If the rest of the world played AFL....

[PumpyChowdown]

....what countries do you think would do well and why and, conversely, who would struggle?

I'll tee off with some obvious ones:

USA - Would be a definite threat. Would be well coached and have all the right body shapes, therefore a good even team. Would be prone to over-inflated egos and infighting which could lead to poor unity and form.

Germany - Strong, well disciplined, dour defense. Could be exploited by an aggressive, fast flowing, attacking opponent.

France - Again another threat. Skill, flair, variety of body shapes and speed. May lack something in defense.

Brazil - See France.

Japan - Very enthusiastic and disciplined, let down by lack of height and pace.

India - Too lightly framed to be competitive.

South Africa - Along with the US and France, another contender. Tick all the right boxes.

Pakistan - See the Pakistan cricket team. Capable of anything on their day, but prone to dropping their heads and losing by BIG margins if they start poorly. Can be dangerous if they're "on" though.

China - Potential to do anything. Have it all when it comes to sizes, shapes and speed. Perhaps a lack of aggression and defensive pressure are their faults.

England - The St. Kilda of the world.

Canada - Too cold there to train properly, though given their hockey heritage, will be very hard at the ball. Lacking in the skills department.

Argentina - Another potential top quality team.

Spain - Yet another team that seems to tick all the right boxes.

Russia - See Canada.

New Zealand - Perennial underdogs that can be assured of giving 110%. Dangerous.


Feel free to speculate on other countries.

 

[HFC082]

Italy would be the best. We would be diving around the park and get heaps of free kicks. We have a history or organising matches to go our way and if you don't comply we will breaka la legas.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Italy would be the best. We would be diving around the park and get heaps of free kicks. We have a history or organising matches to go our way and if you don't comply we will breaka la legas.

I deliberately omitted Italy due to the fact that crying on a footy ground is reserved for Grand Final wins/losses, retirements and Nick Reiwodlt.

 

[Equus]

Samoa or any of the Island nation - Big hulking units that run slow but will always demonstarate physical presence and intimidation on the field

 

[BigBadCam]

Congratulations. You've just confirmed your membership of the 'I believe in stereotypes' Facebook group.

 

[Aussie Assault]

New Zealand are very similar to us in our sports so I would have them as the next best in line.

 

[littleduck]

USA - Would be a definite threat. Would be well coached and have all the right body shapes, therefore a good even team. Would be prone to over-inflated egos and infighting which could lead to poor unity and form.

Would they be secretly sponsored by BALCO?

Germany - Strong, well disciplined, dour defense. Could be exploited by an aggressive, fast flowing, attacking opponent.

Would win a few battles, but ultimately lose the war...

France - Again another threat. Skill, flair, variety of body shapes and speed. May lack something in defense.

Would compete with Collingwood for most hated football team on the planet (apart from Manly-Warringah).

Brazil - See France.

Best looking cheer squad in the league, and they can play football.

Japan - Very enthusiastic and disciplined, let down by lack of height and pace.

Not too many marks in front of goal.. but plenty of mid-range bombs from an angle.

India - Too lightly framed to be competitive.

Too preoccupied with spread betting.

South Africa - Along with the US and France, another contender. Tick all the right boxes.

Mongrels.

Pakistan - See the Pakistan cricket team. Capable of anything on their day, but prone to dropping their heads and losing by BIG margins if they start poorly. Can be dangerous if they're "on" though.

Erratic.

China - Potential to do anything. Have it all when it comes to sizes, shapes and speed. Perhaps a lack of aggression and defensive pressure are their faults.

Mass produced players all of the same ilk. No characters within their team.

England - The St. Kilda of the world.

Pommy bastards.

Canada - Too cold there to train properly, though given their hockey heritage, will be very hard at the ball. Lacking in the skills department.

Would erect glass barriers around the ground in their local comp...

Argentina - Another potential top quality team.

Yeah, but still wont be invited to the Super 14..

Spain - Yet another team that seems to tick all the right boxes.

Bull riders.

Russia - See Canada.

Ill host their WAGS Functions.

New Zealand - Perennial underdogs that can be assured of giving 110%. Dangerous.

Always forgotten. Will choke in World Cups.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

New Zealand are very similar to us in our sports so I would have them as the next best in line.

I'd have South Africa at #2 for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[peternorth]

would be interesting if the pacific islands combined a la the west indies.

fiji
tonga
samoa
western samoa

 

[PumpyChowdown]

would be interesting if the pacific islands combined a la the west indies.

Ooooooo, West Indies would be GREAT. Viv Richard at CHF, Brian Lara in the centres, Sir Gary Sobers at Full Forward, Joel Garner in the ruck, Malcolm Marshall roving, Michael Holding on the wing and Jeff Dujon at Full Back.

Nice.

 

[Alberton_Magpie]

would be interesting if the pacific islands combined a la the west indies.

fiji
tonga
samoa
western samoa

would be good throw in solomon islands and vanauatu

 

[dobbo_18]

I believe America would be 2nd best, if not the best, because they have the resources and the money. Also, could you imagine Michael Jordan at CHF, that would be a sight worth seeing.

 

[AFKAJR]

Think Somalia, Chad & Ethiopia may struggle

 

[peternorth]

Uganda aka the Gunners

 

[Esky Lid]

I have tried to equate the Countries to AFL Teams 2007 !

Australia - Geelong - Should smash the lot of them !

