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[The Half Back]

Holy shit. Are you almost a fully fledged psychic? You were so close.

Haha I was thinking of the exact same post when it happened! Imagine if you could bet on a dead heat. The odds would be crazy.

Wow.

what can I say, I knew it would happen

 

[PAFC_04]

Yo, dude, what?

So the English Premier League is inferior to the AFL? Because the AFL gets better attendances? And you know, the Bundesliga is thus better than the AFL because their attendances are bigger than that of Australian rules.

Your logic on this footy superiority complex is perplexing. I could understand and sympathise - hey, I might even agree - if didn't base your argument on fallace.

Well it isn't the only thing to base inferiority on but it certainly plays a big part. Anyone who says soccer and the A-League is bigger and better than footy and the AFL in Australia is absolutely clueless!!! I hate to admit that its getting bigger but it still has a huge way to go if it wants to overtake footy, which I can't ever see it doing in my lifetime. Footy is just a natural part of Australian culture, and we need to embrace this. Soccer is not! It's just more appealing to most Australians for this reason (and because stuff actually happens). Almost everyone you talk to 'supports' or follows an AFL team at least very loosely but there are nowhere near the same numbers when it comes to the A-League. I can safely, proudly and happily say that I couldn't give a rat's arse who wins the next A-League championship (or whatever the bloody thing's called). In fact I don't even know the names of any players. Sergio Van Dijk and Archie Thompson are really the only two I can name off the top of my head (I don't even know if they're good) and that's probably only because they have cool names

 

[Lion Cub 16]

They should have done an AFL and ran a rematch next week

 

[jethro11]

But PAFC, it's unfair to say that.

It's like comparing the NEAFL to the EPL. I also think it's unfair to say that nothing happens in soccer. The fact is that in soccer a team could completely dominate the game and be 2-0 up in injury time, when the other team scores with their third shot of the game. Then the other team has to desperately hold on for the next few minutes.A tonne of excitement there.

Oh well, let's all be happy that we can watch two great sports in our own backyard. We could be in Tassie after all.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

a draw

Haha

I had money on Illo and Jukebox Jury...

 

[Willo #6]

Oh well, let's all be happy that we can watch two great sports in our own backyard. We could be in Tassie after all.

I'm in Tassie. It's great

 

[jethro11]

I'm in Tassie. It's great

Haha, I knew I'd get a response like that from you.

 

[PAFC_04]

Think I might move to Tassie now...

 

[Willo #6]

Haha, I knew I'd get a response like that from you.

I'm just glad I'm not in Adelaide

 

[Silent Alarm]

Well it isn't the only thing to base inferiority on but it certainly plays a big part. Anyone who says soccer and the A-League is bigger and better than footy and the AFL in Australia is absolutely clueless!!! I hate to admit that its getting bigger but it still has a huge way to go if it wants to overtake footy, which I can't ever see it doing in my lifetime. Footy is just a natural part of Australian culture, and we need to embrace this. Soccer is not! It's just more appealing to most Australians for this reason (and because stuff actually happens). Almost everyone you talk to 'supports' or follows an AFL team at least very loosely but there are nowhere near the same numbers when it comes to the A-League. I can safely, proudly and happily say that I couldn't give a rat's arse who wins the next A-League championship (or whatever the bloody thing's called). In fact I don't even know the names of any players. Sergio Van Dijk and Archie Thompson are really the only two I can name off the top of my head (I don't even know if they're good) and that's probably only because they have cool names

Well of course the AFL is bigger. But better? They're not really alike. It's a personal, subjective choice. I much prefer the footy over the A-League, so I agree. But the way you've premised your argument is so absurd. A little too much emotion and not enough reasonable evidence, or, a nice, cogent explanation. Triple explanation marks are not needed.

And 'soccer' is engrained into Australian culture. We are born from immigration. In the middle of the 20th century, right after the second World War, a lot of Baltics and Southern and Eastern Europeans came to this country. They brought with them a passion for 'soccer' - you know, clubs like South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic... I admit that soccer isn't as obvious, or heavily engrained culturally, as footy, but it's quite important to a large part of people - people who helped build this country. To dismis that is to be a little narrow minded.

