Expansion NRL Fans: Why so much AFL hate.

[dockshark]

The recent events with Hunt and Folau have had me wondering about something, so I spent a short amount of time on one of the larger NRL forums having a look at what was going down. Two things struck out at me straight away. Firstly the fact that there were over 10 threads on the first page relating to AFL!! But secondly I noticed how much anti AFL passion there is on display. There is literally thousands of posts attacking our game from varying angles, including skill level, integrity, athletic ability, drug use etc etc. Not to mention the cute little names they have come up with. GAYFL and fumbleball are the two most prevalent.

Now from my experience most hardore AFL fans don’t ‘hate’ NRL, they just recognize it for what it is; another code of sport. Personally, having watched a fair bit of live NRL….I certainly don’t hate the sport…..rather I just find it a bit boring. The game lacks the excitement and brilliant ball skill that AFL offers and the comparatively small crowds mean the atmosphere is generally not as good imho.

Check out the following link if you want some light amusement:

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71

So what’s up with NRL fans and all their pent up anti AFL anger. They are all going on about how these publicity stunts from the AFL mean nothing in the long term, and the Gold Coast and GWS expansion is no threat to their game. But if they really believed that, then would they be getting so worked up about the situation?? I think they are concerned about the AFLs attempt to take over their traditional territory and all the anti AFL sentiment is a natural defence mechanism kicking in.

It just seems to me that NRL fans are much more passionate in their hatred of AFL than AFL fans are of NRL. I think this is because most serious AFL fans simply don’t care, and therefore find NRL irrelevant.

 

[afl genius]

The recent events with Hunt and Folau have had me wondering about something, so I spent a short amount of time on one of the larger NRL forums having a look at what was going down. Two things struck out at me straight away. Firstly the fact that there were over 10 threads on the first page relating to AFL!! But secondly I noticed how much anti AFL passion there is on display. There is literally thousands of posts attacking our game from varying angles, including skill level, integrity, athletic ability, drug use etc etc. Not to mention the cute little names they have come up with. GAYFL and fumbleball are the two most prevalent.

Now from my experience most hardore AFL fans don’t ‘hate’ NRL, they just recognize it for what it is; another code of sport. Personally, having watched a fair bit of live NRL….I certainly don’t hate the sport…..rather I just find it a bit boring. The game lacks the excitement and brilliant ball skill that AFL offers and the comparatively small crowds mean the atmosphere is generally not as good imho.

Check out the following link if you want some light amusement:

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71

So what’s up with NRL fans and all their pent up anti AFL anger. They are all going on about how these publicity stunts from the AFL mean nothing in the long term, and the Gold Coast and GWS expansion is no threat to their game. But if they really believed that, then would they be getting so worked up about the situation?? I think they are concerned about the AFLs attempt to take over their traditional territory and all the anti AFL sentiment is a natural defence mechanism kicking in.

It just seems to me that NRL fans are much more passionate in their hatred of AFL than AFL fans are of NRL. I think this is because most serious AFL fans simply don’t care, and therefore find NRL irrelevant.

They had a go at the skill level and athletic ability of AFL? lol please there is no skill in holding a ball and running into a wall of defenders, and the majority of those NRL players would having nothing on footy players in terms of fitness. Sounds like they are just plain scared to me, that their inferior game is losing players

 

[galindez]

simply because they perceive aussie rules as a threat to their code. Hostility is a natural response.

Rugby league is about as serious a threat to the AFL as european handball, so most footy fans just put it in the list of sports they don't really care about, without any strong feeling.

 

[Public Enemy No1]

its called an inferority complex\

basic human nature..As a freo supporter I thought u would understand this perfectly

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

Because our game is so much better than theirs.

They just cant handle it.

 

[Absolute Gun]

They are jealous we are getting all there great players.

 

[MARC_]

Someone please troll that forum to make those blokes more depressed!

 

[Beaussie]

its called an inferority complex

Spot on. They're terrified when they look at the AFL. Can't blame em really when you compare crowds, membership, sponsorship, participation numbers, tv ratings etc, etc. Their game is going nowhere and interest is on the wane in NSW and QLD. Oh and lets not forget their pathetic attempts at expansion. Remember the Western Reds and Adelaide Rams.

 

[tugga]

Most AFL fans don't even know what rugby league is. They still call it rugby.

