1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:14,667 Speaker 2: He joins us, Now, Birch, can we start with the 4 00:00:14,747 --> 00:00:16,427 Speaker 2: occasion yesterday? 5 00:00:16,427 --> 00:00:17,387 Speaker 3: How would you describe it? 6 00:00:19,107 --> 00:00:19,747 Speaker 4: Get our Pony? 7 00:00:19,787 --> 00:00:19,987 Speaker 2: Yeah? 8 00:00:20,147 --> 00:00:23,387 Speaker 4: I thought it was amazing. I really did, Like like 9 00:00:23,547 --> 00:00:26,787 Speaker 4: sometimes these things might not quite live up to the hype, 10 00:00:26,787 --> 00:00:28,627 Speaker 4: and there's a lot of hype ahead of this match, 11 00:00:29,267 --> 00:00:32,107 Speaker 4: but it truly did. It was just we were talking 12 00:00:32,187 --> 00:00:34,987 Speaker 4: after the game, weren't we It didn't really feel like 13 00:00:35,387 --> 00:00:37,187 Speaker 4: New Zealand. It felt that we were somewhere else, were 14 00:00:37,187 --> 00:00:41,227 Speaker 4: in Argentina or England or somewhere where fans go a 15 00:00:41,227 --> 00:00:45,987 Speaker 4: bit crazy. Because the singing, the chanting, the band, to 16 00:00:46,107 --> 00:00:49,227 Speaker 4: the emotion, there was really something special in the air. 17 00:00:50,707 --> 00:00:54,627 Speaker 4: The large continuent of Phoenix fans, probably about fifteen hundred. 18 00:00:54,667 --> 00:00:57,347 Speaker 4: I imagined they really made the occasion. I thought because 19 00:00:57,387 --> 00:01:01,267 Speaker 4: they were providing, you know, that section of away fans. 20 00:01:01,347 --> 00:01:03,827 Speaker 4: You don't often get New Zealand's sporting contest. So that 21 00:01:03,947 --> 00:01:08,227 Speaker 4: was magic and I don't know everything about it. And then, 22 00:01:09,467 --> 00:01:11,907 Speaker 4: as you just said, the game kind of lived up 23 00:01:11,907 --> 00:01:16,147 Speaker 4: to it as well. Sometimes derby games can be stalemate, 24 00:01:16,227 --> 00:01:18,587 Speaker 4: can be very tight but it's pretty open, lots of action. 25 00:01:18,787 --> 00:01:22,427 Speaker 4: So yeah, it was just a wonderful and quite a 26 00:01:22,467 --> 00:01:23,347 Speaker 4: novel occasion. 27 00:01:23,507 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: Yeah it was. 28 00:01:24,387 --> 00:01:28,827 Speaker 2: And I've been trying to unpick exactly how this has 29 00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:29,827 Speaker 2: happened so quickly. 30 00:01:30,067 --> 00:01:31,027 Speaker 3: The Darby you think you're right. 31 00:01:31,067 --> 00:01:32,227 Speaker 2: I think we're going to give crud off to the 32 00:01:32,267 --> 00:01:34,587 Speaker 2: traveling fans and when you're you know, around the world. 33 00:01:34,667 --> 00:01:37,987 Speaker 2: That's often what makes an occasion like a football game, 34 00:01:38,187 --> 00:01:40,227 Speaker 2: you know, really fizz is the fact that there are 35 00:01:40,227 --> 00:01:42,067 Speaker 2: some away fans who make a lot of noise. 36 00:01:42,107 --> 00:01:44,107 Speaker 3: But how have Auckland FC. 37 00:01:44,267 --> 00:01:48,547 Speaker 2: So quickly generated this fan base that is so different 38 00:01:48,587 --> 00:01:51,947 Speaker 2: from I think that's probably I don't think Yellow Fever 39 00:01:52,107 --> 00:01:54,987 Speaker 2: is it took them ages to get to you know, 40 00:01:55,027 --> 00:01:56,587 Speaker 2: to get to the sweet spot of their life. 41 00:01:56,667 --> 00:01:58,427 Speaker 3: How have Aukland FC done it so quickly? 42 00:01:59,867 --> 00:02:01,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's one of the big questions, isn't it. I 43 00:02:01,947 --> 00:02:05,787 Speaker 4: mean Yellow Fever did provide a template, So you've got 44 00:02:05,787 --> 00:02:08,067 Speaker 4: to give credit. It's the Yellow Fever because they've provided 45 00:02:08,547 --> 00:02:12,627 Speaker 4: you know, they've shown what what real passionate fandom is about. 