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More than 80,000 people took part in the Collingwood v Carlton clash at the MCG last Sunday, as two historical rivals rekindled a competitive fire that has existed for 130 years.
The Australian rule is that football is your thing or not, creating a terrific crowd between two suburban clubs and providing a competition and environment that is unmatched by any other domestic competition in the country.
If you dislike the code you will rarely care about evaluating the show, yet for those who consume more than just a football diet the match was another example of how well the AFL has done over the last 30 years. Creating and managing its brand and maintaining an event feel in its big matches.
In contrast, the two A-League men’s teams, with a combined lifespan of less than 20 years, met a day earlier in a grand final played in front of 22,495 people at AAMI Park.
It was a brilliant ending to the A-League main season where a fairy tale was written and even the league’s competitiveness was fully displayed.
In addition to the two teams involved in the match, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United fans looked on with frustration, knowing full well that they were very close to taking part in the match and were now able to pick up the silverware from the West. United Trophy Cabinet.
Indeed, fans of the Mariners and Phoenix can also be sure that their boys were a bit unlucky not to go deeper into the finals and seeing the reflection, it seems clear that each of the six semi-finalists had every right to believe them. On the day of the final, history was able to catch on.
(Photo by Dave Hewson / Speed Media / Icon Sportswear via Getty Images)
When I got a few Eddie McGuire-type comments on social media, which some ridiculed as an embarrassing two-thirds-full space hosting Australian football’s showpiece event, there was nothing to mourn, lament or mourn for Melbourne. Of course city fans.
The relevant reality is that everyone in Melbourne was inspired enough to be present in a modern stadium, millions of other people were watching at home or on mobile devices and two great football teams played an interesting and entertaining game of ‘Soccer’.
And we can’t expect anything more.
In addition to the potential participation of a few more clubs capable of pushing for seats, the A-League Men’s Grand Final perfectly highlights the size, scope and impact of football in Australia and we should celebrate it.
It is somewhat tiring to hear that people perpetuate the Silver-Bullet myth that propaganda will religiously transform the Australian game, or that a national second division will somehow be established without the inevitable pressure, financial pressure and uncertainty.
I’m a little sick to hear of the newly acquired funds now available in the APL and the wild and unproven rumors of a new marquee signing that will suddenly change the domestic game forever.
True, this can be bypassed-but not unless you’re a techie who knows what he’s doing. Australian football, like all organizations, lives in a limited space.
There is a limited number of interested eyeballs, players, club members and most importantly dollars where the game has access.
Not all media outlets are interested in promoting football as aggressively and / or as vigorously as other sports, as return is not the only option.
The grassroots, local clubs and those involved in playing at the A-League men’s level are always the result of their passion and not for any real or vague gain.
As it happened in the broadcast, the current incumbents continue to cite an attitude and commitment to football as the main motivation behind their long playing style.
(Photo by Vince Caliguri / Getty Images)
The A-League Men’s pay cap is dwarfed by its AFL and NRL equivalents, which illustrate the simple and cool mathematical realities that game operators face.
Clearly, the A-League men are as big as they are right now and should probably be mentioned more frequently in the description of the surroundings of the less doom and more celebration of its wealth.
There’s nothing wrong with two clubs playing a decisive game in front of 22,000 people, or admitting that an average attendance of 10,000 is decent for all clubs throughout the season.
Yes, there is a huge potential for any young boy to go abroad and earn potential money that they never even dreamed of in Australia and there is no possibility of A-League Men’s Football being broadcast on a free-to-air television station. The two biggest codes for most of our lives.
Yet these realities do not stop many from expressing frustration and resentment towards those who control the top tier of Australian football, seemingly believing that if they make some good decisions, national competitions will magically transform them in terms of international prestige and quality.
The A-leagues will evolve over time and in their own time. Whatever they are so and so, I think it’s enjoyable to see them.
Perhaps it’s best that fans avoid dreaming too big and reaching out to the stars, instead welcoming the growing change and realizing that our grandchildren could be the first generation to see how big the A-League can be.