Growth of AFL in Rugby League Heartland

[bunsen burner]

Are you kidding or what? Obviously you haven't read the whole thread, or you only understand what you want to and dismiss anything that doesn't follow your opinion. It's a fact that less money was put into the game, and went straight to the players, in fact players in that period earnt more money than players do now. So that meant less money for the game to develop, smaller TV contracts due to lower interest levels, and also meant that we are now owned by News Ltd till approx 2020 which means we have an owner who also has a vested interest in how much the TV contracts go for as they are the ones televising the game on Pay TV.

As well, just to repeat myself again, many people who followed the game at the time, just refuse to follow the game anymore, due to losing their team, or just the way the game/players chased the money for a while. It wasn't about the supporters anymore, it was about which media organisation had the biggest checkbook, and that just wasn't appealing.

Blah blah blah. RL crowds now are no different to they were 20 years ago, 40 years ago etc.

Pre the super league war, every workplace had a footy tipping comp, every pub had one too. Nowdays you are unlikely to find one, or if you do, it has a smaller interest level. A lot of the passion was lost when the game sold out for the money.

Convenient to blame SL. Either way, at least people have cottoned on that the code is second rate.

But it is about the people. I know lots of AFL supporters in Sydney, and they love their sport, but not like people in Melbourne do. I know a few Melbourne people who live in Sydney who do anything to go to games, either in Sydney or wherever their team is playing, I don't know what you put in the water down there, but I will make sure I buy bottled water anytime I am the southern states.

So 3 states are much more passionate about footy. 2 states aren't. Is it the people? Is it reasonable to suggest Syd and Bris people have different priorities (ie sport not being as high on the agenda as Melb, Adel, Per? Bit to coincidental don't you think?

Could it possibly be that one area has a better product? That is the only variable when you think about it.

Another thing is that you as a AFL supporter in Sydney, wouldn't surround yourself with people who follow rugby league, as what would you talk about? You surround yourself with people with similar interests.

I don't know any AFL supporters in Sydney. Most people I know are League. They actually think they're league heads but they're not. I'll go to bbq's with these guys and they'll rarely stand around with a beer and discuss the footy.

Whatever.

I never knew Punky Brewster posted on BF?

 

[LebaneseForces]

I think you need to realise that that post was actually a piss-take.

Oh well, hanging around on LU gets one familiar with some names

NO WAY???? Are you serious

 

[Dogs Of War]

E

AFL
-Ruck contest

What? that is considered a skill. *******s have this skillset by default.

-handpass rather than throw ball

Try passing it 20 metres to a running player making sure the ball goes backwards, and is not intercepted by another player.

-handpass in all directions rather than just backwards

What? Does that mean it's harder or more skillfull. It's against the rules in Rugby League, thus not a required skill. League players by having this have to be more careful about where and when they pass to avoid a penalty, and avoid an intercept.

-handpass with both hands

Umm? Flickpass with both hands, actually you go down to a footy oval and try flickpassing to a player running in a different direction. It's not as easy as it seems.

-continuously be under pressure from 360 degrees

The pressure all coming from the one direction doesn't make it any easier, when you have no choice but to run that way. Running backwards is not what the game is about.

-catch ball often from long distance

Umm, you wrote that under Rugby League as well. You just added uncontested. But how often do they always catch it? Rugby League players have to make sure they catch it, letting it bounce is not desired at all, and you can't afford to drop it, otherwise the other team get possession of the ball.

-catch contested ball

See above. Add bombs to the ingoal.

-kick with both feet

Many players can do this, rugby league is just set up different, thus requiring different types of kicking like banana kicks to confuse the opposition

-kick to moving targets

You love your kicking don't you, how many times do you want to list the one skill to make it seem complicated. Soccer players kick a lot too.

-kick at goal without place kick

Field goals? Ever heard of them?

-kick regularly under pressure from 360 degree

Soccer.

-bounce ball whilst running whilst under pressure from 360 degrees

Rugby Leagues answer: Run ball at 3 100kg players and make sure you hold onto said ball once they tackle you.

-tackle people who are running at you very fast

See last answer but instead be one of the players who has to make sure that Willie Mason doesn't get past you when caught in a one on one situation. Not easy.

