disclaimer: This is not a dig but a genuine question -
For those who don't feel a connection to any of the ASBP teams - Do you feel a connection to the Phoenix?
I'm not sure how I would feel if ACFC for whatever reason ended up playing in the A-League - I suspect I would struggle with it as one of the things I love about the ASBP is the local rivalries etc.
For the record, I've never been to a Kingz, Nightz or Phoenix game.
You raise a couple of good valid points Ali.
I think in the sense of the Phoenix, its a little bit of 'us vs those 9 other cheating Aussie bastards' so I think that's why it does get an appeal to non resident Wellingtonians. There is also no rival for the Phoenix as well as much as the FFA think Perth is our rival...... (Grr) and thats been mentioned as well.
I kinda liken it to the Warriors and the Breakers. They get groundswell NZ support because its back to that us vs them thing although in NZ, there are supporters of other NRL franchises because the NRL was being getting big time coverage over here before the Warriors popped up and people have stuck with their team they had.
I can understand how you feel about ACFC in the A League. I would be behind them 100% because it would be an 'us vs them' siege mentality and I would love to see and NZ team smash those Aussies. Some of the issues the Phoenix have (lack of FFA funding for players and NYL) naturally get backs up so....
I guess when you look at Marco, other than people did not like him leaving, he plays for an Aussie team so he does get assholes by default. More than Wee Mac and Smeltz but he does get them