Is this the worst article ever written?

[Fire]

Came accross this article on the SMH website. I won't post any highlights as there are none to post.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/out-in-the-wild-wild-west-even-tiger-will-be-taking-a-mark/2009/11/13/1258043793258.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

I mean, seriously? Not only is this not in the least bit amusing (I can't believe it couls be considered anythign close to professional, that drawing of Vlad is far too high quality to be associated with this trash), I also don't understand how it can be justified?

What 'stunts' have been pulled so far? The AFL has announced that it is set to invest heavily at community level and have appointed a coach. They have never mentioned a war.

I pitty the team which has to put up with this. But hopefully they can use this kind of idocy to help drive a niche.

 

[brjafi]

it is some rugby league fanatics dig at the AFL, too much rubbish is made of AFL team in NRL heartland crap. Code wars is all it is.

 

[jakos]

Terrible article. Subject matter aside, it's not enlightening or amusing - just poorly written and devoid of any substance. If that's all it takes to get a gig in journalism, sign me up. Most Bigfooty posters could write better than that.

 

[Giants FC]

I can't believe I read that article. That's a few wasted minutes of my life I'll never get back....

 

[dlanod]

I'm surprised it's in the SMH. I'm used to the News Limited family pushing against the AFL in Qld, so was expecting the Telegraph. My favourite from there was the infamous suggestion by their AFL writer that people should watch games other than the Lions on the 2007 weekend that we upset West Coast after being 11-1 outsiders to win.

 

[ian_rush]

Seriously guys, have a sense of humour!

Richard Hinds is a Melbourne-born and bred AFL writer for the SMH (see his other articles here: http://www.realfooty.com.au/experts/richard-hinds/index.html)

The article is obviously aimed at a generally wary and bemused Sydney audience - an audience which also doesn't take too kindly to arrogant assumptions of the superiority of AFL football.

While it's over the top, he's one of the few Melbourne-based AFL commentators who actually understands how damn difficult it will be to establish a successful club in western Sydney. He's just having a go at the obvious publicity tactics the AFL needs to break through into what is "the" heartland of Rugby League.

 

[Fire]

Seriously guys, have a sense of humour!

I already have one.

The article is obviously aimed at a generally wary and bemused Sydney audience - an audience which also doesn't take too kindly to arrogant assumptions of the superiority of AFL football.

Can you please give us an example of these arrogant assumptions?

While it's over the top, he's one of the few Melbourne-based AFL commentators who actually understands how damn difficult it will be to establish a successful club in western Sydney.

I have never heard any of these such commentators talk about anything other than how difficult it will be.

He's just having a go at the obvious publicity tactics the AFL needs to break through into what is "the" heartland of Rugby League.

Asside form financially backing the club and community, and appointing a coach, what have either the AFL or GWS done that would come under your definition of 'obvious publicity tactics'?

 

[Riggy1]

yes

I stopped reading half way through it was so boring

 

[Jethro!]

i wouldn't use this "article" to whip the faecal matter from my back-side.
couldn'e even understand it. Was just jibberish

 

[Beaussie]

i wouldn't use this "article" to whip the faecal matter from my back-side.
couldn'e even understand it. Was just jibberish

Likewise I struggled to understand what the point was. Poor effort from Hinds.

 

[Redb#]

Seriously guys, have a sense of humour!

Richard Hinds is a Melbourne-born and bred AFL writer for the SMH (see his other articles here: http://www.realfooty.com.au/experts/richard-hinds/index.html)

The article is obviously aimed at a generally wary and bemused Sydney audience - an audience which also doesn't take too kindly to arrogant assumptions of the superiority of AFL football.

While it's over the top, he's one of the few Melbourne-based AFL commentators who actually understands how damn difficult it will be to establish a successful club in western Sydney. He's just having a go at the obvious publicity tactics the AFL needs to break through into what is "the" heartland of Rugby League.

Hinds must be worried about his hits on the SMH website. Just feeding the beast.

It is a boring article, not even insightful, quite stupid actually.

WS is showing some very interesting signs. I like the recruitment of Hill for example with his RL and Western Sydney background.

 

[ian_rush]

I already have one.



Can you please give us an example of these arrogant assumptions?

"...Australian rules will succeed, ultimately, on its own merits on the Gold Coast because it is a better game than league and boasts a better culture."