-control an oval shaped ball that is coming at you from much further away, at greater speed, and under far more pressure more often

What do the players do when the ball is at the other end? At any time in a rugby league game, you can be the weak link as the ball moves from side to side of the field looking for the weak link.

Plus if you haven't realised, we use an oval shaped ball as well.

-run at full speed in short sharp bursts regularly

Have you ever watched any other sport in your life. All sports require this!

- run 20km+ every game (not all players)

Uncontested. It's not what rugby league is about. We don't run away...

- read the play from a 360 degree perspective

Do you get the picture? Do you now acknowledge that AFL requires more skill?

No. You just showed that the games have similar skillsets, with some skills having different priorities in either game.

Maybe next time you will comment on a sport that you may have actually watched.

 

[fishmonger]

Lived in Sydney for 10 years idiot. Been in Brisbane whilst SOO is on.

Good for you.

Nonsense. You think you know.

Have you ever lived in Melbourne, Adelaide, or Perth?

I live in Melbourne. Have done for 6 years. Before that I lived in Brisbane for 20 years. That is twice your Sydney Swans post Super League tenure.

RL and AFL aside - to be honest, I have seen more buzz for the Melbourne Victory and the Socceroos than I have during the last AFL season (excluding the AFL Grand Final). People I know are getting tired of footy because of poor success by Victorian sides. Hopefully that will change this year because I love footy.

Pure crap and excuses.
.

Why should i need to ??? I am first and foremost an Australian rules football supporter you twit. I am just telling it like it is. Don't pass judgement on Brisbane's sporting culture if you have "just visited".

 

[bunsen burner]

Don't pass judgement on Brisbane's sporting culture if you have "just visited".

I've been there enough times and spent enough time there to make a judgement. It is similar to Sydney. Fires up at SOO rest of the time no one really is excited about it.

 

[charliemurphy]

I've been there enough times and spent enough time there to make a judgement. It is similar to Sydney. Fires up at SOO rest of the time no one really is excited about it.

How often do the whole states of WA, SA and VIC get behind their one team and that is what the majority of people talk about for a whole week? I get caught up in Origin for the 6 weeks, my poor South Australian girlfriend was in disbelief when she first moved here. Its one week of pre game, one week of post game talk... Then the next one rolls around

Even the most die-hard AR fan who lives in one QLD or NSW could not deny the effect it has on many people and the media saturation. RL State of origin is something special, a great product. I cant understand why the AFL wouldnt try and re-invent it.

 

[TigerCraig]

Having lived in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne & Adelaide, my observation is that:

Sydney people are on the whole less passionate about sport in general - particularly women which makes a big difference, especially in an evenly gendered workplace. Women in Adelaide adnMelboure (AFL) and Newcastle (League) are pretty much as into it as the guys.

Interest in the sport as a whole - rather than just the team you follow is way higher in Melbourne and Adelaide. We don't have the drawn out discussions about tribunal/judiciary, umpires/refs here in my Sydney workplace as we had in Adelaide.

 

[bunsen burner]

How often do the whole states of WA, SA and VIC get behind their one team and that is what the majority of people talk about for a whole week? I get caught up in Origin for the 6 weeks, my poor South Australian girlfriend was in disbelief when she first moved here. Its one week of pre game, one week of post game talk... Then the next one rolls around

Exactly - 3 games get big interest and no one cares about the rest.

I cant understand why the AFL wouldnt try and re-invent it.

You're not serious are you?

1. Our H&A season is too important. If RL was any good then there would be no need for SOO.

2. RL actually copied the SOO concept from the AFL. It was great in it's day (I used to love it and was the highlight of the season) but the AFL is too big for SOO.

 

[Ronin]

I agree. The argument is that Sydney isn't ready, but the irony is that installing a second team is easily the best way to grow the code to take it to the level needed for a second team. Football needs to be played 22 weeks a year in Sydeny. I think Sydeny with a population of 4.2 million can support a second team. I am never ever surprised about the ability of the AFL's teams in their new markets to be successfully followed teams. I wasn't surpised when Bribane and Sydney eventually became big clubs avergaing 30,000 per game with 25,000+ members, and (accoring to morgan survey) the two most popular clubs in Australia.

