Expansion Media reaction: SL-NRL expansion vs. AFL two-team expansion plans

[Sebastian Balboa]

Is there any way to find newspaper headlines from The Age (Melbourne) and/or The West Australian (Perth) (the Herald Sun and The Advertiser must be discounted for obvious reasons) from 1994 or 1995 (re Western Reds, Adelaide Rams) or 1997 (re Melbourne Storm)?

I want to compare the reaction of the media when the Reds, Rams and Storm joined the fray in their respective (AFL) cities to the current fear-mongering and over-the-top sensationalist garbage from what we've seen in recent days.

Also, I want to know if an Executive Sports Editor of a major daily newspaper was moved to pen an Opinion piece back in the day, considering Sydney The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield piece with this emotive garbage ... "They (the AFL) clearly have rugby league in their sights" ... on Sunday.

Some examples from recent days:

AFL blitz on (rugby) league heartland
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23226098-5001023,00.html

AFL invades NSW
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23225631-5006065,00.html

AFL tsunami to sweep (rugby) league
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23228787-5001030,00.html

(Rugby) League cries poor as AFL signals $100m move north
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23229891-5012432,00.html

This is a genuine exercise in media studies.

Any t1t-for-tat AFL-v-NRL can go elsewhere. I'd like to discuss why the current media climate, esp. in Sydney, on this issue.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

I note that the links you've selected are all from News Ltd papers. News Ltd have a massive stake in the health of Rugby League, so you might want to compare that coverage to articles from Fairfax.

I have no problem with the coverage of the expansion plans.

I think it's worth noting that the Sydney papers actually acknowledge the threat posed by AFL. It's about time they woke up to the reality that AFL is aiming to beat league down until it's a little suburban game played only in little suburban backwaters. I welcome the candour from those Sydney outlets - they're telling it how it is, and it's probably not something their readership wants to hear. That's not generally how it works. It's not the usual populist line that the Daily Telegraph relies on.

In years gone by, those outlets - the Telegraph especially - would have been tempted to dismiss the AFL's imperialist goals and just keeping running the "league is the best" line.

"Who cares about aerial ping-pong? We love league - AFL will never take off in NSW!"

But now, they have been forced to recognise that AFL is the country's #1 code. That's a major shift in thinking on the part of those outlets.

In many respects, the media are more switched on to how the pieces are falling into place than most punters. The average Sydney league fan probably thinks league is #1, because "it's #1 in Australia's biggest market and that's all that matters". At least the media are awake to the fact that league is on the back foot.

Of course they're going to use sensationalist language. That's what headlines are all about. If you want to whinge about papers writing headlines with overblown language, you're going to be a busy boy.

 

[Subprime]

Lets not forget Roy Masters call-to-arms against the imperialistic, bullying, and sabre-rattling AFL.

AFL's growth plan a code violation

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/roy-masters/2008/02/15/1202760600565.html

 

[ringleader]

Is there any way to find newspaper headlines from The Age (Melbourne) and/or The West Australian (Perth) (the Herald Sun and The Advertiser must be discounted for obvious reasons) from 1994 or 1995 (re Western Reds, Adelaide Rams) or 1997 (re Melbourne Storm)?

I want to compare the reaction of the media when the Reds, Rams and Storm joined the fray in their respective (AFL) cities to the current fear-mongering and over-the-top sensationalist garbage from what we've seen in recent days.

Also, I want to know if an Executive Sports Editor of a major daily newspaper was moved to pen an Opinion piece back in the day, considering Sydney The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield piece with this emotive garbage ... "They (the AFL) clearly have rugby league in their sights" ... on Sunday.

Some examples from recent days:

AFL blitz on (rugby) league heartland
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23226098-5001023,00.html

AFL invades NSW
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23225631-5006065,00.html

AFL tsunami to sweep (rugby) league
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23228787-5001030,00.html

(Rugby) League cries poor as AFL signals $100m move north
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23229891-5012432,00.html

This is a genuine exercise in media studies.

Any t1t-for-tat AFL-v-NRL can go elsewhere. I'd like to discuss why the current media climate, esp. in Sydney, on this issue.

None of those articles are written by journos who exclusively do Rugby League stories. One if them is written by an AFL journo.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

I have no problem with the coverage of the expansion plans.

I think it's worth noting that the Sydney papers actually acknowledge the threat posed by AFL. It's about time they woke up to the reality that AFL is aiming to beat league down until it a little suburban game played in just a few suburban backwaters. I welcome it.

In years gone by, they would have been tempted to dismiss the AFL's imperialist goals and just keeping running the "league is the best" line. "Who cares about aerial ping-pong? We love league - AFL will never take off in NSW!"

But now, they have been forced to recognise that AFL is the country's #1 code. That's a major shift in thinking on the part of those outlets.

Of course they're going to use sensationalist language. That's what headlines are all about.

Fair response. And like Subprime shows, Roy Masters has no peer in his loathing of all things AFL.

What I'd like to see, is the The West Australian's and The Age's response to the NRL's aggressive expansion in the mid-1990s.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

None of those articles are written by journos who exclusively do Rugby League stories. One if them is written by an AFL journo.

