Although the spectre of COVID-19 still hangs over the A-League Men competition, it’s a refreshing change to see the APL release a fixture list that actually gives fans what they want.
After a couple of COVID-riddled campaigns which decimated attendance figures and saw games scheduled on weeknights for the benefit of broadcasters, the Australian Professional Leagues has responded to feedback and created a fixture list that makes it easier to attend matches.
Gone are the unpopular Saturday night simultaneous kick-offs – although there are still occasional simultaneous kick-offs here and there – with most games set to be played at regular kick-off times, and no more midweek clashes.
“We have worked hard to reflect the feedback from the fans and deliver a draw that makes it easy to know when our games will be played, with 90 per cent of them being scheduled in just four time slots,” A-Leagues commissioner Greg O’Rourke said via media release.
“Our Saturday night game returns to standalone status, and we have worked to deliver as many games as possible in the slots that each club has told us their fans prefer.”
That last point is an acknowledgement that fans weren’t always at the forefront of the sort of thinking that saw some teams play multiple home games in a row last season, often on weeknights, particularly if they weren’t from Sydney or Melbourne.
And while the new campaign will conjure up some challenges of its own – not least around stadium availability – there’s plenty to suggest that after a couple of questionable campaigns, the APL is belatedly on the right track.
Brisbane Roar fans can finally look forward to a return to Suncorp Stadium, although with a string of summer concerts ruling out availability for long stretches of the season, the Queensland Government should just admit the stadium is the premium rectangular venue for music – not for sport.
Perth Glory, meanwhile, will have to play their first four home games of the season in a makeshift stadium out at HBF Arena in Joondalup some 25 kilometres from the city, while their usual home, HBF Park, is renovated for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But on the whole, the new schedule gives fans plenty to look forward to, starting with the grand final rematch between Melbourne City and Western United to kick off the season.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls of Western United celebrates victory with teammates. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
There are a few marquee fixtures for Sydney FC, too, as the Sky Blues get set to move into their brand new Allianz Stadium home.
Steve Corica’s side kick-start their new campaign with a clash against bitter rivals Melbourne Victory, while the first Sydney Derby of the season doesn’t take place until Round 6 – after years of lacklustre early-season derbies.
And judging by the reasonably small crowd that turned out for Sydney FC’s penalty shoot-out win over the Central Coast Mariners in the Australia Cup on Sunday, there needs to be a renewed focus from both the clubs themselves and the APL to get fans back into stadiums.
The Cup has proved a welcome distraction over the past couple of weeks, but it’s not exactly moving the needle when it comes to drawing a crowd. Most Round of 32 encounters have been sparsely attended – and that’s despite scheduling certain fixtures on weekends.
And the scenes outside Leichhardt Oval following Sydney FC’s dramatic 3-3 draw and subsequent shoot-out victory over the Mariners do absolutely nothing to help the game.
While there’s no way to definitively prove who attacked whom in the carpark after the game, it’s safe to say there’s an element within the A-Leagues – exemplified by the balaclava-clad morons who posed for a photo with new Wanderers recruit Milos Ninkovic during the week – who are of the mistaken belief that supporting a football club means attacking innocent bystanders outside the ground.
These wannabe hooligans have the collective IQ of a lamppost and if they wanted to bring the game into disrepute, then mission accomplished.
Here’s hoping they can be weeded out and exiled like the parasites they are, so the rest of us law-abiding supporters can get on with enjoying the football.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
FF, that's not a silly comment. With the World's Highest Paying Probation scheme showing it's true colours and chucking a complete and utterly in appropriate tanty because the money the NSW Govt had set aside for their Stadiums to be refurbished, has been used to assist flood victims, and now the it's beginning to dawn on them that the Women's World Cup is actually an event with 32 nations and their supporters playing for 100 million quid, recent small comments in the media suggest that there is an element of fear or panic.
Garry
Roar Rookie
still waiting to hear re that midfield guy but it seems theyre trying for a top quality striker..and I hope a centreback. Donachie remains a weak link at the back which we cant afford with Wilkinson slowing up..
Grem
Roar Rookie
There were some great games by different individuals on both teams. Loved Sydney's young boys, especially the 18 year old with the mullet and swagger - he looks re ally good. And Yazbeck - how good? Now play them Mr Corica!
Grem
Roar Rookie
At least it is at the NRL and AFL too.
Grem
Roar Rookie
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Grem
Roar Rookie
Yep, ban balaclavas. Whoever needs to wear them is up to no good. There's no such thing as an ultra - let's use the proper term - moron, hooligan, perhaps di$%heads that spoil our beautiful game.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Do you think Sydney will sign anyone? Have they got something up their sleeve?
Grem
Roar Rookie
Can't wait to use my full Sydney membership and 6 game MacArthur membership. Let's get the season started and how good is the Australia Cup for wetting the appetite!
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Great analysis Mike. I thought the fixture was excellent. Games are spread around. As a Victory member I’m rapt. Suits me and will help me get to more games.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Come on mate, do you honestly believe that if the ethnic based clubs were in the top tier we wouldn't have a lot more issues? I for one, am not interested in returning to the dark ages where people attend football because of racial or political reasons.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Are we dismissing the possibility they were planted there by rival codes? Think who has most to gain from seeing football violence on the news. I find it hard to believe WSW fans went out of their way to do this for no apparent reason, considering the bad publicity the game gets from these incidents.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
I'm not so sure about that. There's been no pre-match articles or coverage from the main stream media but News Ltd and Fairfax both pounced on this and had articles on their main sports page. It seems this was newsworthy enough for them to cover.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Nah mate, it's the AFL supporters.
Dennis
Guest
Good comment. We will see in the NPL first grade next season WSW, Sydney United, Rockdale Illinden and Sydney FC. One can only imagine the fans getting ready for certain fixtures. We only need the White Eagles to come up into NPL first grade and we have the full set.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Roger that, the Swede is not cutting the mustard. We have a year, make the change now, and there are a heck of a lot of good coaches who'd give their leftest and bestest for a shot at coaching that team.
Garry
Roar Rookie
The 'spanish' guy was outstanding..as the game went on he more and more was involved, his passing was superb and he grew greatly into the game.the left side combo.. Segegic,Cacaeres & Caballo shredded CCM time and time again..
Garry
Roar Rookie
I agree with you in a way...lets wait on the evidence BUT it does seem more likely an outside group was involved. I was in the ground and the Cove seated near me and there was no sign of trouble there. Plus in the end Sydney won so noone would be particularly upset. I left the ground quickly and missed the trouble tho on the one out I saw an older couple arguing with the security guy who said he was doing his job...dunno who was in the wrong :happy:
Garry
Roar Rookie
In that game Nkolo was the most impressive striker.. Sydney dominated and they carved up the right side of CCM at will BUT CCM looked far more dangerous ..the 'africans' skill and spped stood out..
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
These RBB numbskulls seem to have done the trick for media coverage , on during the ad breaks. The A-league grand final doesn't get 10 sec mentioning the score on these channels and this makes the as breaks.
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Worth noting that the English Women Team had a change of manager not that long ago. So good managers are out there and a change can be for the better. For the Matildas to continue with the parent guy without seeing who else is available is a mistake given the incumbents record.