I am not surpised that Freo, despite going into a market dominated by West Coast with no real supporter base to "draw upon" will sell-out Subi in nearly every game this season.

Nor will I be surpised when second teams in Brisbane and Sydney generate acceptable followings. What teams "havn't" generated big followings? The code has a remarkable ability to attract people to it's games.



There are idiots everywhere. There are some in Melbourne who likewise can't accept that the NRL is a decent competition, the second biggest in the country in fact. Ignorance is everywhere.



LOL, I'm laughing because you are so correct. My Dad's entire side of the family is from Sydney and I've spent some time up there and you are 100% correct. They follow their team, but they don't care anywhere near as much. They have a "passing interest" as you said. You're right, they "think" they're real Leaguies but they're not. It's just that's what they've been brought up with. They watch it, but they're not as passionate. Not many people are genuine season ticket holders, crowds aren't as big. It's just not the same.



I don't like bagging codes, because I genuinally like all codes of football, but there is not doubt in my mind that Aussie Rules is the best of them, and I think the passion of Rugby League strongholds comapred to the passion of the Aussie Rules strongholds tells a story. The Aussie Rules strongholds are far more passionate, far more loyal. I remember a meaningless round 22 game between Collingwood and Carlton a couple of years ago (when neither club could make the finals) generated the seasons biggest crowd (61K in a half built MCG.) You just wouldn't get that in a meaningless round 26 NRL game.

Why is it more passionately followed? People say cap like, "It's the city".... the city has nothing to do with it. It's the code. There is a reason why the AFL generates 35,000 per game (more the double the nearest competitor), nearly 5 million TV viewers a week (about double the nearest competitor) aand has 500,000 season ticket holders of clubs. Because it a great sport to watch.

It doens't jsut get those figures by accident. There are REASONS why those numbers are geberated that RL fans seems to not want to know about.

I have NO DOUBT that is the situation was reversed and Sydney had always been an AFL town and Melbourne a Rugby Legaue town that Sydeny would be averaging 35,000 per week amongst it's 10 AFL teams while Melbourne would average about 15,000 per week amongst it's 10 NRL teams. Like it is now, but reversed.

Aussie Rules simply generates more interest, more media coverage, more everything because it is the most spectacular form of football to watch.

Now whilst RL fans might not share that opinion (and that is their right) they have to acknowledge that most people in the country do have that opinion, hence the bigger figures for the Aussie Rules over any other code.

I wonder if any RL fans have actually sat down and pondered the reasons why the AFL gets bigger "everything." Instead of making up excuses and being selective with statistics, it might "just" be because it's the best form of footbal to watch, even if they themselves don't share that opinion

Melbourne people ask you what school you went to, similarly they ask what team you 'barrack' for. In Sydney they ask you where you live and what you do for a living (ie how much wedge do you get). Simplistic? Yes, but it is the reality.

 

[bunsen burner]

Sydney people are on the whole less passionate about sport in general

I'd disagree. Just as much interest here in cricket as the other states, along with other sports. It's just football interest that is lacking.

 

[bunsen burner]

Melbourne people ask you what school you went to, similarly they ask what team you 'barrack' for. In Sydney they ask you where you live and what you do for a living (ie how much wedge do you get). Simplistic? Yes, but it is the reality.

And herein lies the problem with Sydneysider/RLhead's argument:

What you're saying is quite true. But what you're implying is that "Sydney people are just different to Melbourne people". You conveniently ignore Perth and Adelaide as if they don't exist.

What you argument really is:

Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide people ask you what school you went to, similarly they ask what team you 'barrack' for. In Sydney they ask you where you live and what you do for a living (ie how much wedge do you get)

When you put it like that it's easier to see that the difference stems from football code - one being a far superior product than the other. If Sydney was an AFL town and Melbourne a league town you can almost guarantee people would be saying "but Melbourne people aren't into sport and there's something in Sydney's water than makes them go mad about sport".

Cities that have first rate football codes talk about and are passionate about footy - whether that be AFL, soccer, or NFL. If RL was a first tier sport then Sydney and Brisbane would be the same.

 

[Ronin]

And herein lies the problem with Sydneysider/RLhead's argument:

What you're saying is quite true. But what you're implying is that "Sydney people are just different to Melbourne people". You conveniently ignore Perth and Adelaide as if they don't exist.

