Growth of AFL in Rugby League Heartland

[swans12]

Doesn't matter what crap is rolled out with the RL V AFL, the facts are in our region, that 8 Years ago, there were 2 junior age groups in our region and the game was in dire straits.

Now apart from all clubs having an auskick program with heaps of kids, this season we have 10's, 11's, 12's, 14's, 16's and we are going for 13's for the first time.

The game is growing in NSW no argument.

 

[understudy]

Unlike your 'flexible thinking', which was so 'flexible' it couldn't handle an individual publicly embracing one code and rejecting another.

In a broader sense, being 'open-minded' or 'flexible' involves accepting the right of other people to have divergent opinions.

There is a difference between personally disliking the growth of a code and coming out and saying (cant confirm but whats been suggested here) that the growth of AFL is a problem (especially as a premier representing the electors of his state).

Beattie should be happy that kids are playing sport, whether that be league or AFL.

Sounds to me like he was way out of line if he's been quoted correctly here.

 

[Beckers]

I went from Tassie to Qld and could not believe the vitriol directed my way whenever I mentioned footy. It rather hardened my attitude toward RL, coz everytime the subject of footy came up, I was forced straight onto the defensive. Also, i found their game dull and meatheady. if thats a word.

I like it! I'll have to submit it for consideration in next years Oxford dictionary but we need a description! One who plays or watches Rugby League?

 

[LebaneseForces]

LabaneseForces is just going to love this one.........

Encouraging enough figures but coming from a base of virtually nothing. Western Sydney is still a long way from being ready for an AFL club, at least 15-20 years away.

Oh mate... Loving it. Best quote of the article...

"According to Mr Laughton, Bankstown Bombers grew from four to five teams in 2005-2006, and doubled the number of Auskick non-competitive players to 25". LOL We had more players in the under 18's Greenacre side . GOLD. keep it coming guys!

 

[Father Jack]

Oh mate... Loving it. Best quote of the article...

"According to Mr Laughton, Bankstown Bombers grew from four to five teams in 2005-2006, and doubled the number of Auskick non-competitive players to 25". LOL We had more players in the under 18's Greenacre side . GOLD. keep it coming guys!

took you a while there mate. We were starting to feel unloved.

 

[Gabbie]

I went from Tassie to Qld and could not believe the vitriol directed my way whenever I mentioned footy. It rather hardened my attitude toward RL, coz everytime the subject of footy came up, I was forced straight onto the defensive. Also, i found their game dull and meatheady. if thats a word.

Welcome to my world. Tho with a lot of the military and mine workers based up here there are a lot of ex pat AFL supporters from "down south" and some not so red neck locals are warming to the game. Auskick is promoted up here along with a senior competition which does struggle sometimes with players who are either on manoeuvres or worse, in Iraq. They even give out the local results on local 7 & Win news on the weekend which would never have happened in the past. There is a new AFL ground & stands being developed - went past not so long ago, looks good. The powers that be would like an AFL home & away game played there in hopefully '08 - it would have to be a night game in July. Believe the competition in Cairns is good, they have a great ground there.

 

[desie]

Oh mate... Loving it. Best quote of the article...

"According to Mr Laughton, Bankstown Bombers grew from four to five teams in 2005-2006, and doubled the number of Auskick non-competitive players to 25". LOL We had more players in the under 18's Greenacre side . GOLD. keep it coming guys!

The combination of a pro-AFL article and the Canterbury Bankstown area was made for you. It's like the bloke had you in mind when he wrote it

As for Simon Laughton, from personal experience the less said the better about that bloke. Pays lip service to the development of football in western Sydney

 

[Dogs Of War]

I went from Tassie to Qld and could not believe the vitriol directed my way whenever I mentioned footy. It rather hardened my attitude toward RL, coz everytime the subject of footy came up, I was forced straight onto the defensive. Also, i found their game dull and meatheady. if thats a word.

