Combined Soccer vs AFL threads - please post here

[the_messiah]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Another Reason why AFL Will NEVER be global.
Umpires, not the quality, but the quantity.
A popular game as soccer has...1 referee, the way it should be.
A domestic game such as footy, has 3 on field umpires, 2 goal umpires, 2 boundary umpires and an emergency umpire...and were complaining about consistensey.

There are as many umpires in our game as players in soccer.

 

[dart]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Another Reason why AFL Will NEVER be global.
Umpires, not the quality, but the quantity.
A popular game as soccer has...1 referee, the way it should be.
A domestic game such as footy, has 3 on field umpires, 2 goal umpires, 2 boundary umpires and an emergency umpire...and were complaining about consistensey.

There are as many umpires in our game as players in soccer.

note: there are also 2 touch judges in soccer.

 

[Ragnarok14]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

and the fourth offical.

 

[fishmonger]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Another Reason why AFL Will NEVER be global.
Umpires, not the quality, but the quantity.
A popular game as soccer has...1 referee, the way it should be.
A domestic game such as footy, has 3 on field umpires, 2 goal umpires, 2 boundary umpires and an emergency umpire...and were complaining about consistensey.

There are as many umpires in our game as players in soccer.

I remember the old days of the VFL when there was only 1 field umpire.

The AFL has only added umpires because it can, and because at elite level the game is so blisteringly fast no umpire could keep up.

Doesnt' mean local leagues have to, in fact many junior and overseas leagues only need one....
there are always club extras that can run the boundary.

besides that, actually less equipment is needed for Aussie Rules than soccer. When I played soccer, every kid had to wear shin guards at minimum. For rugby they gave us headgear, mouthguards and chest and shoulder pads. on top of boots and shorts - not cheap.

For Aussie Rules all I ever needed to bring was a mouthguard, a pair of boots and shorts .... great for kids in developing countries, and some don't even play with boots ...

 

[MickZu]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

was watching a documentary on soccer on SBS tonight and it annoyed me that they were claiming that Soccer was one of the worlds oldest game after they traced it back to a game that resembles Rugby... Anyway thats not relevant to the point of this thread.
It got me thinking, If AFL were to go international do you think it would be a success and do you think that this will ever happen. I'd be interested to see how it went but honestly hope it never happens though i think it will have to one day. Thoughts?

Don't think it matters at this stage.
IMO Aussie rules footy is and always will be more visually entertaining than the round ball game.

 

[Matt_TY]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Right back at ya dirt bag.



No-one can se that happening, if all you hope for is a bunch of ex-pats setting up some second rate social comp then congrats, it's done.

AFL - The 3D Global Game

What athletes, who needs athletic African-Americans when you've got these guys.

Look at all the locals in the Singapore Wombats.

AFL Chinese style, note the lovely groundskeeping - looks like they sweep it regularly.

Going global indeed.

For the last two photos: Well done for selectively picking some of the least developed overseas efforts and ignoring countries like US, UK, NZ, Ireland etc. where their progress is FAR more advanced. A troll you were, are, and will remain.

 

[FreoFury]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Course you will, how long has it taken to grab a slice of the Northern market with 2 teams that have been given a financial edge over their competitors?

Given the low general opinion of League on this board, how do you explain it's continuing domination in the 2 most populous states in Australia?

Get your head out of the clouds, it won't happen, tell 'im he's dreamin.

AFL the 3D world game of the future, that is some seriously funny crap freofury, it'd be hilarious if you actually believed it.

Actually I said nothing about it becoming the third world game or any claims as to its level of success. I simply suggested it will go international. To what level depends on may things over and above appeal. Maybe its a sign of an age difference but I actually dont think its taken long at all to 'grab a slice of the Northern markets' lol. We on some kind of time limit here ? Things going swimmingly. No surprises there. If anything it will be an even slower process building in off-shore markets. Thats okay, time is one thing we have.