What you argument really is:

Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide people ask you what school you went to, similarly they ask what team you 'barrack' for. In Sydney they ask you where you live and what you do for a living (ie how much wedge do you get)

When you put it like that it's easier to see that the difference stems from football code - one being a far superior product than the other. If Sydney was an AFL town and Melbourne a league town you can almost guarantee people would be saying "but Melbourne people aren't into sport and there's something in Sydney's water than makes them go mad about sport".

Cities that have first rate football codes talk about and are passionate about footy - whether that be AFL, soccer, or NFL. If RL was a first tier sport then Sydney and Brisbane would be the same.

Absolute utter rubbish.

There is plenty of passion for the game. You have used an anecdaote about your circle of friends, and expanded that to be the norm for the entire city. If we are using personal anecdotes, I could say that I do not know one person that was actually born here, that follows the Swans. The only people that talk about AFL in my office are the expats, and even they have to talk about League, otherwise they get left out of the conversations.

Ever lived or visited London or NY? Is the first thing they ask you what sporting team you go for, or what you do for a living?

 

[JF_Bay_22_SCG]

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.

So that is why the NRL GF in Sydney was outrated by the ratings in Melbourne, because on a public holiday people wanted to stay in on a Sunday night & watch Brisbane vs Melbourne?

Ask people if they are a "fanatical" NRL fan when the last time they actually WENT to a game was. Am ex-supervisor at a former employer was rabid about the NRL & St George. I then asked him when the last time he went to Kogarah was; he couldn't tell me. He then went on that he had a young family yadda yadda & had that to worry about.

I have NO problem with rugby league fans who actually GO to games. They often have a lot in common with myself, despite the fact that they follow another code. Personally some of my best friends are in the Roosters Chook Pen. they are RL diehards but also are mega into the Swans and/or Sydney FC. I go to Newtown Jets games with them all the time.

It is the people who call themselves supporters but who suddenly are nowhere to be found when their team is losing who ******** me.In Sydney this happens EN MASSE! The time of people who leave supposedly BIG clubs like Sydney Roosters Parramatta & St George or even the Bulldogs with crowds of 5-8000 at matches when their teams are losing.

JF

 

[fishmonger]

And herein lies the problem with Sydneysider/RLhead's argument:

What you're saying is quite true. But what you're implying is that "Sydney people are just different to Melbourne people". You conveniently ignore Perth and Adelaide as if they don't exist.

What you argument really is:

Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide people ask you what school you went to, similarly they ask what team you 'barrack' for. In Sydney they ask you where you live and what you do for a living (ie how much wedge do you get)

When you put it like that it's easier to see that the difference stems from football code - one being a far superior product than the other. If Sydney was an AFL town and Melbourne a league town you can almost guarantee people would be saying "but Melbourne people aren't into sport and there's something in Sydney's water than makes them go mad about sport".

Cities that have first rate football codes talk about and are passionate about footy - whether that be AFL, soccer, or NFL. If RL was a first tier sport then Sydney and Brisbane would be the same.

Perth and Adelaide people don't ask you what team you 'barrack' for anymore. They might have back in the old WAFL/SANFL days, but not with regards to the VFL/AFL - they only have two sides in it. It is mostly a Melbourne phenomena. From my experience, Melburnians get into just about any sport, but particularly the AFL because it is the hottest ticket in town. Look at the flagging interest in the VFL and you'll see the state that footy in Victoria really is in.

I am not saying you are wrong, but your argument is flawed in that it assumes that passionate support of a club indicates support of a sport.

The only thing that passionate support of a club indicates the strength and popularity of a competition. Of course the VFL is popular because it was the highest level of competition in the sport. Why do you think that the NRL diluted support for the QRL and the AFL diluted support for the WAFL and SANFL ? As indicated a huge number of times on these forums - many people would walk away from the sport of Aussie Rules if their club folded, merged, relocated or was demoted to a lesser league. You admitted yourself that Super League killed off a lot of interest - for exactly this reason. Imagine whe damage that something similar could have done to the VFL/AFL.