46 00:02:12,747 --> 00:02:14,867 Speaker 4: But as you say, it built up over a long time. 47 00:02:15,147 --> 00:02:18,467 Speaker 4: Awkanle said, we're very smart. They engage with the port 48 00:02:18,627 --> 00:02:23,227 Speaker 4: very early. They've got a very heavy presence on social media, 49 00:02:23,307 --> 00:02:26,307 Speaker 4: so they've tapped into to that sort of young market 50 00:02:26,387 --> 00:02:28,827 Speaker 4: and most of the port from what I see, are 51 00:02:28,907 --> 00:02:34,187 Speaker 4: quite young. The results have helped, and Mount Smart is 52 00:02:34,507 --> 00:02:38,067 Speaker 4: quite a good setup for creating that atmosphere. But it's 53 00:02:38,107 --> 00:02:42,187 Speaker 4: pretty amazing Piney that people care so much about this 54 00:02:42,347 --> 00:02:45,187 Speaker 4: team already. You know, it's not it's not it's not fake. 55 00:02:46,307 --> 00:02:48,787 Speaker 4: It's really genuine. And the other thing that I'm equally 56 00:02:48,867 --> 00:02:53,147 Speaker 4: is amazed about is this rivalry, Like it's it's so new. 57 00:02:53,587 --> 00:02:56,587 Speaker 4: You know, played their first game two months less than 58 00:02:56,587 --> 00:02:59,307 Speaker 4: two months ago. They've only been in distance for less 59 00:02:59,307 --> 00:03:01,707 Speaker 4: than a year, so it's so new, this rivalry, but 60 00:03:01,947 --> 00:03:05,387 Speaker 4: it feels really genuine between these two clubs. Normally these 61 00:03:05,427 --> 00:03:08,627 Speaker 4: things take a while at the developed, but this is 62 00:03:09,347 --> 00:03:10,627 Speaker 4: I don't know, it feels like it's one of the 63 00:03:10,627 --> 00:03:13,587 Speaker 4: best rivalries in New Zealand sport. It really does. 64 00:03:13,627 --> 00:03:15,667 Speaker 2: Oh look, I could not agree more. I read that 65 00:03:15,707 --> 00:03:17,987 Speaker 2: in your piece this morning, and you're so right. The 66 00:03:18,027 --> 00:03:21,467 Speaker 2: tension between these clubs, you know, the back and forth 67 00:03:21,947 --> 00:03:24,187 Speaker 2: during a week, and also what happened on the park. 68 00:03:24,227 --> 00:03:26,627 Speaker 2: I mean, you could see just one example, yesterday Alex 69 00:03:26,707 --> 00:03:30,067 Speaker 2: Ruffer and and you know, coming together with Louis Toomey 70 00:03:30,147 --> 00:03:32,187 Speaker 2: after something to Me did in the last derby. It 71 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:35,987 Speaker 2: feels as though, you know, the narrative is already being written, 72 00:03:36,187 --> 00:03:39,267 Speaker 2: and I think everybody's now wondering when the next one is. 73 00:03:40,347 --> 00:03:42,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, I just I just wish there was 74 00:03:43,267 --> 00:03:45,467 Speaker 4: four derbies this season, like another one and willing to 75 00:03:45,507 --> 00:03:48,347 Speaker 4: and really top it off. But you're exactly right, because 76 00:03:48,387 --> 00:03:52,067 Speaker 4: because we wondered if we truly see this this made 77 00:03:52,107 --> 00:03:55,867 Speaker 4: against mate thing that you see in the Manchester Derby, 78 00:03:55,907 --> 00:03:58,347 Speaker 4: the Liverpool Derby, all these other ones. But we did 79 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:02,107 Speaker 4: you know, the first five minutes yesterday, cost of Barbaroussis 80 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:06,027 Speaker 4: barreled and Tornando Pineker barreled him over. And they've been 81 00:04:06,027 --> 00:04:08,507 Speaker 4: teams in the wits for years, you know, I'm sure 82 00:04:08,507 --> 00:04:11,827 Speaker 4: they're good friends, have been playing together for five six years. 83 00:04:12,787 --> 00:04:16,387 Speaker 4: But you know, Costs were in yellow, Nandez were in blue, 84 00:04:16,787 --> 00:04:19,707 Speaker 4: and when you cross that white line, it all changes. 85 00:04:19,747 --> 00:04:24,627 Speaker 4: So I just I just think that the recipe is 86 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:27,387 Speaker 4: already there. It's a it's a Marketer's dream. And like 87 00:04:27,467 --> 00:04:31,027 Speaker 4: you say, there's already narratives around this. There's already narratives around, 88 00:04:31,107 --> 00:04:34,507 Speaker 4: you know, the Phoenix keeper having a couple of unfortunate moments. 