The same APL that thinks anyone will turn up to their Sydney grand final is the same one that has caused one of the most precipitous drops in attendance in A-League history.
Let’s get the stark truth out of the way first – the Australian Professional Leagues have made a colossal error in selling A-League grand final hosting rights to Sydney, but they’re incapable of doing anything to fix their mistake.
And the real-world consequence is that fans in cities like Melbourne have simply stopped turning up at games. Why bother attending a regular season fixture if you have no intention of going to the grand final?
The surreal situation was brought into sharp relief on Saturday night, when 53,886 fans turned up at Optus Stadium to watch the Perth Scorchers down Brisbane Heat to win cricket’s Big Bash League.
Perth Glory drew a bigger crowd when they hosted the 2019 grand final – in scenes that won’t be repeated for at least three years – but fast forward to 2023 and a crowd of 3,858 at the tiny Macedonia Park is somehow lauded as good for the competition.
Let’s be honest, Destination NSW has been sold a dud. And while the APL will be praying a team from New South Wales makes the decider, many fans will boycott the grand final either way.
So we’re left watching a car crash unfold in real time caused by a governing body for whom dreadful decision-making seems to be second nature.
Josh Risdon went off suffering heat stroke in the 66th minute of Western United’s 1-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, as the umpteenth match of the season kicked off at 3pm under a scorching summer sun.
Why does the A-League continue to insist on doing this to itself? Are the viewing figures on Network 10 and Paramount+ so high they can’t afford to move kick-off times until later?
CommBank Stadium is already a problematic venue for broadcasters given the shaded side is given over to corporate boxes – meaning no one sits in the seats that are shown on TV – so why does the APL keep scheduling afternoon fixtures in Parramatta over and over again?
They’ll claim later kick-off times make it difficult for families to attend, but they’re already doing everything to alienate supporters anyway.
Which is a real shame, because for the second week in a row, the football on display was highly entertaining.
It started with another spectacular Jake Brimmer free-kick in Victory’s 3-1 win over Wellington, featured a contentious 2-1 win for Adelaide United over Brisbane Roar in Saturday night’s free-to-air fixture, and ended with Western Sydney’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Western United.
But the biggest news of the weekend was, of course, Football Australia’s announcement they have begun the process of creating a National Second Division.
Kicking off as early as March 2024 and comprised of between 10 to 16 teams, Football Australia says a second tier is a key component of their “15-year vision for the game and our efforts to reconnect and realign Australian football competitions”.
There’s no doubt former National Soccer League sides – several of whom are expected to apply for inclusion – have been shut out of the top tier of Australian football for the past two decades.
Some of them will be shut out from a National Second Division too – unless they meet strict financial and administrative criteria.
And while Football Australia says promotion and relegation can’t happen until a second tier is “mature” – how long that’s supposed to take is anyone’s guess – the announcement has fuelled hopes that a genuine football pyramid could be just around the corner.
What will, however, be interesting to see is whether an FA-run National Second Division competes with the A-League for popularity.
Because right now, the APL and its constituent clubs are doing plenty to turn fans off the game.
A spot of competition won’t kill the A-League… assuming our administrators haven’t already done so first.
Megeng
Roar Rookie
Not a bad idea. League sort of has that with the Gold Coast, Broncos and now the dolphins. That was their thinking
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I might be wrong but I was under the impression that the old NSL clubs pretty much ran themselves. They could do anything and were not really controlled or at least governed/ answerable to an overarching FFA. I think this NSD with the backing and of FFA should be more open, transparent and accountable than a separated /privately run group of clubs. And I have no problem with the FFA taking some of that Men's World cup and upcoming Womens World cup cash to invest back into what is essentially another steppingstone to our youth pathways and development.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I suppose that is what the EOI process is about. Sounding out the clubs to see what they actually have and how they see their club looking as a professional outfit.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
What Brisbane needs is a clear North Sied team that can attract fans from the Pine River to Sunny Coast. A clear South Side team to attract from Logan to Gold Coast to Ipswich and A centralised team. Pen Power, Gold Coast Knights and Brisbane Roar get my vote.
