the big one: Brisbane Roar’s season opener against Gold Coast United kicks off at 7.30pm, Saturday, August 8 at Suncorp Stadium.

It is only going to happen once. After that it will have been done.

How is this good for the A-League?

Fox Sports have covered the Gold Coast boycott. Really this can not be allowed to stand. The financially strongest team in the A-League is threatening the viability of one of the less strong clubs. This is not good for the sport. How will the FFA respond?

"I won't be going to the game for sure, I don't think it's worth it," said Palmer. "I am making a statement - it speaks for itself.

"I would also encourage our fans to stay home on the Coast and catch the game on TV like me."

Palmer upped the ante further by also suggesting he would not be unhappy were Bleiberg to field an under-strength team for a derby he is confident will deliver three premiership points for the flamboyant newcomers - with or without a fully-laden line-up.' Fox Sports.

"I think Miron could pepper the team with some of the younger players," he said.'

The irony is that Fury may have attracted a bigger crowd than Gold Coast at Lang Park as the opener. Brisbane v Gold Coast may have been better in the 5th or 6th round. Fowler has more fans and these fans may have viewed it as a better game.

This is unprecedented. I just do not understand this bitter anti-Australian football stand. Can it be tolerated? In my view, Gold Coast are saying 'we have money, we are bigger than the game, we are going to show you how much you need us'.

Hey Miron what are you doing?

It isn't on the online version, but in today's Courier Mail there is a report, page 89, that Miron is boycotting A-League promotions because the opening game of the season was swapped from Gold Coast home to Brisbane home.

It said he missed the Unicef event for Queensland teams, will miss the Sydney season launch and won't say anything to promote the opener Brisbane v Gold Coast at Lang Park on August 8. If this is true, than I hope he knows what he is doing.

The Brisbane crowd was the 2nd highest last year. Gold Coast are unlikely to match Brisbane's averages to date because of the size of the stadium, its location, the demographics of the Gold Coast and the weight of sporting choice down there (see how the AFL Gold Coast team has hit the front pages and stolen key airtime by signing Brisbane Bronco Carmichael Hunt).

Miron is one of the A-League's best promoters - when he wants to be. If the crowd is say, sub 10,000 for the opener, does he really think this will not reverberate back on his club? Does he really value this type of Pyrrhic victory? And if he does, what is his real motivation?

It is success that breeds success.

Perhaps Miron should make his point - if the press reports are correct - by doing what he does best - getting out there are telling Brisbane people how good his team is and how it is going to beat theirs.

All we have seen from him so far is offers to buy Brisbane fans with cheap tickets.

Hey FFA where are you spending your advertising dollars?

The season starts in 9 days.

A whole heap of great new match ups.

Brisbane v Gold Coast etc etc.

Does anyone who is not all connected up in this game every know?

Build and they will come eh FFA? I hope you don't end up sorry.

Fury 1 v Brisbane RFC 0, Victory 2 v Adelaide 1

90th minute goal to Fury, but sounds like Brisbane were well beaten. Brisbane sound like they are carrying too many maybes and perhapses.

Adelaide said to be down 5 regulars. Dominated end of the game but couldn't score.

Half Time: Fury 0 v Brisbane RFC 0

Here is the half report by Fury.

'Adam Sarota came closest to opening the scoring for the Roar after his shot from 30 yards out skimmed over the top of the crossbar.' Fury Journalist.

Gold Coast 1 v Perth 0, Central Coast 0 v Wellington 0

Last hit out. And Gold Coast most on-track. Perth have lots of outages.

A great quote from Miron from Fox Sports:

“A lot of people will say that pre-season isn't important and so on, but I believe that you need to prepare yourself well to succeed in football just as you have to with everything in life. '