89 00:04:34,867 --> 00:04:38,027 Speaker 4: There's already a couple of villains, and there's a couple 90 00:04:38,067 --> 00:04:42,547 Speaker 4: of heroes, so it's just unfolding, unfolding perfectly. 91 00:04:42,827 --> 00:04:45,187 Speaker 3: Did you think Auckland FC deserved to win the game? 92 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:51,267 Speaker 4: They did? They did? I think they were they were 93 00:04:51,267 --> 00:04:55,347 Speaker 4: the they were the better team. They handled the occasion 94 00:04:55,467 --> 00:04:59,627 Speaker 4: a bit better. Again, it's felt that the occasion got 95 00:04:59,627 --> 00:05:03,427 Speaker 4: to the Phoenix to some degree, but also felt for 96 00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:06,707 Speaker 4: the Phoenix. I think they'll leave with some regrets. If 97 00:05:06,707 --> 00:05:09,667 Speaker 4: that game had ended a draw, people would have been saying, yeah, okay, 98 00:05:09,747 --> 00:05:12,187 Speaker 4: that's probably fair enough too. So I thought the Phoenix 99 00:05:12,227 --> 00:05:16,387 Speaker 4: played a lot better than they did in Wellington. They 100 00:05:16,427 --> 00:05:21,147 Speaker 4: created some good some good moments, but you know, two 101 00:05:21,987 --> 00:05:26,387 Speaker 4: really unfortunate, probably poor goals to concede in this type 102 00:05:26,387 --> 00:05:31,027 Speaker 4: of game, especially the first one that's so deflating. So 103 00:05:32,307 --> 00:05:34,747 Speaker 4: it felt like they didn't bring their best again, some 104 00:05:34,787 --> 00:05:37,307 Speaker 4: of the some of their senior players let them down. 105 00:05:37,347 --> 00:05:41,347 Speaker 4: Auckland went, Auckland went perfect, but they were just they 106 00:05:41,347 --> 00:05:44,267 Speaker 4: were just a bit more together when it mattered. 107 00:05:45,147 --> 00:05:46,147 Speaker 3: They did consider goal. 108 00:05:46,227 --> 00:05:48,867 Speaker 2: Finally, it was interesting afterwards they won the game, but 109 00:05:49,547 --> 00:05:52,107 Speaker 2: you know, listening to the thoughts of Dan Hall, for example, 110 00:05:52,107 --> 00:05:53,987 Speaker 2: who actually held his hand up to say, look, I 111 00:05:54,027 --> 00:05:56,427 Speaker 2: gave the ball away that led to Wellington's goal, that 112 00:05:56,467 --> 00:06:00,707 Speaker 2: they were disappointed that this long clean sheet streak, that 113 00:06:00,787 --> 00:06:03,267 Speaker 2: that fashion had finally come to an end. I guess 114 00:06:03,307 --> 00:06:06,027 Speaker 2: that speaks to to something deeper than the side when 115 00:06:06,067 --> 00:06:08,947 Speaker 2: even in victory you're still a bit disappointed. 116 00:06:09,987 --> 00:06:12,827 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it does. They were so proud of 117 00:06:12,867 --> 00:06:16,547 Speaker 4: this clean sheet streak because it's pretty amazing. Anyone who 118 00:06:16,547 --> 00:06:19,307 Speaker 4: follows football knows how hard it is to keep that 119 00:06:19,347 --> 00:06:22,547 Speaker 4: sort of thing going, and the Defenders club in particular, 120 00:06:23,587 --> 00:06:26,107 Speaker 4: we're just loving the fact that they hadn't conceded, so 121 00:06:26,227 --> 00:06:29,907 Speaker 4: for one of them to be at fault, they took 122 00:06:29,907 --> 00:06:32,467 Speaker 4: it pretty hard. And also because they'd made it till 123 00:06:32,507 --> 00:06:35,747 Speaker 4: the eighty first, eighty second minute, hadn't they, so so 124 00:06:36,067 --> 00:06:37,827 Speaker 4: we're all we're going to do it again. But it 125 00:06:37,827 --> 00:06:45,067 Speaker 4: does show the just the level that Auckland have brought 126 00:06:45,067 --> 00:06:47,307 Speaker 4: to this in terms of the standards. You know, they 127 00:06:47,947 --> 00:06:50,667 Speaker 4: look back to your other question, it