 

[PAFC_04]

I've said, nowhere near the same amount of people like/watch/follow/attend the A-League than the AFL. There is much more money involved with sponsors, TV rights, etc, due to this. It's just all so obvious that I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be explaining with soccer being inferior to footy IN AUSTRALIA!
As I've said, I don't really follow the A-League or soccer at all. But from what I can gather, most of the players are really pretty average on a world-scale. People from other European countries would probably see our league as a joke. Most of the players are from other countries or have strong heritage in other countries anyway. It really isn't much of an Australian league. That's the beauty of footy, it's almost all stuff we've produced and I don't know about you guys but I get a huge sense of pride from this. No disrespect to anyone from another country, I'm not trying to be racist, but naturally we should all be more proud of a game, league and the great players which we have all produced ourselves. Obviously the AFL is the best league of its kind in the world, the A-League is far from it.
I barely agree that soccer is a part of Australian culture, its mainly just been brought in recently by the large amount of immigrants to our country. Football has much stronger ties with our heritage. Back as recently as the 80s even, barely anyone played soccer and the A-League was non-existent

*I can already see myself getting abused for this post*

 

[Gibbsy]

Most of the players are from other countries or have strong heritage in other countries anyway. It really isn't much of an Australian league.

Hahaha. That's like saying the Barclays Premier League isn't an English league because the best player in the league right now is Dutch.

Or that the Liga BBVA isn't a Spanish League because Lionel Messi is Argentinian.

Next.

Back as recently as the 80s even, barely anyone played soccer and the A-League was non-existent

*I can already see myself getting abused for this post*

I love opinionated posts like these, I really do. And I commend you for being passionate about what you love. But soccer has existed in these parts for much longer than you think. If you don't know who Johnny Warren is, do a bit of research on him. That'll tell you all I need to say.

 

[PortBrillance]

Hahaha. That's like saying the Barclays Premier League isn't an English league because the best player in the league right now is Dutch

 

[jethro11]

Even though the A-League wasn't existent in the 80's, the NSL was and the passion and excitement in some of those derbys was right up there the AFL ones. And a league shouldn't be measured by the amount of local players it has or hasn't got. If anything, the A-League should be proud of the fact that is has attracted so much talent from overseas and also the like of Kewell and Emerton. Small league sure, but it's still got a lot of growth ahead of it.

 

[PAFC_04]

The point I was trying to get at with limited local players is that not as many people play it.

Anyway, I've been off school sick today and can't be bothered arguing anymore. My head hurts

 

[Andonis1997]

I'm just glad I'm not in Adelaide

*sigh*...

 

[Silent Alarm]

I've said, nowhere near the same amount of people like/watch/follow/attend the A-League than the AFL. There is much more money involved with sponsors, TV rights, etc, due to this. It's just all so obvious that I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be explaining with soccer being inferior to footy IN AUSTRALIA!
As I've said, I don't really follow the A-League or soccer at all. But from what I can gather, most of the players are really pretty average on a world-scale. People from other European countries would probably see our league as a joke. Most of the players are from other countries or have strong heritage in other countries anyway. It really isn't much of an Australian league. That's the beauty of footy, it's almost all stuff we've produced and I don't know about you guys but I get a huge sense of pride from this. No disrespect to anyone from another country, I'm not trying to be racist, but naturally we should all be more proud of a game, league and the great players which we have all produced ourselves. Obviously the AFL is the best league of its kind in the world, the A-League is far from it.
I barely agree that soccer is a part of Australian culture, its mainly just been brought in recently by the large amount of immigrants to our country. Football has much stronger ties with our heritage. Back as recently as the 80s even, barely anyone played soccer and the A-League was non-existent

*I can already see myself getting abused for this post*

Oh god. Seriously?

You have just regurgitated the same ludicrous statements.

So is McDonald's better than a lasagne your mum or dad cooks? Because McDonald's is richer and eaten by more people and has more cultural relevance. Is that absolutely appalling tripe Two and a Half Men better than an underground indie flick? No way. These things are subjective. You can like certain things, but it doesn't mean that they are better. These things you have pointed out are just examples of popular culture - and popularity and money does not govern how good something is.

I pointed out that Australia has a history of immigration. It is the footprint of all of us. Unless you're indigenous, I can guarantee you'll be the product of a migrant. Those migrant forefathers played the world game. This country is born from immigration! Soccer has been around in Australia as long as football. Soccer has enjoyed strength and enjoyment for that time.