Funny that. It happens to Rugby League supporters when they go to VIC, SA or WA. I suppose it works both ways. Not that I haven't tried to watch AFL when the swans were making their first GF charge, but all the fumbling around on the ground for the ball and many others aspects of the sport just don't interest me.

 

[LightTower4]

........... many others aspects of the sport just don't interest me.

Yet you post on an AFL message board....

 

[Dogs Of War]

Yet you post on an AFL message board....

Why not. No different to the AFL preaching to the uncoverted. Plus I like to read the Rugby League board here. Can't get enough

 

[cos789]

this is good news, the main aim in NSW is to become an alternative sport for the kids to play and the adults to watch, just like soccer and basketball
.

Exactly

its important not to be confrontational with league, because there is no need and its counter productive, it will only slow the growth of the game.

That's why the Beattie remark seems so bad because it is confrontational .

.

 

[cosmonaut]

I went from Tassie to Qld and could not believe the vitriol directed my way whenever I mentioned footy. It rather hardened my attitude toward RL, coz everytime the subject of footy came up, I was forced straight onto the defensive. Also, i found their game dull and meatheady. if thats a word.

It's exactly the same with AFL fans towards League. The amount of crap that gets heaped on League by AFL types makes me wonder why I watch AFL at all sometimes.

 

[1908]

Beckers wrote:

like it! I'll have to submit it for consideration in next years Oxford dictionary but we need a description! One who plays or watches Rugby League?

Maybe you could ask these RL meatheads for some help.

From www.bbc.co.uk/rugbyleague

Cambridge 14-20 Oxford
Oxford atoned for their humiliating 44-0 defeat last year with victory in a fierce 27th Varsity match.
Cambridge, looking for a third straight win in the tie, made the perfect start when Kelvin Donald and Dave Bulley, the latter from 70 yards, crossed.

However, four Andrew Cook penalties kept Oxford in touch and Andrew Benger and Duncan Knox tries put them ahead.

A converted Matt Bray try saw Cambridge draw level but Johnny Prescott charged over late on to win it for Oxford

I'll get you a copy of the game as it was shown live on TV in the UK.

Check the websites to read more about the meatheads who play this game:

Cambridge University
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/cuarlfc/

Oxford University
http://www.ourlfc.org/




Name:
Matthew Wordsworth

Date of birth:
29/11/1982

School:
Monkton Combe, Bath

College:
Brasenose

Course:


Medicine
Height:
6'3

Weight:
15 st

Position:
Loose forward

Blues:
2






Matt, this year's captain, is a medic with 2 Rugby League Blues, one of each colour, a Colleges XV varsity start for Oxford, an U21s start and a boxing blue, both for Cambridge. He also was a member of the south east Students RL squad. He lists Triathlons and Polar Exploration among his many interests. As he is happy to tell you, he is due to serve as a medic in Her Majesty's Armed Forces after graduating. With his strong tackling, powerful running and threatening carries, he is an influential character who leads by example. He is known round the city for being a respectable fellow, and as such, he is a great ambassador for the club. This is proven by the increase in players recruited this year.




The Team > Tom Waterfield


Name:
Thomas Waterfield

Date of birth:
20 / 09 / 1983

School:
Leicester Grammar

College:
University

Course:

Medicine
Height:
5'11"

Weight:
13 st

Position:
Centre / Wing

Blues:
1






Tom, a sparky character and also the club president, has made a huge effort this year, raising the club's profile hugely. He organised the fantastic tour to Perpignan where the club had the privilege of training with the Catalan Dragons Super League XIII. There is little Tom won't do for the club, having converted to a hard-hitting stand-off from centre, where he plays for the South East. He has proved to us with his tackling on many occasions that he will gladly put his body on the line for the club and for his mates, even pledging to tattoo OURLFC to his buttock if Oxford win today.

 

[Ronin]

Well it's not "spin" if it's fact .

If you go the NSWAFL site you'll find registrations are up substantially where ever you look in NSW . This is about the last area to take off , so it's very incouraging . I have some friends in Westbrook and that's one little pocket where AFL reigns supreme .

