After what began as a season of great promise for the A-League Men, the festive season has turned sour, with some fans seemingly having walked away for good.
There was certain to be backlash in the fall-out from the decision to lock grand finals away in Sydney for three seasons. Even the APL would have predicted an initial fury, especially from supporter bases in cities now destined to forgo their right to host a decider in the short term.
However, the passion with which fans expressed their disappointment potentially exceeded APL’s expectations and the subsequent events at AAMI Park where bone-headed Melbourne Victory supporters decided to put the A-League on the front and back pages for all the wrong reasons, parlayed the stench that was lingering around the competition after the initial grand final announcement.
Now, with matches continuing over the Christmas period featuring poor attendances and something of a pall lurking inside the venues, the stark reality exists that some people may have decided that the A-League has simply pushed their buttons one too many times and is now a competition with which they will no longer engage.
Fans storm the pitch in protest during the round eight A-League Men’s match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
It is difficult to imagine a throbbing AAMI Park for a Victory home fixture once the sanctions have been lifted, with the repercussions of recent weeks certain to have an impact across an array of metrics.
No doubt there will be much bitterness and anger, both from the idiotic fans who took to the pitch against Melbourne City and the wider supporter base, still livid at the decision that effectively denies the greatest sporting city in the land the right to host a grand final.
It seems the idea of a Western United vs Melbourne City decider played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney may simply be a bridge too far for some Melbourne fans, with on-line platforms littered with comments such as “Bye”, “The competition is dead” and “They’ve lost me”.
However, the issues now to be dealt with by APL in the aftermath extend well beyond Australia’s second largest city. Sydney FC, after a stunning start at their new stadium and impressive attendances that suggested a return to those achieved between 2012 and 2019, drew just 9,714 on Christmas Eve, with more than just the festive nature of the timing keeping the figure well below those achieved at previous home matches.
A day earlier, Brisbane fans voted with their feet and just 3,487 made the trip to Redcliffe to watch their team earn a draw with the Wanderers. No doubt as annoyed at the APL decision as those down south, the Roar faithful appear to be somewhat dulled and disappointed; with the promising performances of their team somewhat overridden by the foul scent pervading the competition and the distaste still existing in the mouths of many fans.
As Perth Glory battle away in what looks a nice little venue at Macedonia Park, Macarthur FC and Western United slowly build faces to which they hope new fans will be drawn over the next five years and the ongoing challenge of putting bums on seats continues, plummeting crowd figures in traditionally strong markets could spell disaster.
It will be interesting to note the crowd in Adelaide on Tuesday night when the Reds tackle the Jets, particularly considering the 13,504 fans that greeted Melbourne Victory in Round 6. Firm eyes will also be on Newcastle on New Year’s Day, when the Jets host the Sky Blues in a match that would attract a solid attendance under normal circumstances.
A real fear exists that some self-exiled fans may have been lost to the competition for good, off the back of APL’s decision and the thoughtless means by which some fans chose to protest it.
Hopefully that is not the case, yet the core and important question as to whether we will see the fans slowly come back in the New Year, having made peace with the grand final change, is a relevant one.
Central Coast drew a season high 7,173 for the mid-week clash with Newcastle Jets on December 21st, offering some hope that at least in that part of the A-League world there may have been little impact.
However, Melbourne and Brisbane both appear to be different kettles of fish, with a lingering animosity between supporters and the APL likely to need further time to heal fully. Crucially, if the wound proves simply too deep or troublesome to be re-stitched, a small number of A-League fans may not be back, with their absence obvious in attendance statistics across the rest of the season.
Personally, I believe the game always prevails and that the fans will eventually be back in full force. However, that may take some time and the APL should be on notice when it comes to making future decisions without adequate forewarning for the people that support the game most passionately.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Nite nite zzzzzzzzzzzz
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
the last thing I would be doing is laughing. without thinking, you have painted a picture of yourself to a rather broad audience that is less than complimentary. If I was you I would be taking a good hard look at yourself. And remember, you just don’t know who your talking to on this forum. Respect, humility, considered contribution, vice a reflex trigger are all absurdly absent, and I would be seriously pondering those elements and why they are absent. Best of luck with the personal ascension you face.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Happy new year! Enjoy the world class A League .
