When the Association of Australian Football Clubs released its late-January, 55-page progress report in regards to the implementation of a national second division in Australian football, the intent was clear.
Chairman Nick Galatas has remained consistent in his view that the proposed 12-team league, designed to sit snuggly below the A-League competition, would benefit fans, players, media and the broader game of football as a whole.
The update encouraged an acceleration of the process, suggesting a late 2022 or early 2023 start was well within the realms of possibility.
The AAFC believe the league is well overdue, financially sustainable and destined to provide Australian football with the pathway benefits so oft cited as absent by critics of the domestic game.
Sadly, fans of two of New South Wales’ most influential and powerful National Premier League clubs, both no doubt keen to become inaugural members of the first ever national second division, became involved an ugly and violent brawl after their teams fought out a tough 0-0 draw in the southern suburbs of Sydney on Sunday afternoon.
Rockdale Ilinden FC and Sydney United 58 FC played out the scoreless draw in a reportedly heated atmosphere; a match that presented the opportunity for United to join Rockdale at the top of the NPL 1 ladder after nine rounds.
There were tensions on the pitch between players, numerous altercations which the referee struggled to simmer and in the end, the fans in attendance became far too emotionally invested in the battle and took matters into their own hands outside the stadium.
The post-match became headline news when flares, tables and other obviously readily available objects were used as weapons and hurled between the two sets of supporters. The footage is ugly, prehistoric and embarrassing for all involved.
The reported image of a machete is most concerning, particularly if the presence of such a weapon is confirmed by police.
Severe lacerations led to at least two fans requiring admittance to hospital, the constabulary made a brisk arrest and are expected to make more in the coming hours.
While the buffoons involved may have received their rather pathetic thrills for the afternoon, the fracas was nothing more than a throwback to the dark days when football fans around the globe appeared more intent on making the contest about themselves rather than the teams on the pitch.
It took stern measures, expulsion from leagues and a general condemnation of the violent conduct undertaken by some supporter groups to alter expectations around football support.
Around the world most countries have embraced the change and the global game is far the better for it, despite the odd indiscretion where certain groups have put their Neanderthal ways on display.
Providing a safe environment for all football fans lies at the core of the efforts made to eliminate violence, threatening behaviour and language, as well as intimidation at football matches.
With such hope and positivity pervading the Australian domestic scene and successful NPL clubs jockeying for position in the increasingly real national second division, the fans of Rockdale and United have done themselves no favours when it comes to their potential inclusion.
Rockdale City take on Sydney FC in the 2018 FFA Cup. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
No second tier competition can risk the participation of teams whose fans show a disregard for the clear expectations around positive and acceptable support for their clubs. In order for such a competition to succeed, the financial support of sponsors will be vital; support that is dependant on the quality and respectability of the product on display.
Events such as those seen on Sunday afternoon erode that respectability and provide fodder for long standing “soccer critics” to sink the slipper once again and inferentially imply that the game has not really changed at all; suggesting the game is still supported and attended by thugs and bullies more interested in a fight than the result.
For those critics, images of the wild confrontation between two of the NSW NPL heavyweights is the lowest of low hanging fruit, yet perception forms a significant part of reality and for that, both clubs should be struck off the list when it comes to those being short listed as potential members of Australia’s first national second division.
Some will suggest that such an action would be harsh. However, at a time when the game stands at the frontier of a new era where the realities of promotion/relegation and a fully functioning competition designed to link seamlessly with the A-League are so close, both clubs should have a line struck through them thanks to the image problem they have created.
A new second tier needs to stand for something real and reputable. What Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United fans produced on Sunday is exactly what it should not stand for.
There are plenty of other NPL clubs worthy of admission to the new league and I’d suggest we should be supporting their bids instead.
Socratis Christou
Guest
Why is there no mention of the United 58 fans. Brawling with the Mounties fans the week prior?
Sam Christou
Guest
Well said. Thankyou.
Ferno
Guest
The only strong twig we got in WA is in the rugby business. :silly:
Winter A League is Awesome
Guest
Interesting idea
Winter A League is Awesome
Guest
Wise words
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I hope not. We have to learn from our past mistakes. We tried that set up and while it was 'successful' to a point and ground breaking, that concept failed. I'm sorry if that offends but it did, and it failed for some very specific reasons. Community clubs need more than their close circle of friends from a specific community to be financially successful. Funds will never be what is required to be fully professional.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
If I were a betting man, I'd say we are more likely to get a reserve grade comp than an NSD. Now one might ask what about a mixture of both? (as you mention, and JJ has mentioned, and the commissioned report mentioned it) I have a response to this question. Let us take a real life example like the Eerstedivisie (the Dutch 2nd tier). So it comprises 18 clubs, of which 5 are reserves teams for top flight clubs. Ok, 5 of 18, you can probably live with such a ratio, also, only the other 13 clubs are able to get promoted to the Eredivisie (in our case, we will not have to worry about P&R for a very long time). In our specific case, if we end up with a 14 team 2nd tier comp, and 11 of those clubs are A-League reserves teams, well, you get the picture.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Nice, well played. Although I'm not to sure us east enders will ever be accepted by the mainstream!!!
