What ONE thing would you do to improve the A-League ?  Lyall Gorman asked me this question the other day - ok not personally, but he did send me the annual A-League survey and it happened to be the final and most important question.

Well, what would be your answer (25 words or less) ?  Remember, you can only choose one thing, so no long lists of grievances (we've all got them).

How about one of these :

  • Make the season longer (you can never have enough A-League plus it gives teams time to build a real campaign).
  • Shorten beer queues.
  • Let kids under 16 in free with a paying adult.
  • Improve pitch quality and availability.
  • Make scheduling of home/away matches more regular (see above) to help draw a crowd.
  • Start season later to avoid overlap with other codes.
  • Celebrate fans by recognising and valuing their unique contribution to the game. 
  • Market the game directly to women because young ones attract men and older ones bring children. (And their devotion to a team is second to none)
  • Allow players and clubs the right to appeal decisions made by the Match Review Panel.
  • Introduce a Western Sydney team as a matter of urgency - have a lamington drive if necessary (I'll help make the lamingtons).
  • Get rid of half-time 'entertainment' (except for small-sided games which are cute). Unless it involves a punch-up between guys in animal suits, no-one cares. 
  • Introduce an FFA Cup next year, involving both state league and local clubs. Imagine the excitement factor and the goodwill generated.

And of course, this old favourite : improve refereeing standards, because painful as it is to admit, Fury were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty against us on Friday. 

In fact, unless you're very one-eyed, the list of referee shockers has mounted in the past fortnight.  Sydney FC took three points against the Jets on the weekend in what could only be called daylight robbery, while Sukha denied Adelaide the services of Leckie for who knows how long and somehow escaped a red card.

It's pretty awful stuff to watch but the truth is, when you're clawing your way up to dizzying heights (or in Sydney's case inching away from the cellar) you really become less fussy about how you get there.

Sure, Fury should have had a penalty, but we thoroughly deserved to win.  And let's face it, we have a seriously unhappy history of referee decisions going against us.  There are still referees who seem to reach for their top pocket as soon as Hutcho enters the field.

Against Fury we received NO cards - can anyone remember when that last happened ? When even the ref likes you surely it must be some kind of  omen. Look at the facts : we had no Pedj and no Perez but the first half was a fantastic display of football, with Wilko slotting into right fullback and a mobile midfield providing repeated attacks on goal.

I am so thrilled to see the team adapt to every setback thrown upon them and to be climbing ever higher with quiet confidence and steely determination. This is the best start we've ever had to an A-League season.  Even the traditional detractors are looking gobsmacked.  Expect a drooling assessment from Fossie any day now. 

(Oh yes, and what ONE thing would improve the A-League ?  Please FFA - keep the lime green dream alive : for the fans, for North Queensland, for Franz and for all of us who love the way they play. They epitomise all that's great about Australian football.)