Caroline Wilson, Age, 2 August 2009:

http://fddp.theage.com.au/news/rfne...-a-start/2009/08/01/1248977242286.html?page=2

This is the same arrogant attitude with which Australian Rules officials created the Swans in 1982 and expected Sydney-siders to quickly succumb to the “superior” code. Instead, after a brief period of superficial success (thanks largely to Warwick Capper’s shorts) within 10 years the Swans were a basket case needing huge AFL subsidies and draft and salary cap concessions to survive. And when the Swans did become a force and won the premiership in 2005, it became apparent that they were really just team called South Melbourne that happened to play its home games in Sydney.

It is true that the Swans have found a niche and a loyal supporter base in a city that has never been renowned for turning up to sporting events in big numbers. The Swans have done a great job in getting 20,000-odd hard core fans that will turn up every home game, and another 20,000-25,0000 that may come along once every one or two months. But that really is the sum total of the people in Sydney interested enough in the game to come and watch - and you need to find at least that many again to make a team in Western Sydney. They just aren't there.

When Sydney prime-time telecasts of the Swans still get beaten into fifth place by SBS, 27 years after the Swans first arrived, you have to acknowledge that AFL is always going to struggle here.

 

[coasting]

Yeah but Caroline Wilson is a knob who isn't taken seriously by many people. So just disregard what she writes.

Also the Swans and Paul Roos gameplan is as boring as batshit. I'm surprised they get as many people as they do. If West Sydney put a good product on the field with an attacking gameplan and with players they can identify with then there is every chance that the young people in that area will become interested in them.

 

[Professor Knowall]

"...Australian rules will succeed, ultimately, on its own merits on the Gold Coast because it is a better game than league and boasts a better culture."

Caroline Wilson, Age, 2 August 2009:

http://fddp.theage.com.au/news/rfne...-a-start/2009/08/01/1248977242286.html?page=2
...

Nothing wrong with that. Clearly our Australian game is far better to watch than the imported competition. Good to see Caro actually getting one correct

... It is true that the Swans have found a niche and a loyal supporter base in a city that has never been renowned for turning up to sporting events in big numbers. The Swans have done a great job in getting 20,000-odd hard core fans that will turn up every home game, and another 20,000-25,0000 that may come along once every one or two months. But that really is the sum total of the people in Sydney interested enough in the game to come and watch...

I've been up several times and watched the Swans (OK, more accurately, the Pies) and have never seen a crowd of less than 44,000 (at a jam packed SCG) and three crowds of over 60,000 (one over 70,000). These were for normal H&A games. The Swans have far higher crowds, and also far more members, than any Sydney NRL club.

...When Sydney prime-time telecasts of the Swans still get beaten into fifth place by SBS, 27 years after the Swans first arrived, you have to acknowledge that AFL is always going to struggle here.

No and No. Over the course of a game, the Swans have never once been "... beaten into fifth place by SBS ...". This just makes Ian Rush a liar -and yet another paraniod troll here. In fact, Swans games average over 100,000 over the whole 3 hours (sometimes much higher) - and when the NRL H&A game was telecast on FTA on a Saturday night in Sydney it hardly rated any higher.

With junior numbers rapidly expanding, and with 15 AFL listed players coming from the Sydney metro area and 38 from NSW overall,(compared to zero Victorians on NRL lists) the future is bright for our Australian game in Sydney - depsite the paraniod press and certain rugby zealouts.

 

[The Big Silent]

Hinds is a disgraceful joke............

 

[Fire]

"...Australian rules will succeed, ultimately, on its own merits on the Gold Coast because it is a better game than league and boasts a better culture."

Caroline Wilson, Age, 2 August 2009:

http://fddp.theage.com.au/news/rfne...-a-start/2009/08/01/1248977242286.html?page=2

So you can give me the opinion of a journalist? Come on, give me something from the AFL. The point I am making is that this arrogant 'war' talk is ALL coming from the media. This article is an example about how the media can invent news and issues. And yet you somehow think its relevant to anything?

This is the same arrogant attitude with which Australian Rules officials created the Swans in 1982 and expected Sydney-siders to quickly succumb to the “superior” code. Instead, after a brief period of superficial success (thanks largely to Warwick Capper’s shorts) within 10 years the Swans were a basket case needing huge AFL subsidies and draft and salary cap concessions to survive. And when the Swans did become a force and won the premiership in 2005, it became apparent that they were really just team called South Melbourne that happened to play its home games in Sydney.

So the AFL basing a team out of Sydney was a display of an 'arrogant attitude'?

And an acknowledgement of the Swan's history is equal to them being South Melbourne? Ignoring the fact they are called Sydney, are based in Sydney and involve themself with Sydney? how much more Sydney can they be? Do you really believe that if they ignored their histry, they would suddenly become more 'Sydney'?

