The much-maligned Super League has been and gone, but not without putting football fans through emotional purgatory. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that news of Tottenham’s breakaway intentions felt like I had been cheated on.
After a week of introspection, I have just about composed myself enough to pen down my thoughts without recourse to asterisked vernacular, and also in a fashion relevant to the Australian sports supporter.
My focus is on rugby league, but the message is equally applicable across all of Australian sport.
More than anything, the ultimate lesson should be to avoid the prioritisation of money over all other concerns. The diminution of everything to whoever flashes the largest chequebook: loyalty, tribalism, passion, locality, comradery – they all go out the window when the dollar signs light up.
We’ve seen it with talks of relocation, clubs prioritising corporate box sales over regular punters, TV broadcasters moving games to inconvenient times for their own benefit over the match going fan. (Friday 6pm anyone? Or how about State of Origin on Sunday evening?)
Most clubs, sports and leagues are not in a position to scoff at money, but neither are they impoverished. The crux of the matter ultimately comes down to a balancing act between the values we wish to hold on to, and real-world financial pressures.
For a hypothetical example: I’d have no qualms with a new NRL team in Perth. Why should clubs be allowed to scupper the development of the game out of their own self-interest (where it is not jeopardising their existence)? Even if it’s to the detriment in the short-term, one can see enough benefits to give it a go.
But to talk of relocating an existing NRL club across the country? The fact that such a scenario is still entertained speaks volumes.
Clubs should not be the playthings of rich owners, nor strategic pawns of organisation to be brandied about willy-nilly. But as it stands, there exists no mechanism for fans to make a meaningful contribution or have a decisive say over any such action.
Fatalistic thoughts of supporter inability to mobilise change should be eliminated. Sizeable protests by English fans brought home the sheer hatred of the concept to the out-of-touch billionaires, and let’s not forget the tens of thousands of embittered Rabbitohs fans marching on Town Hall for reinstatement to the NRL.
Even the original European Super (rugby) League in the 1990s had to abandon plans for club mergers after pitch invasions and protests.
What can be done to prevent any future scheming? I am not convinced that a German-style 50+1 membership, fan-owned model would work. For starters, that type of fan culture is not ingrained in Australia. I have doubts that sufficient capital could be raised to finance such an initiative, and as a Bunnies fan introduced in part by the work of Russell Crowe, it is worth remembering that not all club owners are evil, bloodsucking parasites.
(Photo: Kris Swales)
The best answer possibly lies in moving towards democratic accountability over decision making. Clubs should be forced to consult their membership over big issues. These could include the choice of home stadium, potential relocation, a change in name or colours, whether the club should accept drastic new competition rules, or indeed competing in a new competition. Members should be able to veto any decisions.
It is absolutely fantastic that Souths fans have been canvassed for their choice of stadium. But it is only through the grace of the owners and executives that such a choice is guaranteed. Nor is there any guarantee that a majority decision would be acted upon.
There are currently no guarantees that other clubs would do likewise or think twice before jumping to dramatic decisions.
I am not writing out of moral puritanism; as Wellington Phoenix are my go-to A-League side, I am exposed to accusations of hypocrisy on the subject of transnational competitions. The irony of me being a foreign writer, talking about Australian fan culture, is not lost on me.
If there is any sentimental value at all, some modicum of emotion that goes beyond the mere cold-hearted, transactional business of money making in sport, then at least some of my words should resonate.
GregM
Roar Rookie
Clubs should not be the playthings of rich owners, nor strategic pawns of organisation to be brandied about willy-nilly. – Seems to work in the good ol’ US of A where NHL, NFL teams are bought and sold to new owners, moved to different cities, different states and at times different countries – Hartford Whalers (Connecticut) became the Carolina Hurricanes (Nth Carolina), Atlanta Thrashers (USA) became the Winnipeg Jets (Oh Canada), Quebec (Can) to Denver (USA), original Winnipeg Jets (Can) to Arizona (USA). None of the moves appear to have affected the supporter base or crowds to games. But then for the most part US sports are major town (state) versus another major town in another state and not an inner suburban competition like the NRL in Sydney. The reason the Eagles, Lions, Crows fans are so passionate? Cuz like most they hate the Vics / VFL / AFL attitude so nothing better than boring it up a Vic team (& even better if it’s the Collywobbles just to see Eddie Everywhere crying on National TV). That’s almost as good as seeing 2 non Vic teams play in the GF. If the Brownlow is a VFL medal, why isn’t there a NEW medal for the AFL competition? Oh yeah, because they still think it’s a VFL competition
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
"I am not convinced that a German-style 50+1 membership, fan-owned model would work. For starters, that type of fan culture is not ingrained in Australia. " Ahhh.......not quite. That's a very Sydney-centric comment I suspect. In the Australian context - the AFL is mostly built around 100% member owned model with a board answerable to the members; where upon any group of members can run for the board or push for an EGM. The big difference - - the Sydney NRL clubs total combined membership is less than the combined membership of Collingwood and Richmond. The AFL has a boradcast revenue centralised revenue model; in addition to the clubs generating vitally large revenue via memberships. There've been rumblings back in the '80s and even '90s around some form of "super league". The '80s was forecasting a true national competition......in the end; that became an expanded VFL. Economic pragmatists at the time would probably convince us that an expanded VFL based national league could never work.......but it has. Largely because loyalty/tribalism sometimes trumps "marketing".
