Few A-League fixtures produce the pumping scenes and vibrant atmosphere that materialise when the city’s east meets west
One of the league’s largest support groups boycotting the game is a sign that all is not well in A-Leagues land; a potentially terminal lack of trust and respect for league administrators is still deep-seated among fans. On the field, the tactical and technical side of the game, particularly from the Wanderers in the second half, also left a lot to be desired.
But even amid the almost routine off-field distraction, the sense of occasion and narrative that surrounded Saturday’s game still provided an insight into what the league can be at its best: rivalries like the Sydney derby serve as the league’s lifeblood. Few other fixtures can produce the kind of pumping scenes and vibrant aura that happen when Sydney’s east meets west. Recognised as football’s most unique selling point in the crowded local sporting scene, derbies carry oversized importance to the health of the A-Leagues.
When there is no promotion or relegation and half the league plays finals, anything that can provide supporters with a reason to remain invested in games is critical. Despite a bungled rollout, Western United and Macarthur were tapped to enter during the last round of expansion for this very reason, and it’s why existing clubs’ attempts to play down their new foes as unworthy of a derby tag are perplexing.
Fostering rivalries isn’t so much about building up the games as it is building an identity for clubs – their values, ethos and spirit – which can then be contrasted with their foes. Disdain inevitably arises from that. Not all A-League teams have clear or consistent identities but Sydney and the Wanderers do, with mutual disdain flourishing as a result, as planned.
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