Oppo Camp Non-Eagles Discussion 2026

[Boohemian]

They're getting traction in Qld though. So what's the difference?

 

[Dylan82]

They're getting traction in Qld though. So what's the difference?

South-East Queensland is now a genuinely multi-code area.

From my own anecdotal experience, it comes down to (mostly) these factors:

The bandwagoners of the 2001-03 triple premiership Lions now have kids of their own and have passed their support onto them.​

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The demographics of a huge influx of migration into the Brisbane/Gold Coast conurbation from southern Aussie Rules states who have brought their support with them and to their families.​

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Aussie Rules is winning the war for the hearts and minds of mums, with the code being increasingly seen as a less "thugish" or violent option for kids to play than rugby.​

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The clubs seem to be a lot more community focussed with a positive culture to create better people, not just better footballers, which contrasts with the toxicity I have heard from multiple sources that still exists in other codes.​

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Girls football - I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen new (mens youth) players come in because their sister is playing at the club and they give it a go only to stay on or simply the logistics for parents of getting the kids to a single location for sport makes the decision, and mum won't have her daughter do rugby.​

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Rugby is becoming increasingly a sport of Islander kids, and through connotations of culture, language (and in some circles, race) it is folding in upon itself and pushing away the majority at the grassroots.​

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With rugby (particularly League) becoming increasingly associated with Pacific Islander culture and the socio-economics of that demographic, Aussie Rules has appealed to the higher income population, who would prefer to have their progeny avoid those unwashed masses and use their influence to make it so.​

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Brisbane as a city, has a similar outlook to Perth. Whereas Perth is always looking across the Nullabor to prove its correctness, Brisbane is forever looking south. Through this lens, it's not so much a foreign code, but finding another way to outdo those southern states again.​

The country regions of the state are entirely different, everywhere from Toowoomba westwards and north of Noosa remains League heartland, and likely forever will be with the exception of some pockets in interstate migratory retirement centres like Hervey Bay and Cairns. Demographics and the growing cultural city-country divide direct sporting codes in the state in a similar manner to political voting preferences.


Western Sydney has few such advantages.

It has no winning dynasty from a previous generation. Its population growth is driven by international migration that has no ties to, or knowledge of Aussie Rules. For this reason international sports like soccer and basketball have very high participation rates there. Unlike South-East Queensland, the growth in population will not do anything to move the needle in support of Aussie rules.

With the majority of New Zealand and Pacific Islander migration to Australia occurring in Queensland (1 in 3 of the overseas born population in that state is now from those sources), rugby in NSW has not seen the same cultural battle that is happening north of the border. League remains what the heart beats true for there. All the media is League-orientated or affiliated. The financial elite are still comfortable in their bubble of rugby union.

Sydney as a city is two things - it needs to be seen by the whole world, all of the time; and it needs to be anything but Melbourne. There is a vacuous hatred and suspicion that exists and the code wars are mired in it.

Aussie Rules is simply fighting a battle in Western Sydney that can never be won. It was a foolish decision to setup there in the first place.

 

[Cuzz09]

Brisbane should just keep quiet and enjoy their yearly % boosting belting of North at a country ground

 

[FKASC]

I wonder how costly Richmond beating GWS in the grand final was for the AFL’s expansion plans. Might have had 200 kids sign up if they had’ve won

 

[Happy Mastenator]

97 registered: The damning truth behind the AFL's western Sydney failure

The joke's on us all who have been fed the expansion fable.

www.sen.com.au

Pretty damning read.

These numbers are way off. Healey doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

 

[Cuzz09]

How expensive is it to play footy these days? Heard theres a fair few costs

Be hard for families on the edge

 

[bzparkes]

How expensive is it to play footy these days? Heard theres a fair few costs

Be hard for families on the edge

$400 for my 8yo daughter to play up here in Brisbane.

The state government is giving out $200 vouchers every 12 months to use on sports activities though, so that halved the cost.