Where is Westbrook? Never heard of the place.

This is the funniest thread that I have ever read on BigFooty. That is saying something.

 

[Le KooK]

Westbrook must be a pretty small pocket.

Maybe it's a house.

 

[TigerCraig]

Westbrook is in the Pennant Hills/Cherrybrook area. The Hills district has been the strongest footy part of Sydney for years.

www.westbrook.org.au

 

[zero]

It's exactly the same with AFL fans towards League. The amount of crap that gets heaped on League by AFL types makes me wonder why I watch AFL at all sometimes.

exactly, if there is one thing that will turn you off a sport its paranoid assholes slagging off other sports, especially your favourite sport.

all the brisbanians iv met since iv left oz have been broncos AND lions fans. and that should be the main goal in NSW, for most everyone to follow the swans (or one day a western sydney side) in addition to their league side.

if there is one thing that is true all over oz, it is that a majority of australians love sport, and if you represent them, they will get behind you.

 

[bunsen burner]

I've lived in Sydney for 10 years. AFL, whilst still well behinf league in popularity is becoming more accepted. A few points:

1. Some people sat Sydney is ready for another team in 15-20 years? It will be ready for one in 15-20 years if one is installed there now. I don't see a point in waiting and think the AFL should strike now when there is momentum and whilst they have cash to support a team.

2. I find it annoying in Sydney when I mention AFL and people look at you like you're a leper and say "huh? Why would you follow that?". And they're being serious. I don't excpect them to like the sport but I at least expect them to be educated enough to acknowledge it is the most popular code by a lengthy distance. It's like many of them think it's a crap sport that only people in Melbourne watch.

3. And the other thing is, people in Sydney aren't really into league. Some are, but most have a passing interest. They follow a team and hope they win, but never talk about it. People just don't talk about football/league up here. They're happy to bag GAYFL like it's a crap sport and think they're real League guys, but they're not really.

They just don't get it. They don't twig that they're not into footy like people in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, London, Manchester, Madrid, Rio etc. And it's because they have a second rate code. And they assume just because it's what they have grown up with and their favourite, that it must be a good game and the best game.

 

[Ronin]

I've lived in Sydney for 10 years. AFL, whilst still well behinf league in popularity is becoming more accepted. A few points:

1. Some people sat Sydney is ready for another team in 15-20 years? It will be ready for one in 15-20 years if one is installed there now. I don't see a point in waiting and think the AFL should strike now when there is momentum and whilst they have cash to support a team.

2. I find it annoying in Sydney when I mention AFL and people look at you like you're a leper and say "huh? Why would you follow that?". And they're being serious. I don't excpect them to like the sport but I at least expect them to be educated enough to acknowledge it is the most popular code by a lengthy distance. It's like many of them think it's a crap sport that only people in Melbourne watch.

3. And the other thing is, people in Sydney aren't really into league. Some are, but most have a passing interest. They follow a team and hope they win, but never talk about it. People just don't talk about football/league up here. They're happy to bag GAYFL like it's a crap sport and think they're real League guys, but they're not really.

They just don't get it. They don't twig that they're not into footy like people in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, London, Manchester, Madrid, Rio etc. And it's because they have a second rate code. And they assume just because it's what they have grown up with and their favourite, that it must be a good game and the best game.

Keep it coming.

 

[akazie]

I've lived in Sydney for 10 years. AFL, whilst still well behinf league in popularity is becoming more accepted. A few points:

1. Some people sat Sydney is ready for another team in 15-20 years? It will be ready for one in 15-20 years if one is installed there now. I don't see a point in waiting and think the AFL should strike now when there is momentum and whilst they have cash to support a team.

2. I find it annoying in Sydney when I mention AFL and people look at you like you're a leper and say "huh? Why would you follow that?". And they're being serious. I don't excpect them to like the sport but I at least expect them to be educated enough to acknowledge it is the most popular code by a lengthy distance. It's like many of them think it's a crap sport that only people in Melbourne watch.

