Does your interest in the AFL wane when the WC is on?

[ams4crows]

Yes, the World Cup takes precedent in my life when its on, it's a special event that is on every 4 years that brings together the world for their culture and love of a game. It's beautiful

I prefer AFL over the A-league, but Socceroos and Matildas over AFL

 

[Hawthorn United]

I find the shitcanning of soccer for being low scoring quite funny. Can someone explain how volume of scoring in sport correlates to excitement? When you're watching 5 days of test cricket, do you get more of a kick out of the several hundred runs that are scored, or the 10 wickets?

There are some boring games in soccer, as in every other sport.

I enjoy a quality 0-0 with goalkeepers making world class saves.

 

[Blue1980]

The world cup to me has put into focus we definitely need to make changes to the AFL to improve the spectacle. I am open to zones in some form, as that’s what we have lost, open play and one on one contests.

Does anyone actually enjoy watching 36 players within 40 meters of the ball?

 

[Frank Bunn]

My interest in the AFL hasn't waned since the WC started. It waned some time ago. I used to watch a live game every weekend and 2 or 3 games on TV. These days I'll just watch the Geelong game on the TV and the VFL if it's on.

There's so many unattractive games these days. 20 players round the ball like seagulls fighting for a chip. The umpiring is ridiculously inconsistent from game to game. The interpretations of the rules and tribunal change a couple of times during the season. The AFL making up teams. The incestuous relationship of the AFL and the media. The pitiful allocation of tickets to fans of the two Grand Final teams.

I can understand people not liking the game of soccer. Personally I love it but it's not for everyone. But the international element of the World Cup provides a spectacle that the AFL can't come anywhere near. There's the interest of a different country as a venue each time. There's the colourful fans from round the world belting out their national anthems and chanting during the games. Each country has their own style of play. You've got players who play alongside each other at club level set against each other. Some countries are there to win the competition, others are happy to be taking part. Panama scored their first ever world cup goal the other day and even though they were 6-1 down their fans celebrated like they had the tournament! So much to love about each World Cup when it comes around.

 

[Blue1980]

I tried to watch it, it’s just too slow.

Yeah AFL can be like that

 

[Blue1980]

Interest is high for both.
The driven narrative for 2018 is "footy is shit, in trouble, blah, blah"
It is usually determined by how well one's team is going in any given year.
Footy was shit in 2016 but fantastic in 2017/18... funny that!

The World Cup will be fantastic right up to the point that England get knocked out on penalties.

We were shit 3 years ago and shit now, I would dare say there are more poor games now than there were even 2-3 years ago.

As soon as any side gets a run on in any game the other side puts the clamps on rather than trying to get their own game going.

Case in point West Coast v Essendon, Essendon jump them, west coast stop coast to coast translation as much without doing much themselves. Result: 3 quarters of nothing.

 

[Hawthorn United]

Honestly, people who say soccer is boring, soccer is just people diving all the time, I kinda hate those people. Just open yourself and let yourself enjoy the spectacle. The atmospheres are the best in the world, a game can change at any moment, if you have seen a sealer in the 93rd minute, there is nothing like it in sport. You can go from hope and despair to adulation in moments. That's why soccer is great to watch, its constant tension for 90 minutes where at any moment the game can be over...or is it? You just never know. 1-0 could be an insurmountable lead or it could be easily outdone. I feel sorry for people who don't understand that cause they are missing out. And since the talent pool is so big, when you are watching the top flights, you are literally watching the top 1% on the planet from a pool of millions.

Just stop being arrogant Aussie bogans for 1 moment and try to enjoy it.

I'm sure a lot of people have this mindset around the world, and these very people would be trying to demand their own kind in another country to open their eyes to AFL and their plans to expand internationally.

Just ironic that those "AFL #1, Soccer sucks" people then expect others overseas to adopt a "let's try to enjoy this foreign sport" mentality.

 

[Hawthorn United]

My interest in the AFL hasn't waned since the WC started. It waned some time ago. I used to watch a live game every weekend and 2 or 3 games on TV. These days I'll just watch the Geelong game on the TV and the VFL if it's on.

There's so many unattractive games these days. 20 players round the ball like seagulls fighting for a chip. The umpiring is ridiculously inconsistent from game to game. The interpretations of the rules and tribunal change a couple of times during the season. The AFL making up teams. The incestuous relationship of the AFL and the media. The pitiful allocation of tickets to fans of the two Grand Final teams.

I can understand people not liking the game of soccer. Personally I love it but it's not for everyone. But the international element of the World Cup provides a spectacle that the AFL can't come anywhere near. There's the interest of a different country as a venue each time. There's the colourful fans from round the world belting out their national anthems and chanting during the games. Each country has their own style of play. You've got players who play alongside each other at club level set against each other. Some countries are there to win the competition, others are happy to be taking part. Panama scored their first ever world cup goal the other day and even though they were 6-1 down their fans celebrated like they had the tournament! So much to love about each World Cup when it comes around.

Felt exactly the same way in all the points you raised.

Even during our threepeat, I had tuned out of neutral games and only watched ours. I even skipped the first weeks of finals to save handing over my money to the AFL. Grand Final was a different scenario.

World Cup games are all different depending on which nations are playing. I like the various atmospheres they bring.

 

[PhatBoy]

The level of ignorance in your post didn't deserve a count-argument.

If you think a single superstar can carry a team over the line in any team sport, then you're delusional.

