Soccer v AFL

[gocatsgo]

This is a serious request.

Does anyone know any web sites of journals, stories or any information that has been written on the impact of the 'global' game soccer on the 'local' game AFL?

I am doing an assignment on the impact of soccer on AFL and am struggling to find information that deals with the effect on the AFL.

Personally, I don't think there is much effect, but there must be something that has been written on the issue.

Please help.

 

[eagleskickass]

I did read a report somewhere, can't remember where sorry, but All i can remember it saying is that one huge effect is that soccer is starting to get bigger in grass roots. I know Soccer is bigger in Albany that Aussi Rules, in Junior ranks, so we are getting less people growing up playing footy. Also I know 5 people that probably could have made it in the AFL but were as good as soccer so they dropped footy and kept going with soccer.

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

I don't think the AFL has anything to worry about regarding the round ball game.

Sure it is big amongst the kids but so what ?

Take the United States for example, Soccer is the most played football game amongst children there, yet the game has stagnated yet again after the 1994 world cup.

Attendances at the National League are still stuck at around 17,500 average - and going backwards. The national team has done nothing since 1994 and the supply of quality American players to the rich leagues in Europe and Latin America has all but dried up.

Same for Australia - sure all the kids are playing it but that hardly translates into a robust and strong groundswell of support for tye game here.

Average attendances at NSL matches are stagnant at best (Perth Glory notwithstanding) at around 4500 per game. The Socceroos and Olyroos are just as hopeless as they always have been, also half the clubs seem to be in a permanent state of financial insolvency. Northern Spirit, Sydney Olympic and Newcastle Breakers here in NSW are broke and under administration.

Soccer Australia (the governing body) is permanently wracked with scandal, incompetence and personality-driven political agendas. They were supposed to 'restructuring' the comp (YET AGAIN) for this season but nothing has happened because nobody can agree on anything.

Soccer remains the Great White Hope of Australian football codes. Lotsa people play and love the game but it is so badly run in this country that there isn't a hope in hell that it would ever be in a position to seriously challenge Aussie Rules, or even Rugby for that matter.

On a personal note - I don't like the game much at all, its boring, there are no goals, the ridiculous staging for free kicks is just plain stupid, and penalty shootouts are stupidist thing in sport this side of synchronised swimming.

cheers

 

[Peter P]

Having grown up on footy mainly I find most soccer frustrating to play and watch. It seems like half a game (we've got hands so why not use them). I think the International Rules games can make a point here - as they are with a white round ball and nets in the goals and yet so much faster and more specatacular than soccer - and that's even with one side not being used to a round ball.

But in my view soccer is a big threat - even if it is just by slowly bleeding AFL ranks dry of young players. I wrote to AFL clubs about introducing 9-a-side as the junior primary version of footy - as a lot of kids start with soccer because you can't get a footy team numbers wise from a class, ovals are small, and coaching of and playing in a roving pack of 36 can be a bit difficult. 9-a-side solves all these deficiencies and makes footy just as easy for little tackers. They can graduate to 18-a-side in late primary, early high school.

Secondly Aussie Rules needs to internaitonalise -and it certainly is well on the way - this alleviates the other difference with soccer offering more international opportunity. See my thread about 6,000 at the footy in Tennessee.

As for spectating - footy will always be better - but it will need the players.

 

[geelong4eva]

I think people should be able to appreciate both codes without being hounded down (IE Soccer /IE Italian fans esp Bag Aussie Rules and the same applies to many AFL fans regarding Soccer) But i love both sports. I'm a long time Leeds fan (since i was 12) and see a few bad times (like the tragic stabbing of two leeds fans in turkey last year) but now i can marvel at the skills of a Harry Kewell (Even though he's injured until Christmas) or Mark Viduka for instance. However i would rather watch a tough, tight game of AFL then see bloody David Beckham or roy Keane of Wankchester United anyday. God i despie that mob !

 

[Guest]

BA could'nt have said it better myself.

Except I like to watch top line soccer.

[This message has been edited by happy hawker (edited 06 October 2000).]

 

[Peter P]

They're not level playing fields.

I too can appreciate a good game of topline soccer - but topline soccer is super professional on a player base of many millions. That Gaelic Football and Aussie Rules can produce generally more exciting games from a player base of thousands with one sport totally amateur and the other only really professional in the last two years, says something for using all 4 limbs!

What a spectacle we could see if Footy or Gaelic or even Internat.Rules could one day be a true "world game". And it is not complete pie in the sky - see thread "6,000 see footy in Tennesse".