As we lurch into the nationalistic fervour of Australia Day, it's fair to ask : what exactly is unique about 'Australian' football ?
Australia is a mere tadpole in terms of The World Game, yet (as in many other sporting and creative endeavours) both individual Australian footballers and our national team have shown they can compete at the highest level with pride and good sportsmanship. Thinking of The Socceroos, many of us would single out physical toughness, fighting spirit and the ability to regularly punch above our weight as the qualities that have distinguished us on the world stage in recent times.
We are not afraid of any opposition and love to prove we can hold our own with more highly-fancied opponents.
The Mariners, at their best, demonstrate exactly the same physicality and fighting spirit, despite being the smallest club in the A-League. Yet somehow, this toughness and ability to fight back in times of adversity becomes a negative when seen through the eyes of those we're not afraid to confront on the pitch.
Last Friday night we were not afraid to put up a spirited fight against Gold Coast in the second half and it was totally beautiful to watch. Sure, there were some physical challenges (from both sides) and a bit of biffo, but wasn't it fantastic to see the Mariners play with such intensity at last ?
The boys played their hearts out in that last half hour in 35 degree heat and deserved to win. It was a tough contest but nobody got hurt, the refereeing was generally fair and cards were issued accordingly.
You'd think that'd be the end of it but, like many other teams who have found the Mariners' high octane brand of football too hard to handle, GCU chose to get on their soapbox and repeat that tired refrain "ooh, those Gosford boys are just too rough !" It's something Mariners fans get sick of hearing and a reputation that is not justified by cold, hard facts.
Statistics show that we are not, nor have we ever been, a team that likes to "play dirty". Like most teams, we have players who can be tough competitors, but even our most physical players pale when compared with the real 'hard men' of Australian football. Whom would you rather face : Hutcho or Muskie ? Hutcho or Pantelidis ? Hutcho or Smeltz flying in with studs up (and getting away with it) ?
As teams fight for their season, several other matches this round became spirited physical contests, but somehow that was acceptable. Angel-faced Michael Zullo broke Brockie's leg in the opening minute in Townsville while Musialik made what Mike Cockerill described as "a passionate challenge" on Wheelhouse. Ooh yeah, I could hear Barry White playing in the background too, Mike.
Glad you enjoyed those Sky Blue boys, but I'll take my "passionate challenges" Hutcho-style, thanks. He may get physical, but when did he last cause a career-ending injury to another player ?
And while it's one thing for a coach to criticise another team's style of play, whether or not this criticism is justified, it's quite another thing to somehow relate this to a coach's racial background. We all enjoy Miron's colourful personality and his outrageous statements are always entertaining but there's nothing funny about implying that Lawrie has brought "Scottish Third Division" tactics (ie: thuggery) to Australia.
Aside from the fact that Lawrie played at the highest level in Scotland (and it was 20 years ago), he is Australian, not a "foreign" coach with "foreign" ideas. Yet he is constantly subject to what amounts to racial stereotyping involving his Scottish heritage. Is racism less offensive if it is directed towards a person of British background? I don't think so.
Just imagine the outrage if another coach claimed Miron had brought "Israeli arrogance" to the A-League. Yes, he may get up some people's noses, but his background is irrelevant. Arrogance can be found in numerous football coaches around the world and so can aggression in football, Australia is no exception.
GCU have been a wonderful addition to the A-League but I can't help thinking they would benefit from an occasional reality-check. To complain so loudly about a team that shows True Blue fighting spirit (even if this sometimes threatens your apparent God-given right to be Number One ) is frankly Un-Australian.
Throw another haggis on the barbie.
