There’ll be an asterix next to the name of the champions whatever happens from here, so would the A-League be better off if someone other than Sydney FC won the grand final?
Is anyone still watching the A-League?
According to Mediaweek, some 57,000 viewers tuned into the ABC to watch Western United down Sydney FC 2-1 at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
That’s not an insignificant number, although there’s some irony in the fact that a derisory figure of just 8,000 viewers supposedly tuned in on Fox Sports, meaning the Pay TV channel footed the production costs of a broadcast most people watched on free-to-air anyway.
No doubt a few thousand more viewers tuned in via Kayo or watched on their phones, as the kids do these days, but in truth the A-League has been getting smashed in the ratings for a couple of years now.
And it’s hard to blame anyone who doesn’t feel like watching live sport in the midst of this pandemic, especially when football is arguably a more enjoyable spectacle with some fans in the stands.
Truth be told I’ve been watching less live sport than I used to, although I tuned into Saturday’s clash with keen interest.
That’s partly because I’m a fan of one of the clubs involved, and partly because I wanted to see if Western United could continue their hot streak since the A-League resumed.
And on the second point, I wasn’t disappointed. The visitors were deserving winners in Sydney’s inner-west and will go into the finals as one of the form teams in the competition.
They’ll want to knock off Melbourne City in Kogarah on Wednesday night though, if only not to derail their red-hot form going into finals football.
Speaking of which, how interested an observer will Steve Corica be on Wednesday night?
You’d have to think the Sydney FC coach is slightly more nervous than a newly-crowned premiership winner ought to be at this stage of the season.
But here’s the rub: no one’s going to care how many points the Sky Blues dropped en route to the finals if they hold up the toilet seat at the end of the month.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
Just like no one really cares if a team finishes the regular season in second or sixth or somewhere in between and goes on to be crowned champions.
Because as we all know – and here’s that debate again – to be crowned champions, you have to win the grand final.
First past the post? We’d have been bored witless if Sydney FC were declared winners weeks ago.
But on current form, they’ve gone from being odds-on favourites to the team that looks most likely to be stunned by a plucky upstart.
Such as? Maybe Western United for one.
They’ve got a man possessed in Alessandro Diamanti who’s clearly playing for his love of the game. Unfortunately for rivals, what he most seems to love is picking teams apart with his incisive vision and defence-splitting passes.
But it’s more than just old-timers like Diamanti that stand Western United apart, it’s the x-factor of Max Burgess and the fact Mark Rudan can still coax impressive performances out of unpolished gems like Dylan Pierias at this late stage of the season.
And even if Western United don’t upset the applecart, the likes of Melbourne City, Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory are still hoping to be crowned A-League champions for the first time as well.
Then there’s the curious case of Brisbane Roar – a side good enough to be lying fourth, even as their former coach allegedly plans to sue them.
But the question is this: would there be more interest in the competition next season if Sydney FC don’t win this one?
Because one way or another, the A-League needs to find a way to reconnect with the fan-base if anyone is going to tune in next year and beyond.
WanderingKooka
Guest
Even streaming is more of a guesstimate than not as really there is no way to tell juat how many people are watching any particular device.
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
I dont get the logic Mike. As far as I am concerned every season is a brand new slate and an opportunity for your club to grab silverware. If Sydney FC do it this year, good for them. It certainly doesn't lower my interest in the competition for the following years, that's just nonsense. The fact that Sydney FC have been able to do this year in and year out is due their ability to negotiate good players on poor contracts, which is fair enough. If players are happy to play for Sydney FC when they could be getting more elsewhere then that is up to both parties who signed the contract or it could be a case of other clubs paying way to much for players to play for them. Either way Sydney FC is coming out on top for the way they are managing their player roster and the salary cap. If that results in them winning each year then thats how its supposed to be. There is no magic formula to it.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The only club this article would be written about is Sydney FC. Maybe if people were more interested in supporting their own clubs rather than the opposite with Sydney FC. Any ratings for the A-league is a miracle with no one knowing when the games are being played and the state of media coverage. Its bizarre the A-league got no coverage in the covid break in the SMH, no match reports even for the Sydney based clubs or match previews but articles on Foxtel dropping the rights and now Fowler's legal action make the back page.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Buffing?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
What's the equivalent of a pencil rubber for an engraver???
