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

[Dogs Of War]

WTF? Auskick is just modified rules for under 8's.

I'm sure every major sport has a similar modified ruels program for young kids.

They do. But AFL, probably just in the northern states, likes to include these "Auskick" players, who recieve a ball, cap and some stickers etc, who pay a one off fee, and attend a few lessons. There is no requirement to actually partipate any further than that (Like play for a team). But it's how the AFL like to operate in NSW.

 

[RUNVS]

They do. But AFL, probably just in the northern states, likes to include these "Auskick" players, who recieve a ball, cap and some stickers etc, who pay a one off fee, and attend a few lessons. There is no requirement to actually partipate any further than that (Like play for a team). But it's how the AFL like to operate in NSW.

Say what you will about it but what the AFL are currently doing in NSW appears to be working. The NSW Scholarship programme was the smartest thing the AFL has done in many many years as it means all clubs will invest in NSW in order to find talented young players. I cant wait to see Craig Bird kick some arse this year.

 

[Rob]

They do. But AFL, probably just in the northern states, likes to include these "Auskick" players, who recieve a ball, cap and some stickers etc, who pay a one off fee, and attend a few lessons. There is no requirement to actually partipate any further than that (Like play for a team). But it's how the AFL like to operate in NSW.

If that's true, then it wouldn't be included in ABS stats.

And it sounds like a pretty good initiative to me. The game becomes part of society instead of, say, rugby league in Perth, where no-one's heard of it until they're about 16 and see a few photos of some strange game while looking for pr0n.

 

[RUNVS]

If that's true, then it wouldn't be included in ABS stats.

And it sounds like a pretty good initiative to me. The game becomes part of society instead of, say, rugby league in Perth, where no-one's heard of it until they're about 16 and see a few photos of some strange game while looking for pr0n.

I guess the teenages in Perth are different from teenages in Sydney. Kids in Sydney start looking for pr0n before the age of 13

 

[Dogs Of War]

If that's true, then it wouldn't be included in ABS stats.

And it sounds like a pretty good initiative to me. The game becomes part of society instead of, say, rugby league in Perth, where no-one's heard of it until they're about 16 and see a few photos of some strange game while looking for pr0n.

Not saying it isn't. But I don't know if you realise that AFL has been on TV for well over 25 years in Sydney. I remember as a kid watching AFL on the TV. Being brought up with Polish and English parents, they had no attachments to any sports in Australia, and no one pushing me to support anything.

NRL should start to get some air time in Perth now with Channel 9 having bought out the local owners, so it now comes under the rest of the umbrella. So the kids in Perth now may get a chance to see it before they find pr0n.

 

[RUNVS]

Not saying it isn't. But I don't know if you realise that AFL has been on TV for well over 25 years in Sydney. I remember as a kid watching AFL on the TV. Being brought up with Polish and English parents, they had no attachments to any sports in Australia, and no one pushing me to support anything.

NRL should start to get some air time in Perth now with Channel 9 having bought out the local owners, so it now comes under the rest of the umbrella. So the kids in Perth now may get a chance to see it before they find pr0n.

Long Live The pr0n

 

[Dogs Of War]

Long Live The pr0n

You wouldn't know what to do with your spare time without it. Probably be a flasher down the local park or something.

 

[cos789]

The focus for the first three years of the A League for the FFA has been the Eastern States teams and not the relative soccer backwater of WA.

Exactly my point my dear friend .TKU for backing me up .

You really have to adjust your rose tinted glasses if you cannot
see the damage done to WA soccer.

 

[can't mark can't kick]

Not saying it isn't. But I don't know if you realise that AFL has been on TV for well over 25 years in Sydney. I remember as a kid watching AFL on the TV. Being brought up with Polish and English parents, they had no attachments to any sports in Australia, and no one pushing me to support anything.

NRL should start to get some air time in Perth now with Channel 9 having bought out the local owners, so it now comes under the rest of the umbrella. So the kids in Perth now may get a chance to see it before they find pr0n.

coverage alone won't increase the participation rates. I used to watch Rugby League on the ABC 30 years ago, but only ever played a handfull of scratch matches in the schoolyard at lunchtimes. That was despite having 2 kids from NSW & most of the boys in our yer level watching those replays. we actually mostly played Aussie Rules, Soccer & brandy in winter or cricket, basketball or something else in winter.

