Anyone that has read, watched or listened to the majority of Australian media over the years will understand that there is one fundamental belief that generally runs throughout.
Strong opinions lead to controversy, controversy gets ratings, and ratings (or ‘impressions') sell newspapers and advertising.
Well known figures in the Australian media landscape make their living from being generally disagreeable, loud and nasty. John Laws, Kyle Sandilands, Andrew Bolt - the list could go on for quite a long time. As followers of football and the A-League, we have Rebecca Wilson.
On Internet forums, everyone always says "don't feed the troll", and then proceed to feed it all that yummy rage that the troll craves in the first place. Rebecca Wilson gets the same courtesy from football fans. Rebecca Wilson is the perfect troll.
Still, we fall for the traps she lays under the proverbial bridge every time. We scream and curse conspiracies against our code, we send emails to anyone we think will read them, we send hundreds and thousands of clicks, views and comments on the websites of the publications smart enough to keep pushing out her troll editorials as fast as she can write them.
Our reactions are what keep the media outlets coming back for more, and not anyone that she shares a bed with.
Imagine the power we could collectively wield if we invested in Australian Football with just a tenth of the energy wasted on worrying about journalists and columnists that have a vested interest in bringing football down by highlighting the bad and ignoring the good.
So here's my idea. Every time you see a negative article or opinion that has been published and want to make comment in the feeble push to educate the great unwashed that are holding on to the Wogs, Sheilas and Poofters mentality by all means do so. At the same time I want you to think about what YOU want from YOUR A-League and draft an email to the FFA (copy in the media outlet of your choice) outlining what you want and how you think the FFA should provide it to us.
We all know the A-League is a very long way from being perfect, and until we focus our energies on what we want our league to be rather than being paranoid about what other codes think of football, it never will be.
