Western United's visit to Hobart a huge success

Photo:  North Hobart Oval ready for Saturday's double-header. [PlessPix] 

Football was the winner when A-League club Western United, the reigning champions, sent their men’s and women’s sides to Hobart on the weekend.

The club ran a junior coaching clinic at North Hobart Oval on Wednesday and Thursday last week and it was very well attended.

The men’s and women’s teams did light training sessions at North Hobart Oval on Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s games.

The double-header attracted 5,127 fans, which is, I think, a record for an A-League game in Hobart.

It was a game for points and not just a friendly, as has been the case in the past, so it bodes well for a Tasmanian A-League team in the future.

*****

Photo:  People were still entering the ground as the weather began to change from sunny to brooding and threatening rain. [PlessPix] 

North Hobart Oval was looking a picture for Saturday’s games.

The pitch was in excellent shape and the organisation by the A-League was first-class.

It must have been a huge logistical exercise, but credit must go to the Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-League and the Liberty League (Women’s A-League), as well as to Western United.

It all went off without a hitch.  Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar must also be commended for coming to the party and making the day such a success.

Photo:  Alessandro Diamanti tries to get past Sydney FC captain Alex Wilkinson. [PlessPix] 

There is something exciting about watching professional football live rather than on television.  It enables one to soak up the atmosphere and realise how good the players are.

There is on-going debate about the pros and cons of rectangular stadiums as opposed to ovals.

I concede that the action is often far away on an oval, but to say Tasmania needs a rectangular ground for us to have an A-League side is disingenuous.

A-League games are often played on ovals interstate, so to say that we must have a rectangular ground before we can be granted an A-League licence is misleading.

Overseas, football at the top level is often played in stadiums that have Olympic running tracks around the perimeter, so what’s the problem here?

Photo:  Western United's defensive set-up at a Brisbane Roar free-kick. [PlessPix] 

Of course, a rectangular boutique stadium would be ideal, but to say the absence of one precludes Tasmania from being granted an A-League licence is putting the cart before the horse.

AFL is facing the same situation.  In a time when money is scarce, why should Tasmania be denied having an AFL team just because there is not a new stadium?  Blundstone Arena at Bellerive and UTAS Stadium in Launceston are more than adequate.  That is an aside, though.

Judging from the number of youngsters who showed interest in Western United’s visit, football can be king in Tasmania if things are handled properly.

*****

The two games were exciting, if not exactly brilliant.

Western United’s women’s team is top of the league and they beat Brisbane Roar 2-0.

United were under pressure early on but survived and went on to win with goals just before half-time and shortly after the resumption.

Photo:  Aimee Medwin (right) as Western United women come in at half-time. [PlessPix]

Photo:  Aimee Medwin in 2014 after being selected for an Australian youth side to go to China. [PlessPix]

It was nice to see our own Tasmanian player, Aimee Medwin, in action for Western United.

Another pleasing aspect was that Tasmanian referee Claire Green was assistant referee for this game.

Photo:  Claire Green races to examine the goal nets before kick-off. [PlessPix] 

All we really need to complete the trifecta was for Tasmania’s FIFA-listed referee Lauren Hargrave to have been involved.

In the men’s game, there was plenty of great action, including some fine shooting and superb saves by the goalkeepers.

Western United went close to scoring when midfielder Tongo Doumbia fired just wide with an absolute bullet.  Seeing such a shot in real life showed its power and speed, which might be a bit deceptive on television.

Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre produced a magnificent overhead scissors kick in the second half which brought out a wonderful save from Western United keeper Jamie Young.

Socceroos keeper Andrew Redmayne was also in fine form, saving brilliantly from Dylan Pierias in the second half.

Photo:  Sydney FC keeper Andrew Redmayne is beaten. [PlessPix] 

Redmayne was caught slightly out of position when late substitute Alessandro Diamanti scored the only goal of the game in the 86^th minute.

Diamanti, who had only come on in the 80^th minute, spotted Redmayne slightly off his line and chipped the ball from the left and 45 metres out over the keeper and inside the far right-hand side of the net, to the jubilation of his team-mates and the Western United supporters.

It was a goal worthy of deciding the match and it will go down as one of the goals of the season in the A-League.  It may even be the goal of the season.

*****

Photo:  The small band of Sydney FC supporters. [PlessPix] 

Sydney FC did bring some supporters down with them.

A small but vocal group sat at the eastern side of the ground and chanted and waved flags during the game.

A lone drummer at the other end was obviously supporting Western United and it all added to the atmosphere on a very successful day for football in Tasmania.

Photo:  Sydney FC warm up before the game. [PlessPix]

*****

On a personal note, I suffered a misfortune when attending Friday’s training sessions.  My youngest grandson had wanted to watch with his mates so I took him.

I had parked the car and we were watching the training when I heard a rather loud crunching noise and people started yelling.

Photo:  Number plate gone!  An off-duty police officer saw the whole incident and filed a report. [PlessPix] 

What had happened?  Western United’s team bus had hit my car as the bus was backing out of the ground.

I walked over to see what the damage was and was somewhat relieved that the bus had not hit the body of the car.  It had neatly shaved off the front number plate and scratched a bit of the grille.

I’m having it repaired this week.  I guess it could have been much worse.  But, I’ll always remember this Western United visit to Hobart because they certainly left their mark.

Photo:  Scratch marks on the bus. [PlessPix]

*****

As I entered the ground on Saturday, a friendly Western United official asked me why I wasn’t wearing my Western United cap.

I replied that, as a reporter, I had to remain neutral.

I was soon given a lovely Western United scarf.

It was a nice gesture and I thank Western United for that kindness, and for the access they gave me to players and officials.

At training on Friday, I spoke briefly to Alessandro Diamanti and told him that I thought he was the best player in the A-League the previous season.

After his goal on Saturday, I spoke to him again and complimented him on the superb goal.

He smiled and said:  “Thank you very much.  You gave me the vibe at training yesterday.”

I knew he was joking, but this interaction capped off a very enjoyable day personally, and atoned slightly for the mishap involving my car the previous day.