Other codes need to get real

[Ciderhound]

Aussie Rules is our national sport, Capiche.

No it's not. That is a myopic little fantasy that deluded Victorians would like to think. As long as NSW and Queensland continue to have sizable populations where the vast majority have little or no interest in AFL (and I don't see that changing any time soon) AFL will not be Australia's 'No. 1 sport'

 

[LoungeLizard]

No it's not. That is a myopic little fantasy that deluded Victorians would like to think. As long as NSW and Queensland continue to have sizable populations where the vast majority have little or no interest in AFL (and I don't see that changing any time soon) AFL will not be Australia's 'No. 1 sport'

Maybe it is, maybe it's not. But I'll tell you one thing that is a fact.
Soccer is not.

 

[Barkly St End]

No it's not. That is a myopic little fantasy that deluded Victorians would like to think. As long as NSW and Queensland continue to have sizable populations where the vast majority have little or no interest in AFL (and I don't see that changing any time soon) AFL will not be Australia's 'No. 1 sport'

On many important metrics: memberships, attendance, TV ratings, sponsorship, turnover - it is way ahead of all other football codes combined.

 

[bzparkes]

No it's not. That is a myopic little fantasy that deluded Victorians would like to think. As long as NSW and Queensland continue to have sizable populations where the vast majority have little or no interest in AFL (and I don't see that changing any time soon) AFL will not be Australia's 'No. 1 sport'

Unlike soccer, Australian Rules was created entirely within Australia. Please explain to me why it isn't our national game because this seems very confusing to me

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Some of these soccer supporters seem to live in fear that someone in Portugal may be "bemused" at us, or that they will be in some way embarassed.

 

[Barkly St End]

Some of these soccer supporters seem to live in fear that someone in Portugal may be "bemused" at us, or that they will be in some way embarassed.

We coined a term for that decades ago: it's called cultural cringe!

Macquarie:

noun
a feeling that one's country's culture is inferior to that of other countries: *Australia's long march from cultural cringe to cultural strut had begun. - ROBERT MANNE, 1998.

 

[The Mongrel Punt]

It's not even called the Socceroos. It's called "Australia national football team".

Wow... catchy.

 

[MightyIrons]

 

[realfootball]

Unlike soccer, Australian Rules was created entirely within Australia. Please explain to me why it isn't our national game because this seems very confusing to me

I have to agree with ciderhound.
Half the population of Australia lives in QLD and NSW, and AFL unfortunately is not even worth mentioning, unless you want to get in an argument. From my own experience, most people I have grown up with, speak to and work with either utterly despise the game or see it as a novelty. I think it is slowly changing with media exposure, but it will be a big slog to adjust that attitude in these states. There is a niche following for sure, and the AFL have done well to attract female fans (go to a swans game for example, like being in a north shore hairdressers salon), but overall, it's an uphill battle.

 

[Barkly St End]

Piss poor effort mate.

 

[Barkly St End]

I have to agree with ciderhound.
Half the population of Australia lives in QLD and NSW, and AFL unfortunately is not even worth mentioning, unless you want to get in an argument. From my own experience, most people I have grown up with, speak to and work with either utterly despise the game or see it as a novelty. I think it is slowly changing with media exposure, but it will be a big slog to adjust that attitude in these states. There is a niche following for sure, and the AFL have done well to attract female fans (go to a swans game for example, like being in a north shore hairdressers salon), but overall, it's an uphill battle.

Looking at memberships, attendances, sponsorship, TV ratings, club turnover, media interest - it's double all the other football codes combined.

 

[Ciderhound]

Looking at memberships, attendances, sponsorship, TV ratings, club turnover, media interest - it's double all the other football codes combined.

And where do these memberships, attendences, media interest and TV ratings eminate from?.......I'll tell you now it is not from NSW and Queensland. Have you ever read Mondays Daily Telegraph or the Courier Mail in the middle of NRL season? -you would be lucky to find half a page of AFL and that is the way it will remain for the forseeable future. Australia's explots in the world cup next year will grab the back page of newspapers in all states

 

[Ciderhound]

Piss poor effort mate.

Yes it does appear silly but reading some of the posts on here including the 'we should have voted Hanson as PM' I can see where he is coming from......

 

[Barkly St End]

And where do these memberships, attendences, media interest and TV ratings eminate from?.......I'll tell you now it is not from NSW and Queensland. Have you ever read Mondays Daily Telegraph or the Courier Mail in the middle of NRL season? -you would be lucky to find half a page of AFL and that is the way it will remain for the forseeable future. Australia's explots in the world cup next year will grab the back page of newspapers in all states

I can do nothing more but repeat, looking at memberships, attendances, sponsorship, TV ratings, club turnover, media interest - it's double all the other football codes combined.

