Selfish and short-sighted describe the last ten days in Australian football.
The trigger to the violence we saw at AAMI Park on Saturday night was the APL’s grand final announcement the previous Monday.
The subsequent murkiness around who made, knew of and backed the decision did little more than make A-League fans more angry the longer the week played out.
The essential flaw in the APL’s decision is that locking away the grand final for three seasons in Sydney is the claim ‘tradition’ can be built, despite no certainty as to what happens after that.
In addition to the absurd possibility of a Perth Glory versus Adelaide United grand final at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, it was no surprise that supporters of the A-League, media folk and any sports fan with functioning grey matter could see that the suits at the APL and a small board of representatives within it made a financial decision.
It is a short-sighted move that does nothing in terms of building tradition and culture around the league. It is also a selfish decision, made by a group of people looking for a pat on the back from those monitoring the books and thus keeping them employed for the time being.
Personally, it was disappointing to see people stay away from A-League matches over the weekend. Plenty of well thought-out banners were held aloft and it was obvious that the players had great sympathy for the people who usually turn up and cheer them on.
Yet being absent is likely to achieve little, with the APL headstrong in their decision.
Most who protested did so with class and dignity, while the buffoons at AAMI Park who invaded the pitch violently did exactly what far too many people who claim to be football fans do: they made it all about themselves.
There is considerable in-fighting and pecking orders within supporter groups. Foundation members claim to be a little more connected to the club than those who arrive later, the role of leadership and designated ‘capos’ cause even more disharmony, and Australian football has witnessed many splits in the ranks over the years.
Fundamentally, the psychological backdrop to the scenes we saw on the weekend and most examples of flare-throwing, violence and thuggery that pop up from time to time in the game, is one of selfishness.
(Photo by Steven Markham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Some fans appear to believe that their own interactions are more important than anyone else’s and certainly more important than the long-term health of competitions or the actual game itself.
In short, the people who took to the playing surface did so under the guise of caring about football, the A-League and the wellbeing of both, while actually playing a childish game of ‘look at me, look at me!’
Any genuine concern for the league’s struggle to establish solid foundations in Australia would see fans determined not to drag the competition across the front pages.
Instead – thanks to a small group of people who like to appear tough and ‘ultra’ in their method of support, yet are actually cowards to the core – football has once again been sullied and this time, in a frightfully public and distasteful way.
It is an amazing mental leap from claiming to be ‘stakeholders’ and deserving of consultation before major decisions like the one around the venue of grand finals are made, and breaking the law and physically attacking people unable to defend themselves.
Somewhere out there right now, one of these idiots will be attempting to justify their behaviour, as a few did in the immediate aftermath by claiming Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover had triggered their actions after returning their flare to them.
I’m not sure what else can really be said, other than the fact that fans believing they are the most important thing in the game is a dangerous state of affairs.
Saturday night was a classic example and, once again, people like you and me are left to pick up the pieces after another significant step backwards for the A-Leagues.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I would say 95% of Aussies would agree with you. I appreciate it for the drama & money making. However, best team in my humble opinion is always the most consistent team in the competition, hence 1st past the post. For the A-League, it's the premiership winner (1st past the post) that gets the the Champions league spot, not the Grand Final winner. In my local competition, we get a medal for being the champions for 1st past the post & KO (Knock out) winners for winning the GF. Football in this sense is different to AFL, NRL & RU.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
I started reading through the comments and just as the article states, some people want to make it about themselves. Give it a rest. It is SO boring. May I also suggest, at the risk of stirring the pot, the 'supporters' who invaded the pitch live in Australia but don't necessarily see themselves as Australian? They have an Aussie passport and accent, sure but they don't identify with Australia? Could be wrong (again...but twice in 3 decades is hard to believe)
andrew
Roar Rookie
Agree with all your points there Punter except no.2. Gotta be a finals for me, that’s when the cream rises to the top. It’s always been that way in Rugby League, Union and AFL.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
I think you mean soccer fans.
Pablo
Roar Rookie
No doubt you're probably right on the likelihood of a reversal, which highlights even more the problems of setting up a league based on a bunch of corporate KPIs with low to zero connection to and ownership by fans. I suspect the only way it will be reversed is if they get a couple of GFs with clubs like Adelaide etc. that will clearly demonstrate that they would've got a full house with a home GF v a half filled stadium with no atmosphere in Sydney. However, no doubt they'll spin their way out of that too with a bunch of meaningless excuses. I won't be flying to Sydney if we make it this year, but will be happy to enjoy a few more beers in the sunshine at Hindmarsh to help get us there.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I agree with you on Flares, I was never fussed on it, but the issues the other day blew up because someone threw a flare. A friend told me her boyfriend got hit by a flare at one of the Socceroos games & may need surgery. A flame is not meant to be thrown. So I'm siding with no flares, but a small minority wants to copy O/S. Also a small minority wants to copy O/S with the ultras, which are aggressive fans & again I'm with u on that, we don't need that in this country. As for the OSM, I don't know much about them, but yes most football fans sees their statement as a copout. All I can say, I have taken my family to SFC for 17 years & we started out as a young family, all grown up now, but never have I seen anything like we saw last saturday day, if I did, I would not endanger my family to this. This was (HOPEFULLY) a one off.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Pablo Whatever the pros and cons of the original decision, it's definitely a done deal now. Hard to see them making a change because of recent events (and how pathetic would the APL look if they did make a change on the back of this sort of pressure?)
