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Opinion
On a stunning Tuesday evening, in a fantastic stadium, a champion A-League team played, while tumbleweeds blew in the stands.
Melbourne City, a supposedly glamorous club, proved last night that even a wealthy team occasionally can’t be sustainable.
As City competed against the Central Coast Mariners, I wondered why last year’s champions still haven’t been accepted by mainstream fans.
For all their international stars and deep pockets, City had somehow alienated, well, the city.
To the observing sparse crowd, the only sound louder than a pin dropping was the constant rewinding of VAR just before halftime.
Unless you count Patrick Kisnorbo’s intimidating voice. The City coach stood menacingly, passionately stating his case to the referee, as TV cameras filmed his rapid-fire barbs.
Looking around, the vacant green seats were numerous. Surely there could have been a smaller stadium on offer, and not such a deserted ghost town?
Swap AAMI Park for Lakeside Stadium. Anything. Talk to South Melbourne FC and broker a deal.
To the thousands of excited supporters who cheered on City in last season’s grand final: where have you glory hunters gone?
The involvement of City Football Group brought professionalism and marquee signings to the former Heart team, but it also proposed an issue of identity.
Let’s be frank, many of us football fans also barrack for an English Premier League side, and a few of us would baulk at Manchester City being connected to our chosen A-League club.
Anyway, in the end, City won, but you knew that already. It’s the narrative of our times – the big club verses the little club.
When Jamie Maclaren scored the initial penalty, arms angelically outstretched, it felt hollow, like something was missing.
The church of Melbourne City has proudly stood for more than a decade. It’s the premier football team in the country.
Yet, if no witnesses congregated on its spiritual turf last night, then did the game even happen at all?
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.