What a great way to start your life as a football club, Auckland FC.
Saturday, October 19 2024, will go down as one for the history books. The day was all about the city of Auckland and those cheering on the black and blue were not left disappointed.
Also known as the ‘Black Knights’, the new club won their inaugural match 2-0 against Brisbane in front of a sellout crowd of 24,492.
Unfortunately, the result came at the expense of this writer’s team, but I couldn’t help but be happy for Auckland.
For Roar fans, crowds and hype like that have been missing for some time and to watch on in the hopes those across the ditch may have something special to celebrate, it was nice to see.
Although I am a Brisbane Roar fan first, I am an A-League fan as well and when football clubs do the right things, say the right things and play the right way, I can’t help but be happy for that team.
The best part about also being an A-League fan is there are times you get to sit back and admire the successes of other teams.
In recent years, I have enjoyed seeing the success of the Central Coast Mariners and loved watching the rise of the Phoenix last season.
However, the hero eventually lives long enough to become the villain, and until Brisbane Roar can rise to their former glory, it’s time for Central Coast to move aside.
I’m now interested in the stories and successes of clubs like Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix.
The stories write themselves. ‘The A-League has a new rivalry, in the Kiwiclasico’, ‘New Zealand football kicking goals with the new arrival of Auckland FC’, ‘Auckland show they are the Knights of New Zealand’, ‘Wellington Phoenix shows it’ll take more than billions to be successful’ and so on.
For Auckland FC though, the first story is about ‘Life in the A-League off to the perfect start’.
But enough of that, the premiership isn’t won in round 1; next week, we have Auckland FC vs Sydney FC.
For Sydney fans, this is perhaps just another game, but when you lay claim to being the top club in the A-League, you have to back it up.
For Auckland, this is now the first real test. The opening game is out of the way, with a win on the board, and a sell-out crowd. What more could you want?
That’s easy, beat the number-one club in the A-League. It’s a real opportunity to show the fans, the rest of the A-League competition and New Zealand football, that you mean business and are no one trick pony.
A new era of the UEFA Champions League is here, only on Stan Sport.
To showcase it one week before your first-ever KiwiClasico, only adds to the drama of what we all hope will be another fixture and rivalry we regularly look forward to.
Then, for good measure, the Auckland public will be the first real litmus test in helping us to decide Douglas Costa’s potential marquee worth.
Whilst back-to-back home fixtures aren’t favourable, especially in these economic times, Auckland’s next home game won’t be until round 6.
However, with a KiwiClasico to follow, I say bugger the financials, it’s party time in the north of New Zealand and what better way to celebrate it than to tap the credit card at least for a few more weeks.
Hiroki Sakai celebrates with teammates (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
It’s what life is all about, enjoying it, and currently, many eyes are on New Zealand and back on the A-League.
So, that’s Auckland FC, but what about the Phoenix? I didn’t forget. Wellington is a club that is no stranger to the public of New Zealand.
A club founded as a result of the original failures of the New Zealand Knights. A club, without success, yet an inbuilt desire to never give up and rise from the ashes time and time again.
All of this is despite what the naysayers, myself included (in the past), have had to say about this club.
I love a good story and last year, Wellington Phoenix were just that.
Last season, the story was being written, and the naysayers were preparing to cut a slice of humble pie. With the Premiership in sight, Wellington would fall agonisingly short.
Despite letting the premiership slip through their fingers, they continued to fight and made the preliminary final.
In front of a record bumper crowd of 33,000+ fans at the Cake Tin, Wellington Phoenix, try as hard as they might, would fall agonisingly short again. But with the season that was, they had done enough to show the newcomers, Auckland FC, that they were willing to rise to the challenge of their soon-to-be, new rival.
The A-Leagues’ 20th season is on now! Be part of the action in stadium or watch it live.
Had Auckland already done Wellington a favour before a ball was kicked? Was the rise of the Phoenix due to the fact that last season Auckland FC were announced as the newest edition to the A-League? Was it due to the fact Wellington would perhaps need to step up their game knowing full well they would play the big brother role in the rivalry and would not want to be upstaged?