There's a Steve Mascord by-line there somewhere. I can't recall seeing his by-line to anything AFL.

 

[ringleader]

There's a Steve Mascord by-line there somewhere. I can't recall seeing his by-line to anything AFL.

His article is co-written by Tim Morrissey who exclusively writes AFL articles.

 

[Subprime]

How does the Sydney press react to A-League expansion plans or announcements?

Are they met with similar hyperbole or is that topic treated in a more balanced manner?

It would interesting to compare the tone of those articles if they exist.

 

[McCrann]

Fair response. And like Subprime shows, Roy Masters has no peer in his loathing of all things AFL.

What I'd like to see, is the The West Australian's and The Age's response to the NRL's aggressive expansion in the mid-1990s.

From what I can remember it was confidence bordering on arrogance on the part of The Age or whoever in relation to the NRL expansion.

Why?

Because we know we have a superior product, and the bigger story in relation to Rugby League at the time was not their expansion plans - it was the fact the sport was tearing itself apart by having 2 competitions! With players being pillaged here there and everywhere to support all these new teams.

Basically, the expansion wasn't taken seriously - and as it turns out, rightly so - it was a schmozzle.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Fair response. And like Subprime shows, Roy Masters has no peer in his loathing of all things AFL.

What I'd like to see, is the The West Australian's and The Age's response to the NRL's aggressive expansion in the mid-1990s.

I think you'll find it was far more muted.

The Age would have welcomed the expansion on the grounds that sport in Melbourne is a broad church. That is reflected in The Age's sports pages, where soccer and league get far more coverage than AFL receives in Sydney.

I reckon Western Australia would welcome any major franchise.

But we're comparing two pretty different contexts here.

When the Storm arrived in Melbourne, the AFL was already in rude health. No-one was too worried about league taking Melbourne by storm. Get it!?

The reaction from the Sydney media points to the fact that they know the balance tipped in AFL's favour with the last two TV rights deals.

People can talk about junior participation and attendances, but for professional sport, TV dollars is the indicator of success.

To use a poker analogy, AFL is now the chip-leader and they can use that wealth to close league out by expanding wherever they want.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

From what I can remember it was confidence bordering on arrogance on the part of The Age or whoever in relation to the NRL expansion.

Why?

Because we know we have a superior product, and the bigger story in relation to Rugby League at the time was not their expansion plans - it was the fact the sport was tearing itself apart by having 2 competitions! With players being pillaged here there and everywhere to support all these new teams.

This is a misnomer.

The Age has no vested interest in AFL vs League.

News Ltd does.

That is a crucial difference.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

His article is co-written by Tim Morrissey who exclusively writes AFL articles.

Alright.

My perception of the The Daily Telegraph is it does have an issue with AFL.
The discredited Sean Fagan piece a few months back was given a fairly prominent run.

Then there was yetserday's front page liftout's first three pages, basically, "Disgraced Player A (Tim Smith) seeks a softer public image with an interview with our paper's disgraced former Player B (Andrew Johns)".

Ben Cousins' public redemption will have to be without the the Tele. His association with the AFL and the alcohol-free, drug-free Anthony Mundine saw to that.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Alright.

My perception of the The Daily Telegraph is it does have an issue with AFL.

It's no mystery.

It's readership are league fans and News Ltd has a huge stake in league.

It's pretty simple.

Of course it's coverage is going to be slanted.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

It's no mystery.

It's readership are league fans and News Ltd has a huge stake in league.

It's pretty simple.

Of course it's coverage is going to be slanted.

With that in account, you would think that with a new national, professional team in town, a potential new market for readership, circulation and growth in adverstising revenue would be welcomed. Win-win.

What they're doing is alienating anyone who can think for him/herself, league fan or not.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

With that in account, you would think that with a new national, professional team in town, a potential new market for readership, circulation and growth in adverstising revenue would be welcomed. Win-win.

What?

How does a second AFL side in Sydney create any of those incentives for the Telegraph?

What they're doing is alienating anyone who can think for him/herself, league fan or not.

Not really.

Like every paper, they know the demographics of their readership.

I think you're over-thinking this.

It really is as simple as the Telegraph pandering to the biases of their pro-league readership and serving the interests of their ownership structure.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

What?

How does a second AFL side in Sydney create any of those incentives for the Telegraph?

Not really.

Like every paper, they know the demographics of their readership.

I think you're over-thinking this.

It really is as simple as the Telegraph pandering to the biases of their pro-league readership and serving the interests of their ownership structure.

A new AFL side in their readership area brings with it more exposure to itself, and the potential to tap in to a growing market of football fans keen to read up on their new team (obvious long-term approach). It can then also jump in and stitch up media deals/ads/whatever not otherwise available to them without a national AFL club in its readship area.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

A new AFL side in their readership area brings with it more exposure to itself...

That might be a boon for local businesses, but the Telegraph isn't a local paper and they're not relying on Western Sydney businesses to buy up their ad space.

and the potential to tap in to a growing market of football fans keen to read up on their new team (obvious long-term approach).

