- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
The governance of Australian football, in particular the A-League, has long been a point of contention.
Whether it be issues of fan engagement, development opportunities, expansion, promotion/relegation, a second division, costs associated with playing the sport, fair scheduling for home/away, finals format, premiership versus championship, no matter the topic, regular debate stirs as to how we should approach football in this country.
Football in Australia has long been unable to sort itself out and constantly finds itself caught between the issue of trying to be just football, but also trying to appeal to a wider audience, and at times it just reeks of desperation and shows we clearly lack confidence to move forward.
And today is no different. For all intents and purposes, it seems as though the above has once again rung true with the announcement that the NSW Government have acquired the rights to host the A-League Grand Final for the next three years – 2023, 2024 and 2025.
However, before delving deeper into this issue, there seemed to be one thing we had got right, (despite some differing opinions) since the inception of the A-League: the governing bodies had struck gold with the A-League Grand Final.
The awarding of the highest placed team who made it to the Grand Final with home advantage was at least one point of difference from other major rival codes, AFL and NRL.
Since the A-League Men’s inception we have seen nine hosts in 17 seasons and on 12 of those occasions, the Grand Final, barring five, has proven the most successful event on the Australian domestic footballing calendar.
As evidence, I have compiled a table showing each Grand Finals attendance since 2005-06, with a few notable exceptions:
Sydney FC 1-0 Central Coast Mariners 2005-06 Aussie Stadium 41,689
Melbourne Victory 6-0 Adelaide United 2006-07 Telstra Dome 55,436
Central Coast Mariners 0-1 Newcastle Jets 2007-08 Aussie Stadium 36,354
Melbourne Victory 1-0 Adelaide United 2008-09 Telstra Dome 53,273
Melbourne Victory 1-1 Sydney FC 2009-10 Etihad Stadium 44,560
Brisbane Roar 2-2 Central Coast Mariners 2010-11 Suncorp Stadium 50,168
Brisbane Roar 2-1 Perth Glory 2011-12 Suncorp Stadium 50,334
Western Sydney Wanderers 0-2 Central Coast Mariners 2012-13 Allianz Stadium 42,102
Brisbane Roar 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers 2013-14 Suncorp Stadium 51,153
Melbourne Victory 3-0 Sydney FC^ 2014-15 AAMI Park 29,843
Adelaide United 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers 2015-16 Adelaide Oval 50,119
Sydney FC 1-1 Melbourne Victory 2016-17 Allianz Stadium 41,546
Newcastle Jets 0-1 Melbourne Victory 2017-18 McDonald Jones Stadium 29,410
Perth Glory 0-0 Sydney FC 2018-19 Optus Stadium 56,371
Sydney FC 1 – 0 Melbourne City * 2019-20 Bankwest Stadium 7,051
Melbourne City 3-1 Sydney FC* 2020-21 AAMI Park 14,017
Melbourne Victory 1-4 Western United 2021-22 AAMI Park 15,349
^2014/15 Grand Final attendance is plagued by the issues in which FFA and AFL reported conflicting versions as to request for and stadium availability
*COVID-affected seasons in which restrictions were placed on the Grand Final, 7000 for 2019-20 Grand Final and 2020-21 allowing for 50 per cent capacity.
All in all, the attendance records speak for themselves, thus it can fairly assumed this is why finals and the concept of highest-placed team hosting the Grand Final have remained all this time.
So, with that all said, back to the issue at hand: the A-League Grand Final going to NSW for the next three years.
When I initially heard of this news, I was left disheartened!
It would seem for at least the next three years, my dream of attending Orange Sunday IV at Suncorp Stadium will need to be put on the back-burner.
Our A-League Grand Final, where the team who placed highest and makes the final hosts it, was now seemingly relegated to a desperate money grab and would no longer stand unique spectacle which differed from rival codes AFL and NRL.
(Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
I wasn’t just disheartened, I was somewhat resentful and angry at the decision, but I had to try and look at it from the other perspective, just in case I was missing something.
So, as the afternoon wore on, I became engrossed in the consumption of differing opinions, reading numerous articles, and watching the Q&A with APL CEO Danny Townsend.
The questions, the confusion, the conflict of thought, trying to understand why they made this decision.
So, how, as an A-League fan do I approach the issue?
I refrained from making much commentary as I believe it is always best to say nothing when angry and just be with your thoughts.
However, as it now ventures into late evening, and the end of the day nears, the anger has settled, and I am simply left with many questions, many of which cannot be answered for my questions verge on the “what if…?” scenario.
What if we end up with a situation in which Macarthur FC play Western United?
What if it proves to be a flop and for the next three years, one of the showpiece events of our game, that was unique, is damaged beyond repair?
What if it proves successful? Does that mean I will never get another Orange Sunday?
Would I go if my team makes it? What if I leave it too late to go and miss out? I have never missed a Brisbane Roar Grand Final. What if I decide to risk it in the hope my team makes it but then they don’t?
I am not just a Brisbane Roar fan, but an A-League fan, an Australian football fan. I know I would enjoy it. I one day hope to go watch a Melbourne and Sydney Derby, and the distance derby (tongue in cheek).
What if I am simply being selfish and only thinking about me because of the inconvenience to travel and the costs associated with such a venture?
What if the cost proves too much?
What if, in three years, this results in other states vying for the rights to host the A-League Grand Final and paying a good fee?
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica (Will Russell/Getty Images)
Forgive my ignorance, could we end up with a similar system to that of the NFL in America?
Look, I understand the commercial, financial, and logistical viability of such a decision, I do. In fact, it will no longer be a mad dash to get tickets or arrange flights and hotels at the last minute – which many of fans have faced in the past.
It also highlights there is a state in Australia that is willing to back football. It highlights relationships being developed in a broader context between our governing bodies and that at government level.
There may be much grander thinking going on here in which it does spur on greater investment in football in more than just one state as seen in the women’s game, most notably, the Matildas.
I could go on. Honestly, this is something that is going to sit uneasily with the majority of A-League fans for some time, or perhaps like many topics in football, we are simply reacting with the drama and emotion like that experienced in a 90-minute game and when it is all said and done, we shall move on and accept the result.
Who knows?
All I know is that this is something worth discussing and my only hope is it can form part of the maturing process for Australian football. The powers that be have made their decision and I hope it works out.
Only time will tell.
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.