A-League boss okay with schedule clashes
Apr 17, 2017 - 5:31 AM A-League boss Greg O'Rourke says it's time for the game in Australia to have the confidence to stand up and face scheduling clashes with other football codes.Brisbane host Western Sydney at Suncorp Stadium in the first A-League elimination final on Friday, the same night NRL heavyweights the Broncos take on the Rabbitohs, albeit in Sydney.
"At the end of the day this code needs to stand up and face this stuff head on. There's no use us giving complete passage to other codes," O'Rourke said on Monday.
The A-League boss is confident of drawing a strong crowd at Suncorp Stadium given the rivalry between Wanderers and the Roar.
"We would be pushing for 20-25,000 for a Friday night game," O'Rourke said.
Western Sydney beat the Roar in the 2016 semi-final but have not managed a win against the three-time premiership winning club this season.
Both sides will face a short turnaround due to matches in the Asian Champions League (ACL) on Wednesday night.
The Roar take on Thailand's Muangthong United and the Wanderers meet Japan's Urawa Reds, games considered in domestic finals schedule.
"We needed to make sure we put on a good spectacle for our finals series but did not compromise clubs and their chance to stay alive inside the ACL," O'Rourke said.
This season's Golden Boot winner, Roar striker Jamie Maclaren, said he was excited by the prospect of multiple games in a week.
"It's a short turnaround for Friday but players would much prefer to be playing rather than training," Maclaren said.
Source: AAP
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Aloisi proud after Roar record rare win Dec 30
- Roar's Aloisi confident he has support Dec 21
- Late Perth goals sink Brisbane in A-League Dec 21
- Roar will turn tables in A-League: Aloisi Dec 20
- Injury-smashed Roar can still make finals Dec 17
- Victory find form to beat Roar in A-League Dec 17
- No Victory grudges for Ben Khalfallah Dec 13
- Bautheac injured in Roar's scoreless draw Dec 9
- Battling Roar ready for comforts of home Dec 7
- McKay anoints Caletti as Roar successor Dec 6
- Roar hoping for scheduling help from FFA Dec 4
- Papadopoulos to be punished for spitting Nov 27