A-League can do away with artificial climax
The Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners will battle for the right to host a grand final in another city entirely, while Sydney FC’s home advantage over Queensland Roar in the minor-semi final has been rescinded because, of all things, a Police concert.
Oh, for goodness sakes, can we just do away with the A-League finals.
Most leagues, the credible ones anyway, have a first past the post system. If it’s good enough for powerhouse nations like England, Spain, Italy, Holland, even Tanzania, then surely it’s good enough for us. (Tanzania? Now that’s one nation that really should have a money-spinning finals series).
Then there’s the qualification for the Asian Champions League.
The top two teams go through. However it’s not so simple. Central Coast has locked up a spot by virtue of being minor premiers. Newcastle? They finished second in the league but that’s not enough. No, they have to go on and make the grand final. Unless the Mariners crash out of the finals in straight sets, then the Jets need to win it all.
Confused?
Sure, football in this country is trying to rise to a level comparable with the local codes. A good starting point. That doesn’t mean it also has to cede to the contrived nature of a playoff system, just to guarantee some sort of artificial climax. Football needs to be better than the rest. Football needs to aim higher than AFL and rugby league systems where a team may play another team once, may play them twice, before six months of achievement are basically rendered worthless after the first week of some mathematical concoction, designed less for integrity and more for fashioning finances.
The A-League is far from perfect. In a world where pampered cashed-up athletes whine about broken fingernails and being overworked, these players complain about not playing enough. Preparations for Asia are hideous, while Socceroos figurehead Craig Moore has simply given up hope of another World Cup, because he couldn’t possibly be match fit.
Let’s give them more football. Let’s extend the season to eight or nine months, have each team play each other twice at home, twice away, and be done with the finals.
This weekend was dubbed as the greatest in the short history of the competition.
Would have been even greater if it was for all the marbles.
Subscribe to The Serve by Email
If you ask me, that would be a step in the wrong direction. The Grand final is a proven money winner and just not in Australia.
The Grand Final was formally unknown to the British, but has been introduced through the rugby league competition, since which, the league has not looked back…. Its been so successful in fact that it has been suggested other sports, specifically the rugby union are thinking about implementing it as well.
Soccer in Australia needs money. They do that through TV Rights. There is no way soccer could get more money for their TV Rights whilst simultaneously dropping the GF. Where do you suppose all that lost revenue is going to come from - a few extra rounds of regular football? Your dreamin!
I’m glad someone has finally pointed this out. The playoffs do belittle all the work done over the regular season. Just having a home and away season is the fairest way decide who’s best for a year. It would also do away with the controversy over where the Grand Final will be hosted. Add two teams to the competition and make them play each other four times and bunch it up so there are some mid-week games as well. That’s 36 games each club. If you need a playoff have an FA-style cup; thus everyone is pleased. Grand Finals are a joke - always have been.