Time and time again Tim Cahill has been regarded as the flag-bearer for Australian soccer.
As the most recognised face of the Socceroos, and someone who is known around the world for his feats as player, Cahill is used to carrying the burden for the sport in this country.
The events of the past week further illustrate how much is resting on his shoulders and why many in the game here, including Football Federation Australia, believe he is pivotal in lifting the profile of the national club competition, the A-League.
It started with The Australian exclusively revealing on Tuesday that Melbourne City have been in negotiations for the past three months to sign him for next season, followed by FFA chief executive David Gallop’s magnanimous peace pipe offering to Cahill the next day. The pair met twice this week following their verbal spat, played out in the media, in February.
It ended on Wednesday with the A-League clubs agreeing, not without reservations from some clubs, to FFA amending the guest player rule to help City to pull off the deal.
City, who would not have been able to contemplate signing Cahill had there not been changes to the rules, are now well placed to get their man.
Under the change, any club would be able to sign Cahill, or any marquee player, as a guest player for the entire season instead of the previous maximum of 10 games.
In effect, it is allowing the clubs to have three marquees on their books — if they can afford it and on the proviso the international status of the third player is considered big enough to increase interest in the league via much boosted crowd and television figures.
And, that is why this goes to the heart of the matter in signing Cahill.
It is about getting a massive lift for the A-League but, more importantly, it is about dollars in the form of the next television broadcasting rights.
The current $160 million, four-year deal expires at the end of the 2016-17 season and FFA are angling for a massive increase for their product. It has been suggested they want to double the existing contract to $80m a season.
It is a big ask and there are doubts the head body will get it, but having Cahill in the A-League, as well as extra marquees, would given them a very good case to put on the table.
One of the drawbacks, though, is the risk of the A-League not being a level playing field.
It is fair to say only four clubs — Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney and Sydney FC — could realistically afford to carry three marquees on their books.
This is potentially massive for the league. The old guest rule was a joke. I wonder who the likes of city, wsw, Sydney and victory can lure now this is in play...
Some clubs can’t afford one, let alone three marquees. However, in all of this, we can’t lose sight of the fact that it now all comes down to Tim Cahill.
Whether he signs remains a moot point. With his contract with Chinese club Hangzhou Greentown to expire soon, the Socceroos legend remains coy about what his next move will be.
There are suggestions he has several Chinese clubs chasing him, while there are reports offers are likely from clubs in US major league soccer and England.
While Cahill has continually said he isn’t closing the door on the A-League, he can’t be blamed for looking at his options, given he needs to find the best place to play that will allow him to maintain his high standards and ensure he fulfils his dream of playing at his fourth World Cup in Russia in 2018. So the ball is now in Cahill’s court.
Whatever decision he makes, it needs to be the right one — one that will be for the good of him, the Socceroos and Australian soccer in general.