 

[nescri]

Getting back to the title of this thread, i would like to add my two cents to this debate.

Media Reaction:
it all started in saturdays S.M.H with a front page 'exclusive' in which afl's ceo talked up a second sydney team.

The next day (and for weeks afterwards) news limited papers ran their typical sensationalist headlines including "Afl attacks rugby league heartland' & 'Rugby leagues bermuda traingle' (the area where supposedly no rugby league team represents).

My two cents:
Does this media reaction actually represent the reaction of the commuinty?. Most of the time media has a top down approach on what they think people care about.

Andrew Demitriou (as far as i know) never once mentioned the NRL in his expansion plans (initally anyway). It was the papers that ran the 'Attack on R.League' headlines.

 

[littleduck]

Getting back to the title of this thread, i would like to add my two cents to this debate.

Media Reaction:
it all started in saturdays S.M.H with a front page 'exclusive' in which afl's ceo talked up a second sydney team.

The next day (and for weeks afterwards) news limited papers ran their typical sensationalist headlines including "Afl attacks rugby league heartland' & 'Rugby leagues bermuda traingle' (the area where supposedly no rugby league team represents).

My two cents:
Does this media reaction actually represent the reaction of the commuinty?. Most of the time media has a top down approach on what they think people care about.

Andrew Demitriou (as far as i know) never once mentioned the NRL in his expansion plans (initally anyway). It was the papers that ran the 'Attack on R.League' headlines.

The Chairman of the AFL made public comments re NRL.

 

[Subprime]

The Chairman of the AFL made public comments re NRL.

Oh you mean Fitzpatrick saying how the Titans were somewhat fortunate that certain stars aligned in their favour vis-a-vis a limited-use stadium built with govt funding.

Fitzpatrick used the highly inflammatory word 'lucky'. tsk tsk

 

[littleduck]

Oh you mean Fitzpatrick saying how the Titans were somewhat fortunate that certain stars aligned in their favour vis-a-vis a limited-use stadium built with govt funding.

Fitzpatrick used the highly inflammatory word 'lucky'. tsk tsk

Exactly.

 

[Subprime]

Exactly.

Yup highly inflammatory if your skin is the thickness of cigarette paper.

It seems strange to me how Searle accuses the AFL of refusing to co-exist with other sports but the (gov't-funded) stadium built for the Titans can't accommodate Aussie Rules or Cricket.

 

[littleduck]

Yup highly inflammatory if your skin is the thickness of cigarette paper.

I guess AFL was "lucky" that the stars aligned for them in the mid/late 90's when RL was fighting a civil war at the same time AFL northern expansion was rapidly becoming the most important strategic necessity for the game of AFL.

It seems strange to me how Searle accuses the AFL of refusing to co-exist with other sports but the (gov't-funded) stadium built for the Titans can't accommodate Aussie Rules or Cricket.

Oval-shaped grounds are most inappropriate for RL football and RU football and soccer/football. In any event, there was no Gold Coast AFL team on the horizon and Queensland Cricket call the Gabba home and therefore do not require another big venue 100km down the M1.

 

[Subprime]

I guess AFL was "lucky" that the stars aligned for them in the mid/late 90's when RL was fighting a civil war at the same time AFL northern expansion was rapidly becoming the most important strategic necessity for the game of AFL.


- Meh I don't recall any AFL executives ranting hysterically over the continual regurgitation of this by RL types, do you?

I can't remember reading any articles where the Swans or Lions honchos are spewing verbally that their success due to hard work is being willfully mis-cast as nothing more than a spillover from the RL 'civil war'.

Got any links or are you just making this up?

Oval-shaped grounds are most inappropriate for RL football and RU football and soccer/football. In any event, there was no Gold Coast AFL team on the horizon and Queensland Cricket call the Gabba home and therefore do not require another big venue 100km down the M1.

