The A-League kicked off over the weekend with most clubs improving on last year's record crowds.getty images
The majority of home sides in the A-League "bettered their record crowds from last season in the opening round" of the '18-19 campaign in a boost for Football Federation Australia, but TV audiences "remained a concern across the board," according to Anthony Colangelo of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Melbourne Victory, Wellington Phoenix and the Brisbane Roar all "topped their best crowd figures" for '17-18 on the opening weekend of the '18-19 season, with "all five home sides also attracting a crowd that was bigger than their average for last season." Relaxed rules around active support "meant there was a renewed buzz" among Victory's supporter groups at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, an atmosphere that was enhanced by Melbourne City FC's "stunning win and the debut" of Japanese MF Keisuke Honda. Brisbane Roar's crowd of 14,859 for its game against Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday was "extremely impressive given the start of the match was delayed due to extreme wet weather." TV audiences "remain a problem across the league." Some 69,000 people watched Melbourne Victory-Melbourne City on Fox Sports, compared to 121,000 for the "first edition of the rivalry last year." Figures for "free-to-air audiences on One were unavailable." The other two Melbourne derbies in '17-18 "had Fox Sports audiences of 77,000 and 59,000" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/22).
HERE TO STAY: The AAP's Larkin & Warren reported A-League Head Greg O'Rourke believes that VAR is "working appropriately but wants more full-time referees to keep pace with the sport." He said, "The VAR has been rolled out worldwide so it's not going anywhere." VAR controversies have "dominated the wash-up of the A-League's opening round." O'Rourke acknowledged that the "system failed" in last season's grand final. But he said, "The system now is working as designed." O'Rourke noted in the Central Coast Mariners-Brisbane Roar game, there "were three interventions by the VAR, all three of those were for offside, all three of those were correct" (SMH, 10/22).