Vic population > QLD population. Not withstanding Victoria is busily moving to QLD which will shortly become Vic mark II , or perhaps Queen Victoria Land. I much prefer however NSW/QLD < the rest of Oz.

As for League, well its not all bad. At least its a kind of football, even if it is the least of them .

I dont know FreoFury, I can take your point about it being more fun for the atheltes to play, but american sporting and entertainment culture is pretty different to ours. You look at all their major sports, they all involve short bursts of action rather than a continous gameplay, even ice hockey is a bit stop start. plus aussie rules isn't terribly showy either like most of their sports. It'd be a bit like an american saying gridiron is gonna take off globally just because americans prefer it to other codes.

Much truth to what you say, however you under estimate the Yanks. They can glitz anything up and make it cheap and tawdry. Lol, just joking. I'm not convinced it will make it big time in the US but it doesnt really need to. Plenty of other markets in the world and even a small slice of the US market is huge in current terms. As to the stop/start nature of their current sports compared to ours to some degree this is true. Grid Iron being the epitome of that. But dont believe its because Yanks have short attention spans or necessarily prefer short busts of action. More like the sponsors prefer these sports because of regular opportunities for advertising lol. I know many Americans in Oz who love Aussie rules and even some whom have played it. One of the things they like is the fact that it is different to the sports they are used to, its continuous nature being one of those. It may very well be one of the things that appeals in the end.

 

[WesternSydney]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

For the last two photos: Well done for selectively picking some of the least developed overseas efforts and ignoring countries like US, UK, NZ, Ireland etc. where their progress is FAR more advanced. A troll you were, are, and will remain.

Well how about you post some photos of the comps you mentioned, show me how much further advanced they are. Just be sure to pick the ones without a dog on the field, unless it's playing of course.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Can someone post the american one on the sloping hill in the middle of a cow paddock?

One of the funniest photos yet.

 

[BATTERY]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

One of the funniest photos yet.

What this one haha

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Here's one of my fav pics

Scary isn't it.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

I bet the Swedes like to hang out at the AFL.

Well bugga me, it doesn't work here.

Too bad it was quite funny.

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=91445&page=37

Just look for the bottom half.

 

[clarkey]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Soccer vs AFL - will we go global?

An easy question and an even easier answer - yes. Australian football is already an international sport. If you disagree check out http://www.aussierulesinternational.com

As for the rugby league trolls, here's a picture (Samoa v Ireland) for you.

International rugby league? Yes, there's a sport with a great future...

 

[WesternSydney]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Nice map, what have they rubbed out underneath the title, something along the lines of "Named locations are places where AFL doesn't rate a mention" perhaps?

 

[fishmonger]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Well how about you post some photos of the comps you mentioned, show me how much further advanced they are. Just be sure to pick the ones without a dog on the field, unless it's playing of course.

pretty hard since Aussie Rules is still amateur competition at the moment

well lets see, there is the USAFL National Championships ... up to 3,000 spectators, players there ...

And the MAAFL is going guns, especially clubs like Nashville and Atlanta

Nauru Grand Finals ...

up to 3,000 spectators there, about 30% of the population

BARFL Grand Final ...
nearly 1,500 there and almost 18,000 to the annual AFL match in London. isn't that supposed to be rugby league heartland ...

There are even great signs of life in Canada

ask someone in Canada about rugby league and they won't know what you're talking about.

Then there is the DAFL in Denmark, the German, Japanese and Swedish leagues, all strong and all growing.

I could go on, but the fact is that in just under 10 years of Aussie Rules being played overseas, the spectacular growth from nothing to this is already starting to send shivers down your rugby league spines otherwise you wouldn't be trolling here.

The Singapore Wombats may be expats, but aside from those little expat teams, Aussie Rules does exist overseas and will continue to grow. It may not be International Soccer, Union or League, but it is a toe in the water.

Tell me, hows that Lebanon comp going ? Still trying to convert union players in Russia ? And your so called "emerging nations" cup, which has about the same international profile that the Australian Football International Cup now enjoys - bugger all.

