The best teams of the state leagues qualify, similar to soccer in Europe. The WAFL/SANFL/VFL has a great grassroots vibe that the soulless AFL doesn't. The Premier League in the UK has that awesome, somewhat local feeling as well.
Would football have been better off if the AFL was a Champions League type thing?
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Shane Heard
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no one is interested in B grade football on tv
the Foxtel cup comp experiment a few years back proved that
Soccer in UK is a whole different kettle of fish to Australians following Australia Rules Football
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The 2nd tier vibe .... are you kidding. The State League days had the fans the AFL does today.
Not sure how you deduce the AFL is soulless, hopefully its not the franchise claim ....
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AFL = European Super League.
Mums, kids and the younger generation follow the AFL. The men who used to follow the WAFL in the 70’s and 80’s are either dead or really dislike this new sport called AFL. They watch the game on tv as it is the closest thing to resemble the once great sport called Aussie Rules.
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What about relegation also? Imagine if North Beach FC could go all the way?
Legendary.
Legendary.
It's a worthwhile idea to think about.
Qld and NSW would be an issue and would have had to be in VFL anyway.
Qld and NSW would be an issue and would have had to be in VFL anyway.
The Champions League is just changing and expanding to become a Euro League by stealth anyway. Because otherwise the big clubs will just break away and form their own. Which they already tried to do. And will try again at some point. They might stay in their domestic leagues, they might not, it might become second tier priorities. In any case, the only reason they could is because they can play multiple games a week. Which you can’t with our game.
Long story short the big clubs would just form an AFL anyway.
Long story short the big clubs would just form an AFL anyway.
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In the fully professional era, you'd have the best players coalescing around one dominant league, rendering the notion of a Champions League unnecessary. It was somewhat happening in the semi-pro days. ie. some players headed to the VFL for a bit of a payday and to test themselves in the strongest comp. But in the modern era, it would be literally all players doing that, given they can make a living out of it. That's basically what the AFL is anyway.
In Europe, there are 3-5 strong leagues at any given time due to sheer population size. Hence the popularity of the Champions League.
In Europe, there are 3-5 strong leagues at any given time due to sheer population size. Hence the popularity of the Champions League.
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Thanks for the woke and insightful posts, guys.
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Woke??
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Woke and based. Informed and educated.
kaiserchief13
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If Australia had 100 million population it could work.
If other countries played at a decent level and the best players came to Australia to play then it could work.
Without the above don't think it can work as there isn't the demand of a) people attending and watching the games on TV and b) sponsorship, as well as the lack of supply of good players
If other countries played at a decent level and the best players came to Australia to play then it could work.
Without the above don't think it can work as there isn't the demand of a) people attending and watching the games on TV and b) sponsorship, as well as the lack of supply of good players
Crowbots are dead
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unfortunately Australia just doesn’t have the population to support a UK style model
What bloody nonsense, my Mum went with us to the footy in the 60s. My daughters went with me in 80s & 90s.
Whats your game?
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It would, unfortunately there wasn't enough money in WA or SA to keep the local talent local, or even poach some of the best players from Victoria. By the time the 80's came along they were 2nd teir competitions.
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Need some countries to play AFL to make it work. This wont happen in my lifetime.
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This is a strange definition of woke.
