How do you build a football club from the ground up? If you were to ask Western United’s detractors, they would likely say something along the lines of, “do the opposite of Western United”.
Armed with money and a vision to deliver a football club to the west of Melbourne, the Tarneit-based United have endured their fair share of criticism throughout their almost three-year existence in the A-League. From undelivered promises to frustrating ground-sharing arrangements, Western’s time in the league thus far can be described as a rollercoaster at best.
While many unanswered questions pertaining to the viability of their ambitious stadium plan remain largely unanswered, any such concerns about Western United’s future feasibility in the league should be quashed.
Armed with an iron-fisted identity which matches that of their location, John Aloisi has almost single-handedly transformed the fate of the institution within less than a year. Having taken over the club after they languished in 10th place under Mark Rudan, Aloisi’s capacity to inculcate a functional, consistent and resilient playing style should be commended.
So too should his recruitment of foreigners. Serbian marksman Aleksandar Prijović was the fulcrum of Western’s attack and remained at the heart of almost every attacking sequence produced by Aloisi’s men during the finals series. He was a deserved winner of the Joe Marston Medal for best afield in the Grand Final.
At the other end of the pitch, Leo Lacroix was at his imperious best during the Grand Final as he consistently thwarted incoming attacks. However, this should come as no surprise given his exploits throughout the season which earned him a spot in the recently named PFA Team of the Year.
Now, this is Western’s opportunity to capitalise.
As 22,495 people descended onto AAMI Park for the season’s decider, a vast majority of them were decked out in green and black cheering on the underdogs. The Western Service Crew made themselves heard throughout the match and the connection between the fans and the players at the end of the match was palpable.
There’s something unique about the way that Western United are doing things. Be it their no frills approach to football, their ambitious desires to own their own stadium or even their colours and branding.
The result of the Grand Final would have been beyond anything that Chairman Jason Sourasis could have even imagined leading into this season, however, now that his club have proven that the impossible is possible, the sky is quite literally the limit for Western United.
Since the A-League’s inception, the league has been crying out for an authentic and self-growing rivalry in Melbourne. While the Melbourne Derby between Victory and City has offered this in the past, City’s identity struggles and absence of concrete geographical location have ensured that much of the power within that rivalry remains vested within Melbourne’s original side.
Western have the capacity to turn that around, especially after having defeated both of their Victorian rivals – City and Victory – en route to their maiden A-League crown. The flow-on effects of that are twofold.
Firstly, Western United have marked a key moment in their history by potentially igniting the spark which exists across two separate Victorian rivalries. And, on the other hand, the league will undoubtedly benefit from a more visceral derby experience, potentially between Western and Melbourne Victory after Aloisi’s side brought Victory’s undefeated streak to a close in the Semi-Finals.
All things told, Saturday night’s Grand Final victory looms as a significant moment in Western’s history and one that could be potentially transformative for the football club and its fanbase.