Five things we learned this weekend

1.  There’s a world of difference between the hype surrounding women’s football in Tasmania and the reality.

The fiasco that occurred on the weekend was a clear indication of this.

The prospect of a clash between the top two women’s teams was mouth-watering, but it turned out to be a sign of all that is wrong with the women’s game and with the administration of football in this State.

Just to refresh your memories, Clarence Zebras were supposed to entertain Olympia Warriors on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm at Wentworth Park in a top-of-the-table clash.

Sundays are generally kept free for women’s football.  Why on earth, I’ll never know.

There was also a men’s NPL game scheduled for the only time this season on a Sunday and that was between South Hobart and Kingborough Lions United at South Hobart Oval at 2pm.

The heavy rain experienced in Hobart led to the NPL game being switched to KGV Park, which was a sensible decision and credit must go to both clubs for agreeing to do this at short notice.

The women’s game was called off because Wentworth Park was closed.  But, Clarence Zebras apparently refused to play elsewhere.

In one way, that was good because supporters now did not have to choose between watching the men’s NPL game or watching the Women’s Super League game.

The fact is that football supporters should have been able to watch both games in the first place and deciding between the two should never have been an issue.

The closure of Wentworth Park provided the perfect opportunity for football fans to see both games.  A top-class double-header could and should have been scheduled at KGV Park featuring the WSL game and the NPL game.

They could have been scheduled for 12noon and 2pm, or even 2pm and 4.30pm, or something like that.  A good crowd could have been expected and no-one would have been torn between watching the women’s game and watching the men’s game.

But, Clarence Zebras apparently refused to move and preferred the game to be postponed.  Please tell me, anyone, if this is not true.  I stand to be corrected.

Olympia even offered to play the game at Warrior Park, but Clarence Zebras refused.  The return game later in the season could then have been played at Wentworth Park, so no home-ground issues would have arisen.

Still Clarence Zebras refused, and so, there was no game and football supporters were deprived of watching what may have been, and should have been, a top-class women’s game.

I have played the game and I think I am right when I say that players always want to play, no matter what.  Postponements are a pain in the butt.  Players would also rather play than train anyway.  They don’t mind if training is cancelled, but cancelling games is another matter.

So, what happened in this case?  Who made the decision not to play and not to agree to a change of venue?

If it was the Clarence Zebras players, I would say that was very poor form, indeed.  If it was the coaches or administrators, then they have no idea about promoting women’s football.

Football Tasmania should have stepped in and made the decision to play the game at another venue for the overall good of the game, and to promote women’s football, which they claim is part of their remit.

If Clarence Zebras refused to play, they should have been threatened with a forfeit.  We would then have seen if they still refused to play.

The situation that occurred on Sunday did football no good at all.

If women’s football is to have any credibility, such situations cannot be allowed to happen again.

2.  The merger between Clarence United and Hobart Zebras may have caused some unforeseen problems.

One of the reasons Hobart Zebras were so keen to merge with Clarence United was that Zebras would have a home ground and a club room.

Well, that may not have been as good a move as some thought.

The first time we get some decent rain, Wentworth Park is closed.  The club is at the mercy of the Clarence City Council.

Not merging and staying at KGV Park may have been a better idea.

I have also noticed that in some media outlets and on some social media sites, the new club is more and more often being called simply Clarence.

The print media is always keen to save space and long-winded names are in peril when this desire becomes paramount.

A newspaper is not going to write Clarence Zebras all the time, and at the moment there is a tendency to simply call the club Clarence.

All I can say is that this must surely grate with the Italian community and the old Zebras supporters.

Perhaps Zebras should have insisted on the merged club being called Zebras Clarence?

I am pleased to say I always call the new club Clarence Zebras and never shorten it in any way.

3.  South Hobart goalkeeper Nathan Reid had an impressive senior debut in the 5-0 win over Kingboorugh Lions United on Sunday.

Reid was signed from Clarence Zebras at the start of the current league season but was kept warming the bench for South Hobart’s Lakoseljac Cup game and four league games.

He replaced veteran Mark Moncur on Sunday and capped off a solid display by saving Keenan Douce’s penalty in the closing seconds of the game.

4.  Nick Morton has made a remarkable recovery from a badly broken leg.

Nick Morton looked as if he wouldn’t play this season after suffering a horrific broken leg late last season.

He has returned this season as sharp as ever and has played in every one of South Hobart’s games.

I thought he was man-of-the-match on Sunday in the 5-0 win over Kingborough Lions United.

He scored the opening goal in spectacular fashion, racing down the left from deep inside his own half and chipping the Kingborough goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

It was also Morton’s precise left-wing cross to the far post that enabled Bradley Lakoseljac to volley South Hobart’s fifth goal.

This display showed that he has fully recovered from his serious injury and resumed where he left off after the injury.

5.  Kingborough Lions United may have achieved their peak after four games and could be in danger of losing momentum.

Kingborough Lions United were unbeaten after four rounds of the league going into this weekend.

They were second in the standings with three wins and a draw.

Then came Sunday’s disaster, namely a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of South Hobart.

Kingborough began well enough and Kenneth Trac’s runs down the left created possibilities.

The Lions were unable to finish, however and once South Hobart scored twice in a minute just before the interval, it was game over.

Kingborough have a history of under achieving and it will be interesting to see how they go away to Olympia Warriors at Warrior Park next Saturday.

That will be a crucial game for both teams and should be worth watching.

It’s the only NPL Tasmania game in the south next weekend, so it should draw a reasonable crowd.