Those factors are relevant, but it would appear at that moment the club decided they were not going to let anyone else dictate their future, but they surely were not going to want to play second fiddle to this new team in New Zealand.
Wellington were the lone representatives of New Zealand but would now have to share the limelight, a North Island that would now be split in half, one north and one south, one black and blue, the other black and yellow.
So, Wellington Pheonix, the mic was handed over to you. Saturday was a celebration in Auckland, how would a Sunday in Wellington look?
The Phoenix drew 1-1 Western United. Whilst Wellington took time to warm to the contest, they did eventually settle, scoring at the stroke of half-time through, Kosta Barbarouses.
Despite ending 1-1, Wellington did appear to be the more dominant of the two.
What was slightly disappointing though was the fact only 7,535 turned out for their round 1 fixture.
Whilst it is an improvement on last season’s first game attendance of 6,101, it left more to be desired given in two weeks, we expect nothing short of a sellout between Wellington and Auckland in the first KiwiClasico.
However, whilst it may have only been 7,535, if there is one thing we know, Wellington has a loyal supporter base and has been doing the rounds a lot longer than Auckland.
For Auckland, it is merely the beginning and time will tell the sort of loyalty those in the north of the island have.
With two weeks until these two teams meet, time will only tell as to the sort of rivalry these two will generate.
You just have to look at rivalries like the Sydney and Melbourne derbies. Any fan who lives in a state with one side can only imagine having a rivalry or contest such as this.
So enjoy it New Zealand, who would have thought we would have two New Zealand teams before two Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, for that matter?
Whilst there are arguments for and against, the fact of the matter is, that Auckland is now here and it is stories like this that make football what it is, the beautiful game.
As for the rest of the competition, what other stories will be told this season? Newcastle and Perth Glory definitely have stories that could write themselves. Time will tell if these club’s new owners are serious or are just filling a void for a short time.
Lucas Herrington and Ben Halloran pose during the Brisbane Roar 2024-25 A-League Season launch with new kits. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for A-Leagues)
Western United at their new home is another we look forward to seeing develop. When will we get to see their stadium built? The fact they will be the sole owners of an A-League stadium is groundbreaking.
How will the fans of Macarthur respond to the Australia Cup champions? They have had a decent amount of success in a short time, but will we see further growth in attendance this season?
Will Brisbane Roar ever bounce back to their heydays and can they with their current owners? We all know for a team situated in the heart of Brisbane, the A-League would benefit from a strong Roar club.
Can Melbourne Victory and the Wanderers rise and challenge Sydney FC to be regarded the biggest club in Australia?
It was once Melbourne Victory and for a brief moment in time, the Wanderers captured the imagination of Western Sydney and the A-League itself when it became the first and only winner from the A-League to win an Asian Champions League title.
Will Melbourne City bounce back to the top and re-capture the dominance they held for a few years? Even if they do, will they ever increase their fan base? What happened to their fan base?
Can the Mariners win three A-League Grand Finals in a row? What do we make of their situation once again with respect to ownership? Are their foundations strong enough to withstand the concerns of financial insecurity?
What about Adelaide United? What future star will they unearth? Can they balance the focus of development against the fans’ want for success?
Auckland and Wellington have my current attention, and there is nothing better than seeing full stadiums, but it is these sorts of stories and rivalries the A-League needs to continue to grow.
With all that said, there are so many questions – and so many stories. So, who will rise to be the hero and who will shape as the villain?
Which team will look back on the 20th season of the A-League with fond memories and who shall set the tone moving forward in what we all hope will be another 20 years of the A-League action?
As a whole, the competition is off to the best start it has seen in many years, and long may it continue. The A-League is back.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nothing has been able to separate A-League Men title contenders Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory in their New Year's Day clash, with the two…
The best scenes in Australian football this weekend took place in the largest city of another country, with the Kiwi Derby already starting to…
With no Australian teams, the lone Oceania Football Confederation representative is Auckland City
It was inevitable with just corporate seats left for sale in the last few days - and now the second Kiwi Derby between new…
You couldn't have scripted it any better! A top-of-the-table clash, first vs second, a battle for the north island of New Zealand, a battle…
