One of the glaring issues of the Socceroos’ 2-0 loss to Japan last week is one that has barely rated a mention, even though it sums up the predicament football currently finds itself in.
In March 2016, David Gallop – then head of Football Federation Australia – signed a long-term sponsorship deal with Destination NSW that essentially locked in Sydney as the city of choice for major Socceroos fixtures.
That particular deal expired last year, but at the time Gallop said the FFA “unashamedly had to get a commercial return” on Socceroos and Matildas games.
So, it was no surprise to see NSW Government branding on the marketing collateral around Thursday’s fixture, even if FIFA’s own commercial deals took precedence inside the ground.
Just like it was no surprise to see Stadium Australia half-empty on the night.
Played just three nights after an NRL fixture on a pitch that chopped up noticeably in the rain, Football Australia sold a little over 41,000 tickets in a city that had essentially seen the same do-or-die fixture four times before.
If you missed Homebush hosting those drama-charged wins over Uruguay, Iraq, Syria or Honduras in previous campaigns, then this was certainly the fixture for you.
And Football Australia placing a premium on major international fixtures is fair enough for an organisation that needs to raise funds somehow.
The problem is when those commercial considerations trump every other facet of the game.
But that’s the situation football in Australia finds itself in.
Maybe that’s why Football Australia chief executive James Johnson was so angry with Graham Arnold for his COVID breach before the game, lobbing a $25,000 fine at the Socceroos coach barely three days before Australia’s most important World Cup qualifier in years.
(Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
And Arnold will become the scapegoat for Australia’s failure to land one of the group’s two automatic qualification places, even though his ongoing tenure smacks of the same commercial constraints.
It’s hard to see how Arnie survives beyond next week’s trip to Saudi Arabia, even if he deserves credit for taking on the job in the first place.
His preparations were undeniably hampered by Australia’s long list of absentees, yet his selections of Connor Metcalfe and Gianni Stensness in midfield confounded many and were never adequately explained.
It led to former Socceroos Mark Milligan, Archie Thompson and Luke Wilkshire teeing off on the post-game panel, with the trio even questioning the attitude of certain squad members.
Jamie Maclaren was one such player whose commitment was questioned, with the Melbourne City striker firing back on social media before jetting off for his wedding – which has been postponed repeatedly due to COVID.
And the issue of Melbourne City players being made available became another battleground in the build-up to the match.
Maclaren, Curtis Good and Mat Leckie all featured in the 1-0 win over Macarthur on Saturday night, with City’s talismanic striker Maclaren scoring the winner after getting barely six minutes off the bench in Homebush.
Leckie wasn’t risked by Arnold given that he’s on four yellow cards, but it was City’s refusal to release central defender Good that exposed yet another ugly fissure in the game.
Despite their struggles to entice fans through the gates at AAMI Park, the Abu Dhabi-backed Melbourne City are one of the most influential clubs in the A-League Men competition.
And given that Good was allegedly not on the original list of 50 potential Socceroos players considered, they’ll argue they were well within their rights to refuse his call-up.
Yet doing so was detrimental to Australian football and against the spirit of the game.
It could all have been avoided if the A-Leagues simply instituted an international break.
But they won’t.
Why? For commercial reasons.
And so a result that needed to be produced on the pitch was hindered by a bunch of commercial decisions made off it.
Then we’ll sit here and wonder why Japan are streets ahead of us, without acknowledging their own enviable commercial base was built upon focusing on what happens on the pitch.
P
Guest
And with the AFC changing the timing of the ACL to run alongside our summer season, I dare say it's here to stay.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Covid wasn't a problem on Friday night in the AFL at the SCG
David V
Guest
The virtual absence of Australian players from a respectable level in Europe is bound to hurt, without any counterarguments to be made. Japan and South Korea have long learned that they need players in the more brutal, cutthroat environments of Europe and South America to raise their national team level. By brutal I don't mean in a physical sense. I mean competitiveness, which is lacking in closed league environments like Australia, which produces a dangerous complacency in our players. It's also why most AFC member nations don't quite make the next step up.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
What we're seeing is the result of decades of the wrong people in the governance positions. The trend of employing old boys, with old mentalities is hopefully coming to an end. The culture I am talking about is the one that prevented Craig Foster becoming a member of the FA. I am not saying that Foster was the solution, but he brought modern, progressive thinking to football and for a while there our game's governance was completely bereft of it. With the personnel we see holding positions at FA now, seasoned professionals who are SMEs in the field, it gives me hope that patience and faith will pay off.