 

[fishmonger]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

I bet the Swedes like to hang out at the AFL.

Well bugga me, it doesn't work here.

Too bad it was quite funny.

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=91445&page=37

Just look for the bottom half.

gees that guys got balls to pose for that photo ...

lol

is that Warwick Capper or Ian Roberts ?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???



On your International thing, this is Georgia in their 2nd or 3rd game of RL.

With Live TV and a standing ovation in the city square, things are looking up huh?

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245006

 

[VikingSven]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

RL Trolls!

These novelty international league tests all seem one-off with inflated crowds/lots of freebies & free tickets. In addition, RL development worldwide seems to be very dependant in stealing RU players (nothing new there).

If it can happen in Russia, why not Georgia too?

Quote from the (Rugby) LeagueUnited forums:
There was not 40,000 watching Russia vs USA at Lushniki - (former Moscow Olympic Stadium). Officially crowd was around 30,000 but most honest people present think much less (I want to check with friends before I give a precise estimate).

That crowd got in free and was lured by massive advertising and raffles of several cars for lucky ticket holders. In no way reflected popular interest in the game. The game made no money, and cost the sponsor hundreds of thousands (at least) in order to satisfy the Russian government, that was scrutinizing his casino licence. Casinos have to make charitable contributions, esp to sport, to have their licences renewed.

Since then the powerful benefactor of Russian rugby league, Mr Khamaldinov has been removed, along with the only competent coach Russia ever had (Bob Bailey of NZ). The changes were wrought by a coalition headed by boss and coach of of Moscow Lokomotiv, Yevgeny Klebanov, who also used to coach the Russian national team.

With Khamaldinov's departure the huge sponsoring money has dried up., Khamaldinov now supports rugby union, and Bailey has been replaced as national coach by Yevgeny Klebanov --- a man whose regular business is hiring out bouncers for nightclubs. He couldn't coach an under 12s team let alone a national team. Look at the result. The Russian national team got thrashed by France 80-0 in October 2005. That is where Russian rugby league is today.

 

[WesternSydney]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

ask someone in Canada about rugby league and they won't know what you're talking about.

Those same Canadians are buzzing about AFL, I'm sure.

the spectacular growth from nothing to this is already starting to send shivers down your rugby league spines

Some of the photos did, turned my stomach a little too, should come with a graphic content warning.

otherwise you wouldn't be trolling here.

It's comedy gold like this thread that lured me in, keep it up, I love it.

Keep livin' the dream.

 

[Rob]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

How about this?

This is a photo of the top rugby league comp in Queensland....even the people there (who look to be simply walking by given it looks to be played at the local park) couldn't give a rats ass!

And yes that's right, the top rugby league comp in Queensland. Took about a minute to find on google.

 

[WesternSydney]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

And yes that's right, the top rugby league comp in Queensland. Took about a minute to find on google.

A picture from the year 2000, and the top League comp in QLD you say? You do realise there are 2 NRL teams in QLD don't you? Plus a third to enter the comp. next year. Spend a little longer than a minute researching next time, saves you from looking silly.

Taking uninformed shots at League is easier than proving some of the insane comments your bretheren have spouted here, no doubt, but if some more of you want to try and prove them, please do.

 

[clarkey]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

Ah yes, the good old rugby league trolls.

So insecure about their sport that they rant and rave on an Australian Football forum, telling us how poor our game and how it has no future internationally. Have you tried looking in the mirror?

Poor little trolls. Run along now, the adults are talking.

 

[Im The Gun]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

As an Englishman who loves the sport, I have answers to a number of comments so far.

