AFL the "national sport" of Australia

[jules101]

Had an interesting discussion at uni today. IS AFL the national sport of australia? Reasons for include that it is one of the commercially more successful sports and it is played in all of australia at some level. It was also created in Australia, however is it the number 1 sport of the majority of australia? WA, TAS, Vic and SA probably but not NSW and QLD. Also netball is the highest played sport in australia, but AFL is the no. 1 watched sport..

Thoughts

 

[Souup]

Simple - we made it, we play it, quite easilly the most followed and supported sport in Australia, regardless of if its played the most or not competitively

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

You can't just put it down to one thing. The fact that it's purely Australian made, the most attended game, arguably the most watched, has the most memberships, and has been a big part of our culture and identity for so long in all but two states. IMO all these things make it our national sport. Cricket will be listed as our national sport by a lot of sources because unlike rugby & AFL it's following is not affected by state borders, but in terms of numbers AFL is still ahead. Another thing is AFL has a lot more people from other backgrounds & cultures playing it as it's a more inclusive game.

 

[finders]

Can't wait till the thugby ferals start bleating about their pathetic imported excuse for a sport is bigger and better than Australian Football

 

[spell_check]

Once again, AFL is not a sport.

 

[jules101]

Once again, AFL is not a sport.

australian rules football... happy?

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Australian Rules football is recognised world-wide as an Australian sport. It is played in Australia at most levels all across the country (as mentioned), and is easily the most attended sport in Australia (3rd in the world!, behind NFL and German Soccer).

Easily is...plus it has the name. Thugby is Thugby, not Australian Thugby etc, plus the league is played with NZL sides (same as A-League!)

 

[Hawkamania!]

AFL is the most dominate sport in Australia.
Netball has the highest participation I believe.
Rugby League has a good following and commercially can claim to be number 2.
Cricket is just a pastime and not a sport.

 

[beaver fever]

Why does Australia have to be restricted by only one sport as its national sport?

 

[TheSaviour]

Its not a national sport as its only popular in half of a small country.

 

[mattwinter]

Why does Australia have to be restricted by only one sport as its national sport?

Exactly - there are good arguments that any one of 3-4 sports is Australia's national sport, to be fair I don't think it matters.

 

[lids2004roar]

As our country continues to become more and more diverse, the AFL will get further and further ahead of other sports due to (as pointed out earlier) it's inclusive nature.

 

[beaver fever]

As our country continues to become more and more diverse, the AFL will get further and further ahead of other sports due to (as pointed out earlier) it's inclusive nature.

Cricket and Soccer are inclusive as well however.

 

[frankc]

Once again, AFL is not a sport.

Than what is you fool. You are probably also a person who kept ranting that the new millenium doesn't start until 1/1/01.

Build a bridge and get over it

 

[finders]

Cricket and Soccer are inclusive as well however.

Oh yeah? how many "ethnics and aborigines " are in the National cricket team then??? Cricket is still an elitist white mans game at the highest levels and has always been.
******** the Poms have more players from non anglosaxon backgrounds than Australia does.

 

[finders]

National game= originated in that country.Just happens that Australian Football is the biggest nation wide with a true national spread not just popular in two states like thugby.

 

[beaver fever]

National game= originated in that country.

Not necessarily true. Plenty of countries have soccer as their national sport.

 

[Smokin]

and when discussing Rugby, most non-QLD or NSWers group the two codes together - remembe they are two different codes who seem to despise each other as much as the AFL-NRL people do.

Fact is, Rugby League and Union are only "big" sports in NSW and QLD, however neither of them dominate either market, League is probably bigger than union in QLD, and probably vice-versa in NSW (Im told).

For AFL to gain its market share in say Brisbane, it needs 33% of the market, not necessarily to become to the number 1 sport in the city. The crowds and popularity of the Lions is easily greater than the Reds, and probably a little behind the Broncos.

Neither League or Union dominate NSW 100%, unlike AFL which has total undeniable dominance in all other states, and more than just a small presense in the QLD/NSW markets.

Remember that.