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
That shouldn’t concern you youve already signposted yourself as a cerebral struggler. You’ve shown you have to respond. You’ve shown you’re bereft of the ability to assess a situation, you’ve proven more than clearly that action reflects analytical thinking. You’ve shown lateral thinking, and the capacity to take an effective alternate tack is outside of your personal limitations. And they are just a he top of the list. Take my advice go back to the league or AFL forum and earn yourself a little respect by not engaging the football supporters again. If you had any respect prior to advertising your weaknesses here, well you’ve done a fair but if damage to that.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Grind me down to the point of disparity Lolol…..good luck with that. You have no idea mate….no idea whatsoever. Your occupation is to weed the weak from the strong. Wow! Any successes?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You don’t easily get the message do you. You’ve proven me right. No as ability to interpret, analyse or assess. You’re not welcome here and I will grind you down to the point of disparity. My occupation is to weed the weak from the strong. Keep coming you’re doing the work for me.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Omg are you still here……give it up mate. Go watch some world class A League!
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Inarticulate, unimaginative, a limited ability for analysis and reflection, you're painting quite the picture.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Chris you certainly know how to earn respect. That's an educated answer
Brett
Guest
well i really have nothing to do tonight, and was just reading some of the Author's comments or responses This is to you Elle Shepps: please read the lyrics of the songs before belittling them. can you remember the night when 'Melbourne boys' became number 2 or how about Haliti's goal in the pouring rain at Central Coast Stadium, what about that day in Newcastle when FFA still didn't believe what the 'Wanderers' had done, and left the trophy at the Central Coast. Chant for "80th Minute Poznan" performed by whole stadium @ home or WSW/RBB supporters @ away games Chant created by ZappaRBB Lyrics Win or lose, We will always follow you, Let it rain Let it pour, We will sing forevermore, Our opponents know, We will fight them toe to toe, Forever Red and Black, You can bet your life on that... RBB ole ole ole RBB ole ole RBB ole ole ole RBB ole ole Repeat The Poznan: to WSW fans represents the supporters group of Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers, The Red and Black Bloc, performed it in the 80th minute of matches to represent the first football match played in Western Sydney in 1880. Subsequently, this has grown into an all stadium celebration Ole, Ole, Ole: originated in Spain at Bullfights to applaud an exceptional performance. put some effort in, please
Brett
Guest
There was one team, that wasn't created by a billionaire (Lowy doesn't count) or consortium...and as much as people will laugh... Western Sydney Wanderers They were created because this league needed another Team. No-one wanted to own the Wanderers, until the 'hottest ticket' in Sydney, NSW, Australia was going to Parramatta Sadium, to see a team of rejects, boosted by the mighty RBB and fellow Supporters. Players had never seen that in Australia. It's just a shame that the club uses that footage to lure players here now. Laugh all you want, but try to be honest...PARRA Stadium with 20,000 screaming Fans, and always a healthy dose of away support- ROCKED the Magic died, not when People still believed it's just a bad year, But when the heart (fans) of Game was no longer heard
Waz
Roar Rookie
Correct/Agreed.
David V
Guest
I see a lot of fans feeling blackpilled about the fortunes of domestic football in Australia, not unreasonably. Australian fans perhaps need a harsh adjustment of expectations of their domestic league - it's not AFL or NRL, it's not going to compete with overseas leagues. If it's just a ramshackle competition producing a few gems of a player, that's no different to much of the planet. Live and learn.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Wolves could not afford the A-League that club but that club has always had money issues If Adelaide City had not pulled out of the NSL at the end of 2003 then they might be in the A-League today and Adelaide United would not exist through in fairness City had to pull out because of financial Issues
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
No LMAO. Thanks for reading Chris (the guest). As i have long said, I enjoy all sports including soccer. Look forward to a few more articles involving soccer.
Waz
Roar Rookie
And Central Coast only came in to being because Wollongong turned their invite down.
chris
Guest
"Pretty obvious that the A-League is trying to be bigger than what the game is". What does that even mean? You're the one with the obsessions. You write condescending articles about football making sure that we are all reminded of it's real place in the Aussie sporting landscape. You represent the old crowd of AFL, cricket and league. Stick to writing about those games.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Did I say I dislike the A League? Btw I’m not trolling, I’m replying to replies….might be a little difficult for you to understand that. Troll seems to be a favourite word in your vocabulary. Something we should know?
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Oh really Lolol… actually not a sad lonely troll but you do sound like one. To be honest you would envy the life I have…. Skoose = loser mate!
Skoose
Roar Rookie
NSWelshman, you must really be busy with 3995 'friends' if you are checking people's spelling here. Get real, you're just a sad, lonely troll.