Melbourne Victory were going to go back-to-back this season weren’t they? With Mark Milligan their only notable loss, and with a 4-0 pre-season win-loss record behind them, I certainly thought so six months ago when, with their shirts unbuttoned to their navels and their hairy chests on display, they began their premiership defence. Even after a shaky start they won the FFA Cup final on 7 November and, three weeks later, sat atop the A-League ladder after beating their great rivals Adelaide in round eight. At that point it seemed fair to assume they’d be pushing for top honours by this late stage in proceedings.
It hasn’t worked out that way, of course (not that that will have anyone other than Victory supporters reaching for the tissues). Though Victory are still in the hunt for the championship trophy (in my mind, attuned as it is to the way the rest of the footballing world determines its best, the lesser of the prizes on offer over the coming weeks) they’ll finish no higher than fifth after this weekend’s final round of games. And with last year’s premiership and grand final runners-up Sydney FC out of the running altogether it leaves us with no less than four potential premiers. That’s special enough, but what lifts the bar even higher is that each of them have claims on a Footballing Fairytale – something a Victory title would not have delivered – should they get to hoist the Premiers’ Plate this weekend.
Current leaders, Brisbane Roar, for instance, were a shadow of their former selves last season and they only made the finals because Perth came a cropper after getting the work experience kid to balance the books. Yes, youngster Jamie Maclaren was a promising pre-season free-transfer pickup (a brilliant one, in hindsight), and they still had the nucleus of their title-winning team of 2013-14, but could they recover from their slump?
Moreover could they recapture their best form whilst the club was enduring financial issues, want-away owners and having as their new coach John Aloisi? That’s the same John Aloisi who led the Melbourne Heart Murmurs to just eight wins in 39 games, a record that turned him from a favourite son to someone they changed the locks and drew the blinds on after he stepped out for milk. No, such a sudden return to the top wasn’t going to happen for the Roar. Except it almost has. They’ve held top spot on the ladder 10 times this season (matched only by the Wanderers in that regard) and if they beat Victory on Saturday night in Melbourne they will be premiers.
Adelaide United, currently in second, one spot behind Brisbane, have been there or thereabouts for years now and even with a new coach to settle in (Guillermo Amor replacing Josep Gombau) the Reds looked up for the challenge at the start of the season. In that respect their challenging for the cheese platter is no surprise. Yet they began the season as if football was their second language. By the close of round eight they were still winless and last on the table and a sombre man in bushy sideburns and overalls, and carrying a rifle, was seen setting up a privacy screen around them, ready to deliver a fatal shot. They were done.
But just like that they jumped in the air and declared themselves fine. More than fine, in fact. Their maiden win of the season, against Perth in round nine, was followed by a 13 further matches without defeat. In fact, since round eight, they’ve lost just once in 18 games. It’s a remarkable run, built on league-best defence, that has seen their Spanish flavour enhanced by young local produce, such as Stefan Mauk, Bruce Kamau, Craig Goodwin and Dylan McGowan. With their possession-based game plan given an alternate route by the return-to-goalscoring ways of target man and muscle forward Bruce Djite, the Reds are on the verge of an incredible premiership. Should they beat Melbourne City on Friday night and should Brisbane fail to get all three points against Victory on Saturday night (a conceivable scenario) they will be premiers. And finalists in the Sporting Lazarus of the Year Award (though Leicester City are locked in winners).
But for an imploding Newcastle, the Western Sydney Wanderers would have finished last season with the wooden spoon. Like Brisbane, the Wanderers looked to be a team heading for a rebuilding period – and like any home renovator knows, completion dates are as concrete as puffs of smoke. In the off-season coach Tony Popovic gave about three-quarters of his squad the heave-ho and brought in a new assistant. The sense that the so-far spoilt Wanderers fans couldn’t expect miracles was emphasised during the opening three rounds when the Wanderers failed to win a game, the third of them a 1-0 derby loss to Sydney.
But suggesting he must be a gun at jigsaw puzzles Tony Popovic’s new acquisitions began to click together (with marquee striker Federico Piovaccari the notable exception). A 10-match unbeaten run (eight wins) followed. A 5-2 Valentine’s Day massacre at the hands of lowly Wellington aside, the Wanderers have been impressive consistency since. Best of all, perhaps, they’ve became a better team to watch. Spanish imports Andreu Guerao, Dimas Delgado and Alberto Aguilar have brought some flair while Mitch Nichols has recaptured his best form, and found the net 10 times. With Mark Bridge also in the goals, and Brendon Santalab being on hand to snatch vital points late on so many times that he should be done for burglary, the Wanderers are on the verge of a great story. Should Brisbane and Adelaide’s results go their way, the Wanderers will be premiers if they beat the Phoenix in Wellington on Sunday afternoon. The Red and Black Bloc-heads will be in no doubt… that’ll be a fairytale.
Finally to Melbourne City. Notwithstanding the apparent incongruity of the fairytale tag being applied to any team backed by oil money, City are still bound by the salary cap. More significantly, they are saddled by a history of sigh-inducing mediocrity, the kind that can be heard echoing around empty stands. Central to their history of poor showings has been an inability to find the back of the net. Corner flags trembled when they took aim. That was then.
A record 407 goals have been scored so far this A-League season and leading the way has been City, the most exciting team to watch in the competition. It’s like we’re in a parallel universe. For City the secret of their success has been the wonderful triumvirate of string-pulling midfielder Aaron Mooy, winger Harry Novillo and striker Bruno Fornaroli. Very little was known about Fornaroli when City signed him, now we can’t know enough about him. It’s not just that he’s scored 23 goals to date – some so good they belong on a mantlepiece – but the manner in which he plays. He’s as hungry as his compatriot Luis Suarez (without the penchant for human shoulders) and he has more flair than Saturday Night Fever.
How long can City hope to hold on to these three stars? Let’s not worry about that right now. Nor is it time to wonder at a few costly stumbles through the campaign that could have cost City the title. Right now John Van ’t Schip’s team are still a chance. Beat Adelaide on Friday night and hope Victory and Wellington do them a favour, and Melbourne City, née Heart, will be the premiers. If that’s not a fairytale turn of events I don’t know what is.
