KEEPUP columnist Robbie Cornthwaite’s weekly article discusses the APL’s decision to move the A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney for the next three seasons.
It’s hard to remember a decision that has been so resoundingly and unifiedly condemned by the entire Australian football community.
When Danny Townsend and the Australian Professional League (APL), announced they had done a deal with Destination NSW over hosting rights to the A-Leagues Grand Finals for the next three seasons, I had only one thought; “You’ve just lost the fans!”
The Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign brought so much joy and hope for the game’s future. It’s taken just nine days to completely destroy it, turning a huge majority of the games’ fans against the APL. It’s somehow managed to get The Cove and the RBB, who actually have an advantage from the decision, on the same page in condemning the announcement, along with most other supporter groups around the country.
Firstly, the opportunity to win hosting rights for the Grand Final is what sets us apart from other football codes. The AFL Grand Final has long been held at the MCG, while the NRL showpiece is held at Stadium Australia regardless of who makes it. The preliminary final in the AFL is often the best experience for the fans. Grand Final Day is for the corporates, and a lot of true fans miss out.
Why must we continually destroy what makes us unique? Our active support has already been heavily diluted over the last decade due to heavy-handedness and a lack of support and understanding by those in charge. This decision does nothing more than continue to tell our supporters that you are not important and that we do not care about you.
With walkouts already being organised for this weekend, I fear Round 8 of the 22/23 A-Leagues Season will be remembered as one of the darkest days in Australian football.
One of the key talking points in any finals series is who will host the Grand Final. There adds as much excitement about getting to the final as there is about hosting.
My day job is working in mainstream media, and I can tell you for a fact that when a Grand Final of any sport, men’s or women’s, is to be played in Adelaide, everyone is interested. There are live crosses from inside or outside the ground, and there are news readers and weather reporters getting in on the action. People who would usually be uninterested in the office come alive. This is how you grow the game — by taking it to more places and showcasing it to more people.
Casual football fans will attend a Grand Final in their own city. I do not believe they will travel for one. I hold grave fears for a final played between two non-NSW teams.
Imagine a men’s Melbourne Derby Grand Final, the first ever, not held in Victoria? It’s laughable.
Of course, the game needs to find new ways to attract funding. This decision, or a potential reversal, will have a material impact in the funding that goes to the clubs, and it is clear the APL has taken this route to secure investment for the competition – investment which, it has to be said, has come from government, something that the competition has not enjoyed a lot of.
But, in my opinion, this is not the answer. You can’t tell me off the back of what the Socceroos just achieved and with a home FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 around the corner, we can’t find new ways to attract money to the sport?
If anything, the backlash to the announcement, which was an APL Board decision, makes me question whether those in charge understand their fans.
Since the video, two current national team players, Socceroos Craig Goodwin and Matilda Remy Seimsen have even distanced themselves from the decision.
I was lucky enough to play in the 2009 A-League Grand Final for Adelaide United against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium. I obviously didn’t get to experience a home crowd, but I can fully appreciate the experience of an intimidating and boisterous away crowd. It’ll be a real shame if that’s lost.
I have a feeling the damage might already be done, but the APL and Danny Townsend have no choice but to reverse this decision. There’s no room for pride or egos. The games too big for that.
They don’t own the game. The fans do.