RL/RU have been played on cricket grounds for many years and given the smaller size of the GC market a true spirit of co-existance would have sought to include two of the major Australian sports in order to defray costs.

Grounds have been built with convertible stands I believe.

Its easy for Searle to say he wants to co-exist with the AFL but where is the evidence of that on his part?

 

[littleduck]

I guess AFL was "lucky" that the stars aligned for them in the mid/late 90's when RL was fighting a civil war at the same time AFL northern expansion was rapidly becoming the most important strategic necessity for the game of AFL.


- Meh I don't recall any AFL executives ranting hysterically over the continual regurgitation of this by RL types, do you?

I can't remember reading any articles where the Swans or Lions honchos are spewing verbally that their success due to hard work is being willfully mis-cast as nothing more than a spillover from the RL 'civil war'.

They didnt spew because they knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and they took it !

Got any links or are you just making this up?

Res ipsa loquita.

Oval-shaped grounds are most inappropriate for RL football and RU football and soccer/football. In any event, there was no Gold Coast AFL team on the horizon and Queensland Cricket call the Gabba home and therefore do not require another big venue 100km down the M1.

RL/RU have been played on cricket grounds for many years and given the smaller size of the GC market a true spirit of co-existance would have sought to include two of the major Australian sports in order to defray costs.

Name an oval where NRL football is still played regularly??? You can't. The reason is simple. They are completely inappropriate and unsuitable for RL football.

Grounds have been built with convertible stands I believe.

Name one example where this has been feasible and/or succesful???

Its easy for Searle to say he wants to co-exist with the AFL but where is the evidence of that on his part?

Searle has publicy stated as much many times. You have a selective memory.

 

[Subprime]

They didnt spew because they knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and they took it !

Res ipsa loquita.

Name an oval where NRL football is still played regularly??? You can't. The reason is simple. They are completely inappropriate and unsuitable for RL football.

Name one example where this has been feasible and/or succesful???

Searle has publicy stated as much many times. You have a selective memory.

So the AFL doesn't whinge loudly when its good fortune is acknowledged by its adversiaries but its ok for RL to moan. What was your point again, surely not that RL administration is full of whingers?

I don't have my Latin dictionary with me, you're going to have to translate 'res ipsa loquita' or post in a latin forum.

The Stadium at Robina is fully-funded by the government as I understand it yet it is totally unsuitable for two of Australia's major sports, ie cricket and Aussie Rules.

How does this amount to co-existance?

This is the charge that's being laid at the door of the AFL by Searle and others.

The new stadium in Perth will have moveable stands to accomodate the Rugby's and soccer. Various stadia in the USA accomodate both Baseball and American football. The Olympic stadium in Sydney and Docklands in Melbourne both include this feature.

 

[Dogs Of War]

So the AFL doesn't whinge loudly when its good fortune is acknowledged by its adversiaries but its ok for RL to moan. What was your point again, surely not that RL administration is full of whingers?

I don't have my Latin dictionary with me, you're going to have to translate 'res ipsa loquita' or post in a latin forum.

The Stadium at Robina is fully-funded by the government as I understand it yet it is totally unsuitable for two of Australia's major sports, ie cricket and Aussie Rules.

How does this amount to co-existance?

This is the charge that's being laid at the door of the AFL by Searle and others.

The new stadium in Perth will have moveable stands to accomodate the Rugby's and soccer. Various stadia in the USA accomodate both Baseball and American football. The Olympic stadium in Sydney and Docklands in Melbourne both include this feature.

Maybe you missed the agreement the AFL had with the QLD Govt regarding the Gabba upgrade. Any future AFL teams to play out of that stadium to something like 2015.

As for the major sports arguement, Cricket is not asking for another stadium, AFL is. Cricket has the gabba already. Other sports require different stadiums, oval stadiums just don't cut it for some sports, it's not all about AFL you know.

 

[littleduck]

So the AFL doesn't whinge loudly when its good fortune is acknowledged by its adversiaries but its ok for RL to moan. What was your point again, surely not that RL administration is full of whingers?

The point has been long lost in translation.

