.
I’ll be back on board in early January.
In the meantime, I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Well most players and coaches often talk about having a twelfth player when the crowd is really noisy and supportive. Even at local finals when there is a crowd of a few hundred supporting your team you can find extra strength and receive an adrenaline rush so it would be foolish to ignore the phenomenon.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
The big question I suppose is do crowds actually matter to clubs and administrators?
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
It's the last few years, not the last six weeks. But maybe the average of around 10k is the level of support that league is going to get kind pf permanently? I don't think that's either good or bad per se, but I think clubs need to play out of appropriately sized venues if that's going to be the case. For example, Sydney FC needs to seriously consider whether moving back to the SFS when the rebuild is complete is a good idea or not. Playing in a stadium that's 3/4 empty on average isn't a great idea I don't think. Jubilee Oval would seem to be a better option, yes? Although maybe the SFS will offer the club huge incentives to move back? I guess we'll have to wait and see...
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Don't be so super-sensitive to any comment that isn't fawning all over football Nemesis. If you want to live in your nice little bubble where football is the number one code in Australia and huge stadiums are full every single game, then go right ahead. Meanwhile, the rest of us recognise that to have a valid debate on a topic you need to have a variety of viewpoints. Maybe one day you'll recognise the fundamental point of a website whose whole purpose is to provide a forum for debate? If you don't like that, could I suggest you run along and setup your own football fansite where no dissenting opinions are allowed?
Punter
Roar Rookie
Merry Christmas Martyn, I hope Santa gives you a football that you were deprived of as a child.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
There is usually some excuse as to why attendances are low. AFL, Melbourne Racing (spring carnival) NRL.National Oxcart championships. You name it all sorts of reasons. But for 6 weeks. Not just one week, but a trend is developing. Maybe if the tickets were given away??
Punter
Roar Rookie
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
It’s a race to the bottom between football and rugby.
Nemesis
Guest
This comment has been removed for breaching The Roar's comments policy.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The ground is highly desirable and there is potential but 3 years away and having to start all over again needs a good team as well and despite all the claims that wsw fans are different - rusted on and all that, it just isn’t true. There might be a core of rusted on fans but they are spread throughout the ground. The RBB numbers rise and fall along with results just as much as any other supporter area. In fact you could easily mount an argument that those that buy more expensive packages have more incentive to turn up as they don’t want to waste their money!
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Why are Perth crowds so poor? They were on fire last year. Not sure about Wanderers crowds this year yet, jury is still out on whether BankWest will be the Godsend the a-League was hoping for.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Let me assist you Anon. Unfortunately for the A-League it’s on a downward trajectory. Yes some facts show this & this is a worrying sign Let’s hope they can turn things around, but the numbers aren’t stacking up. Opinion, showing signs of no love for the competition you keep commenting by saying ‘they’ The next rights deal will be almost a dagger through the heart. Definitely your opinion, from a place of insecurity.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
not worried about Mcgree or bolands absence, im more concerned with the cheap sloppy goals we keep conceding; week in week out
chris
Guest
Buddy- it's pointless giving reasonable responses to those miserable sods who frequent the football tab. When anything positive is to be said about the A-League they are nowhere to be seen.
Franko
Guest
McGree was injured against Phoenix, missed Newcastle and now CCM two losses and a draw. Incidentally when he previously played against Newcastle scored a double and we won, also played in our previous wins this year against CCM. Troisi looks slow without him and still no sign of Mirko Boland.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Sorry, Nem, my apologises for misunderstanding. I meant by season's end, last 3 seasons SFC easily. 2016/17 by 17 pts. 2017/18, yes you beat us in 1 game, but SFC was 21 pts ahead by season's end. 2018/19, I don't deal with ifs & buts, just what the table tells me. 2019/20, yes a little premature, so sorry, but currently 13 pts clear, despite being poor on weekend.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nemesis, and I'd expect you are right. As I wrote, I read a few brief words, one liner actually. It did highlight 'next round negotiations' but I probably should have researched further. Normally do, missed on this one but thanks for the correction.
anon
Roar Pro
Unfortunately for the A-League it's on a downward trajectory. Let's hope they can turn things around, but the numbers aren't stacking up. The next rights deal will be almost a dagger through the heart.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The article was interesting without revealing anything too surprising. Ignoring or just not "biting" or engaging as such usually works or enjoys a degree of success.
Nemesis
Guest
"I read a brief few words that said the FFA will remain in charge of the A League until the end of the current TV contract, so that it doesn’t upset the next round of negotiations." That's not what entirely true from what I've read. The report i read said that the A-League operations have been handed over to A-League clubs, but the legal transfer of assets & liabilities has now been delayed until the end of the current TV deal to avoid any possibility of triggering any terms that could void existing contracts with sponsors & broadcasters. Additionally, there are significant tax implications (this is not something just discovered, it's always been an issue) that will arise with the legal transfer of the entity from the FFA who are a Tax Exempt body to a private entity, which will be liable to all the Government taxes. So, what's going to happen is that the FFA & APFCA will agree on a specialist 3rd party events company to manage the A-League competition (fixturing, marketing, day-to-day operations) for the next 3.5 years. The FFA will be the legal owner of the A-League but the APFCA will be making all the decisions as if they were the legal owner, with the FFA having a Golden Vote to ensure the all APFCA decisions are in the best interests of football.