France - Port Adelaide - Arrogant SOB Leaders - Chirac / Williams !!

USA - Collingwood - Everyone else hates them

Brazil - Kangaroos - everyones second favourite team. Come from modest backgrounds !!

Germany - West Coast - Strong Defense - Big Drug Culture and denial ( aka East / West Germany !!)

Japan - Hawthorn Very enthusiastic. Always have problems keeping their President or Prime Minister on the rails !

Italy - Adelaide - Known for running backwards !!

South Africa - Sydney - Always Tough
England - The St. Kilda of the world. Agree
Canada - Brisbane - Conversely to Canada, It too warm to train properly !
China - Freo - Potential to do anything.

Iraq - Essendon - Assett Rich but self destructing.

New Zealand - Western Bulldogs. Perennial underdogs.

Pakistan - Melbourne - Capable of anything on their day, but prone to dropping their heads and losing by BIG margins if they start poorly. Depends if its an Odd Year or Even Year !

Iran - Carlton (Like Iraq - Asset Strong, but have some weird ways of going about life !)

Libya - Richmond - Likes to Suck up to the big boys and think they are part of the BIG 3. They are no where !!

 

[St Jimmy]

I personally think that Ireland would be the best
With players like Clarke and Kennelly

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

....what countries do you think would do well and why and, conversely, who would struggle?

I'll tee off with some obvious ones:

USA - a team of seagulls who don't go hard at the ball, ego's a problem and they smell like hot dogs

Germany - a team of Reiwolts. not too shabby

i gave up as i have to go.

 

[CranktheAnchors]

America would be the best. If they grew up with AFL as the culture as Australia does they would be the best.

 

[WoGiTaLiA]

Lets be honest here. If the US took our sport seriously there would be no more than 5-10 Aussies actually playing in the AFL. Far more people and far more athletic stock to pick from.

Places like Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal(West Africa basically) would also be a massive breeding ground.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Lets be honest here. If the US took our sport seriously there would be no more than 5-10 Aussies actually playing in the AFL. Far more people and far more athletic stock to pick from.

I disagree. You only have to look at Olympic medals won per capita and if memory serves me correct, Trinidad and Tobago are the best, followed by Cuba, then Australia. The US comes in about 20th.

Anyhooz, its about countries competing at an international level, not as one league.

 

[dobbo_18]

Originally Posted by WoGiTaLiA
Lets be honest here. If the US took our sport seriously there would be no more than 5-10 Aussies actually playing in the AFL. Far more people and far more athletic stock to pick from.
Places like Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal(West Africa basically) would also be a massive breeding ground.

Mmmm, not so sure about that. We are very competitive in most sports we compete in, and I have no doubt we would be right up the top, because football is the game we are best at. Just look at how we go in cricket compared to places like India and Pakistan who have massive populations yet we dominate them.

 

[acker]

No ones mentioned China, yet Melbourne have scouts over their now looking for two players to put in their scholarship program.

 

[Gary Shadforth]

.

The United States of Hawthorn.

 

[cos789]

....what countries do you think would do well and why and, conversely, who would struggle?

.

Well it is a lot easier if you reference the actual countries that will be competing in the upcoming 2008 International Cup for Australian Football .

USA - Has National Championship and regional leagues . Wouldn't take too much to convert into a conference style national league .Has the weight of population and business acumen .

Germany - took to gridiron in a large way , but their national league has to play catch up , but is centrally located in Europe and has already hosted championships .

France - Theoretically would be well suited but have only just discovered Australian Footnall .

Brazil/ Argentena- if fact any of rugby playing South America can follow Argentina's lead and host Assie Rules in the off season .

Japan - Starting to gather momentum , has the population but hindered by training facilities .

India/Pakistan - has the cricket ovals and the population .
However I'd hate to umpire an India vs Pakistan game .

South Africa - Going to awesome in the very near future .Will be interesting to see how much they've developed in 2008 . Has the proximity to the WAFL .

China -could be a major surprise in the very near future .

England - finially getting their act together and will finish high on the list where they should have been a long time ago .

Canada -beat the USA this year for the first time . Has the local competition set up most like Australia .has the benefit of playing in a strong 9 team competition .

Spain - take the game quite seriously there .

New Zealand /PNG- Are the current world champions /runners up, have numbers and the proximity to play in the AFL .

Ireland - if the country converted to Aussie Rules you'd have 4 million people to play against so they come in a SOO fixture .

Scandanavia-you don't hear about it but the Danes have pushed Aussie Rules into Sweden and Finland .Should play a Vikings outfit .

 

[acker]

Lets be honest here. If the US took our sport seriously there would be no more than 5-10 Aussies actually playing in the AFL. Far more people and far more athletic stock to pick from.

Places like Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal(West Africa basically) would also be a massive breeding ground.

Watch this space ...

As technology starts getting better at reading reaction time, hand eye co-ordination, fast twitching muscle ability and hand speed. And cricket starts screening more kid's earlier and the info hits the web or gets caught by a scout.
Dont be surprised if the next young Adam Gilchrist or Andrew Symonds get's spirited away to the "US" as a teen under a scholarship with the "Yankees" or "Red Sox" at a very young age, prior to even getting close to starting cricket in Australia.
Their is a nine year old here that courtesy of a youtube video has allready been signed on a Manchester United scholarship.
And I have heard on "bigfooty" Ayce Cordy" a likely father-son selection for the Western Bulldogs is trying or looking int an American college basketball scholarship.