AFL overtaking NRL in QLD

[fake tyrone]

I was surprised by how much AFL I saw being played on tellies in the pubs up in Sydney when I visited in the middle of June this year. I wouldn't say it was everywhere, but just walking around the CBD on a bit of a pub crawl, it was being shown in a fair few venues. My mate who lives up there reckons AFL doesn't get a whole lot of media attention but if you go into the city on gameday when the Swans are playing at home, you see a lot of red and white.

I haven't been to Queensland in years but judging by all the Lions games I watched this year, their home crowds look strong.
I certainly think the AFL is growing in the northern states, but not yet outpacing NRL. I think things might take another 20-30 years before we'll see the true outcome of the AFL's investment in the Suns and Giants.

As an aside, Queensland is actually producing more draftees than ever before, yeah?

 

[glengowan]

As an aside, Queensland is actually producing more draftees than ever before, yeah?

There were around 50 QLDers on AFL lists in 2008. Around 46 in 2013. There's about 30 now.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

There were around 50 QLDers on AFL lists in 2008. Around 46 in 2013. There's about 30 now.

I remember the 2006 draft had 11 Queenslanders drafted. Something like 8 in the top 32

 

[Bjo187]

There were around 50 QLDers on AFL lists in 2008. Around 46 in 2013. There's about 30 now.

I think we're at the start of the boom though. With 4 suns in the top 25 last year, the Ashcroft brothers across 3 years being arguably the best players in the country, also Queenslanders.

Then Lombard, uwland and the likes next year, it seems more top quality than quantity that will be coming through in droves over the next few years. A whole bunch of first rounders. Actually nsw is quite similar, I think they only have about 50 players in the afl, but the quality is top notch and could beat s.a and potentially w.a in a state game imo.

The one thing the AFL need to do is get into the private schools in QLD. The women's did just in the past year but there is still a ban on Aussie rules for boys. That would see it boom even more and become the second strongest state at producing talent. Something they seem to be on the way to becoming anyway.