 

[Sir_Adrian84]

Oh yeah? how many "ethnics and aborigines " are in the National cricket team then??? Cricket is still an elitist white mans game at the highest levels and has always been.
******** the Poms have more players from non anglosaxon backgrounds than Australia does.

Interesting point

Out of all the countries national teams, the International rules team would have been the most diverse of all teams in terms of race esepcially with Aborigines.

Cricket has had some aboriginal players but not that many.

Soccer has got very few non-Europeans in the socceroos team (Tim Cahill, Archie Thompson and Jade North being some).

 

[And_ROOS]

Its not a national sport as its only popular in half of a small country.

Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia and id dare say Canberra is classified as "undecided".

Id say thats more then half there champ .

 

[Sedition]

How do you define 'National Sport'? - Participation? Number of spectators? Public interest?

According to the Sweeney Sports Report of 2006 report, based on participation, attendance and media interest, the biggest sports in Australia based on interest, are swimming (61%), Australian rules (54%), cricket (54%), tennis (52%), and football (soccer) (50%), followed by rugby league (42%), and rugby union (40%).[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Australia


Among Australians aged 15 years and over, walking was the most commonly reported physical recreation activity, with over 4.0 million people participating in the 12-month period prior to interview. The overall participation rate for walking was 25%. The next most popular activities were aerobics/fitness (2.0 million participants and a participation rate of 13%), swimming (1.4 million or 9%) then cycling (1.0 million or 6%). Participation in golf attracted 6% of the population aged 15 years and over (875,500) during the 12-month period, followed by both tennis (768,900 or 5%) and running (681,300 or 4%). Participation in outdoor soccer (419,600 or 3%) was higher than Australian Rules football (268,700 or 2%).

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@...ummary&prodno=4177.0&issue=2005-06&num=&view=

Just because a lote of people sit on their ar$ess watching AFL on Foxtel doesn't make it the national sport. Maybe it is the national entertainment. Sport is about participation.

 

[mustapha]

Interesting point

Out of all the countries national teams, the International rules team would have been the most diverse of all teams in terms of race esepcially with Aborigines.

Cricket has had some aboriginal players but not that many.

Soccer has got very few non-Europeans in the socceroos team (Tim Cahill, Archie Thompson and Jade North being some).

You can't lump all Europeans together though when classifying nationality. A croatian should be treated as a different race to an Italian etc.

 

[rooboy]

Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia and id dare say Canberra is classified as "undecided".

Id say thats more then half there champ .

I can assure you also that Aussie rules is extremely popular in Queensland as well. It might not be as popular as League, but still mighty popular.

 

[rooboy]

You can't lump all Europeans together though when classifying nationality. A croatian should be treated as a different race to an Italian etc.

But if they are born in Aus. arent they Australian, with European names?

 

[Hawkamania!]

How do you define 'National Sport'? - Participation? Number of spectators? Public interest?

According to the Sweeney Sports Report of 2006 report, based on participation, attendance and media interest, the biggest sports in Australia based on interest, are swimming (61%), Australian rules (54%), cricket (54%), tennis (52%), and football (soccer) (50%), followed by rugby league (42%), and rugby union (40%).[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Australia


Among Australians aged 15 years and over, walking was the most commonly reported physical recreation activity, with over 4.0 million people participating in the 12-month period prior to interview. The overall participation rate for walking was 25%. The next most popular activities were aerobics/fitness (2.0 million participants and a participation rate of 13%), swimming (1.4 million or 9%) then cycling (1.0 million or 6%). Participation in golf attracted 6% of the population aged 15 years and over (875,500) during the 12-month period, followed by both tennis (768,900 or 5%) and running (681,300 or 4%). Participation in outdoor soccer (419,600 or 3%) was higher than Australian Rules football (268,700 or 2%).

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@...ummary&prodno=4177.0&issue=2005-06&num=&view=

Just because a lote of people sit on their ar$ess watching AFL on Foxtel doesn't make it the national sport. Maybe it is the national entertainment. Sport is about participation.

The sweeny sports report is run between October and March. If it was run during April and September, the results would be different. The reason for this is that the sports that are currently on during the survey period would score higher than sports that are not.

If the report ran for a full year, then it would be more credible.