Why isn't AFL big overseas?

[Notorious_29]

i dunno about NSW but its pretty big in QLD buddy. AFLis taking over from NRL and rugby. Its at about a 50/50 in interest these days and only increasing.

 

[NTRabbit]

Afl's Rules looked at from an outsider>>>>>>>>>>>>NFL rules looked at from an outsider

Seriously if you haven't played Madden on Playstation, you'd have no idea about that sport.

Baseball is also the worst sport to watch, ever.

NFL rules may be complicated too, but the game is very slow and stop start, giving the commentators ample time to run through replays giving in depth descriptions of each play. Plus, the two teams essentially line up and run at each other, much like Rugby - it's pretty easy to follow when there are only two directions, scoring involves catching the ball and running over a line, and play is stopped entirely the instant the ball carrier is tackled to the ground.

Baseball, watching that is only marginally worse than watching a cricket Test Match. Both very slow, very long, and when two average teams are playing very boring to watch.

 

[mcgarnacle]

kiwis, and even the whole of Australia cant even get into the game, so what makes Aussie Rules fanatics think that Americans and Europeans will latch onto it.

also, people harp on about the continuity of aussie rules when comparing it to american football. IMO, the keepings off that we see in the modern zone defending of australian rules is just as exciting as a timeout in the yank game.

don't knock other countries and peoples liking for other sports. some of us like a bit of physicality in our game.

 

[Copernicus]

I think it would be interesting if a season was broadcast in America on one of their sports channels. Maybe one game a round a week, just to give them a taste.

Anyone know if they broadcast the grand final at least?

They used to have it on ESPN, before ESPN was able to fill all their timeslots. Now EPSN has 24/7 coverage of stuff that people will actually watch and they can sell commercial time for - mostly football and baseball and some other stuff in between. Aussie rules is now too 'niche' for the big sports stations.

It's currently broadcast on Setanta Sports which is a subscription-only service here. They have a five year contract, I believe, which they started this year and I think they were able to do that because subscriptions to the service were increasing as a result of the footy being broadcast. So it's nowhere near mainstream yet but it's available to plenty of people if there is interest in it.

 

[Holding The Ball]

The same reason why NFL isn't big in Australia.

To think that the only reason why people overseas don't like footy is because they haven't seen it is plain arrogance.

 

[Avi20]

because its called AUSTRALIAN football league

 

[Bradesmaen]

Half the country doesn't even support the AFL.. so how is the rest of the world going to?

 

[Power King]

We need a name for our sport that prevents it being restricted only to our country - 'Aussie Rules', so its limited to Australia.

We need something like what 'gridiron' is to NFL.

 

[Stained Class]

i dunno about NSW but its pretty big in QLD buddy. AFLis taking over from NRL and rugby. Its at about a 50/50 in interest these days and only increasing.

Brisbane vs Collingwood - 33867. On the same night Broncos vs Cowboys - 50612.

Good call Notorious 29.

 

[my name was taken]

Exactly. Australia as a country doesnt have alot of influece in the world and as a result people dont know alot about us. Hell, half of the USA think Australia is a living Crocodile Dundee movie.

some have believed me that i have a pet koala and that kangaroos hop through my backyard.

 

[randyzany]

Because there's no such thing as the Australian empire.

Just about every major world sport either has English (who inhabited the world) or American (who inhabited the world media) origins.

Exactly, Australia is a piss small country with limited international influence.

Incorrect. The manner in which football(soccer) spread had nothing to do with an "empire".

Englishmen and other expats that travelled over the world (for cultural experiences, diplomacy or whatever reason they travelled) had no intention whatsoever of converting anyone to soccer.

For example In South America (the English empire had zero influence there) the locals saw the pommies play games of soccer between themselves to pass the time whilst they were there and were very much intrigued by it. Gradually the game took off, there was never a plan to evangelise people to become soccer devotees. It's human nature to reject something when it's been shoved down their throat but give it a chance if it's not forced and that's what happened in the case of soccer. The fact that it' a relatively simple game but fun to play and understand didn't hurt its chances of acceptance either.

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

Because the A in AFL stands for Australia, and Australia is a very small country.

It's not even big in 2 of our 3 most populated states.

You need to grow up with a sporting code for it to be big.

 

[Dagless]

Isn't that sort of the point? They were a huge empire and thus they went to a large number of different areas and people got to see their sport... If they didn't have such an empire these foreign nations would have never seen the game so early from the English.

 

[Coach Bombay]

They honestly believe that every Australian household has kangaroos in the backyard and that the kids can ride them to school.

AFL is ours. That is what makes it so special. Don't need the approval from overseas countries.

 

[carsoutback]

I can't see how the historical spread of soccer throughout the world is even relevant or provides any lessons at all for the AFL. Aussie Rules is an indigenous game that can't possibly compete now in the huge modern sporting markets around the world...actually can't even find a niche in those markets that might actually mean something to the game. And what is the benefit of even trying?

