Here We Go Again - The A-League is Back

Move aside World Cup, the A-League is back. Phill Chadwick reports, it may only be Pre-Season but some things have not changed.

No more World Cup for four years. We can wait.

Italian football in a corruption scandal, again. Nothing new there.

Chelsea are again throwing their Russian money around to buy players. Ho hum.

But, outshining all of that, after the interminable off-season, the A-League is back with us. Although, with the FFA's commendable plan to take the game to regional supporters, we poor Adelaide United fans will have to wait for another three weeks to see the Reds in the flesh.

Being only a pre-season kick about, the results don't mean much in my view, but it was interesting to see that some things haven't changed.

Adelaide still know how to grind out a 1-0 win, against the run of play.

Melbourne have still never scored a goal against Adelaide.

Perth, perhaps understandably, have a long way to go in their preparation. It is sad to see that proud club reduced to living off FFA charity, still without a senior coach.

Central Coast again looking dangerous.

Sydney the team to beat, as usual.

New Zealand struggling, despite wholesale changes to their squad.

Newcastle less than impressive.

I was encouraged by the crowd figures, except, as usual, for New Zealand. The other three games, all played away from their clubs' home bases, totalled nearly 20,000 through the gates for an average of over 6,500. Very commendable.

New Zealand, at home, 800. Hardly worth switching on the pie warmers.

As I understand it, New Zealand have four years to run of a five-year guaranteed place in the league. Unless rapid and dramatic improvements are made in their on-field performances as well as their attendance figures, the FFA should be teeing up a replacement and preparing to release them early. The competition is not yet financially strong enough to carry such a dead weight.

Perhaps, given the excellent Tasmanian turnout to watch Melbourne and Adelaide last weekend, that state should be given an opportunity.

That said, it is still early days, and the season proper will sort the wheat from the chaff. A successful second season to back up the inaugural success is a must.

There are three key issues that will indicate, to me, a successful second season.

• Increased crowd attendances and increased membership bases. This is the most important aspect. The grass roots supporter base must grow.
  
  
• Increased media coverage. The World Cup has shown the mainstream media that this game has real interest throughout the whole country. Neither AFL nor NRL can give media, and hence sponsors, the same nationwide reach. Once media interest reaches a critical mass, it will feed upon itself.
  
  
• Improved quality of play. On the back of the World Cup, Australian audiences now know what good quality play looks like and will expect to see some of it in our domestic competition. I am encouraged by the number of foreign players signed up over the break. These players need to produce the goods. Just leave out the diving, please.

The success of the first A-League season, part previously untapped support, part novelty factor, part good marketing, should be a springboard for further development. For this venture to be a long term success, the clubs, the FFA and the football-loving public need to work together to build success on success.

In these early days, growth is the key. The status quo will not be acceptable.

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