There is literally a test cricket match happening at the moment in which the West Indies captain has taken 8-40 and hit basically a third of his team's runs. Good call.

 

[Hawthorn United]

There is literally a test cricket match happening at the moment in which the West Indies captain has taken 8-40 and hit basically a third of his team's runs. Good call.

That's cool. So the other batsmen, fielders and keeper didn't need to do anything?

edit - Just checked scorecard and expected he took 8-40 in one innings, but it's over 2. So he did need his teammates to catch, and also take their own wickets. Strange, thought he was doing it all.

Also seemed he needed a batsman up the other end as the keeper made 71.

Good call.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

lol @ the predictability of the responses in this thread.

Do elaborate.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

It's high stakes all the time. Every time the ball goes forward, it could potentially go in, and if it does, it could very well be game over. Just one goal is so important, and at any moment, that goal can happen. That's why I don't understand people that say ohhhh 1-0, whats so exciting about that? But that's the very reason why it is exciting. Think a game of footy where its 99-97 with 2 minutes to go. The game can change at any moment, well in soccer, the game is on a knifes edge for a full 90 minutes.

So, anything can happen, and rarely does.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

I'm sure a lot of people have this mindset around the world, and these very people would be trying to demand their own kind in another country to open their eyes to AFL and their plans to expand internationally.

Just ironic that those "AFL #1, Soccer sucks" people then expect others overseas to adopt a "let's try to enjoy this foreign sport" mentality.

In 40 years of following Aussie Rules I’ve honestly never met a single fan who gives a flying stuff what the rest of the world thinks of our great game, in fact quite the opposite, we’re justifiably proud of its uniqueness.

 

[Coaster2012]

So, anything can happen, and rarely does.

England kicked 6 goals the other day.

Hell, there are teams that don't even score 6 goals in 2.5 hours of footy.

Belgium 5 before that.
Uruguay put 3 past Russia last night.

Considering that there has been something like 7 winners after the 90th minute this world cup would suggest the opposite.

Don't get me wrong, footy is my number 1 sport. But to say nothing rarely happens in soccer is just ignorant.

 

[Mr--ShinBoner--#11]

In 40 years of following Aussie Rules I’ve honestly never met a single fan who gives a flying stuff what the rest of the world thinks of our great game, in fact quite the opposite, we’re justifiably proud of its uniqueness.

Yeah we really don't give a flying stuff what the rest of the world thinks of our game, do we?

 

[NoobPie]

Yeah we really don't give a flying stuff what the rest of the world thinks of our game, do we?
View attachment 518026

Serious? A politician holding a sherrin up? Where did you even get that photo from or know of its existence?

Gonzalez may have been exaggerating a bit but anyone who thinks there is widespread concern about Australian football's international popularity among football fans is almost certainly a deluded supporter of another code. Kind of people who lose their minds about Port Adelaide's game in Shanghai.

This is Bigfooty's "international-footy" forum....there's a bout a post a week and maybe 2 in a good week

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/forums/international-footy.12/

 

[Hawthorn United]

Also this.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Yeah we really don't give a flying stuff what the rest of the world thinks of our game, do we?
View attachment 518026

What makes you so certain either of them wanted to be there?

Wow, one PR photo as evidence of your case.

Who are those two, BTW?

 

[SherbertLemon]

Do not care about any other game other than aus... even then.. will not stay up because it’s not that exciting

 

[Macpotata]

Gonzalez go outside and get some fresh air mate. You're losing it son.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Also this.

This may come as some shock to you, but "the AFL" and "fans" are not one and the same.

Equally amazingly, I was aware that the occasional Aussie Rules game has been staged overseas.

But finding some lurid promo jpeg and dropping it into a post is such a compelling argument, isn't it? (Are you in senior school yet?)

The AFL is a hugely rich sporting league. SA govt and Chinese bigwigs get talking about trade opportunities; they decide it would be advantageous all round to stage some games in China.

And that "proves" that Aussie Rules fans really, really care what the rest of the world thinks of our great sport. OK.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Gonzalez go outside and get some fresh air mate. You're losing it son.

I beg your pardon?

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

England kicked 6 goals the other day.

Hell, there are teams that don't even score 6 goals in 2.5 hours of footy.

Belgium 5 before that.
Uruguay put 3 past Russia last night.

Considering that there has been something like 7 winners after the 90th minute this world cup would suggest the opposite.

Thrill City! How do people cope with that level of excitement?

Don't get me wrong, footy is my number 1 sport. But to say nothing rarely happens in soccer is just ignorant.

I've been watching soccer on and off for 40 years. I'm not ignorant of the sport. But sooner or later, you have to be honest with yourself. It bored me shitless in 1975, I've seen plenty of it in passing since, and it still bores me shitless.

 

[NoobPie]

Serious? A politician holding a sherrin up? Where did you even get that photo from or know of its existence?

Gonzalez may have been exaggerating a bit but anyone who thinks there is widespread concern about Australian football's international popularity among football fans is almost certainly a deluded supporter of another code. Kind of people who lose their minds about Port Adelaide's game in Shanghai.

This is Bigfooty's "international-footy" forum....there's a bout a post a week and maybe 2 in a good week

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/forums/international-footy.12/

And right on queue...

Also this.

 

[NoobPie]

I beg your pardon?

He's projecting. This is a guy who apparently watches (and comments on) every game of football each round despite loathing the sport telling you you're "losing it" and to "go out and get fresh air"