Hyundai A-League All Stars

Voting for the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League All Star Team has now opened. But who would this team play?

Apologies for the not so Heart related content but I thought this needed some discussion and urge any/all to add their views in the comments.

I don’t disagree with the idea of the All Star team, but I disagree with the execution in this case. What we have here is really an ‘All Australian’ (All A-League?) team that has been relabelled. The idea of an ‘All Australian’ team is to give the best players of the given season in their positions some recognition and exists in various sports at many levels.

However, they have labelled this an All Star team. Now, you would assume this is because calling it an ‘All Australian’ team doesn’t make sense as there is sure to be some overseas players in it, but the name conjures up something else and this is something I believe should be explored.

The A-League needs an All Star game. Whether it be mid season like the NBA or as a closer like the NFL’s pro-bowl it would show case some great talent and really add some extra excitement to the league. This can be run in various ways. I don’t think State of Origin (a la the NRL or even AFL’s old model) would work and East V West (a la NBA) would pretty much mean the Glory against everyone, so what about an International clash? Australia (or Aus/NZ) V The World – Australian born players with an Australian born coach face off against International born players with an International born coach and all fan voted.

How good would this be!?!? I don’t see it creating any divide; whilst we’d all get a little patriotic the nature of it as a showcase would provide some fun and a game people could get behind in a healthy way.

Where do you play? Well I don’t think fixed location (a la NFL pro-bowl) is right for it. Location could rotate by draw, a decided order or even say the title winners of said year host it?

With the A-League’s marketing department doing four fifths of five eighths of Sweet FA this is just one idea I strongly believe needs to be explored and could well over time become a highlight of the A-League season. Maybe I should bring this up at the upcoming FFDU Fan Forum? In the mean time you can cast your vote here until February 13, final match day of the regular season.

By Nathan Taddeo – Melbourne Heart Offside

Category: A-League News, Melbourne Heart