Firstly. it annoys me when ignorant Brits assume soccer to be the original code of football. It's difficult to say exactly, one way or the other. You can claim that Association Football has existed since the Eton Rules were codified in about 1815, but nothing really approaching the current sport of soccer was written down until the 1850s, with the first interscholastic game being played in 1863, and quintessential soccer components such as crossbars and goal keepers didn't exist until the 1880s/90s. Meanwhile Aussie Rules (or even Victorian Rules) hasn't changed as much since it was codified in the 1850s. Gaelic Rules predates Victorian Rules, but it has had substantial changes over the past 150 years, including the ball changing from oval to round.

In terms of "If Aussie Rules were to go international, would it be a success?" that pretty much answers itself. For Aussie Rules to go international, it would need to be a success. I would dearly love for Aussie Rules to go international. Almost nothing could make me happier. I want to cheer on my local Aussie Rules team from the stadium. I want to go to England vs Australia games where England has a chance of returning the favour and beating the Aussies at a sport that they invented. If such a game happens in my lifetime, I don't care how far I have to fly, nor how old I am, but I'll be there. As an optimist who has tried a fair bit to make Aussie Rules go international, I hope that it will, but I can only see that coming slowly. Progress is being made, teams are being created faster than they are disappearing, and this ought to continue for quite a while. Aussie Rules's long-term success depends on the investment it is given by the AFL, and by people who really want to see it succeed internationally. If current trends continue, it will eventually have a decent international following, but it will take decades before many internationals can even follow the sport without difficulty, then a few more before they get into playing the sport mainstream, and then even more before they can become the Italy to the AFLs 5 Nations. We can but try, and it will be worth it.

I do, however, think that Aussie Rules needs to go global. When the sport is only kept by one country, it is vulnerable. If Australia do well in the soccer World Cup, then it will distract young players and spectators towards soccer. If the trend continued, then it could only be a few generations before Aussie Rules became a minority sport. It takes a global following for a code to become secure. The more international, the better, as shown be Rugby Union and Soccer. Also, the fact that a sport can be played internationally is attractive in itself. It gives 6-year-olds the dream of scoring the winning goal, after the siren, for their country, above and beyond doing it for their team.

Australia would definitely have the best league in the world for a long time after the sport went global. The AFL would be established and prestigious. Australia would have little more problem with big names leaving the AFL for the BARFL than English soccer fans do with Spanish and Italian leagues.

And, finally, tiddlywinks has already gone global.

Long live the dream.

Great post but one thing.
You said that if Australia do well at the world cup it will "it will distract young players and spectators towards soccer."

I don't think this is the case. At the moment while the Socceroos are doing well there are a lot of people keeping up to date with soccer, but on a whole I think Australian's like a fast moving, high scoring football and thats what brings them back to AFL.
The other week I was at the MCG watching the game and thought about it, the whole idea of soccer is not to score, but not to let the other team score.
Australian's will always come back to AFL.

 

[Beckers]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

I could go on, but the fact is that in just under 10 years of Aussie Rules being played overseas, the spectacular growth from nothing to this is already starting to send shivers down your rugby league spines otherwise you wouldn't be trolling here.

Good effort fishmonger, but i found AFL's popularity is actually in decline overseas and it all has to do with television exposure.
When ESPN first started they never had NFL or any American sports so in USA and Canada, they used to show live AFL games and a weekly wrap of all games (AFL Wrap). Lots of Americans i knew wanted to talk about AFL (in 1999 - 2000) and had some idea about the game. Now you cannot get 1 second of TV coverage over there and people have completely forgotten about it. The AFL have got to get a better deal on international television for the game to grow!!!.
This is also the reason i don't see why Friday nights are not live in NSW and QLD. The game cannot grow without the exposure!!

 

[Beckers]

Re: Soccer Vrs AFL - Will we go global???

I will actually be going to my first AFL game this year, a workmate has made me the deal of attending an AFL game with her in exchange for her coming to a League match with me, I'll approach it with an open mind.

Hope you enjoy it WesternSydney! We might have a convert after that game?
AFL may never go global, but we enjoy it because it IS Australian. The same way the Irish lover Gaelic Footy, or Swedes love Curling and the Scots like their Highland Games. It's all part of the culture!