the old chessnut. AFL vs NRL. which is more skillful?

[Lifetime ban]

Firstly, if you take away your score for kickin, since its such a minor part of playing rl, the score is 44 - 45. So **** all difference.

The rl ball is bigger, lighter and has a rippled surface. Particularly with a bomb, the lightness of the ball means it's susceptible to to movement in the air, so it's harder to control the kick and judge how it's going to come down, with it moving around in the air.

Not going the whole nine yards on your post but thought I might just comment on these two quotes. How do you remove kickin', from FOOTBALL. By the very definition of the word, it requires a ball to make contact with a foot. Or do you wish to concede and admit that League is not football, and should in fact be called Handball?

Secondly, League went to the current ball, because it was decided after much testing, that it was easier to hold onto than the old leather ball, particularly in the wet, and that by doing so, it would lead to a reduction in the number of knock-ons that were then taking place. In other words, League players were consistently dropping the ball, which at the time was essentially the same size and feel as an Aussie rules ball, although slightly fatter. For a game that prides itself on ball control, at a time when the Swans were establishing themselves in Sydney, the League realised that they had to maintain that point of difference and give it to their supporters to hang their hats on.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

No contest, Afl tests way more skill sets than NRL. Rugby is about being bigger than the other team and then throwing the ball away from goals. Interesting game. AFL players have to be good by hand and foot. They also have to be good in the air and at ground level, they do way more running off the ball and have to think about all directions as opposed to one. Every player has to be able to kick the ball to a direct target as opposed to just one or two players. People make the mistake of thinking rugby players are more skilful than afl because they think about how the game is played. Yes there are no rules in afl except don 't throw it but that doesn't mean they don't need to be better athletes. NRL is a more tactical game but AFL requires better athletes.

 

[Daniel Flynn]

AFL by miles just look at Karmichael hunt and Folau they couldn't stand the test AFL throws at you and they were on big contracts, if they weren't willing to stick it out I think that proves everything

 

[Gongswan]

Could you imagine Man U or the New York Giants picking up someone from another sport and putting them straight into the top team.

That happened with Folau, Hunt and that Canadian hack.

Rest my case.

Edit: please don't bring up kickers in Gridiron, that would only be trolling.

Canadian hack??? You mean best contested mark in hte game for 2 years Mike Pyke?

 

[Marcus DuQuesne]

Cross Country Bum Sniffing vs Cross Country Basketball.....More skill in Basketball but must be tougher to Bum Sniff

 

[SizeMatters]

AFL easily. My High School had an 'excellence in rugby league' and is a powerhouse for the sport for all of the Greater Brisbane region. I was encouraged to try out for the program and compete against my peers and made it (didn't bother accepting)... never played any league at all besides about 10 minutes of it but had played aussie rules since I was 6. I was more skilful than all of the other blokes albeit a shitty tackle.

 

[RUNVS]

AFL easily. My High School had an 'excellence in rugby league' and is a powerhouse for the sport for all of the Greater Brisbane region. I was encouraged to try out for the program and compete against my peers and made it (didn't bother accepting)... never played any league at all besides about 10 minutes of it but had played aussie rules since I was 6. I was more skilful than all of the other blokes albeit a shitty tackle.

Best not to shower with the other guys if it makes you self-conscious.

 

[bkozican]

Awareness a 10...Maybe when Byron Pickett was playing. Can pretty much get away with just looking forward now. Gone are the days of getting picked off 5mtrs from the ball...From any angle

 

[Gigantor]

An interesting aspect about League (and perhaps rugby) is that nearly half of the playing stock comes from a relatively small ethnic group.

 

[jonokay]

no doubt more than a few black eyes have resulted from disputes in hotels about which code takes the most skill to play. so lets find the skills that both codes have in common and give a score to the level of skill required in each code.

both codes, tackle, kick, catch, pass, evade, etc. so we will stick to the skills both codes have in common...which is all of them for all intents and purposes. we will neglet other skills that both codes havent in common as they are really so few, and dont have a great impact on this survey. you could talk about NRL toughness or AFL shepherding. but all that does is serve to confuse the issue. we will stick to the basic skills need in both codes.

scores are awarded between 1 and 10.

tackling.

the nature of rugby league demands a high level of tackling ability. ALL players have to be of an extremely high standard. opposition will target small players, or suspect in defence. on an international, all code comparison, NRL players are most likely the best in the world. only half of an NFL (gridiron) team needs to tackle, and most of them merely block.

the level of tackling skill of AFL players is under rated. they can tackle, but it is much more difficult to actually nail a player. otherwise hunt would wreak havoc in every game. and he doesnt. still, they is little emphasis on tackling in AFL. even talent scouts player record sheet doesnt include a reference to a players ability to tackle.

NRL 10
AFL 3.


kicking.

NRL players generally dont kick. there are usually 2 designated kickers. one for goal, and the other for set plays. the two kickers are actually very skillful, but across the code it is not a big skill. regardless, each player CAN kick. rarely do they drop punt. usually a torpedo. players usually cant kick from both feet, nor do they kick usually on the run. (im not saying they cant, its just not a requirement).