That's double all the other football codes combined.

 

[mantis]

Yes it does appear silly but reading some of the posts on here including the 'we should have voted Hanson as PM' I can see where he is coming from......

If that silly bitch was PM, she would be all for soccer as the Pommies love it, plus she lives in QLD & probably hates Aussie Rules.

 

[Barkly St End]

If that silly bitch was PM, she would be all for soccer as the Pommies love it, plus she lives in QLD & probably hates Aussie Rules.

That's no way to talk about an honourable former member!!

 

[vinnie]

I can do nothing more but repeat, looking at memberships, attendances, sponsorship, TV ratings, club turnover, media interest - it's double all the other football codes combined.

That's double all the other football codes combined.

Unfortunately, no Australian football code has a CLEAN SWEEP of what it means to be the biggest national sport. Sorry. It depends on your reference.

I hate AFL with a passion but even I have to concede in many repspects AFL leads the way, but not in all. So when you say AFL is number one, well, just bear in mind that it is not in all repsects.

All the numbers have been done to death on this website so no use repeating, but we should all know that the sport which dominates TV rights, attendances, memberships, average salary is not the same sport that dominates player participation, geographic spread of top league or highest absolute player salary.

So please, do me a favour, when you beat your chest about which is the number 1 code, please be specific about your reference

If you wish to refer to attendance, memberships, TV rights, media coverage - please select AFL.

If you wish to quote player participation or national geographic coverage, please use soccer

IF you wish to quote TV audience for one game, you can use NRL for its state of origin

 

[Barkly St End]

Unfortunately, no Australian football code has a CLEAN SWEEP of what it means to be the biggest national sport. Sorry. It depends on your reference.

I hate AFL with a passion but even I have to concede in many repspects AFL leads the way, but not in all. So when you say AFL is number one, well, just bear in mind that it is not in all repsects.

All the numbers have been done to death on this website so no use repeating, but we should all know that the sport which dominates TV rights, attendances, memberships, average salary is not the same sport that dominates player participation, geographic spread of top league or highest absolute player salary.

So please, do me a favour, when you beat your chest about which is the number 1 code, please be specific about your reference - is it number one on attendance/TV rights, or player participation?

You must hate AFL to have chosen Richmond as your club!

Re participation - that's not as clear cut as some make out - in any event, the biggest sports in Australia are walking, running, swimming, cycling and aerobics (in terms of participation).

In terms of salary?

Ok - John Aloisi earns $1.4 mill per annum (because the blokes who run SFC are dills).

But in terms of the amount of professional footallers in Australia, and their average salary, and the fact that an 18 yo AFL rookie can earn $100,000 in their first year, as much as an experienced player can be earning in the A-League - well, please...

 

[vinnie]

You must hate AFL to have chosen Richmond as your club!

Re participation - that's not as clear cut as some make out - in any event, the biggest sports in Australia are walking, running, swimming, cycling and aerobics (in terms of participation).

In terms of salary?

Ok - John Aloisi earns $1.4 mill per annum (because the blokes who run SFC are dills).

But in terms of the amount of professional footallers in Australia, and their average salary, and the fact that an 18 yo AFL rookie can earn $100,000 in their first year, as much as an experienced player can be earning in the A-League - well, please...

So, are you suggesting AFL has the CLEAN SWEEP of everything it needs to be number 1?

I like Richmond,k I go to games. But I hate AFL they are paranoid infidels.

If AFL block the world cup I will never go to AFL game again and hate them forever with the highest passion possible. You should do the same.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

If the AFL block the world cup it is because the idiots running soccer were either too arrogent or too stupid to make arrangements prior to submitting a bid.

It is one thing to look at a stadium and consider that it would be a good world cup venue, it is quite another to assume that you can have the use of it just because its the world cup. People that are not so narrow minded notice that others are not always as passionate about your vested interests as you are. But go ahead make the AFL a scapgoat if it makes you feel better. I'm sure Demetriou will still sleep at night. It will be the guys at the FFA who will wonder, "maybe we should have approached things differently "

 

[Royal Flush]

guys guys guys..
WTF is going on? I must admit have been surprised by the extreme negative attitudes regarding the issue of hosting the world cup by a minority of numskulls and actually couldn't believe that the 1960's yobbo mentality exists today. The racist analogies to soccer/football and the like.
Although that is a minority and I acknowledge it, I wonder how hard it must be for you when you wake up in the morning, brush your teeth and then see your own reflection in the mirror.