 

[Cuzz09]

$400 for my 8yo daughter to play up here in Brisbane.

The state government is giving out $200 vouchers every 12 months to use on sports activities though, so that halved the cost.

Dunno if thats lots or not

Sounds ok

 

[bzparkes]

Dunno if thats lots or not

Sounds ok

Yeah I've no idea.

Comparatively, Auskick is $80 and that includes the pack you get from the AFL.

Club footy's just to register. You don't get anything with it.

 

[Cuzz09]

Yeah I've no idea.

Comparatively, Auskick is $80 and that includes the pack you get from the AFL.

Club footy's just to register. You don't get anything with it.

Yeah mainly insurance

 

[Cuzz09]

How will Jagga go tonight?

Will we see 10 million social media posts about how we "let him go" or will Adelaide keep him in check?

 

[ziad]

These numbers are way off. Healey doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

This is so. KM and KM off.

 

[Bender_]

Yeah I've no idea.

Comparatively, Auskick is $80 and that includes the pack you get from the AFL.

Club footy's just to register. You don't get anything with it.

Son plays footy and daughter netball. Roughly $400 for the season is pretty standard for a kids sport.

 

[Mr Eagle]

These numbers are way off. Healey doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

I did wonder why we were just presuming Gerard had the numbers right.

 

[Bender_]

I did wonder why we were just presuming Gerard had the numbers right.

Why would we assume they're wrong, it wouldn't be hard to get them from the source. 97 would be an odd number to make up.

 

[Seadog]

Why would we assume they're wrong, it wouldn't be hard to get them from the source. 97 would be an odd number to make up.

It's definitely an odd number.

 

[ziad]

Why would we assume they're wrong, it wouldn't be hard to get them from the source. 97 would be an odd number to make up.

Mrs is on many AFL calls- its just not close

 

[MrKK]

On the Agenda Setters tonight, Brisbane are pissed off that they don't get to play at Adelaide oval this round. And rightly so IMO.

Surely the back to back premiers should be getting a game there.

Just checked the fixtures and 7 Victorian based clubs play there.
Ok.

Andrew Dillon said the Brisbane travelling contingent wasn't as strong as the Victorian clubs.
FMD.
They don't even try and pretend it's not all about Victoria anymore.

Heaps of Adelaide/SA locals go to Gather Round games as neutrals if it's a good fixture. Ironically the only fixture struggling to sell is Essendon v Melbourne, two Victorian teams.

Brisbane's local supporter base also wouldn't be less than ours (played AO last season) or Freo (playing Collingwood on Friday).

 

[Seadog]

Pissing down in Adelaide this morning, even a bit of hail.
Should be great viewing tonight, cold, wet and windy.

 

[Ochre]

I did wonder why we were just presuming Gerard had the numbers right.

I like that Gerard himself makes the best argument for them being bullshit.

How do you run a competition of 14 teams with 97 players, with hour-long drives and $100 road tolls?

 

[Mr Eagle]

Why would we assume they're wrong.

Oh you sweet naive robot creature...

 

[Dylan82]

Sydney's chairman has used the opportunity to sink the boot in, whilst supporting the claim.

None: Swans boss’ shock answer on Western Sydney AFL growth

“No. None. None.”

www.sen.com.au

They also raised the elephant in the room of the spiralling costs required to setup the Devils.

$3b: Astronomical number has Pridham fearing for Tassie

“My concern has always been at what cost...”

www.sen.com.au

 

[Bender_]

Oh you sweet naive robot creature...

Plz

 

[eaglevision]

Collard hearing on now, AFL asking for 10 week suspension.

BREAKING: Saint’s charge UPHELD by AFL as monster ban looms for anti-gay slur allegation

BREAKING: AFL tribunal’s verdict on anti-gay slur allegation as monster ban looms

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Lia]

This Collard trial is a mess, AFL looking dodgy as usual.