People support all sorts of clubs even if they are not really into the sport. It is possible to support the Victory, Storm or Swans and not even give a rats about the sport. Bandwagoners do it all the time. Look at all the people suddenly declaring their allegiance to Man United and Arsenal, many of whom would have rarely even watched the EPL.

Sydney support for the Socceroos is huge and they represent a sport rather than a club. Same with State of Origin. In this case it wouldn't make sense to ask a New South Welshman or Queenslander which State of Origin club they 'barrack' for.

 

[bunsen burner]

Absolute utter rubbish.

Yes of course, it's purely coincidental that Sydney and Brisbane are passionate about footy whilst Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth are. And has nothing to do with the product.

There is plenty of passion for the game.

be serious.

You have used an anecdaote about your circle of friends, and expanded that to be the norm for the entire city.

You think I don't meet other people and have work colleages etc? There is a distinct lack of interest in football in Sydney. I've lived in Manchester, London, Perth, and Sydney. And spent plenty of time in other cities. Sydney and Brisbane just don't have it. Coincidently they are League cities.

You do the maths.

Ever lived or visited London or NY? Is the first thing they ask you what sporting team you go for, or what you do for a living?

I've been to both places. NY briefly, but I lived in London. There is a buzz about football. You go to a pub and take a pi ss and guys will be talking footy. Not in Sydney.

 

[bunsen burner]

Perth and Adelaide people don't ask you what team you 'barrack' for anymore.

Yes they do. Even in a two town team they still ask and there's a lot of football buzz in both those cities.

They might have back in the old WAFL/SANFL days, but not with regards to the VFL/AFL - they only have two sides in it.

That still backs up my point. Even if you're right and they don't ask anymore.

It is mostly a Melbourne phenomena. From my experience, Melburnians get into just about any sport, but particularly the AFL because it is the hottest ticket in town.

So are you saying there is no buzz about footy in Adelaide and Perth? Even if you're right and people don't ask people "what team to you go for?", the buzz and passion over footy is just as strong as Melbourne.

Sydney and Brisbane do not have this.

Look at the flagging interest in the VFL and you'll see the state that footy in Victoria really is in.

It's the reserves FFS.

I am not saying you are wrong, but your argument is flawed in that it assumes that passionate support of a club indicates support of a sport.

Not sure why you think the two aren't very closely related?

I follow West Coast. I love Aussie rules. Have been a die hard fan since 1979. I rarely watch WAFL matches or my old team Claremont. Doesn't mean i'm not a passionate supporter of the game.

The only thing that passionate support of a club indicates the strength and popularity of a competition.

You're starting to be silly.

People support all sorts of clubs even if they are not really into the sport.

uhuh, like league supporters.

It is possible to support the Victory, Storm or Swans and not even give a rats about the sport. Bandwagoners do it all the time. Look at all the people suddenly declaring their allegiance to Man United and Arsenal, many of whom would have rarely even watched the EPL.

Getting off topic here.

 

[akazie]

Well done to bunsen burner for being the biggest knowall of them all, know all, know nothing.

Tosser.

 

[mustapha]

So that is why the NRL GF in Sydney was outrated by the ratings in Melbourne, because on a public holiday people wanted to stay in on a Sunday night & watch Brisbane vs Melbourne?

Ask people if they are a "fanatical" NRL fan when the last time they actually WENT to a game was. Am ex-supervisor at a former employer was rabid about the NRL & St George. I then asked him when the last time he went to Kogarah was; he couldn't tell me. He then went on that he had a young family yadda yadda & had that to worry about.

I have NO problem with rugby league fans who actually GO to games. They often have a lot in common with myself, despite the fact that they follow another code. Personally some of my best friends are in the Roosters Chook Pen. they are RL diehards but also are mega into the Swans and/or Sydney FC. I go to Newtown Jets games with them all the time.

It is the people who call themselves supporters but who suddenly are nowhere to be found when their team is losing who ******** me.In Sydney this happens EN MASSE! The time of people who leave supposedly BIG clubs like Sydney Roosters Parramatta & St George or even the Bulldogs with crowds of 5-8000 at matches when their teams are losing.

JF

And this phenomenon also exists with the A league. People in Sydney appear to have a different attitude to viewing live sport than the southern states. Maybe the higher cost of living is a factor. People might have less to spend on entertainment. I am not sure.

