Losing your love/passion for the game

[Roy boys]

Is anyone else like me and just about done ? These last 6 months have really made me question why I follow the sport and if half the things you hear are true we follow a corrupt sport (I'm not only including the REDnBLACK in that statement) that we only thought existed overseas. If clubs are to pigheaded to admit guilt when caught I just don't see the point anymore.

 

[timtamWB]

I love the Dogs and love seeing them fired up and winning a few and on the improve. It's still one of the best sports to watch in the world. The administration might be corrupt, but FIFA is one of the biggest organisations in the world and also one of the most corrupt, because people love the game, not the administration.

 

[Poseidon]

The governing body of the league could do with a kick up the arse but it's still the best sport in the world to watch, even with all the soddy rule changes.

 

[TriX78]

I wouldnt call it the best sport in the world, thats just sounding like an American, great yes but hardly best in the world.

I am just about done, the only thing keeping me interested is our chance for back to back, which will be a great way to bow out.

 

[Ricmel]

I was close to posting a similar thread yesterday. Never been less interested in a season, just seems completely stained to me.

AFL wanted to become a successful business. It has done that but I think in the process it has sold its' soul.

Would rather spend a day at the VFL, buying a $5 VB from a bucket of ice than a day at Etihad paying through the nose and watching players that are nothing more than employees.

 

[the PILL]

Yeah Im sorry dude... the issue is big but you must understand that its a tabloid issue that unfortunately can t be controlled as its juicy to people so it will be wrung out to sell... dont lose faith in the game...

 

[Plogs]

Are you talking league (AFL) or game ?

 

[biggiemediums]

It could become touch football and I'd still have my passion for the pies.

3 teams in this world are untouchable to me. Pies, Storm and Chelsea. As long as the 3 of them survive my passion for the sports as a whole stays in tact.

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

Yeah cheers Hirdy

 

[Hodge is God]

I wouldnt call it the best sport in the world, thats just sounding like an American, great yes but hardly best in the world.

I am just about done, the only thing keeping me interested is our chance for back to back, which will be a great way to bow out.

It's an opinion!

To me, cricket is the greatest sport in the world but that's just my opinion. And for you it could be footy.

It's not a fact, ffs.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

Although some aspects of the AFL are frustrating, no, not all.

 

[pavilion103]

Interesting that those not interested are those following struggling teams...

I'd probably lose interest too if the Cats were struggling

 

[loki04]

Not because of Essendon but I am waining in my 'love for the game' through the dilution of the physical side of the game, games very soft compared to even 10 years ago.

Personally thought early 2000's the AFL hit a sweet spot.

 

[cayze]

There is no doubt the quality of the game has deteriorated since Vlad has come in. The constant rule changes every year haven't allowed for natural progression in the sport and makes it a frustrating game to watch when umpires turn games on their heads due to inconsistencies within certain rules.

 

[Wooljay]

I still love Collingwood, but when everything in the media is about James Hird and drug supplements that aren't even goddamn words it's such a bloody drag. Football has been dragged through the mud in the past 6 months, and the stories that are hitting the papers every week are nothing to do with the game and are just about pretty much a single individual and club. My viewership of non-Collingwood games has declined to basically zero, when last year I was watching most Friday night games and a couple over Saturday/Sunday.

I don't agree with the AFL admin haters who are blaming everything on them, I don't think there is an easy way to handle this situation - especially with a club that is increasingly hostile towards the competition as a whole and who have an entire PR division dedicated to discrediting the AFL governing body. Or at least that's how it seems.

Looking forward to 2014 for a whole range of reasons.

 

[Jaeger]

Essendon has tarnished the competition.

I'll never lose passion for my club but, for the competition, certainly.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

To be honest, my love for Freo hasn't changed - in fact I've found myself getting more and more passionate as the years go on

But overall for the game - well, the AFL anyway - I feel slightly jaded, since about 2005/2006 onwards, when all the drug scandals, tanking etc. really started to come out

It's high time the AFL becomes a league only and an external governing body is created to manage rules (on and off-field), finance regulations, fixtures etc. in conjunction with the other leagues such as the VFL/WAFL/SANFL etc.

Kind of like how the EPL is a part of the FA, which is apart of FIFA

No more of this "the AFL is the league and government" BS - it's like a dictatorship

 

[Roddy]

Wow, you'd have to be seriously lacking in strength of your convictions if a 6 month media driven circus can dampen your enthusiasm for a sport that's been around for a century and a half. When I go and watch the Hawks play, there's microscopic amoebas on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that I care more about than the Bummers drug scandal. The game is still greater than every other game on the planet put together, some 15 minute tabloid special ain't gunna sway me from that....

 

[BG32]

Melbourne supporters GTFIH!

 

[Roadie]

I don't find it an enjoyable sport to watch anymore as a neutral, supremely frustrating.

 

[Roy boys]

Wow, you'd have to be seriously lacking in strength of your convictions if a 6 month media driven circus can dampen your enthusiasm for a sport that's been around for a century and a half. When I go and watch the Hawks play, there's microscopic amoebas on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that I care more about than the Bummers drug scandal. The game is still greater than every other game on the planet put together, some 15 minute tabloid special ain't gunna sway me from that....

Honestly I don't care for the media all that much. I have certain journos who i respect and others who I take with a grain of salt. The media whilst reporting hogwash at times and just being flat out boring at others isn't the reason for my thoughts. I just find it hard to follow a sport which has the integrity of a Russian President ATM. I don't blame solely the AFL commission or Vlad but the clubs and there illegal pursuits of victory. A lot of people on here I'm sure know quite a bit and its not isolated to the Essendon footy club, there just the stupid ones who have been caught.

 

[Roy boys]

I say the same of Soccer as well. For the record I can still watch a good game of AFL and enjoy the spectacle, I just no longer care who wins or to watch the endless footy shows on TV. I still love watching the EPL but again foreign ownership and basically football clubs being banks has met I also don't care who wins in that particular league.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Nah, loving it as much as ever.

I follow the Swans, and I don't follow Essendon. What's not to like?

 

[Natho]

I watch 3 games a week now really.. west coast, geelong because their entertaining and I record the wafl game which is televised. The rules are poo now days

 

[catstorm]

Interesting that those not interested are those following struggling teams...

I'd probably lose interest too if the Cats were struggling

I never lost interest in 06. frustrated sure but i will passionately follow Geelong ( and the AFL) untill I die.