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Pretty sure the engraving has already begun.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
:unhappy: :unhappy: :unhappy: :unhappy: :unhappy:
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I've tipped them to win it the last three seasons. This is their time. A done deal. No one else stands a chance. :laughing: :laughing:
AR
Guest
"What should it be rating in comparison to NRL and AFL?" That's the wrong question. The AFL has been regularly getting 1.2M+ for Thurs/Fri games. The NRL about 7-800k. It's not a serious comparison. The more relevant comparison is what the ALeague gets now compared to what the ALeague was getting just a few seasons ago - well over 150k on SBS and over 100k on Fox. People were convinced that once it moved away from SBS2...or away from SBS...and onto FTA...the ratings would explode. To put it mildly, that never happened. There are not 200k invisible people watching on Kayo or My Football. ALeague viewers have actually dramatically disappeared. The question is, how to get them back.
Punter
Roar Rookie
That is not fair, you are presenting a thoughtful, sensible comment to THE good Dr's comments.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
“City, finally, after all these years, are the real deal.“ Kiss of death :shocked: Thanks Stuart :unhappy:
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
One win for Sydney FC since the resumption is very ordinary. Can't see them making the big dance , never mind winning it. I had Rudans Western United down as very dour earlier in the season. I've changed my mind since. They were good on the weekend. Even with an inexperienced line up for the latter stages of the game they they stood up to the challenge and got a deserved late winner. I'll continue to watch games even though my team, Newcastle didn't make the finals. Western United for a fairytale GF appearance.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Yeah I know I was just being satcastic. In all seriousness, I do support the FFA TV idea or something along those lines, however, they should considering feeding selected games to a free to air broadcaster, like ABC or SBS.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
The first A League season Adelaide run away with the league but Sydney won the Grand Final, 1-0 against the Mariners, so yes.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Perfect lead in to what I grapple with tomorrow on the Roar. Too many gluten free muffins and soy lattes for Sydney FC during lock down in my view. City, finally, after all these years, are the real deal. My lazy $100 has been waiting near twelve months for a return and this could be it. Brisbane and United the real dangers. PS......Newcastle may well have beaten the lot of them.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
G'dday Dr Always good to get your opinions, you call it as you see it. No one is blaming COVID for the drop in A-League ratings, which have been falling for 3 or 4 years now (although this season has set new lows). But there is a view that younger fans are streaming the A-League, which might partially explain the drop. Do I agree with that view, well, I think it can only really be a partial answer. O'rourke was quoted as saying that last season the A-League averaged 15k on Kayo. I think the loss of football fans from Fox to Optus is a more likely explanation.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Kevin The problem is that the ABC gets the feed from Fox, and it's currently getting it for free. It's unlikely the ABC will pay anything for it in the future. There is an argument that we should continue giving it to the ABC for free if they want it, which I understand, but you'd still be wanting to make money from somewhere else to make that possible.
1974Matty
Roar Rookie
I'm one of the people who cancelled their foxtel last year after having it for the last 15 years simply for the a league. My reasons for cancelling were varied, but included not wanting to give murdoch any more money and having too many things on over summer that stopped me watching games. Since the COVID restart, i signed up to the Myfootball app (only downside is you can only watch on your phone). Like many football fans, I don't watch, have no interest in AFL, NRL Rugby and really hope that we switch to a winter comp, broadcast on Optus with 1-2 games broadcast on SBS, and I will happily pay for that.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
haven't we just completed two seasons in one? I recall the first one being dominated by SFC with only the odd banana skin and then since the break we have had silent stadiums and teams playing for the right to be considered second best? the bits I've watched have been ok to good though. Right now, I'm more concerned at what will happen to the A League after this season? players, fans and television - although from a personal point of view I don't really care what happens with the television but do worry about club income derived from it
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
You'll have to ask Rupert I've afraid. What I do know is that Foxtel announced that one of the football codes was up nearly 20% across Foxtel & Kayo. FTA has also seen a 7% increase in ratings from last year in this same code. That's phenomenal numbers. If the A-league has gone backwards in ratings, well...don't blame COVID for it.