3. And the other thing is, people in Sydney aren't really into league. Some are, but most have a passing interest. They follow a team and hope they win, but never talk about it. People just don't talk about football/league up here. They're happy to bag GAYFL like it's a crap sport and think they're real League guys, but they're not really.

They just don't get it. They don't twig that they're not into footy like people in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, London, Manchester, Madrid, Rio etc. And it's because they have a second rate code. And they assume just because it's what they have grown up with and their favourite, that it must be a good game and the best game.

Says you.

 

[zero]

1. Some people sat Sydney is ready for another team in 15-20 years? It will be ready for one in 15-20 years if one is installed there now. I don't see a point in waiting and think the AFL should strike now when there is momentum and whilst they have cash to support a team.

i agree, thats the thing with expansion teams, nowhere in virgin territory is "ready" for a team. the bears and the swans entered markets that werent ready, and they were established in 10 years. the same happened to the storm, only now are they becoming genuinely established.

i reckon the best time for a new team in western sydney is now, because for sure they will take 5 or 10 years before they are established, but they will be great for the sport up there. i believe the AFL knows this.

unfortunately, there is no way for the AFL to force it to happen, they are at the mercy of the clubs will in alot of ways, and in these times of plenty it takes alot of political and financial pressure built up over years to expand.

 

[cosmonaut]

I've lived in Sydney for 10 years. AFL, whilst still well behinf league in popularity is becoming more accepted. A few points:

1. Some people sat Sydney is ready for another team in 15-20 years? It will be ready for one in 15-20 years if one is installed there now. I don't see a point in waiting and think the AFL should strike now when there is momentum and whilst they have cash to support a team.

2. I find it annoying in Sydney when I mention AFL and people look at you like you're a leper and say "huh? Why would you follow that?". And they're being serious. I don't excpect them to like the sport but I at least expect them to be educated enough to acknowledge it is the most popular code by a lengthy distance. It's like many of them think it's a crap sport that only people in Melbourne watch.

3. And the other thing is, people in Sydney aren't really into league. Some are, but most have a passing interest. They follow a team and hope they win, but never talk about it. People just don't talk about football/league up here. They're happy to bag GAYFL like it's a crap sport and think they're real League guys, but they're not really.

They just don't get it. They don't twig that they're not into footy like people in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, London, Manchester, Madrid, Rio etc. And it's because they have a second rate code. And they assume just because it's what they have grown up with and their favourite, that it must be a good game and the best game.

1. A second Sydney team ideally... great. The reality is it would bleed cash bigtime. I think it's too much of a risk. The Swans as far as I'm concerned are only 6 consecutive losses away from huge decreases in crowds, and even worse ratings than they get now.

2. I can understand this. But having been to Melbourne, and worked with many Melbournians, it's EXACTLY the same towards League.

3. I agree on this one. There arn't as many league fans that are as passionate about the game. The game is strong in the minds of the Sydney public though. There's a good vibe about the NRL season, plenty of hype, and same for the Swans upcoming season. The thing is though, the interest in AFL in Sydney is directly linked to the Swans win loss ratio. No matter who's winning in RL, Sydney is switched on.

 

[Father Jack]

In tassie when any northerners started talking about rugby, all they would get from us was a blank stare. Mind you, that was our standard reply to everything.

 

[bunsen burner]

Says you.

What do you mean, "says me"? What are you referring to?

 

[Le KooK]

Instead of worrying about new ventures like a second Sydney team and a club on the GC, maybe the AFL (and some of the people on here) should worry about keeping the existing NSW and QLD clubs out of trouble.

The Lions have forecast a loss of $1 million this years, and the Bowers stated that memberships had dropped 20% on the year before. These are not 'positive' signs for any further expansion, considering the 'golden years' for the Lions only ended in '04. Quite a shocking drop in support IMO.

Can people guarantee that the Lions support won't continue to haemorrhage?