Aiden
Guest
Whatever code you enjoy, it's one of the nest stadiums in the World ... and I've been around lads! In terms of proximity to town, ease of getting in and out, access to food, drink and toilets, very quick access to bars and resturaunts for before and after and just the basic design. I love how straight up and down it is, which means that the view is great from almost any position. Negatives ... acess to food sure, but its awful. Japan has some of the best stadium food, bento boxes etc. Mid strength beer. Ugh. And it doesn't have the history of many of the iconic European joints. On crowd, you can't beat Europe really. And that is a massive factor. But on the plus side Suncorp is buzzing when its full and there are less mad as cut snakes people than you encounter in Europe.
AR
Guest
I wasn’t “arguing about the interest of AFL in Sydney”. That’s chris’ spin. But if you insist on discussing it, watch footage of Buddy’s 1,000th goal and see if you can spot any interest.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
ps AA, if you have not been to Suncorp Stadium, try to visit and watch a Broncos’ game. Even it is rugby, not soccer, the experience can be the same. We used to have a few beers before walking 4 minutes to the stadium. When the match finishes, we can have a pizza, sushi meal or a very good steak at Black Hide Steakhouse with just a 4 minutes walk. Come and experience.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
ps AA have you been to Suncorp Stadium?
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Suncorp vs Hindmarsh Stadium Capacity, Suncorp Appearance, Suncorp Shield against rain and sun, Suncorp Safety? Surely, not hatred towards opposition's fans in Suncorp Location: Means transportation, 2 minutes from trains and buses, 15 minutes for Hindmarsh Means closeness to city, yes to Suncorp Means bars and restaurants at the vicinity, yes to Suncorp Suncorp wins over Hindmarsh by a mile
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
I don't think that is the main reason these days AA. The main reason is stadium availability during winter due to the overlap with NRL and AFL seasons being much greater than summer plus the pitch getting carved up by those codes. Originally, the reasoning for moving to summer was that football would get more mainstream media coverage as the overlap with the AFL/NRL was not there and would therefore provide more media space for football. I think this reason is now outdated as football gets sweet FA coverage anyway due to AFL season expanding, new comps like BBL, AFLW etc all of which take up way more media space.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
your last sentence is a stretch, ignore the actual ground capacity :) hindmarsh is the best rectangle stadium in australia :P
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
You really need to explain your "facts" a bit more because they are misleading. You are quoting national viewing figures when arguing about the interest of AFL in Sydney. You should be quoting Sydney viewing figures for both matches. Socceroos v Japan: Ch.10 Sydney viewers: 137k Paramount figures : unavailable Sydney v Geelong: Ch.7 Sydney viewers: 71k Fox viewers for Sydney only: unavailable - Today Tonight Oztam figures only quote national Fox numbers
GARRY
Guest
he was available and played Thursday..not in the squad after that so avaliable Saturday,,no big deal..now Curtis Good?
chris
Guest
Pip bought up declining metrics for 8 seasons blah blah. Pip is a known AFL supporter. I thought he'd be interested in the horrendous AFL ratings on a FTA main channel. And then you came along.
GARRY
Guest
what a bout the 5k that showed for the womens final..very impressive. Sydney fans will come IF the right incentive
GARRY
Guest
And I fail to see how those tickets were good value at $141 for a ground level seat at halfway..I got drenched and even without the rain I dont get how clubs contiinue to see these seats as premium. What you get is close up views and a great view of the close action BUT anything on the other sides is pure guesswork..
NSD + Transfer Fees
Guest
How is playing for your club a disgrace? Plus his wedding is on the same day the upcoming game, was booked over a year ago and the Socceroos selectors knew about this. He should not go to his wedding, potentially loose something in the 6 figures on the wedding and come off the bench for 5 minutes? Plus what about guests or international wedding guests that already made plans for it. People have lives outside of football.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
absolutely even locally in each states NPL and state leagues there are plenty of coaches from this part of europe who have had success 3 coachs currently in the a league (who might not play the best attacking brand of football, but are very good with the tactical side of the game)
AR
Guest
This was a fairly decent article about the Socceroos matches and how 'off field' commercial considerations affect the game, including the recent WCQ. For some reason, you brought up the AFL and handpicked demographic ratings for non-Sydney AFL games. I just posted the actual figures.
Brepen
Roar Rookie
Re crowd size Good point re ticket prices however free tickets were offered amongst my circle of friends and couldn't get any takers. Think its just a perfect storm - weather poor, players have no profile at the moment , you could walk anyone who played Thursday night down Manly corso and I doubt anyone would recognize them (Rugby Waratahs have same problem), covid had a spike past couple week, people more cautious re big events.