Move over Mr Benaud, Australia has a new favourite jacket and I have to admit that even I have fallen with quite a heavy case of Straka fever. I've even put my cream jacket on order, but they were all sold out. Coincidence? I think not.

For me, Franz Straka brings something to the A-League that has been lacking for a very long time - energetically unhinged and ego-less positivity. It's something that should see the game grow significantly in both Townsville as well as the nation.

Fans love characters, and whilst the A-League has had them in spades since inception, not a single one has been a character for the right reason. Kosmina & Vidmar had their outbursts, Farina had his sooks and drink driving charges, Merrick and Lavicka continually try to out-do each other in their best plank-of-wood impressions and I don't think Dave Mitchell has done anything interesting since Fox Sports caught him on live TV sitting on the bench with his hands down his pants trying to scratch away the worries of the day.

The only coach that has ever come close has been Miron "The Madman" Bleiberg, whose complete insanity during press conferences and public appearances could hardly be construed as positive.

I had intended on submitting a lengthy blog last week as a follow-up to Kathy's excellent piece ‘On Hating Kevin Muscat', but my day job got in the way. Who, apart from EVERYONE of course, would have thought that he would be right back in the thick of it the following weekend.

I love Kevin Muscat, I really do. A lot of nasty words have been thrown his way over the course of his career, but nobody can deny that he is a winner, the perfect leader and that he's great for the league for the emotions he provokes - both from the Melbourne fans that praise his name and the fans of 10 other clubs that boo his every touch. No other player has polarised pubic opinion than our Kev, and further fuel has been dumped on the fire from the extremely subtle hints by Stuart McLaren that the Akoto's lashing out that saw him red carded may have been sparked by a racist comment from Musky. A subsequent investigation by the Fury, as reported on Fox Sports FC last night, has concluded that there isn't any need for further follow-up.

I don't doubt for a second that Muscat was all over Akoto like a bad smell (pun totally intended) and niggled him to the point of reaction, but to suggest that Kevin is a racist without grounds other than "Kevin Muscat is a thug, therefore probably a racist too" is extremely disrespectful to an unapologetically hard working club captain that has been around since the league began.

I can't recall the amount of times that Kevin has showed that he truly appreciates the fans of Melbourne only to have the FFA squash any positive effect that his actions may have. A good example would be him wearing a patch made by the Blue & White Brigade on his captains armband, until the powers that be decreed that only official unadulterated A-League captains bands may be worn. Every game Kevin still picks out a fan to give his armband to, even though the armband itself is now rather plain and boring.

Fan Watch
The last two rounds have served up some great fan shots, and it just wouldn't be right to give kudos to the three Wellingtonian girls that stripped down to their bikinis in a freezing downpour after the Phoenix's 6 goal thriller against Gold Coast.

It would be disingenuous to claim credit, but I can't help but wonder if they read my last blog about fans removing their clothes.

My last observation is from the Adelaide Vs Heart game, and as they say a picture says a thousand words - so I'll let this grab from the footage do all the talking that is required.