Football purists all over Australia were cringing this week at the announcement of three blockbuster end-of-season exhibition games bringing English Premier League’s perennial underachievers Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, as well as Women’s Super League heavyweights Arsenal, to the nation’s self-proclaimed sporting capital in May.
Like the circus rolling into town, the A-Leagues end of season extravaganza and the private closed-shop EPL fixture polarises the nation. Some people love it, some people hate it.
Attending exhibition games has never filled me with joy. Aston Villa, Tottenham and West Ham have graced our shores in recent years, and it was very easy to let the roadshow blaze through town unnoticed with minimum hype and TV coverage behind a paywall.
At least Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds played against A-League teams, more interesting to the local football fan as a somewhat flimsy yard-stick for the quality of our own national league compared to the high-profile European leagues.
After all, every player in Australia would jump at the chance to play in Europe; it is quite rightly seen as superior and a blueprint for what we should be doing here. And whether you like it or not, everyone has a favourite European team.
The A-League All-Stars concept was revived in 2022 post-COVID, when Barcelona were somehow coaxed out to play the cream of the A-League crop at Stadium Australia. It was a huge success, and had Garang Kuol finished that mesmerising run with a goal, the A-League would have shot even further into the SIlver Lake stratosphere.
This was the peak for APL CEO Danny Townsend’s vision of the future that had been so badly affected by the lockdown, and that game was a fantastic advert for our league.
When it all unravelled the following year when the Sydney Grand Final debacle tarnished our reputation and Bayern Munich weren’t remotely interested in an end-of-season jaunt so soon after the end of their own season, the so-called Festival of Football ended up being a disaster.
The astute addition of the A-League Women All Stars in 2024, or colloquially the Dub All Stars, is a masterstroke this year, fuelled by the insatiable appetite for the Matildas.
The Matildas celebrate a goal against Uzbekistan. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
There was only one team that could fit the bill and that was Arsenal, a team laden with world-class talent including its own Australian contingent, and of the three games scheduled in Melbourne, this one will surely be the most sought-after. Let’s just hope that the ticketing is in line with other women’s football events in Australia, and we don’t see any outrageous price-gouging to turn real fans away.
Being a diehard Toon fan since birth, the Newcastle United-Tottenham Hotspur fixture on the Wednesday night at the MCG is a must-attend fixture; had it been any other team, I would not be going.
The opportunity to sing the Blaydon Races pre-kick off is just too enticing, hanging out with fellow unhinged Geordies at the game instead of in the early hours at Cheers Bar must be done, and had I turned up my nose at this fixture, after an epic journey to Dunedin to see the Mags play ten years ago, that would be sheer madness.
The added attraction of never having been to a sporting fixture at Melbourne’s premier sporting venue saw me booking flights as soon as the news came through, and the addition of the two A-League All Star fixtures on the Friday night at Marvel Stadium sealed an already done deal.
Being a diehard Sydney FC fan since inception, and with the team consolidating a top-six spot in the home straight, the mouth-watering prospect of a Grand Final the very next day is not beyond the realms of possibility. Wouldn’t it be great to know where that is, so we can book our flights and accommodation or extend our stay in Melbourne with confidence?
Funnily enough, Townsend’s idea wasn’t so ridiculous after all. If the APL could have delivered on an end-of-season festival of football last year after consulting the fans first, we could be looking at the biggest week of A-League football ever seen. The A-Leagues Grand Final Festival of Football is back, baby, get on board!
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s beyond belief that anyone would think taking a derby away from fans is right. It’s not, it’s wrong. Preseason friendly? Go for it. But not an actual league game.