But they could offer that to Swans supporters already if they thought it was in their interests.

If anything, growing interest in AFL forces the Telegraph to move away from its core product and start competing with Fairfax on terms it's not entirely comfortable with.

It can then also jump in and stitch up media deals/ads/whatever not otherwise available to them without a national AFL club in its readship area.

Hmmm.... I don't mean to sound patronising, but this is pretty wishy-washy.

Again, the Telegraph isn't a local paper. It's not based in Western Sydney, so the introduction of a second side isn't going to deliver the revenue streams you're suggesting it might.

Over-riding all of this is what's good for News Ltd, and News Ltd hitched its cart to league a long time ago.

 

[Sebastian Balboa]

That might be a boon for local businesses, but the Telegraph isn't a local paper and they're not relying on Western Sydney businesses to buy up their ad space.

But they could offer that to Swans supporters already if they thought it was in their interests.

If anything, growing interest in AFL forces the Telegraph to move away from its core product and start competing with Fairfax on terms it's not entirely comfortable with.

Hmmm.... I don't mean to sound patronising, but this is pretty wishy-washy.

Again, the Telegraph isn't a local paper. It's not based in Western Sydney, so the introduction of a second side isn't going to deliver the revenue streams you're suggesting it might.

Over-riding all of this is what's good for News Ltd, and News Ltd hitched its cart to league a long time ago.

There's some points I disagree with. Obviously media is your field of work, and it's an interest of mine.

 

[huntos]

It's no mystery.

It's readership are league fans and News Ltd has a huge stake in league.

It's pretty simple.

Of course it's coverage is going to be slanted.

I believe that the Daily Telegraph loves this idea of a second Sydney team - it gives them AFL vs NRL stories to write about for the next 10 years. NRL vs AFL creates a bitchfight which never ends because both sides just snipe, its all snide sideswipes. Even when common sense is spoken the other side chooses to ignore it because they don't want to accept the truth. It then develops into personal attacks. This forum certainly would earn some add revenue over those types of threads.

For a newspaper perpetuating this crap is gold, they would want a second Sydney side up there tomorrow if they can keep writing headline like "Footy war", "Code Violation", and "AFL raids League heartland".

The only problem I have is when they lie to support their article, for Roy Masters infomation the Brisbane Bears existed on the Gold Coast 20 years ago and Southport has bid for a licience since 1996, the Gold Coast has 17 footballers on AFL lists - they are not just going there because the Titans have been so successful.

 

[jackmac7]

What will happen between the relationship of news ltd and NRL if the NRL plumets into a metropolitan competition?

And while Roy Masters can lope on soccer all he want's to destroy the AFL's expansion plans he too would surely see that the A-league is fast falling in the same territory hole that NRL fell in being the east coast. Nobody gives two hoots about Perth glory and Adelaide united who get poor crowds and ZERO interest in the game in WA and SA, not to mention NT and Tassie who only care for Footy.

Just wait until all the hype around soccer dies down and the crowds start deminishing! They still average the same crowds as the NSL they were just spread over more teams in the old NSL, and don't forget this newly reformed 8 team competition is the same old crap we were treated too with the NSL they just tweaked it to fool everyone. How long before those people who jumped on the bandwagon, jump off!

It's an AFL invasion and it's full steam ahead!

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

I believe that the Daily Telegraph loves this idea of a second Sydney team - it gives them AFL vs NRL stories to write about for the next 10 years.

That is not actually the Telegraph's #1 priority. They'll find a way to fill their pages one way or another. They don't need a second Sydney team to help them do that.

The Telegraph has two major imperatives:

1) Their readers are generally league fans, so want to push league at every opportunity.

2) Their parent company has a massive stake in rugby league, so they want to push league at every opportunity.

There is nothing good about AFL's creeping dominance for the Daily Telegraph.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

What will happen between the relationship of news ltd and NRL if the NRL plumets into a metropolitan competition?

I think it is probably too entrenched to ever dissolve entirely.

And the reality is that there will always be enough true believers to make it worthwhile for News Ltd to keep pushing league - maybe with a reduced stake, but a stake nonetheless.

And while Roy Masters can lope on soccer all he want's to destroy the AFL's expansion plans he too would surely see that the A-league is fast falling in the same territory hole that NRL fell in being the east coast.

But soccer is a summer sport in Australia.

It isn't competing with the football codes for TV dollars or gate receipts.

 

[jackmac7]

How come NRL are up in arms about AFL invading NSW and QLD when the A-league has just lobbed 3 teams in NSW and soon to be 3 in QLD?

 

[jackmac7]

But soccer is a summer sport in Australia.

It isn't competing with the football codes for TV dollars or gate receipts.[/quote]


Then why does everyone say soccer is the enemy?

 

[jackmac7]

I think Gold Coast will be a huge success. West Sydney will take more time to settle in.

Can you imagine Rivalry round in the AFL?

Gold Coast V Brisbane
Sydney V West Sydney
WA Derby
SA Showdown
plus all the Melbourne Rivalries

I can see NSW and QLD derbies selling out games after a few years in the league.