is quite amazing, 128 00:06:50,747 --> 00:06:54,827 Speaker 4: not just the fact that Auckland have built this fan base, 129 00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:57,267 Speaker 4: but also what they built on the field. You know, 130 00:06:57,307 --> 00:07:02,427 Speaker 4: they've built this culture, this cohesion, this environment. It sort 131 00:07:02,427 --> 00:07:05,947 Speaker 4: of still feels to me this season that actually Wellington 132 00:07:05,987 --> 00:07:08,307 Speaker 4: feels like the newer team. It feels that to me, 133 00:07:08,347 --> 00:07:12,507 Speaker 4: Wellington will take longer to gel this season and the 134 00:07:12,547 --> 00:07:14,587 Speaker 4: Phoenix get a lot better, but they're still they're still 135 00:07:14,667 --> 00:07:17,387 Speaker 4: gelling because they fair enough, they did have that massive 136 00:07:17,427 --> 00:07:21,107 Speaker 4: turnover players in the off season. But yeah, it feels 137 00:07:21,107 --> 00:07:24,267 Speaker 4: like Auckland have found their structure faster. 138 00:07:25,307 --> 00:07:28,307 Speaker 2: After the game. In the postmatch media conference that you 139 00:07:28,347 --> 00:07:31,427 Speaker 2: and I were both at, Auckland coach Steve Coricker called 140 00:07:31,467 --> 00:07:35,707 Speaker 2: his Phoenix counterpart gian Calo Italiano disrespectful in the wake 141 00:07:35,747 --> 00:07:38,467 Speaker 2: of some comments that Jihn Callo Italiana made during the week. 142 00:07:39,147 --> 00:07:41,907 Speaker 2: Steve Corker said he used them as pre match motivation 143 00:07:42,427 --> 00:07:45,347 Speaker 2: for his squad. Pin them up on the dressing room wall, 144 00:07:45,827 --> 00:07:47,667 Speaker 2: no less burds. What did you make of all of that? 145 00:07:49,307 --> 00:07:52,067 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, for us in the media and 146 00:07:52,067 --> 00:07:55,147 Speaker 4: for fans, it's it's great. And we talk about narratives, 147 00:07:55,187 --> 00:07:58,507 Speaker 4: this is another one, you know, the good old putting 148 00:07:58,587 --> 00:08:00,267 Speaker 4: them up in the wall. We kind of thought those 149 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:03,307 Speaker 4: days were you know, that's just sort of from the 150 00:08:03,307 --> 00:08:05,507 Speaker 4: the eighties and nineties. Look at what those bastards said 151 00:08:05,507 --> 00:08:09,027 Speaker 4: about us. But still it still works. And as Craker 152 00:08:09,067 --> 00:08:14,307 Speaker 4: said in a derby, every little inch matters, and that 153 00:08:14,627 --> 00:08:19,707 Speaker 4: was definitely definitely motivation. Uh and and you know the 154 00:08:19,747 --> 00:08:22,227 Speaker 4: other thing about this is that gin Carlo and Steve 155 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:24,907 Speaker 4: are you know, they've known each other a long time. 156 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:27,267 Speaker 4: They're kind of you know, they're not I guess they're 157 00:08:27,267 --> 00:08:29,707 Speaker 4: not mates at the moment, but but they've been you know, 158 00:08:29,787 --> 00:08:33,427 Speaker 4: acquaintances and kind of friends. So so that's probably what 159 00:08:33,547 --> 00:08:36,667 Speaker 4: really got to Caracer as well, was he thought, wait 160 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:38,627 Speaker 4: a minute, you know, we we deserve a bit more respect. 161 00:08:38,627 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 4: There was an interesting thing to say. But but I 162 00:08:41,947 --> 00:08:44,547 Speaker 4: like gin Carlo because he's very honest. He's very honest, 163 00:08:45,187 --> 00:08:47,987 Speaker 4: and that that definitely spiced up the derby. You wouldn't 164 00:08:47,987 --> 00:08:51,707 Speaker 4: want him to lose a bit of that honesty. But yeah, 165 00:08:51,747 --> 00:08:54,107 Speaker 4: I guess you can debate you can debate his comments. 