 

[Dan26]

Having lived in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne & Adelaide, my observation is that:

Sydney people are on the whole less passionate about sport in general

I agree with Bunsen Burners' assessment.

How can one city be less passionate about sport "in general"?

It doesn't appear Sydney's interest in cricket is any less? It doesn't appear Sydney's interest in the Socceroos was any less?

In fact, how can you magically cross an imaginary line into the Sydney Metroploitan area and all of a sudden the people there "magically" aren't as interested in sport as Melbourne? That doesn't make sense. After all, they are all human with the same basic make up. Why would people several hundred km's down the highway feel differently about sport?

Bunsen is right. It's ONLY Football they are less passionate about because the form of football they follow is an inferior product. Now some people who love RL may disagree with that, but their individual opinion is irrelevant. It's the opinions of the masses that count not a handful of "RL patriots" on BigFooty, lol

Everyone know that if Aussie Rules was the number one game in Sydeny and RL was the number one game in Melbourne, that Sydney would be averaging 35,000 to it's Aussie Rules games (like Melbourne does now) and Melbourne would be averaging aboout 15,000 to it's RL games (like Sydney does now)

It's got nothing to do with the cities - it's the sport. One sport is a more attractive and spectacular form of football to follow and generates more passion and interest. It's as simple as that.

The fact anyone would even try to debate this is hilarious. And no debating what YOUR individual opinion is (to the RL fan who will inevitably respond) does not count as a debate. It's about the masses.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Everyone know that if Aussie Rules was the number one game in Sydeny and RL was the number one game in Melbourne, that Sydney would be averaging 35,000 to it's Aussie Rules games (like Melbourne does now) and Melbourne would be averaging aboout 15,000 to it's RL games (like Sydney does now)

So how do you explain that Rugby Union gets 50K+ to their matches. Yet the TV ratings are crap. The fans are passionate about their sport. Yet their sport is crap to watch, thus no one else but the die hards tune in.

but their individual opinion is irrelevant. It's the opinions of the masses that count not a handful of "RL patriots" on BigFooty, lol

Thats why our TV ratings are so high for rugby league games, cause people want to fool rugby league supporters into believing that their game is good by tuning their tv's into rugby league while sneaking into the pub to watch the AFL

 

[Copernicus]

NO WAY???? Are you serious

Just checking

 

[Dan26]

So how do you explain that Rugby Union gets 50K+ to their matches. Yet the TV ratings are crap. The fans are passionate about their sport. Yet their sport is crap to watch, thus no one else but the die hards tune in.

Last time I checked the Super 14's averaged about 25,000 per game despite all the teams being one-city teams. Don't try to bend numbers to suit your opinion. The AFL averages 35,000 per game, despite there being only two "one city one team" teams. I think RU is not great to watch and I think that is reflected by the passion level which is not that great. Apart from NZ, is RU the number one sport in any country?

At the end of the day, Aussie Rules is the more passionately followed sport. maybe not by YOU, but your opinion is irrelevant. It's the opiniojs of EVERYONE when you add them all up that are meaningful...

Thats why our TV ratings are so high for rugby league games, cause people want to fool rugby league supporters into believing that their game is good by tuning their tv's into rugby league while sneaking into the pub to watch the AFL

Friggin TV ratings, jesus christ. Aussie Rules is the number one sport on TV. Why do RL fans persist with bending and manipulating TV statistics until they find a stat that suits them...

Here's an example of a RL fans warped view of the TV world:

..."Hey maybe in 2007 with live match-of the round Friday night football in the NRL, we might be able to beat the AFL's delayed NON-match of the round Friday night Football which is delayed by 3 hours in perth, 90 minutes in Adelaide and 60 minutes in melbourne....maybe we can use an apples vs oranges comparison to beat the AFL at somethin gfor once, and then claim our sport is bigger on TV."

NO ONE spin-soctors and and is selective with TV stats more than Rugby League fans. No one.

At the end of the day the AFL averages nearly 5 million viewers per week, the NRL is around 2 million. The AFL has the biggest TV deal.... the AFL has bigger everything.