Taking that view aside (numskulls will always be apart of humanity, fortunately we have institutions to house them), this is not soccer vs AFL which is bigger, better, more/less exciting blah blah blah.
Yes Craig Foster and the like need to respect the great Australian game and not challenge it like a blind bullfighter. I get slightly bothered when the A-league fraternity criticise the game of AFL in any way, I LOL at the rugby types that call it aerial ping pong.

Andy D unless he is playing the game to win a Stadium for the AFL after the world cup comes and goes within a few weeks, needs to understand that his baby is not greater then the world cup. The single greatest sporting tournament in the globe, and the benefits of this country hosting it will outweigh a once in a lifetime 4 week disruption to the AFL season. We coped with the Olympics and the commonwealth games.

Me personally, I do not follow the A-league and I don’t know I ever will?
I have loved Aussie rules since the 70's and still do.
I did follow the old NSL in the 80's and yes criticise me but I enjoyed the ethnic rivalry!

Its no secret, but AFL always has and always will be the dominant code in this country.
And yes I do hope the A-league prospers and becomes the next biggest code, ahead of Rugby variations, cricket, netball, and softball...blah blah blah.

They (A league) just need to get people like me interested; I don’t have an interest in it right now.
But the World Cup that is a different kettle of fish, to me it's one of the great things in life to look forward too.

But to the point, this is not A-league v AFL. Never will be.

The WC in OZ is for the 22 million people.

 

[mickctiger]

So, are you suggesting AFL has the CLEAN SWEEP of everything it needs to be number 1?

I like Richmond,k I go to games. But I hate AFL they are paranoid infidels.

If AFL block the world cup I will never go to AFL game again and hate them forever with the highest passion possible. You should do the same.

e

you are not a true tiger then.

Australian football is bigger than the club and bigger than the AFL.
Its the great Australian game and we love it

 

[SaintsSeptember]

guys guys guys..
WTF is going on? I must admit have been surprised by the extreme negative attitudes regarding the issue of hosting the world cup by a minority of numskulls and actually couldn't believe that the 1960's yobbo mentality exists today. The racist analogies to soccer/football and the like.
Although that is a minority and I acknowledge it, I wonder how hard it must be for you when you wake up in the morning, brush your teeth and then see your own reflection in the mirror.

Taking that view aside (numskulls will always be apart of humanity, fortunately we have institutions to house them), this is not soccer vs AFL which is bigger, better, more/less exciting blah blah blah.
Yes Craig Foster and the like need to respect the great Australian game and not challenge it like a blind bullfighter. I get slightly bothered when the A-league fraternity criticise the game of AFL in any way, I LOL at the rugby types that call it aerial ping pong.

Andy D unless he is playing the game to win a Stadium for the AFL after the world cup comes and goes within a few weeks, needs to understand that his baby is not greater then the world cup. The single greatest sporting tournament in the globe, and the benefits of this country hosting it will outweigh a once in a lifetime 4 week disruption to the AFL season. We coped with the Olympics and the commonwealth games.

Me personally, I do not follow the A-league and I don’t know I ever will?
I have loved Aussie rules since the 70's and still do.
I did follow the old NSL in the 80's and yes criticise me but I enjoyed the ethnic rivalry!

Its no secret, but AFL always has and always will be the dominant code in this country.
And yes I do hope the A-league prospers and becomes the next biggest code, ahead of Rugby variations, cricket, netball, and softball...blah blah blah.

They (A league) just need to get people like me interested; I don’t have an interest in it right now.
But the World Cup that is a different kettle of fish, to me it's one of the great things in life to look forward too.

But to the point, this is not A-league v AFL. Never will be.

The WC in OZ is for the 22 million people.

A lot of the animosity , rather than a 1960's yobo attitute, was fuelled by Soccer supporters with " Youse is all bogans, an we is all sufisticated cos football is the world game ".
Similarly the AFL do have certain legal rights to use some of the proposed stadiums, and it is simplistic to suggest that the AFL or any other business would sustain a loss simply to let the world cup proceed smoothly.
If suitable arrangements had been made, Demetriou's comments would probably have been limited to "we fully support this bid "

 

[vinnie]

I see your logic but it don't matter here, its about passion for your sport and country.

Soccer people like me see AFL as violating both, all for a contract dispute that is totally hypothetical.

I hate tennis and it blocks my way home from work every January, but I don't brag on a forum that's it's a boring sport and that other Australians shouldn't have a tennis open.

We soccer people are going to be blaming the AFL for a very, very long time.

 

[mickctiger]

We soccer people are going to be blaming the AFL for a very, very long time.

shouldn't you direct your anger at the FFA and the incompetent way they have conducted their bid ?