Have you heard of the 'Golden Generation'? No? Heard of Harry Kewell, Mark Bosnich, Stan Lazaridis, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Viduka, Vince Grella, Marco Bresciano, Brett Emerton? I'm sure you have. These guys are all in their 30's. That means they played soccer in the 1980's. Coincidentally, these guys played in the three greatest leagues of the world - in Spain, Italy, and England. Nothing to scoff at. Before that, Australia had representatives playing in the best leagues.

Australia's immigration patterns have seen an influx of new Australian's from a certain geographic. And those countries don't have a huge soccer backgrund. So again, your perception is totally warped.

We had a league - The National Soccer League. It was barely fantastic, but it was pretty heated.

People only started playing the game recently? Australia qualified for a first World Cup in 1974. Before you were born. We had a bevy of quality footballers. You may not know, but there was this guy called Johnny Warren. He was, and is, heralded as an out and out legend of not only Australian soccer, but Australian sport. He was our George Best. Have you ever seen the spine tingling video of John Aloisi tapping in that penalty? Did you see the elation of the crowd? Can you hear the near tears of Craig Foster? Foz screams something about "this is for Johnny Warren". And those people in the crowd? Those eleven Australians on the pitch? They were happy because they beat a duct of 32 years... a duct's end that signified a pay off for decades of the sport in the country without reward.

Do you know Joe Marston? The guy lives humbly in a Sydney home. He was the first Australian to play in an FA Cup final - and he was considered one of the best on the ground. He's in Preston North End's all time XI - an all-time team that includes one David Beckham.

Yet, let us entertain a hypothetical: If the A-League only got people playing the game, wouldn't that make it a resounding success? You know soccer is the number one sport for juniors in this country?

Australia has long had a soccer background. Don't be so ignorant.

Is the Australian Football League something crafted by Australians? Yes. But you know what? Those Australians were immigrants. The blokes at Melbourne who drew up the rules, they were probably at least half English or Irish or Scottish. This country is reared on a hybrid of difference. That's why people enjoy living here.

Also, how Australian does Demetroui sound? What about Pavlich? Daicos? Jakovich? Jesaulenko? These guys came from European backgrounds, and pretty immediate ones. So we shouldn't be proud of these out and out legends because they aren't "awssies"?

Not only have you come across as flogging a dead horse, but also slightly racist. And i'm not being hypersensitive, because I know how unnecessary hypersensitivity and racism can be. I love our Aussie Rules. I absolutely love it - that's why I'm here. But I am also a lover of football, or, "soccer". I'm also a hater of ignorance - especially when it comes to this country's fine history of sporting calibre. So I'm not anti-footy or anything like that.

This is infuriating. And the consistently annoying low quality of the posters around here is disappointing. Please don't be so daft.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

Tldr

 

[PAFC_04]

You're just generalising most of my statements. Anyway I'm sick and really can't be bothered processing all of that information at the moment, my head's ****ed! I'll reply to all that later when I feel a bit better. I need sleep first...

 

[Silent Alarm]

You're just generalising most of my statements. Anyway I'm sick and really can't be bothered processing all of that information at the moment, my head's ****ed! I'll reply to all that later when I feel a bit better. I need sleep first...

Generalising?! You blatantly said everything. You were the last thing from vague. I am sure a majority of people around here can attest to that.

You said: No one played soccer in the 1980's; The A-League is terrible; The AFL is something to be proud of because it is Australian - not "someone else's" league, and you used the example of foreigners in the A-League; You said that money + exposure = superiority.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

Alright guys, cool it

 

[E92_]

Why are we arguing about this inferior sport...

 

[Ochre]

Also, how Australian does Demetroui sound? What about Pavlich? Daicos? Jakovich? Jesaulenko? These guys came from European backgrounds, and pretty immediate ones. So we shouldn't be proud of these out and out legends because they aren't "awssies"?

That's racist.

 

[jethro11]

I've gotta say, SA is raising some quite valid points in response to PAFC's rehashed arguments. Whilst I agree that that Australian Football (not the AFL) is a better sport, it is incredibly unfair to compare one sports top class of competition with a 6 year old league in a country where the sport is not the biggest sport.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

I've gotta say, SA is raising some quite valid points in response to PAFC's rehashed arguments. Whilst I agree that that Australian Football (not the AFL) is a better sport, it is incredibly unfair to compare one sports top class of competition with a 6 year old league in a country where the sport is not the biggest sport.

Exactly right, it's an unfair comparison.