We need an International prefix....
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarti...paign=69752825d2-Runner_R11d&utm_medium=email
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarti...paign=69752825d2-Runner_R11d&utm_medium=email
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
A letter to ... Jeff Kennett
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While I am sure we will all agree AFL is never going to dominate the international sporting landscape, surely these moves we are making, for minimal cost, should not be disregarded? It is a game that is well suited to anywhere that has a cricket ground, we should encourage development of the game as much as possible.
We've already saturated most of the Australian market with these two new teams, so where else is there to go but overseas? Provided this isn't done at significant expense, how can it be criticised?
We've already saturated most of the Australian market with these two new teams, so where else is there to go but overseas? Provided this isn't done at significant expense, how can it be criticised?
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These were Kennett's comments:
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...-a-dictator-20110526-1f6dk.html#ixzz1NuBd8qXK
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...-a-dictator-20110526-1f6dk.html#ixzz1NuBd8qXK
- May 15, 2006
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Maybe a little less junkett and a little more development - oh and continue to approach it consstently - pre AD it was an un co-ordinated junket fest
I disagree with Jeff's statements about the interest and potential growth of the game - no harm in trying even if Jeff is right in the end. But, his stance regarding the release of Hawks players is pretty standard club line. After all, Jeff's stance is exactly the reason we do not have state of origin football anymore and the same reason european soccer clubs go nuts every time their players get dragged away for international duties.
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How much do you think it costs? From what I have seen, we are talking only a few million here.
I agree. Our game is so unique and so hard to play at top level compared to any team sport in the world, it will always be Australian, over seas developement is a time and money waster when we have clubs of all levels all over the country suffering financial
problems , why don,t the bleeding junket sponsors throw some money at junior developement and throw money at saving some Australian football leagues which are on the bones of their bums, thats what should be happening.
Now we have the two WA AFL clubs preparing to destroy the WAFL with reserves playing in this state league.AFL should throw money at all the state leagues'and the Eagles and Dockers should have reserves in the VFL which is already a mish mash of the VFA and the VFL. Tell the junket sponsors to help out here first at the lower levels, sorry South of the river folk but Peel should never have happened either. So with all this stuff happening what the hell are people doing running around in South Africa where rugby and soccer rule.
One day it will be international
Man some people complained about losing their valve radios or their steam cars
Some are just scared of progress
How did Rugby become international..slowly is the answer..
even today how many countries can really win the Rugby world cup
3 or 4 that all? yeah thats international for you
how many countries can actually win the world cricket cup hmmm 7 or 8 yeah thats international sport !
So AFL is doing the right thing in seeding the world with AFL just like the poms did a hundered years ago with Rugby (how many countries were playing rugby in 1770 I wonder ?)
and yeh it may take another 50-70 years but one day no doubt another country will be good enough to challenge us
Even now we play AFL at a 'D' grade level in permanent leagues in the US , South Africa, Japan and England to just name a few
I think the hybrid Irish thing is a waste of money but the international seeding of AFL is on its way
and what a great spectator game!
Man some people complained about losing their valve radios or their steam cars
Some are just scared of progress
How did Rugby become international..slowly is the answer..
even today how many countries can really win the Rugby world cup
3 or 4 that all? yeah thats international for you
how many countries can actually win the world cricket cup hmmm 7 or 8 yeah thats international sport !
So AFL is doing the right thing in seeding the world with AFL just like the poms did a hundered years ago with Rugby (how many countries were playing rugby in 1770 I wonder ?)
and yeh it may take another 50-70 years but one day no doubt another country will be good enough to challenge us
Even now we play AFL at a 'D' grade level in permanent leagues in the US , South Africa, Japan and England to just name a few
I think the hybrid Irish thing is a waste of money but the international seeding of AFL is on its way
and what a great spectator game!
So why the f$%# are Hawthorn injecting time, money and effort into developing New Zealand then ??.
The fact that one of their young recruits is a Kiwi tends to suggest that their actually is good value in developing overseas markets.
I think the AFL does have a role in supporting International Development where it can, adn Jeff would be as pleased as punch if the Hawks ever had a young S African on their list.
I think Jeff's ridiculous hair is starting to consume his brain.....
Jeff can see that NZ is pretty much just a state.
Developing athletes of from other countries who have attributes suited to our game is different to high end development of the game in another market. There is also the cost difference between NZ and SA. Our involvement in NZ has been far more cost effective and the risk of injury to our players non-existant. The first of our international scholarship players from NZ has now moved to Melbourne.
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- #13
When I was in South Africa and told people I didn't like Rugby but preferred Aussie Rules, they thought I meant Rugby League. They seriously had NFI about our game. I may as well have been explaining cricket to a Mongolian. The AFL have more chance of converting the local baboon population to our game than converting any South African people.
The AFL treats us fans like monkeys, so I wouldn't put it past them. I'm sure the baboons would be happy to drink mid-strength at a night Grand Final!
The AFL treats us fans like monkeys, so I wouldn't put it past them. I'm sure the baboons would be happy to drink mid-strength at a night Grand Final!
Mr Eagle
Bird-brain
Are you seriously comparing the impact of exhibition matches held by the AFL to a sustained period of colonisation and native subjugation by the British government and its military?
One of the more dramatic posts I have seen on BF.
The Teacher
Team Captain
Mr Eagle
Bird-brain
Doesn't matter how much they've spent on it, the whole problem is that expansion is a pipe dream. Every dollar is a waste.
Rugby spread because the UK owned half of the world for about 200 years. Pretty good advertising for the UK's sports like rugby, cricket, soccer etc.
Australia is in nowhere near as strong a position to influence global sporting tastes.
AFL isn't even universally liked within Australia yet. Bit much to expect the world to love our game when your average punter in our largest city doesn't really know much about it at all.
Their investment, as pointed out above, is to find players, not to convert the whole nation to AFL. Though i'm sure that pushing the AFL agenda would be one of their listed goals to appease Andy D.
And has the Hawks NZ program really benefited them at all yet?
It used to be, but it becomes less "unique" each year. Each "innovation" to AFL football over the past 20 years was a concept stolen from another sport. Aussie Rules doesn't need to go overseas, it has already come to us.
The fact that our game will not immediately conquer the whole world does not mean it cannot grow into an established minority sport in many countries. Much of the groundwork has been done by tireless volunteers who have established amateur leagues in about 20 countries so far. From little things big things grow, but even if our game never becomes number one in these places they may one day provide athletes who could play in our own league. Tiny pacific nations provide world class rugby players, so it is possible that some of these overseas Australian Rules leagues may one day provide players for the AFL. Baseball is not a major sport in this country, yet some of our local players have made it in the US major league. same with other sports. It also spreads spectator interest in our game around the world. There is practically no downside in this. The amount the AFL spends on it is tiny anyway. I cannot believe how shortsighted some people are.
sherb
Hall of Famer
A former politician having a dig at junkets - now there's a laugh.
Underrated comment.
Breaking into the international markets will always be difficult with any sport however it is possible as Rugby Union and Cricket have shown. All it takes it perseverance and dedication.
The fact of the matter is, Australian Rule Football is known internationally even if the rules aren't understood. That is simple enough opportunity to capitalize on that knowledge and teach people the game. That sows the seeds and it isn't an expensive venture.
As Pedro said here, people are scared of progress.
sherb
Hall of Famer
I'm with you.
Re the bolded comment, I know a couple of people heavily involved in the US National sides (men's and women's), who have worked extensively to grow the game there.
I'd like to see people here tell them that spreading the game overseas is a waste of time.
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