Will
Guest
I think the point of the NSD is for more opportunities to grow the playing and coaching pool in Australian football, if some want to use for their political agenda then they should not be part of this sport. A good example is some want the NSD to semi pro when it contradicts the purpose in developing the pool of players and coaches if they are not training to the same level as the aleague players would. I guess too many are just stubborn when we need to get something in sooner rather than picking and choosing what they want from it straight away. Heck even a quasi reserve league/NSD that fits in aleague reserve sides along with the best NPL teams at the start is not a bad idea to begin with which you can remove the aleague sides once the NSD has grown some legs and eventually add in pro-rel. Just get something under away because we are so behind when it comes to player development given the performance gap from the FFA explains it. This also doesnt represent the thousands of clubs across Australia, this is a small majority whom are clearly idiots that think they are bigger than the game and should not be part of this sport, end of!
Towser
Guest
Amazing that a few wayward lads at a football match are still causing headlines in Australia. I thought the days of Johnny Warrens SW&P were long gone. I experienced those days, they were real make no mistake, but so we’re many other things decades ago, including the original migrants who came here and without them and the clubs they formed Australia would be still be in the dark ages of football, simply because they cared more than the average Aussie about the game. Rockdale , Sydney United, South Melbourne, Sydney FC, Mariners, Roar all these clubs are part of the history and fabric of the game here. I have quoted this Chinese proverb many times on here before, it still stands, a twig alone WAP , 2 twigs bound together stronger, 3 stronger again, twigs from the whole forest floor unbreakable. What you do with the strong bundle is the key, but you have to have it bound together in the first place. As for punishment, one rule apples to all in society, you break the law you answer to the law regardless of background, be that a politician or misguided lads who just happened to have relatives who migrated here from a particular country and loved football.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Any different though to fighting over religion- and that has caused far more serious issues in the world - or try political ideology - both make skirmishes at a sporting event seem somewhat trite and trivial by comparison.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Has anyone written about Central Coast pulling in over 10000 last weekend. The atmosphere was incredible. It shows that the spectators are still there. They just need a competitive team and decent days/ times. I love going to games but I'd prefer not to go on any weeknight other than Friday. Western United see themselves as a long term project. The home ground will get built, they are managing their way through 2 pandemic affected seasons and they haven't once looked like being an unfinancial club. They're developing youth contacts/facilities and they want to enter the W League next year. For our next season we will see a new broadcast deal and a fixtures list for a whole season. And if each club, as an APL member, makes a real effort to engage the community and market their games the fans will come back.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
The FA only care about NSW and Victoria, Queensland is on the East Coast as well and the FA does not care about it just look at how ruthless they were then the Fury were of no use to them all those years ago
Lr1903
Guest
Nope, didn’t suggest crowd figures should be a criteria. Give me 3000 at lambert park vs 15000 at the old sfs any day of the week. Look at the first grade and youth ranks of clubs like Rockdale, Marconi, Sydney United etc. most of the kids are Anglo, Italian, Lebanese Asian etc. They are evolving, some clubs will die out naturally and some will live on. Not sure what purpose the alarmist headlines serve. B league will bring benefits to Australian football. I’m not talking about promotion or relegation. I’m just saying we need more national football to improve football in this country. If some of these ethnic clubs are willing to put their hand up then so be it. We live in times of equality yet still have racist views in regards to Football. I go to the occasional NPL game in Sydney and aleague game with my children and none of these clubs are related to my ethnicity. Man how good would it be to watch Apia vs sth Melbourne on a Saturday evening vs Apia mt druitt or northbidge with improved football. Remember Boca Juniors was founded by Italian immigrants.
Ten Tribes
Guest
$1 mill per year is the minimum estimate for a place in the Championship. The proposed Championship is a dumb idea badly planned. Just need to extend the existing national npl championship.
Ten Tribes of Texas
Guest
The reason npl failed and the A League was devised. The ingrained rascism of partisan, ethnically exclusive clubs. These supporters are just goons. Fighting over sport is the epitome of dumb.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
But if I went with you I’d be taking a “hammer” and surely that one is acceptable in public places?
chris
Guest
He found it in a bid inside the ground.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I don't, and have never subscribed to the 'plastic' description applied to (some) A-league sides. All supporters put their heart and soul into getting behind their team. It's not plastic to them. The colours, the chanting, the flags and sometimes even winning. Just because the team(s) are newly established by people with some $$$ behind them doesn't make them less of a football team than others. In time all teams establish a 'culture', a history that defines them. It takes time and some grinding work. I applaud people who get behind their team and show support.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yep nailed it again.