AFL. probably the greatest kickers on the planet. soccer may have something to say. but soccer kicks along the ground in 2D, AFL kicks in the air in 3D. players kick both feet. must land a ball from an Arial kick on to a small target area and not over or undershoot. they must also kick accurately for goal, without any lateral miscuing.

NRL 2

AFL 10


fitness.

although not a skill, it does take commitment. we are looking at the codes, not individual potential.

NRL is explosive fitness. the interchange has detracted from the need for aerobic fitness. players often carry excess muscle and weight round the gut.

AFL are middle distance runners. supremely fit. they also train to be explosive. they cant afford to carry weight.

NRL 6

AFL 10


passing.

NRL players posses a wide variety of passes. the flat torpedo pass, the standard pass, flick pass, overhead, round the corner, one hand offload, etc. all are situational passes where a player must select it instantly. they must also do it accurately as there are harsh consequences for losing the ball in RL.

AFL. one type of pass. the handball. not many variations on the basic pass. however, learning to pass both hands is a challenge. perhaps no more so than a RL kid learning to pass from his non domminant side. i have taken into account that the ball is punched not guided, and that in itself is difficult. but there is little variation in the skill once learned.

NRL. 10.

AFL 7

evasion.

NRL with less space to move and the intense defense in front, RL players have incredible skills in evasion. they step off both feet, dummy, swerve, chip kick, hit and spin, draw and pass, and all of these put together in the one play. players need to be explosive off the mark, fast, strong, AND be able to defend at an elite level.

AFL. evasion is a requirement. but personal evasion isnt as critical, as players often promote the ball quickly. it is because of this that defence isnt such a high priority in AFL. some players are very elusive, but having to bounce the ball when running penalises players who do decide to run and be evasive.

NRL 8

AFL 5

catching.

NRL usually only the fullback and wings take 'marks' or catch kicked ball. players do however catch the ball when its passed by another player. they must not drop the ball, it is often passed very quickly, at full pace, and not always on their chest. however, the ball is synthetic, fat, round and has ripples on the surface to aid in ball handling.

AFL. the ball is leather, skinny, oblong, heavy, and slippery as soap. EVERY player has to have elite ball skills with this ball. they must catch the ball with just their hands, not just with the chest. they must catch on the run, at full pace, in contests, and under preasure. world class catchers.

NRL 6

AFL 10

awareness.


NRL. the game is largely controlled by the hooker (usually dummy half) the halfback and five-eight. sometimes other players will see opportunity and relate it quickly to the half. he will then instigate the move. players will see attack forming and move to compensate. wally lewis was said to be able to read a game and think 5 moves ahead of play, with the end result a try that he saw coming. however, it is a highly individual thing and it is mostly only the attacking halves and hooker that can act upon what opportunity they see. ball play is so structured that it takes individual opportunity out of it.


AFL awareness is the ability to read a game. again, we arent talking about individual potential, we are talking about what the game demands. what sticks out is that the need to read a game is governed by the the freedoms each code present and the restrictions. in AFL there is a broader scope for movement and imagination. defense isnt so structure and positional play is loose. you hold your position largely by making a man, not geographically, although you do have an area that is 'yours'. reading play correctly also helps you conserve energy, presents opportunity, and aids in defense. players are also tagged by their opposing player and have to think about them and try and see opportunity before them. players MUST be very aware.

NRL 4

AFL 10



if anyone has any other ideas of the tow codes have in common, please post and we will grade them.

TOTAL.

NRL 46

AFL 55

kicking is not a 2, it more than that conversions, 2 point field goals, 40/20 are all harder than goal outside of 50 more pressures. Even though 2 players mainly kicks that what make it hard kicking game is harder in league than afl. Catching is should be a big higher since fullbacks and wingers do catch balls higher than afl players, as rugby kicks are made to be uncatchable for back 3 players. I agree afl is better overall, but i think your underestimating nrl players a bit

 

[jonokay]

I reckon if you gave GAJ, Franklin or Judd (before he became rubbish) 12 months to play league they would be in the top 1/2 dozen players in the code. Same can't be said in the other direction.

/end thread.

they wont, they would get destroyed, prop running straight at them would result in hospital. if they were halfbacks or 5/8th then they would also get pumped as they wouldnt have time to kick also they cant even tackle or move at all since their use to open space. As a afl fan, nrl players ( backs ) have a higher chance at playing afl than vice versa. If they have an nfl type pro ball, where they compare skills that both sport has, nrl players will 80 % wins. Sorry but its a fact

 

[Angus Young]

they wont, they would get destroyed, prop running straight at them would result in hospital. if they were halfbacks or 5/8th then they would also get pumped as they wouldnt have time to kick also they cant even tackle or move at all since their use to open space. As a afl fan, nrl players ( backs ) have a higher chance at playing afl than vice versa. If they have an nfl type pro ball, where they compare skills that both sport has, nrl players will 80 % wins. Sorry but its a fact

LOL. Stop pretending you are a AFL fan when you made this troll account just to post here.

So RL has more skill.

Clown.

 

[JackFlash]

I think depending on what position you play determines how fit you need to be in rl. Whereas in the AFL, not matter what position you play these days you need to be able to run hard and be fit.

AFL football is all about athleticism and the ability to run and run fast, expect to notch up 15km a game if you play at the top level. They might be good at bending the elbow in the NRL, but not much else!