 

[Rob]

Incorrect. The manner in which football(soccer) spread had nothing to do with an "empire".

Englishmen and other expats that travelled over the world (for cultural experiences, diplomacy or whatever reason they travelled) had no intention whatsoever of converting anyone to soccer.

Who said they did? I don't know what on earth would make anyone go on life threatening expeditions for months and months to convert people to playing a bloody sport. Particularly in the 1800's, when sport wasn't all that big anyway.

For example In South America (the English empire had zero influence there) the locals saw the pommies play games of soccer between themselves to pass the time whilst they were there and were very much intrigued by it. Gradually the game took off, there was never a plan to evangelise people to become soccer devotees. It's human nature to reject something when it's been shoved down their throat but give it a chance if it's not forced and that's what happened in the case of soccer. The fact that it' a relatively simple game but fun to play and understand didn't hurt its chances of acceptance either.

Correct. Poms go overseas, play soccer, cricket, rugby. Locals catch on.
Americans broadcast basketball & baseball. Locals catch on that way.

 

[Johnson#26]

Pfft. As if anyone reasonable would WANT it to be overseas.

 

[griggisalegend]

I for one, would hate for it to be a inter-national sport.
Not trying to be racist, and people will deffinately take this the wrong way, but, every time i see a chinese/indian person at the game, i start to feel uneasy.
Aussie rules is aussie rules.
Im a selfish person, ill admit. I dont want 47864546543265468745 people from all over the world interested in our game.
I dont want to have to go overseas to go see my beloved blues play, when it was originated here in melbourne.
AFL is our sport. Not theirs.

 

[carsoutback]

I for one, would hate for it to be a national sport.
Not trying to be rasist, and people will deffinately take this the wrong way, but, every time i see a chinese/indian person at the game, i start to feel useasy.
Aussie rules is aussie rules.
Im a selfish person, ill admit. I dont want 47864546543265468745 people from all over the world interested in our game.
I dont want to have to go overseas to go see my beloved blues play, when it was originated here in melbourne.
AFL is our sport. Not theirs.

I am trying to think of another way to take it and I can't. Do you feel uneasy because they can probably spell the word racist, already understand that IS a national sport and know that there aren't actually 47864546543265468745 people in the world anyway?

 

[randyzany]

I am trying to think of another way to take it and I can't. Do you feel uneasy because they can probably spell the word racist, already understand that IS a national sport and know that there aren't actually 47864546543265468745 people in the world anyway?

"Ethnics" are damned if they do and damned if they don't, so much for assimilation!

 

[The Fireman]

The answer is simple:

When AFL started, it started in Australia. Isolated. When soccer started, it started in Europe. Shitloads of people from shitloads of countries. Also Britain was a power and had social power.

If AFL was started in Europe before soccer you could almost guarantee it would be the world game. Which would mean our Hirds, Buckleys, and Voss's would be playing in Europe. And Cuzzy would be hanging at Maradonna's cribb.

Spot on , have said this many times before.

 

[A Living God]

Because Australia can't projects its influence past a handful of tiny pacific island nations. Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and Soccer’s became international sports largely due to the international influence of the British Empire or the United States.

 

[carsoutback]

"Ethnics" are damned if they do and damned if they don't, so much for assimilation!

Must be really hard on some Blues supporters when "Carrazzo' wins a F&B and "Fevola" wins a Coleman, not to mention those Irish blokes getting a kick.

btw the word "international" is unhyphenated. Try again.

 

[griggisalegend]

Must be really hard on some Blues supporters when "Carrazzo' wins a F&B and "Fevola" wins a Coleman, not to mention those Irish blokes getting a kick.

btw the word "international" is unhyphenated. Try again.

yeah, well im sorry that i have a different view on this than you.
Im not actually a racist person, in fact majority of my best mates are asian.
I dont have anything against the supporters or players, its just the fact that I dont like sharing the sport.
Im young and selfish, and im definately not going to have the same opinion as others on this site do.

 

[dmc82]

If you're looking for an answer to why it is not big overseas, you should have a look at the evidence within Australia's own borders. NSW and QLD are still League dominated states. Therefore it is clear that you learn to love the games you grow up watching.

I moved to this country as an eleven year old and it took me 3 years to fully understand what the game was about. Sure, I could watch it and cheer for Geelong. But having not grown up with it, I didn't have any sentimental attachment to the game and therefore it took a very long time to enjoy a neutral game (non-Geelong).

It is a very good game, one that I have learned to love, however if I had to choose between watching Tottenham play in the premier league or watching Geelong play AFL, I would choose Tottenham. Simply because I prefer soccer as a game, but that is only my opinion.

Also, if you watch all the American movies about NFL, they're always so passionate about the game etc. and it seems so glamourous... however watching the actual game is tedious for most of us... the same thing could be said about the AFL in other countries. I have tried to get my family overseas into AFL, however they couldn't stand it.

Conclusion? Same as I said before, the games you grow up with are the ones you find the most entertaining. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy them all though.

Go Spurs, Go Cats, Go Storm!!!