Culture (i.e what sport people have been brought up with) is very important and is the decisive factor on which sport rates better on TV in which city. But that's only because they're used to it. It's what they've grown up with and it's habit. If Sydeny-siders had grown up with Aussie Rules they'd follow it far more passoionately than they currently NOW follow RL for the reasons outlined in my last post. Aussie Rules generates more passion because it is a better and more spectacular game to follow.

That's why Sydney people are not as passionate about the NRL as Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth people are about the AFL. It's got nothing to do with the city - it's the code of football that is followed in those cities. The better code is more passionately followed. The cities whose "culture" is to follow the lesser code are not as passionate.

 

[Le KooK]

....that is reflected by the passion level

I commend the use of such a 'scientific' methodology for evaluating the differing qualities of football codes.

 

[Dan26]

I commend the use of such a 'scientific' methodology for evaluating the differing qualities of football codes.

Ah yes the "other" Rugby League defence:

"Prove it, prove it.. LINKS, LINKS!!!!! Prove the passion level..... I want proof and links or I'm not believing it,waa-wahhh"

Anyone who has any sort of general knowledge, who has lived in this country, knows that Aussie Rules is the most passionately followed sport. The supporters are the most loyal (500,000 of them are season ticket holders) it generates the most talk, the biggest numbers.... that's just the way it is. You know it as well as I do.

Trying to argue that something other than Aussue Rules is more passionately followed is hilarious. Why would you even bother arguing? To what end?

 

[Dogs Of War]

Last time I checked the Super 14's averaged about 25,000 per game despite all the teams being one-city teams. Don't try to bend numbers to suit your opinion. The AFL averages 35,000 per game, despite there being only two "one city one team" teams. I think RU is not great to watch and I think that is reflected by the passion level which is not that great. Apart from NZ, is RU the number one sport in any country?

Hmm? Did I say I was talking about super 14? You assumed wrongly. For any sport you have to look at the highest level of competion, and for Rugby Union they value the International game above all else. Take a look at the crowd figures for that and warp those to your arguement.

At the end of the day, Aussie Rules is the more passionately followed sport. maybe not by YOU, but your opinion is irrelevant. It's the opiniojs of EVERYONE when you add them all up that are meaningful...

Yes my opinion is irrevelant to YOU. Because you don't like what you are hearing. I bet you run off to mommy crying that I am being mean to you on the internet.

Friggin TV ratings, jesus christ. Aussie Rules is the number one sport on TV. Why do RL fans persist with bending and manipulating TV statistics until they find a stat that suits them...

Here's an example of a RL fans warped view of the TV world:

..."Hey maybe in 2007 with live match-of the round Friday night football in the NRL, we might be able to beat the AFL's delayed NON-match of the round Friday night Football which is delayed by 3 hours in perth, 90 minutes in Adelaide and 60 minutes in melbourne....maybe we can use an apples vs oranges comparison to beat the AFL at somethin gfor once, and then claim our sport is bigger on TV."

NO ONE spin-soctors and and is selective with TV stats more than Rugby League fans. No one.

At the end of the day the AFL averages nearly 5 million viewers per week, the NRL is around 2 million. The AFL has the biggest TV deal.... the AFL has bigger everything.

Hmm, some TV ratings to back up your arguement would be nice.

If your looking for some, here's a link to them

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=104804

Culture (i.e what sport people have been brought up with) is very important and is the decisive factor on which sport rates better on TV in which city. But that's only because they're used to it. It's what they've grown up with and it's habit. If Sydeny-siders had grown up with Aussie Rules they'd follow it far more passoionately than they currently NOW follow RL for the reasons outlined in my last post. Aussie Rules generates more passion because it is a better and more spectacular game to follow.

That's why Sydney people are not as passionate about the NRL as Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth people are about the AFL. It's got nothing to do with the city - it's the code of football that is followed in those cities. The better code is more passionately followed. The cities whose "culture" is to follow the lesser code are not as passionate.

You make me laugh. You have no idea what passion is. If that means blindly following one code, then you are the most passionate idiot alive.

Lets see how these passionate Sydneysiders who follow AFL support the team when they go on a losing streak. They may react like those passionate Brisbanites who are loving following a losing team.

Sydney loves winners. Thats all they love. As soon as you start losing, they drop off the bandwagon like no tomorrow.