EXCLUSIVE: Sack-whackers, kayakers, pissants and stranglers – the A-League has had its fair share of madness as we look back at ten of the craziest episodes in the league.
There were a number of other moments that just missed out. So, honourable mentions go to Lawrie McKinna for singing on local radio, a cardboard cut-out of Miron Bleiberg at a press conference, Gold Coast fans making a run for it to the Beach during the cap fiasco and Miron’s many and varied interviews on Fox Sports.
Last season a disaster was narrowly avoided when Sydney FC’s Matty Jurman went to celebrate a winning goal from new Finnish striker Juho Makela. As the players and Cove fans celebrated across the hoardings at the SFS, fans surged and knocked down the barrier trapping Jurman planked and squashed underneath as players and fans desperately tried to avoid permanently damaging the central defender. Luckily his trapped leg survived relatively unscathed. He’s now playing for Brisbane Roar.
Continued on next page...
9: Wedding Ring Woes
Who could forget Damian Mori’s bizarre wedding ring fiasco in Perth? Unable to remove the item of jewelry and not allowed to tape it up before a game against Victory, the ref Mark Shield deemed that the game must start without “Frogga”. Perth officials drew blood trying to remove Damo’s ring, damn near ripping his finger off. Eventually after five frantic minutes they gave up and a furious Mori was subbed off for Brian Deane before ever even getting on the field.
Continued on next page...
8: Squadron leader Ljubo
During a midweek game last season, and with an exit from the Jets imminent, our favourite A-League character took it upon himself to leave Jets fans with a special memory as he grabbed the loudhailer off the Squadron’s Capo and lead the fans in an impromptu set of chants and dancing. The club weren’t happy, citing his supposed ankle injury. Who cares, it was brilliant to watch.
Continued on next page...
7: Vuka’s Shield Shocker
Danny Vukovic did touch a referee and he was given a lengthy ban after his grand final moment of madness when he remonstrated with referee Mark Shield in the final minutes of an emotion charged finale. He was red-carded for laying a light glove on the man in black and banned long enough to effectively end his Olympics 2008 dream.
Continued on next page...
6: Motocross madness
‘Hey, let’s get a whole lot of motocross bikes and ride them around on Newcastle Jets pitch. They’ve got a game in a few days but it’ll be alright…” Er no it wasn’t as the Jets ground was ripped to shreds resulting in A-League scheduling thrown into chaos with visiting club Fury forced to turn back virtually mid-flight after news came through the ground was in no fit state to play. Who’d have thought?
Continued on next page...
5: Pissant Pressa
The term “Pissant Town” is now A-League folklore after Aurelio Vidmar’s patience finally ran out in Melbourne as he unloaded in spectacular fashion on his own city. Viddy, frustrated at yet another loss in Melbourne, suggested the city of churches needed to eradicate its small-town “Pissant” mentality if it ever wanted to achieve anything. He’s still living in Adelaide but is now coaching the Olyroos.
Continued on next page...
4: Joel’s testy reaction
“Sack-whacker” is another term now part of the A-League vernacular after Newcastle Jets Joel Griffiths’ brazen bollock whack on an assistant referee during one F3 derby. How the original sack-whacker didn’t get a lengthy ban for touching an official, so to speak, is one of the great mysteries of six years of A-League footy.
Continued on next page...
3: The Solo Man
In a season laden with goals, celebrations became a regular sight at Suncorp – one of the best coming from Ivan Franjic and co who, after one particular rocket, then joined his Roar team-mates in mimicing a kayak as Massimo Murdocca rode their backs, paddling down a river!
Continued on next page...
2: Glorious Biffo
As players were leaving the ground a truly bizarre scene unfolded after one Glory game when Jamie Harnwell and Adrian Webster come to blows - and they were teammates. All caught for posterity on Fox Sports, it was a damning indictment on the state of the dressing room at Perth. But great to watch. It rivalled the silliness of coach Steve McMahon signing his son to the club. Those were the Glory days… (Thanks to JayFC for uploading the video to YouTube)
Continued on next page...
1: Kossie throttles Muscat
Still for many one of the great mad moments, as the ball rolled out of play and into the Adelaide bench during a willing clash between Victory and the Reds in Melbourne, Kosmina picked up the ball but was a split -second slow in returning to Muscat – who pushed the coach off his seat as he grabbed the ball. Cue all hell breaking loose. Brilliant theatre. (Thanks again for JayFC's video duties...)
And as an added bonus? When Kossie moved to Sydney, Danny Allsopp finished off the job Muscat started - and sent Kossie flying! What a shame Kossie missed out on the Victory job this year...
