How was this going to play out? I'm heading up on the Brisbane train armed only with my Socceroos top a mobile phone and a camera. There is a smattering of orange shirts on the line, understandable since I plan to be in Brisbane early for some amber energy drinks to fuel my Grand Final engine. The masses will probably be heading up in another couple of hours I thought.
I arrived at Caxton Street to the symphony of football chants as opposing sets of fans faced off against each other from their chosen pubs. Second's later Orange smoke filled the street - flare - oh well there's always someone. Police are calm and don't over react, singing continues and everything remains very civil. I am impressed; also the sheer number of travelling Mariners is equally impressive as they pack out this pub and most of the street in front of it..
For football in Queensland this game had to be epic, it needed to inspire and to capture people's emotions, it needed to be the catalyst for next year's season. It was all this and then some. As I took my seat it was irony that as a neutral I was seated with a family from Central Coast to my left and a group of young Roar supporters to my right, but the real sight was looking down that touch line to a full stadium all in orange.
At the end I really felt for the Mariners to my left as for a brief moment they were already lifting the toilet seat in their heads and breaking free of the disappointment of two failed finals. To be the team that stopped the Roar - ON - Grand Final day made this particular final worth more than the other two losses combined. My Roar friends on the right were shell shocked, how could we lose like this in over time. As what I could only assume were the "big event" punters (you know, never been to many games but all decked out in orange for the finals) started to leave before the start of the second overtime period, I said to Roar supporters "I can't believe you would leave this team with 15 minutes still to play, haven't they seen Roar play this year?". The rest is history and Central Coast are forever the bridesmaids again.
So with all that minor Grand Final stuff covered there is the BIGGEST story in sports doing the rounds at the moment. Ernie Merrick is sacked by mutual consent.
Ernie's response to this was - well - he sort of smirked but he didn't seem angry, or sad, or display any sort of emotion at all. Basically it was stock standard Ernie, many moons ago I created this informative chart to gauge Ernie's emotions. (The Ernie Merick Expressions chart.)
Yes this mutual sacking of the ways was made even more mutual by the Victory's chairman Anthony di Pietro holding a press conference to inform us mutually with Ernie there right by his side. So it had to be mutual didn't it? Oh, Ernie wasn't there? AWKWARD!!!!
With the last foundation coach out the door (is Bleiberg classed as a foundation coach even though he missed a season and a half?) all manner of names have popped up. Dave Mitchell (just joking) Franz Straka, Ricky Herbert, all names from within our own league. But what about a name from within Victory's own club.
For years people have mused that Kevin Muscat was the coach ON THE FIELD and would naturally progress to the coach off the field. Is this such a crazy Idea, if the Victory board are worried that they are losing a grasp on the fans what better way to win them then by putting their favourite son in the hot seat? Sure every tackle would have the ability to end the season of some young 'future' Socceroos career, but they would get fans back in the gate? Right?
In any case I expect the Roar revolution to force sweeping changes across the league next season. How can a club justify superstar payrolls and one dimensional coaches when Brisbane got Ange at the 99cent shop and cut all the stars from its roster, while fielding a team of cheap young men around its experienced mid field.
Speaking of next season, it was clear that football players and football fans stood up and played their part on "Sunday's Final Thriller". Now it is time for FFA to stand up and do there bit.
My key performance indicators for the FFA are simple.
- 1) Scheduling should closely reflect a home and away system (for guidance see Season 1 + 2's scheduling)
- 2) The league needs to be massively exposed on Free - to - Air advertising to give the clubs a platform to launch their own promotion. (for guidance see Season 1 + 2)
That is it - just two simple guidelines that would have far reaching implications on fan numbers and on community engagement. I am optimistic that these will be achieved as FFA have so far made the right noises in regards to their announcement of a large scale marketing strategy for season 7 and Ben Buckley's acknowledgment of the scheduling FAIL that the last two seasons have been.
Remember the first step is admitting you have a problem.
