Let’s Get Physical – Time to Get Tough On Diving?

What are the characteristics that epitomise Australian sport?

One of the most regular traits attributed to Australians is that their culture is down-to-earth. It has also been said that Australians have “a collaborative rather than individualistic culture and this teamwork,” is a mix of mateship and altruism.

Historians will tell you that sport has been an integral part of Australian culture dating back to pre European indigenous society. Also that it is a key element of current Australian life. While sport is a great way of bringing people together within the sporting landscape there is in itself competition.

Some of that rivalry between sports goes back over half a century. Football in the 1950’s and 1960’s was built around the migrant communities that now called Australia home. These clubs were well supported and due to the large migrant involvement both playing and spectating, many other Australians viewed soccer, as it was known then, as a game ‘for foreigners.’ Whereas the rugby codes and AFL, were deemed to be “Australian.” As fans of the world game know football was commonly referred to by the offensive term ‘wog-ball.’

Yet those that played football mixed the qualities that they brought from the homelands with the attributes that reflected the Australians of the day. As a result the Australian football team garnered a reputation as always being competitive and never giving up. Those that pulled on the green and gold of the Socceroos wore those colours with pride and played with passion. Some may have been more skilful than others, but all were totally committed.

If you read reports on games of the Socceroos from yesteryear, you will no doubt come across words such as ‘robust,’ ‘strong,’ ‘uncompromising’ and ‘physical.’ Words that reflect players playing with passion and commitment. Some will wrongly claim that such words reflect a lack of skill, they don’t.

Former England defender Tony Adams won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal amongst many other trophies. He was Captain of England when they reached the semi finals of Euro ’96. He had a glorious career, but he has been described as “a ball-player with strength, aerial ability and bravery.” Few would argue with that description. He may not have been the most skilful player compared with his contemporaries, but he was reliable, passionate and effective.

France’s Marcel Desailly won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000, and like Adams had a glittering club career at Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea. He has been described as “the physical yet cultured centre-back.” Showing that even if you ooze class on the ball to succeed you have to match your opponents in a physical sense. Dutchman Ronald Koeman has been described as “a strong, often brutal defender.” German Matthias Sammer was said to be “a hard-as-nails defender,” but it was “his uncompromising defensive skills were key for the country” when Germany won Euro 96.

So why has the physical side of the game of football been almost abolished from the game in Australia? An element in sport most Australians relish and for which they were renowned world wide.

Could this in fact be one of the problems with the drop in viewing figures in the Hyundai A-League? This may sound like a long stretch, but is it?

Australians love a contest. What is more they love a physical contest. That is why AFL and both codes of rugby maintain a strong supporter base. When a genuine talent in boxing rises to the top the whole nation gets behind them.

The National Soccer League had its problems away from the pitch, however on the pitch fans were treated to it all. There were players with sublime skills who could turn a game in a second, John Markovski, Con Boutsianis and Paul Trimboli to name a few. There were also midfielders who would fly into crunching tackles and defenders not averse to trying to impose their physical attributes on wily forwards. Fans were treated to a contest, a contest in which there was skill, but also a physical battle, a battle in which players characters came to the fore. The encounters were tough, but the respect the players had for each other when the final whistle sounded epitomised the contest. A contest where both sides had been totally committed and given their best.

One of the frustrating aspects of watching the Hyundai A-League today is the lack of a contest. Players fall to ground following the lightest contact, many have lost control of the ball so take the easy option, and go to ground. That is not what the fans want to see.

The nadir for this type of play was probably when Alessandro del Piero, the once great Italian and Juventus player came to play for Sydney United. Unable to run any more but still possessing great close skills he would create for himself opportunities to claim a free kick. He would look for the opportunity to win a free kick. Falling to ground with the slightest provocation. These antics were praised by some as being the highest form of skill. To many his lack of ability to stay on his feet and the fact that his antics were frequently rewarded with a free kick were the antithesis of Australian football.

Having spoken to many of the overseas players that have headed down under to play in the A-League most have said that one of the hardest things to adapt to is the lack of physicality. That they have to hold back in their challenges. What may have been acceptable in a higher league in Europe will be blown up in the A-League, and often result in a booking.

Only twice in the last nine seasons has an Australian player picked up more bookings in an A-League season than an overseas player; in 2011/12 Tim Brown of New Zealand topped the list. In all of the other six seasons the players came from Europe.

So maybe herein lies an opportunity.

In order to showcase the attributes for which Australian footballers are renowned maybe the referees in the next A-League season could be instructed to no longer tolerate players going to ground so easily. The A-League could become the first league globally to take a hardline approach to diving.

One of the things that the Australian sporting fan hates is a cheat. Falling over when touched is a form of cheating, so the chances are that the fans would be totally onboard with such a stance.

Not only would such a move bring the league publicity globally at a time when it needs it, but it would also promote it is as a world leader. Diving and falling over at the faintest touch has been a blight on the game globally, and is despised by fans across the world. To implement a more hardline approach in Australia would be a great test to see the reaction of fans and whether it in fact did impact on viewers on television and fans coming through the turnstiles. Another plus from such a move would be that we may start to see the traits for which Australian footballers were renowned come back into the game.

The skill will still be on show, but the game will be more robust, more physical and a true contest between players. Something the Australian sports fan relishes.