I don't have my Latin dictionary with me, you're going to have to translate 'res ipsa loquitur' or post in a latin forum.

It goes without saying/speaks for itself.

The Stadium at Robina is fully-funded by the government as I understand it yet it is totally unsuitable for two of Australia's major sports, ie cricket and Aussie Rules.

Yet, perfectly suited to 3 of Australia's major sports - RL RU & Soccer.

The new stadium in Perth will have moveable stands to accomodate the Rugby's and soccer. Various stadia in the USA accomodate both Baseball and American football. The Olympic stadium in Sydney and Docklands in Melbourne both include this feature.

I'll only reply to the Australian examples.... they are poor examples because their are neither viable nor succesful as dual-purpose venues.

 

[Subprime]

Maybe you missed the agreement the AFL had with the QLD Govt regarding the Gabba upgrade. Any future AFL teams to play out of that stadium to something like 2015.

As for the major sports arguement, Cricket is not asking for another stadium, AFL is. Cricket has the gabba already. Other sports require different stadiums, oval stadiums just don't cut it for some sports, it's not all about AFL you know.

If the Gabba has an agreement then they're welcome to enforce it. I haven't heard that that will be an impediment but maybe someone from the Gabba will maybe 'grab a headline' soon with this news.

Searle has been saying that the AFL refuses to co-exist with other sports.
Yet the stadium built on the GC isn't appropriate for two of Australia's major sports.

Co-existance, how so Mr Searle?

 

[Subprime]

The point has been long lost in translation.

It goes without saying/speaks for itself.

Yet, perfectly suited to 3 of Australia's major sports - RL RU & Soccer.

I'll only reply to the Australian examples.... they are poor examples because their are neither viable nor succesful as dual-purpose venues.

How many games are scheduled for Union?

As for the stadia, you say poor examples. On what basis? Are you going to prove that or once again just pull an opinion out thin air and claim it as fact.

 

[littleduck]

How many games are scheduled for Union?

It's mooted as the home ground of a Pacific Islands Super Rugby team.

As for the stadia, you say poor examples. On what basis? Are you going to prove that or once again just pull an opinion out thin air and claim it as fact.

Well pretty clearly the sliding stands at both Telstra Dome and ANZ Stadium are an ajbect failure because they are never (I wouldn't even go so far as to say 'rarely') used as it's just not financially viable. Even if it was financially viable, it's still not perfectly suited to RL RU or Soccer. However, they are good examples in that they prove it's technically possible.

 

[Subprime]

It's mooted as the home ground of a Pacific Islands Super Rugby team.

Well pretty clearly the sliding stands at both Telstra Dome and ANZ Stadium are an ajbect failure because they are never (I wouldn't even go so far as to say 'rarely') used as it's just not financially viable. Even if it was financially viable, it's still not perfectly suited to RL RU or Soccer. However, they are good examples in that they prove it's technically possible.

So you think the PI(e in the sky) Rugby team will get to the GC before the Twenty20 franchise? How are they going to appeal to GC residents I wonder?

Docklands and Homebush are examples of Aussie Rules co-existing comfortably with Rugby/Soccer, why not the GC?

Homebush seems to accomodate the Swans 60,000 crowds quite comfortably and the CEO of the stadium was positive about the new WS team playing games there. How do you explain that?

 

[littleduck]

So you think the PI(e in the sky) Rugby team will get to the GC before the Twenty20 franchise? How are they going to appeal to GC residents I wonder?

They will be a Pacific Islands team, not a true local Gold Coast team.

Docklands and Homebush are examples of Aussie Rules co-existing comfortably with Rugby/Soccer, why not the GC?

Docklands and Homebush are not perfectly suited to RL, RU or Soccer. However, there capacity accomodates the big games and there facilities accomodate some Sydney-based NRL teams who don't have suitable facilities in the 'burbs. Also, I've heard BF members say many times Homebush is not perfectly suited to AFL either.

Homebush seems to accomodate the Swans 60,000 crowds quite comfortably and the CEO of the stadium was positive about the new WS team playing games there. How do you explain that?

Homebush is not a configuration of a stadium which NRL teams aspire to call home.