During the postscript to A-League Grand Finals, there is always the opportunity to pause and reflect on the season just passed.
2022-23 saw the unthinkable happen, as Nick Montgomery’s giant-killing Mariners hammered star-studded Melbourne City 6-1 in the men’s decider at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, whereas Sydney FC’s triumph in the women’s competition was one most saw coming, despite Western United leading the way on the ladder for an extended period.
On the big day, the women in sky blue scythed through the United defence with ease, blasting four past the team that had surprisingly finished well clear of both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory on the ladder and were the first to secure a spot in the Grand Final.
All in all, there could be few complaints of the season as a whole. Young talent continued to excel in both competitions. Sydney FC’s Sarah Hunter emerged as one of the most promising young female players in the country.
Cortnee Vine, after stepping up to the Matildas set-up brought those experiences back for Sydney FC’s benefit and starred week after week for the champions, whilst Jessika Nash and Clare Hunt both had stellar campaigns, as they seek to become permanent fixtures in Tony Gustavsson’s squad.
Despite some fears that the A-League Women was looking a little thin on the ground for talent after the recent international raids on the Matildas’ stocks, the competition held up well.
Cortnee Vine of Sydney FC celebrates scoing a goal (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
After an early stumble thanks to the actions of a group of buffoons claiming to be Melbourne Victory supporters, the men’s competition bubbled along brilliantly the longer the season went.
Then, one big gun was sent packing in a semi-final, the Reds and Mariners fought for the right to topple Melbourne City in the decider, and the eventual shellacking dished out to a team that continues to struggle on the big occasion satisfied everyone bar the City faithful.
Sure, they had earned the right to host the final match of the season on home soil after topping the table with style, however, the APL saw things differently and has set a firm three-year stance that will see the Grand Final played in Sydney, irrespective of the teams participating.
Off the back of the stunning Round of 16 performance of the Socceroos in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and some relevant conversations around the number of players in Graham Arnold’s squad that had cut their teeth in the domestic league, some folk seemed to be finally grasping the fact that the A-League is actually a pretty decent one.
Scotland swooped over the last 18 months and took names like Kye Rowles, Nathaniel Atkinson, Keanu Baccus, Ryan Strain and Cameron Devlin into the SPL. Garang Kuol captured the eyes of international football scouts and began his promising journey by putting pen to paper with Newcastle United, whilst older brother Alou headed to Germany.
As some of the veterans near the end, internationally based Socceroos such as Denis Genreau, Gianni Stensness, Alessandro Circati and Connor Metcalfe have emerged as future stars.
Local players Nestory Irankunda, Jordan Bos, Aiden O’Neill, Brandon Borrello and Joe Gauci enjoyed fabulous domestic seasons, with the City duo making recent European moves that provide stepping stones towards their obvious ascensions to long careers in national colours.
Manchester City’s Alex Robertson, Leicester’s Harry Souttar, Verona’s Ajdin Hrustic and Socceroo captain Mat Ryan are flying the Australian flag at the elite level in Europe, yet the host of young men snapping at their heels is growing every day and will have Graham Arnold quietly chuffed as he plans his assault on the 2024 Asian Cup and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers for North America 2026.
The Olyroos have just claimed third-place in the Maurice Revello Tournament in France, dusting up the host nation 2-0 and ending a tournament that enunciated just how talented and competitive the next wave of Socceroos looks like being.
Our Matildas have struck better form in recent times, with a brilliant win again Sweden last November and a Cup of Nations success early in 2023 suggesting that the team could well give the upcoming World Cup a shake on home soil.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The tournament will set the nation and the globe alight, with Australia’s partial hosting duties holding the potential to change the game forever in the Oceania region, especially for young girls.
Whilst many a critical NSL voice continues to slag off the A-Leagues, prospective National Second Division clubs begin jockeying for position and engaging in slanging matches that will no doubt last well into 2024 and Australia’s greatest coach Ange Postecoglou is still being doubted by people who know far less about the game than he does, Australian football is looking mighty healthy right now.
Our players and coaches around the globe are firing and the domestic leagues continue to produce quality football and players.
A semi-final or better at the Women’s World Cup, Spurs on top of the EPL ladder after a month and ongoing success for our men’s national teams will simply parlay all the hard work done, as we head towards another exciting A-League season and a winnable Asian Cup in the New Year.
It is nice to be a football fan in Australia right now. Let’s hope it stays that way and that Australian football’s ability to hamstring itself has finally become something of the past.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
The Western Reds and Adelaide Rams actually managed decent crowds in their limited existences (1995-1997 and 1997-1998 respectively). They did so in spite of the Super League war battering crowd figures at the time. Adelaide will probably never return since they were largely created to fill a blank, and local participation has subsequently reduced, but Perth are an even-money chance of being readmitted. It could actually be good for the Glory if they and a rugby league club could work together (such as sharing both investing in or getting government funding for upgraded training facilities, a Centre of Excellence, etc).