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s fair Punter and there are parts we agree on. However I don’t believe we can just say “it’s the culture” when it comes to the worst parts. It is entirely possible to take on parts of a culture and still punish those who choose to break the law. I’ve been to a few Roar (and Penn Power) games and I like the chants and atmosphere they bring. I’m one who doesn’t mind a bit of respectful banter with the players but I will call out loud abuse/swearing from yobbos, especially around families. No self respecting fan enjoys thuggery. Yes it happens but you only have to read the NRL threads when thugs acts are not punished appropriately. I’m an NRL fan primarily but my misses is Brazilian and i have many Pom, French, German/Turkish mates and none of them think this flare carry on is standard. It is always the 1% tossers. For mine, it is obvious the clubs, security and police cannot stop these wannabes but what i don’t understand is why the leaders of these groups allow this to continue the carry on. I read the OSM statement yesterday and it’s a cop out. Storming the field is new but the continual way the few, not the whole, represent themselves and their club will have them all kicked out and “actives” shut down completely.
Nat
Roar Guru
So you wouldn’t watch the GF if your team wasn’t involved? Not even on TV? If not you are part of the reason A League is failing. Do you think the AFL GF or State of Origin, that get millions of viewers, is purely AFL or league fans? Of course not. More people watch the Super Bowl half time show than the actual game. Plenty of neutrals and casuals go to these big events and putting on a show at the ground makes the event memorable and more likely to return and tell their mates. Plenty of fans travel interstate for such an event and the Actives should as well if they are true supporters. They can leave the flare throwing yobbos at home. Why would the board resign? You and many others on here have presumed failure before the first gf has been run. Is it a failure if 22k show up? That’s what Melbourne got for 2 Melbourne teams. What happens if 40k show up, 500k tune in it is a huge success plus they have the $26m in the bank?
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
"I myself" ha ha - you could go one better and say "I myself personally"
Ad-O
Guest
Exactly. Some fans must think the A-League just gets done for free. They have to chase the best deal. I'm sure they considered the fans wouldnt like it, but the bottom line counts for more in a league that is barely existing.
Ad-O
Guest
I mean try getting to Baku, Azerbaijan from London for a Europa League Final. Sydney from Perth is nothing.
Ad-O
Guest
Its not just the NRL or the AFL, its basically any big cup final anywhere in the world. The reason they do it is money, of course. But the A-League is not in a position to be turning down money. It's not the best decision but its not close to the worst decision the A-League has ever made either.
Ad-O
Guest
Give me a break, bro. You can find flights cheaper than that. Just have to wake up early.
Garry
Roar Rookie
He also claimed there was such a thing as an IQ threshold of criminality liability. Ive done some searching and can find no such thing. There IS an age limit & studies which link low IQ to criminals (but most of us knew that). There was also a recent paper that proposed such a threshhold BUT I see nowhere its ever been implemented. I would suggest the law degree is purely invented. And whatever institution he is in spends his time googling relevent items albeit inaccurately . he is a troll, ignore him - and some of his spicier posts could be deleted.
Erik
Guest
That's suit talk, people who support a team will go if their team is involved, otherwise the season ends when the club is no longer involved. Another problem with this decision is football in Australia doesn't have the pull with the suits to fill a stadium. Finally you can get all the entertainment you want, and play music over the loud speakers but the game is at its best when the fans, lead by the active support are in full voice. The Sydney derby this year showed that. Aside from all that it appears not a lot of effort was made to find financial support, reeks of Sydney suits and Sydney politicians, the Victorian state government advised they were not contacted. If the APL were serious about making the GF a marquee event, you'd be trying to get international eyes on it, perhaps they needed to approach the federal government and see if they could have all state tourism departments onboard for no matter where the game ended up being played. I mean Adelaide, Perth and Wellington have confirmed they received minimal consultation and were expecting more not an announcement. Luke Wilkshire called for the board to think about resigning. Makes sense to me
Frank
Guest
Punter, agree that the GF is a not a genuine part of football. However, I would disagree on one point, I think the game of football world wide is more a plaything for billionaires than for fans. Not so in Australia but certainly the money talks louder than fans in a worldwide sense. Remember the European Super League ……. Billionaires trying to reshape the game without any thought for the historical fans that shaped & defined the DNA of the power clubs in Europe. The fans won on this occasion, but there are many examples of money being the main driver. FIFA is at the heart of the gravy train.
matth
Roar Guru
I’ve just enquired about a dinner and tickets package. Going to be an emotional afternoon, even if the Roosters have flogged us the week before :laughing:
Pablo
Roar Rookie
It’s bizarre to read so called genuine fans supporting the grand final decision as a rational act to maintain the finances of the league while dismissing punters who are ‘complaining’ about the costs of having to fork out for an expensive interstate trip to see our team in a GF. It’s the genuine fans who would rather a budget league filled with local players - and yes with less fans if that’s necessary (who will only come to watch if a 40 year old has been star is on the pitch) - rather than being dished up corporate dross by ‘leadership’ only interested in who to hand out the next ‘franchise’ to and where the next corporate lunch is coming from.
Bruce
Guest
Panjandrum claims to be a lawyer and yet seemingly doesn’t know the difference between ‘too’ and to’ in his above comment directed to Stuart.