 

[nicko99]

You got to have a laugh when they keep mentioning the TV Rights deal all the time as if it's another aspect of there game and mention how they got burnt bad at the last deal they had.

Now they think there going to get as much as the AFL or even an in excess of $1B when it comes around again - lol worthy. When they have appalling crowd and membership numbers and apparently its a more popular sport than AFL.

 

[tugga]

You got to have a laugh when they keep mentioning the TV Rights deal all the time as if it's another aspect of there game and mention how they got burnt bad at the last deal they had.

Now they think there going to get as much as the AFL or even an in excess of $1B when it comes around again - lol worthy. When they have appalling crowd and membership numbers and apparently its a more popular sport than AFL.

What you don't understand is that the TV figures for rugby league are actually incredibly healthy. Crowds numbers by comparison to AFL are a joke. But TV ratings are actually extremely good.

 

[nicko99]

What you don't understand is that the TV figures for rugby league are actually incredibly healthy. Crowds numbers by comparison to AFL are a joke. But TV ratings are actually extremely good.

Isn't there FTA games shown live? well some

 

[Beaussie]

What you don't understand is that the TV figures for rugby league are actually incredibly healthy. Crowds numbers by comparison to AFL are a joke. But TV ratings are actually extremely good.

Wrong.

Overall, crowds for NRL games have increased by 4.2 per cent.

The news hasn't been as good for the game's television ratings, with only Sydney recording an increase, of just two per cent.

Brisbane ratings are down 12 per cent, regional ratings down nine per cent and Fox Sports ratings down 12 per cent.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-fans-gather/story-e6frfgbo-1225868833566

 

[dockshark]

.....As a freo supporter I thought u would understand this perfectly

Perhaps it would be better if you didn't 'think' as you put it....

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

They should direct their hatred towards David Gallop.

His attitude and mismanagement alone will bring their code to its knees, they dont need our help.

 

[tugga]

Wrong.

I'd be interested to see the actual ratings allround. My point is that NRL is very much a sport made for TV. I enjoy watching it live, but it's not as good as AFL live. However I think NRL is better to watch on TV.

 

[Snoochems]

Saw this in the AFL sub-forum.

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=361515

To be honest, with so much jealousy and hate it's a wonder an AFL sub forum is permitted to exist on there ****-fest-forums.

 

[QL 21]

AFL Fans: Why so much Soccer hate?

What did you expect? They're supporting a rival code, they're meant to be vocal in their dislike for our game. Most AFL fans feel exactly the same towards League, Union and Soccer. Infact, it would be unsettling if they were anything but hostile towards us.

 

[Beaussie]

I'd be interested to see the actual ratings allround. My point is that NRL is very much a sport made for TV. I enjoy watching it live, but it's not as good as AFL live. However I think NRL is better to watch on TV.

The AFL absolutely dominates the tv ratings each and every week of the season.

http://www.talkingfooty.com/tv_ratings_2010.php

 

[Barabbas]

To be honest, it's not all NRL fans - I moved to Brissie a few years ago and Queenslanders just seem to follow all sports and most like AFL. That said I've spent time in northern NSW and the hate for AFL there is spiteful, we had drunk bogans having a go at "GayFL" watching the game in the pub. Maybe it's a NSW thing because some of the anti AFL articles the telegragh are running read like conspiracy theories. Personally, I think the AFL has been smart to not engage in an NRL Vs AFL war, and the NRL should follow their lead, being defensive is not a good look.

And if those fans think they are doing their sport a favour they aren't, it reminds me of a quote from a george w bush advisor where he said that, when people make fun of the way george bush speaks it only makes him more popular, because his voters like that he doesn't speak well - he speaks like them (or something to the effect). In the same way, every time those fans call our sport gayfl, aerial ping pong or other derogitory terms, they only alienate the fans that are not rednecks.

 

[jko'neal]

NRL fans are a strange breed, all the one's I know hate every other sport. I know people that will change the TV channel if AFL is on and not let their kids watch it, they have no respect for opposite codes or other team sports in general.

 

[anti_]

good old clintdogg

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=323699

 

[Byron_Clanger]

They are just jealous that their 'game' will be dead in less than a decade

 

[TeamHurley]

We need to assemble a strikeforce of our best trolls.

 

[aRT8t]

NswRL total flogs