Simmo
Roar Rookie
I'll put on my positivity hat here: it would only take 1 club in Melbourne to get its act together, do the right things and wipe the floor with the others, to change the dynamic city-wide within a few years.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
There seems to be common thread to the objectionable, anti-football contributors to this forum. The optics suggest that they don't read, analyse and understand the posts made by regular football contributors. If you don't understand then can I suggest you either A) stick to a forum that is more contextual to your personal preferences for B) if you dont understand then don't post asynchronous, non-contextual, irrelevant posts.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"SYDNEY FC NO.2 STANTON IN BOX SEAT FOR NEWCASTLE JETS JOB"
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
People like Waz now think and want the league to fail because of the GF Decision
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I am, but I've spent much of my life living elsewhere, 7 years in Vic and more than I can count in the Sydney area, then there's Canberra, Darwin, overseas and most parts of Queensland from the far west to the far north and now in the south east. So I'm fairly broadly groomed and minded, as are my family, all born in Sydney's western suburbs and Vic. It's fine to be parochial, but don't let it shade your judgement especially if you are in a position of power.
Randy
Roar Rookie
So should we judge all soccer fans based on neo-naz1 football hooligans?
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Midfielder is probably better positioned than me to shed light on this sort of thing, but it's very, very difficult for football to get the MSM writing positive articles about football. I think we'll get a bit during the WWC. But then it will promptly go back to business as usual. We probably need more women in positions of power in government and across the media sector.
c
Roar Rookie
What is required to get an article like this posted in the mainstream media :football:
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Paramount Global PARA rose 0.5% on Wednesday after climbing as much as 4.3% amid a report that Netflix NFLX has looked at purchasing the media company for its movie studio.' "Netflix’s market capitalization is nearly $190 billion."
Grem
Roar Rookie
That’s news. I would have thought Paramount was big enough to take over Netflix. Hopefully, at worst they will honour the 5 year contract that is already signed.
Garry
Roar Rookie
There's a chance Netflix will takeover Paramount....makes an issue what happens to their football.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It would be good if Paramount added the SPL. A lot of the players are Aussies. Hope Tilio does well. It will be interesting to see if Mooy plays this season.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Can’t argue with any of that. They should be bringing through heaps of players with the resources and facilities they have. They also should be trying to get their crowd up to at least 10000 and becoming the premium brand/team in Melbourne - crowds, viewership, sponsors, etc. Having better marquees would help in all those areas.
Garry
Roar Rookie
“Marco Tilio to Celtic transfer fee agreed, awaiting personal terms and medical “ “United States to host the first expanded 32-team FIFA men’s Club World Cup in 2025”
Garry
Roar Rookie
I partly agree with this BUT City should be developing their own juniors – Bos is the only talent from them, they’re rich enough to develope their own players surely? Their system needs work. I cant blame players from Sydney and WSW whose coaches, Rudan & Corica, fail to mature their own talent but CCM? Otherwise I think the City model is a good one- get talent and mature them then onsell. Throw in a bunch of experienced players to make themselves competitive. The only issue I have is the amount of foreign players used. Personally I dont particularly rate Lam, Reis and Berisha, they are good solid players BUT do they bring any excitement to the A League? I would argue no.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Thats complete misinformation Tinkler was taking over the rugby league club when the NQ fury folded, it was years after him taking over the Jets. Football Australia made great amounts of money out of the Jets, the first time they took over the club they sold the license the TInkler for 5m straight after. When they took it off Tinkler they then sold it to Lee after for who knows how much. Then in the strangest twist of fate when the APL deposed Lowy , they used the Lowy structure to take the club license of three of the APl clubs now own it. When the A-league started News ltd owned Sky NZ and the Tv money was a non factor anyway . News sold their stake in Sky in 2013 so then you have the issue a Kiwi team is no longer of benefit to them. That Sky NZ now owned by someone else only wanted to pay peanuts for TV rights is why the governing body wanted to get rid of them.
Punter
Roar Rookie
This is your view & I have no issues with that. You can say Newcastle stayed alive because it was NSW. I say Newcastle stayed alive & is crucial to football in this country is because, this is a very strong football stronghold, you could not say the same thing about either Gold Coast or Nth Queensland. In Newcastle, the football war code doesn't exist as strongly as elsewhere, they follow the Newcastle Knights & they follow the Newcastle Jets. But I understand it's SOO time parochialism is strong. Never did I say any state is superior.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Si senor!!!! You a proud Queenslander, no issues there.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
they, as in a general PI sense