Your 'argumens' are nonsense and irrational.

It is true that the Swans have found a niche and a loyal supporter base in a city that has never been renowned for turning up to sporting events in big numbers. The Swans have done a great job in getting 20,000-odd hard core fans that will turn up every home game, and another 20,000-25,0000 that may come along once every one or two months. But that really is the sum total of the people in Sydney interested enough in the game to come and watch - and you need to find at least that many again to make a team in Western Sydney. They just aren't there.

I'm sorry, i don't understand what you are trying to say here. You are trying to say that Sydney took a while to develop and that the AFL will need to grow in the WS community over years to get similar support? Why express this when the AFL has already publically stated that it is planning to back the team for 25 years?

Are you trying to say that Sydney has failed? If so, then on what level do you think they have failed?

When Sydney prime-time telecasts of the Swans still get beaten into fifth place by SBS, 27 years after the Swans first arrived, you have to acknowledge that AFL is always going to struggle here.

First off, SBS hasn't beaten them. Are you talkign abotu the 'Iron Chef' myth? The one where they got higher ratings during half time of that one match but was otherwise beaten?

The Swans generate a tremendous ammount of money for the AFL. It doesn't matter if they rate number 1 or number 4. They don't need all of Sydney to follow them. And neither will WS.

 

[desie]

"...Australian rules will succeed, ultimately, on its own merits on the Gold Coast because it is a better game than league and boasts a better culture."

Caroline Wilson, Age, 2 August 2009:

http://fddp.theage.com.au/news/rfne...-a-start/2009/08/01/1248977242286.html?page=2

And I've heard plenty of League people sprouting similar stuff about their game recently. Phil Gould, Mark Geyer and Paul Osborne for a start just in the last week.

I suppose they're not arrogant though

 

[jpdixon]

Come on, it's just an attempt at a humorous response to the Hayne nonsense, probably also a dig at Sheedy as coach and references to the Swans' history. It doesn't at all mention a "war" or try to build one up, just comes from a different view of how to get the team going.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

"...Australian rules will succeed, ultimately, on its own merits on the Gold Coast because it is a better game than league and boasts a better culture."

Caroline Wilson, Age, 2 August 2009:

http://fddp.theage.com.au/news/rfne...-a-start/2009/08/01/1248977242286.html?page=2

So you can give me the opinion of a journalist? Come on, give me something from the AFL. The point I am making is that this arrogant 'war' talk is ALL coming from the media. This article is an example about how the media can invent news and issues. And yet you somehow think its relevant to anything?



So the AFL basing a team out of Sydney was a display of an 'arrogant attitude'?

And an acknowledgement of the Swan's history is equal to them being South Melbourne? Ignoring the fact they are called Sydney, are based in Sydney and involve themself with Sydney? how much more Sydney can they be? Do you really believe that if they ignored their histry, they would suddenly become more 'Sydney'?

Your 'argumens' are nonsense and irrational.



I'm sorry, i don't understand what you are trying to say here. You are trying to say that Sydney took a while to develop and that the AFL will need to grow in the WS community over years to get similar support? Why express this when the AFL has already publically stated that it is planning to back the team for 25 years?

Are you trying to say that Sydney has failed? If so, then on what level do you think they have failed?



First off, SBS hasn't beaten them. Are you talkign abotu the 'Iron Chef' myth? The one where they got higher ratings during half time of that one match but was otherwise beaten?

The Swans generate a tremendous ammount of money for the AFL. It doesn't matter if they rate number 1 or number 4. They don't need all of Sydney to follow them. And neither will WS.

Nah, his arguments aren't at all irrational or no nonsensical. You are just mis-reading the tone of the article entirely.

It's a satirical piece of journalism, written by someone who is sympathetic to the AFL expansion into Western Sydney. For the most part the joke is on League perceptions of the AFL as arrogant (a perception they are partially entitled to given the way the VFL introduced the Swans to Sydney). The articles satire is also directed at the whole cacophony over a code "war" in Western Sydney, which Hinds views as a dull little tiff between League and AFL which is ultimately condescending to the market they are trying to 'win'.

My major criticism of the article would be that its irony is too labored and obvious (though, surprisingly, your reading suggests otherwise). But whatever, you are criticizing the article for the wrong the reasons.

 

[Giants FC]

A lot of Hinds' work is good. He's a good sportswriter. But this particular article was a dud - happens to the best writers sometimes.