166 00:08:54,427 --> 00:08:56,507 Speaker 4: The main thing he was saying, maybe the word lucky 167 00:08:56,667 --> 00:08:59,027 Speaker 4: was a bit, a bit I'm not right to use, 168 00:08:59,067 --> 00:09:02,067 Speaker 4: but he was mainly just saying that the Auckland had 169 00:09:02,107 --> 00:09:04,947 Speaker 4: benefited from a from what he sees as a soft 170 00:09:04,987 --> 00:09:08,187 Speaker 4: schedule to start the season, which is given them this 171 00:09:08,187 --> 00:09:11,227 Speaker 4: this momentum. And obviously Corker took umbrage at that as 172 00:09:11,227 --> 00:09:14,267 Speaker 4: well as some other comments. But yeah, that that topped 173 00:09:14,267 --> 00:09:16,187 Speaker 4: off the night, didn't it, Because you've got things that 174 00:09:16,227 --> 00:09:19,627 Speaker 4: you just do not normally hear coaches say in New Zealand. 175 00:09:19,347 --> 00:09:21,667 Speaker 2: Sports absolutely going to play Corricer's comments in just a 176 00:09:21,667 --> 00:09:25,147 Speaker 2: moment just to Finnish thy Burge. Are Auckland FC actually 177 00:09:25,227 --> 00:09:27,307 Speaker 2: title contenders in their first season? 178 00:09:30,027 --> 00:09:34,267 Speaker 4: Yeah? We we probably didn't think that, you know, I 179 00:09:34,347 --> 00:09:37,147 Speaker 4: remember speaking to you about this a few months ago, Piney, 180 00:09:37,187 --> 00:09:39,307 Speaker 4: and we sort of thought, you know, they've got a 181 00:09:39,307 --> 00:09:43,067 Speaker 4: good roster. But you know, it's way too much to ask. Look, 182 00:09:43,147 --> 00:09:47,587 Speaker 4: it's it's way too early to to really know. But 183 00:09:48,907 --> 00:09:51,387 Speaker 4: I've done everything they can to be taken seriously. I 184 00:09:51,467 --> 00:09:53,547 Speaker 4: mean there's a couple of things you'd say. Number one, 185 00:09:54,347 --> 00:09:56,827 Speaker 4: no team is going to want look forward to coming 186 00:09:56,827 --> 00:09:59,387 Speaker 4: to Mount Smart and there's really not many teams that 187 00:09:59,427 --> 00:10:01,707 Speaker 4: you can see that are going to take points from 188 00:10:01,787 --> 00:10:06,027 Speaker 4: Mount Smart. If Auckland keep up these levels. You know 189 00:10:06,907 --> 00:10:10,347 Speaker 4: they've got big tests away in Melbourne City this week. 190 00:10:10,347 --> 00:10:12,507 Speaker 4: But if they get through that then they've got Western 191 00:10:12,587 --> 00:10:14,667 Speaker 4: United at home the week after. They'll they'll get past 192 00:10:14,707 --> 00:10:18,507 Speaker 4: Christmas still unbeaten. So you know, momentum is a big thing. 193 00:10:19,067 --> 00:10:21,347 Speaker 4: At some stage, I'll hit the wall with injuries, with 194 00:10:21,467 --> 00:10:24,747 Speaker 4: maybe a suspension. And also they look like they look 195 00:10:24,867 --> 00:10:28,107 Speaker 4: like a super fitteen. The fitness base has been incredible 196 00:10:28,107 --> 00:10:30,427 Speaker 4: and sometimes when you're so fit to start the season, 197 00:10:31,547 --> 00:10:34,147 Speaker 4: at some point later in the season, maybe you know 198 00:10:34,707 --> 00:10:37,587 Speaker 4: that that takes a toll, but you'd have to say 199 00:10:38,187 --> 00:10:41,267 Speaker 4: they are there in the mix. And the thing that 200 00:10:41,347 --> 00:10:44,027 Speaker 4: the scary thing is for their opponents is you know 201 00:10:44,027 --> 00:10:45,107 Speaker 4: they're only going to get better. 202 00:10:47,387 --> 00:10:50,027 Speaker 2: Yes, indeed, a frightening thought. Hey, bird's great to see yesterday. 203 00:10:50,067 --> 00:10:51,947 Speaker 2: Thanks for taking ak all this afternoon. We'll see in 204 00:10:51,987 --> 00:10:52,787 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks. 205 00:10:53,347 --> 00:10:54,747 Speaker 4: Yeah, thanks Pinning, Thanks a lot. 206 00:10:55,187 --> 00:10:58,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 207 00:10:58,507 --> 00:11:01,907 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZB weekends from midday or follow the 208 00:11:01,947 --> 00:11:03,427 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.