Anthony Chila
Guest
The focus should be on getting the A League the best it can be! That means: (a). Minimum 18 teams that include extra teams in SA, WA and QLD so the game is played every weekend in all States plu Team in Tasmania and Auckland NZ. Woolongong must come in because of area and stadium. Ipswich in Qld with new boutique stadium in that area! (b). Team in Singapore and one other close Asian nation .. this will expand appeal and sponsors (c). Boutique stadiums 15,000 to 20, 000 (d). Home and away fixture with top team champion! No finals series. Top five however, then play off for an Australia Cup with an advantage to top 2 teams (e). Free to air on SBS plus proper TV rights with Foxtel
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Saffi Speaking personally, I think the NSD is an appropriate step forward for the game in Australia, but I don't think the criteria had to be so stringent. Is it really necessary that every NSD squad comprise entirely full-time professionals? Couldn't they have allowed for, say, a squad of 15 professionals, with the remainder made up of youth players and even amateurs? That single step alone could shave $500,000 from annual running costs. That could be the difference between make and break. You refer to the AFL struggling to have a second division. It doesn't currently have one, but the VFL comes pretty close with 21 teams spread across 3 states (Vic, NSW and Qld) - although over half the teams act as reserve grade teams, so that's not the same as what we are talking about with an NSD (I hope). I quote this from wikipedia (which might back up what you're saying): "Attendances are small by AFL standards, and generally less than the SANFL and WAFL, with an average of between 500 and 1,000 in attendance. Crowds for many finals matches tend to average in the 2,000–6,000 range, with the Grand Final typically attracting a crowd in the 10,000–14,000 mark." Personally, I believe those NSD averages for regular games would have to get into the 3,000 to 4,000 range consistently to have any chance of surviving long term.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
absolutely they have had plenty anglo players over the years and still do. but the issue is their reluctance to bring in players with asian, south american and inparticular african heritage.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Billy silly on this forum is the best part. :stoked:
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Mike, given the largest NPL clubs are historically ethnically based, South Melbourne will be a viable force with active supporters (after all Melbourne is supposed to be the 3rd largest Greek city in the world). However, aside from the Croatian based clubs who else can bring anywhere near a regular crowd of 4,000. I come from an Italian background. Soccer provided a meeting point and focus for recent immigrants. I attended Many Juventus games with 4.000 people but those days are long gone. The largest ethnic groups coming to Australia now are Chinese, Indian and Filipinos and they are not soccer lovers. Even AFL would struggle with a second division of Dandenong, Liverpool and west Adelaide. Look, I’m not saying stop this, but let’s be realistic, the A League first div. is all we have to rely on for a full time , professional Australian football league. We need to keep focused on that.
chris
Guest
FIL do what I do. Just scroll over their posts.
chris
Guest
Sydney Croatia have had lots of non Croats playing for them. Arnie, Robbie Stater, Graeme Jennings. All ex-Socceroos as well.
josh
Roar Rookie
I think the opposite was/is more likely. Casual fans are more likely to go to a local Grand Final. An away GF, will be limited to those who are really really keen. I doubt most Sydney fans will turn up just to have a look. It's not like the NFL or AFL.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Now you being silly Doc.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I guess you’d also say Apple products aren’t popular too despite the commercial realities to the contrary.
Will
Guest
Im my opinion, the NSD and eventual promotion and relegation will be the best to happen to Australian football in a very long time. The NSD will not only be good for the clubs and the opportunity for players and coaches too. But it will lead to higher standards on and off the field which is exactly what the game needs here, for too long mediocrity has been the norm in the a-league and with no consequence for poor performance it hasn't helped raise the standard at all. It should lead to more exciting games where the bottom of the table has something to play, where instead teams usually going threw the motions and restart again next season. The game in Australia needs it, promotion and relegation exists in the NPL system and no one has a problem with it so I cant see the reason why people are against it at a-league level especially when the NSD is coming next year which will only heat the conversation even more into the future. Anything to grow the game and raise the standard even more im more for it.
Punter
Roar Rookie
'They may be the corporate champion, but they certainly not the peoples champion.' I think I accepted their commercial realities.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the problem with croatian backed clubs in australia (doesnt matter the state) is they are reluctant to recruit players who are not australian or english if they want to (which i dont think they do) combat the racism issue, you have to be open to the idea of players regardless of there age/sex/ethnicity etc playing for you. how many players of african heritage are currently playing for sydney united, across all there age groups.......? Knights have ever so slight cleaned up there act a bit, while gold coast and raiders as moving with the times. raiders in adelaide should be the shining example to all the other croatian backed clubs in australia - lots of players across their various age levels are south american, african etc etc
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Well, very few cared about the two westies where I live in Sydney. Quite a few cared about the Swans. Two can play at that game. However, what you can’t do is continue to say the Swans are not popular based on some dodgy Tv ratings, feel, opinion, etc. The commercial realities say otherwise, which is a point very lost on you.
Elmer Higgins
Guest
Meanwhile the NSL, which is what you lot are proposing to return to had from 1977 to 2004. Never got decent tv contracts, was semi pro at best, played in outer suburb paddocks and the Socceroos never qualified for the World Cup in that entire period.
josh
Guest
Public carparks in the Parramatta CBD. The one behind the old Roxy hotel is good.