Crowds across the A-League are down and morale among some is at an all-time low, but Adelaide United’s Good Friday sell-out of over 14,000 at Hindmarsh Stadium proved yet another example of the Reds bucking the humdrum trend.
Carl Veart’s side are on an unbeaten twelve game run, although Friday’s 1-1 draw with Sydney means the Premiership is likely out of reach; nevertheless, the football played in that period has most judges expecting at their second A-League Championship.
‘To have success, it’s important that supporters get behind you and drive you during games, and our supporters have been excellent in doing that’, Reds manager Carl Veart told Box2Box, the week after signing an extension through 2025/26.
‘The Club are also doing the right thing by the fans, engaging them and making it a positive experience to watch us play. It’s important that we put on a performance and the fans go home happy.’
Bookending the side are Socceroos Craig Goodwin and Joe Gauci, both in career best form. Goodwin has produced his most consistent season in a decade-long career either side of having a big say in Australia’s World Cup run, while Gauci’s form as a young goalkeeper earned him a national debut against Ecuador last month.
‘Craig’s always had the quality – that’s been evident in his performances over both his stints at the club. But since taking over the captaincy he’s taken it to another level; the way he interacts with the group, making sure everyone’s focussed, has then shifted his game to another level.
‘His maturity and confidence in himself, especially after the World Cup, has seen him become very confident in his ability, and I think that’s showing in his performances.
‘Since Joe got back in the side last year he’s been tremendous. His professionalism is outstanding; he’s the first to training every day, after a game he does all the right things around recovery, diet. He does everything possible to be at his best and I suppose that’s why he’s had such a steep incline, he’s really invested in himself.’
Should all go to plan, Veart and his side will be front and centre as the league moves towards its looming point of contention, the APL’s decision to sell the next three Grand Finals to New South Wales. The deal would work in their favour if Melbourne City qualify, stripping that club of its advantage; should that not occur, it could be Adelaide robbed of its merit.
‘One of the best experiences I’ve had as an Adelaide United supporter was the Grand Final at Adelaide Oval when they beat Western Sydney Wanderers. It’s something the League and the clubs had a discussion about before it was announced, and maybe the way they went about it…
‘The League needs to do what’s best for itself, and at the time I suppose they managed to generate some revenue from that. It’s disappointing clubs not from Sydney, should they win the right to host the Grand Final, won’t be doing it. It’s then up to the League to make sure supporters can easily get to the game to watch their team.
‘The beauty of the finals system is that anyone who makes the top six has a realistic chance of going all the way, we saw that last year with Western United finishing third. Whoever gets a little bit of luck and good form can have a shot at it.’
The Reds will be looking to recapture their goalscoring touch when they host Western United on Sunday, and later return to Hindmarsh for the final week of the regular season against the Mariners on April 28. Currently the best supported club in the country, it would be a real shame if they were denied a reprisal of those famous Adelaide Oval scenes of 2016.