matth
Roar Guru
Good article. This is where promotion and relegation provides a much need release valve. If there is no other option to get "in" to a premier competition than to try and break into the closed shop, then if there is money to be made someone will try to break in. similarly if financially struggling clubs don't have the option to go down to their natural level for a time, then they tend to go bust entirely or get forced into mergers and relocations. There would have been a lot less harm done in rugby league's super league war if Souths and Norths, etc had simply been relegated and had the chance to rise again. Similarly a rich organisation could come in and bolster a second tier team and work their way into the NRL by attracting quality players (e.g. the Toronto Wolfpack in England - prior to its collapse). Redcliffe in QLD is one club that springs to mind.
matth
Roar Guru
Like most of your comments max
Paul
Roar Guru
why not?
max power
Guest
its not a must read at all
Paul
Roar Guru
Completely understand about how you described your feelings. The World Series cricket split happened in 1977 and every year, this comes back into my head. The thoughts and feelings are still strong 44 years later - and that was tame compared to what went on with this Super League stupidity.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
I used to be a big league fan but the Super League war turned me off and I started following a Football team...
Maximus Insight
Guest
"What can be done to prevent any future scheming? I am not convinced that a German-style 50+1 membership, fan-owned model would work. For starters, that type of fan culture is not ingrained in Australia. I have doubts that sufficient capital could be raised to finance such an initiative" Worth noting that by far the richest sporting competition in Australia also does not have a cent of private ownership - the AFL clubs are effectively "owned" by their million off members. Pretty sure only a minority of NRL clubs are privately owned with most clubs essentially "owned" by their leagues clubs which prop them up. Certainly less vulnerable than english and italian privately owned soccer clubs but then the two big Spanish clubs are member owned and that didn't stop them
Sam Drew
Roar Guru
The feelings are visceral. There were sizeable protests all last week, and even Prince William felt the need to interject. The whole fiasco has made me question whether or not to renew my season ticket.
Sam Drew
Roar Guru
Agreed. I'm not forking out for a membership when I can't even attend until borders reopen, but if it meant I got a deciding vote on fundamental issues (see proposed new NRL structure) then I'd be happy to oblige
Megeng
Roar Rookie
The biggest lesson is that we're suckers. Euro fans won't put up with competitions without relegation and promotion. They won't let their clubs be moved around the country. They won't let their local comps be demoted to minor status as the big boys move in and take over their market. Nor would they be keen for their administration to have the power to change the rules every bloody 5 minutes just to chase TV dollars.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Very good article.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
During the whole saga over the course of the last week and a half I kept being reminded of the Super League war in Australia (the name similarity was certainly not seen as a coincidence). Seeing the damage that debacle did to the game in Australia makes me think that UEFA and European football really dodged a bullet by the competition collapsing before a season could be played.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Wait a minute, were you "blood dragon" on here before?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Members should have a deciding vote on matters of club importance like relocating, name, colours, where they play. Not just be consulted. If that existed I bet you would see a increase in memberships. League doesn't have a membership mentality but that can change.
Paul
Roar Guru
This is an excellent article and IMO a "must read" for anyone interested in team sports. In Australia, I've been through the World Series cricket saga back in the 70's as well as the Super League split in the 90's. Both had some elements of this soccer super league fiasco - the overwhelming hatred felt by many, the sense that money was way more important than the game, etc. What can only be appreciated with time is just how long these harsh feelings will linger. I can guarantee soccer fans in England will be talking about this for many years to come.