Waz
Roar Rookie
He couldn’t. It wouldn’t be allowed. The Fan backlash would be huge. The government would step in (again) and stop it.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Of course Bill Foley could. He’s a billionaire - a wealthy man intent on building empires. I guarantee his legacy is to spread his brand far & wide. It’s a meaningful life contribution, celebrating sport, connecting communities, as Foley has suggested.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Waz, “beyond belief” is dreaming, correct? As a football fan, I am happy to imagine SPL teams coming to Australia. That would be heavenly. Derbies are very meaningful, you’re right. They’re also cash-cows. Huge events that draw passionate crowds, sponsors, & even neutrals. Paying to host such events isn’t for everyone. Just ask Ranger’s supporters. Many were against the Old Firm coming to Australia (even as an exhibition match). Celtic, however, were happy to take the money, as was Everton.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s beyond belief that people on these pages think taking a derby match away from the people it means something to, should actually happen. This is the attitude that is killing football in this country. You don’t get football if you think this should be a thing.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Bill Fowler could not make that happen. Nor should he be able to do - depriving fans of a home game is a crime against sport. That’s before you get to the inequality of playing a team three times and everyone else twice - how can that be fair? Imagine if R39 saw Man City at home to Sheffield Utd while Spurs and Arsenal faced off in another …. the whole league would lose credibility, you know, like the A League lacks credibility
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. And we shouldn’t underestimate the pulling power of other international stars eg the Lionesses
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’m an A Leagues snob, as I’ve written before. I love watching our A Leagues clubs and our A Leagues All Stars take on big clubs. It’s fun. I am usually in the minority in the large audience as I know all the A Leagues players and few from the other teams. There have been so many great games (I can’t remember them all), with young A Leagues players excelling. I loved the last A Leagues All Stars v Barcelona where Garang was sensational. Popovic, Caceras, Penha and others were brilliant as well. Can’t remember a Barcelona player! The original one featuring Del Pierro for the All Stars was an amazing night. I think they played an Italian team. I did travel down to Melbourne 2 years ago to see Victory play Man U – what a goal from Ikonomides! I’d love to go to Melbourne this time, especially to see the women’s game as well, but I’m going to Melbourne next weekend to watch their derby. I’d prefer to watch OUR teams. I love the bringing of European teams here, but ONLY when they play A Leagues clubs or our All Stars. I’ll only watch the Tottenham Hotspurs game against ? because Ange is their coach.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Chelsea would work because of the Kerr factor and the fact theyre the best team..
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
Foley owns Auckland and Bournemouth and has Minority stakes in Hibernian and Lorient, he is also involved with an Unnamed Club in Belgium.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agreed. I just wish they’d done the ALW game as a stand alone;
Texi
Roar Rookie
Arsenal's foray to Australia will be the acid test. No one else really fits the bill as they don't have enough Aussie contingent. Man City maybe? Really hope to see more of it in the very near future.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Agree - a whole week of hotels and flights adds up, and we're not exactly living in extravagant times. Praying that the tickets aren't ridiculously expensive. That turns the casual attendee away, even if they live right next to the stadium, and this will only work if there is a full house. The potential Grand Final venue makes the finals series even more exciting - a trip to Wellington would be a blast.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Much cheaper to bring a Scottish team here too. A week in Terrigal would be nice, overlooking the beach.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Round one of the EPL, Bournemouth to play (insert team), in Auckland. It’s highly unlikely, I gather, but Bill Foley could make it happen. Cross-promotion with the A-League, advertising Auckland FC. Two-for-one. Get New Zealand excited about football.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I don’t like meaningless games but quite like the All Stars games, they add a level of meaningfulness to the game in the form of a celebration that need not be taken too seriously but is still good football to watch. . Preseason games are a different matter. . These games are important to all clubs in preparation for a new season and I think Australia is ideal for clubs to come and tour, build squad morale, and do it in an excellent sporting environment. . I don’t think we maximise this enough and every city should have regular visitors coming through and ideally ALM/W playing against some of these visitors (there’s also good money to be made which is badly needed if the AL is to survive). . The final point is we need to get more womens teams down; especially with Matilda’s in it. This is a huge differentiator for us and could help fund wage growth in ALW.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
If we assume that the AL GF is not going to be in Melb (Wellington or Syd most likely), having some stuff in Syd and some in Melb during this week actually makes more sense to me then what Townsend was attempting with everything in Syd. Too expensive to travel down for all of it (esp in Syd), catering to different audiences (AL fans v Eurosnobs) etc.. I’ll actually be in Sydney for AL GF so am hoping it is there. Were there to also be an All stars match the night before in Syd, I would not be attending. I will however watch it on TV so this splitting up of things is a potential improvement over Townsend’s masterplan in my opinion. Much prefer these exhibition matches when they feature an AL team though…
Texi
Roar Rookie
Now we're talking. There are so many players funnelling into the SPL, it would definitely make sense. Their off-season seems to be only a couple of weeks though!
Texi
Roar Rookie
The famous 39th round? You're thinking more of one of the 38 rounds being played in Australia? Audacious. Asking a team to forfeit a home advantage to travel around the world to play and all their fans to make the journey. What's the carrot?
Texi
Roar Rookie
"...non moving log..." That tickled me!