Opinion Non-Crows AFL 6: This Is Getting Cruel

[Punchy Bassett]

Absolutely...- Punchy Bassett betake to it though.

Look I don't claim to be the expert on much around here, the round ball game though do not even try with me.

I've literally travelled around the world following the Socceroos.

 

[AFC979810]

$40m/year TV rights v $643m/year. Soccer Australia is presently a minnow in terms of the Australian sporting landscape. Total interest in soccer vastly outweighs interest in the local league, but they've never been able to leverage that to meaningfully bridge the gap. And that deal takes into account all local, international and Asian stuff except the World Cup. Again, it might improve further, but we've been hearing about the imminent takeover for decades.

Oh no doubt.

AFL is still a clear cut #1 in all the big indicators - Attendance, TV Rights, Sponsorship, Media Coverage, etc.

The issue is, in my opinion, that there is no where for it to truly grow. Internationally it won't grow. It already dominates 5/7 states. Its going to struggle to usurp Rugby in QLD/NSW. Average attendance is lower than it was 20 years ago.

Yes - people have been saying the world game is coming, but I think the changes in the past 20 years have been monumental and it is now something very serious for the AFL to be concerned with.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Yes - people have been saying the world game is coming, but I think the changes in the past 20 years have been monumental and it is now something very serious for the AFL to be concerned with.

I remember my late father saying this, 20 years ago ....the sport had got its act together, a new National League, teams no longer nation aligned

Yet here we are ....and the Sport is still imploding continuously ....just last year, many wanted the old sides reintroduced to the league, winding back time ....they wanted more teams added & a elevation / relegation division setup

Soccer always wants to bigger than it'll ever be .....and that's a feeder league ....the AFL will never fear a feeder competition

With access to global sport ....sports lovers demand higher calibre sport ....the best of the best
Hence why no-one goes to Sheffield Shield match's like they used to .....one-day games, games with no importance, other than as TV content fillers

No ....the AFL has to worry about itself ....self-destruction, via continually watering down its own product ....introducing more & more teams, with our population is lunacy

 

[kirky]

I remember my late father saying this, 20 years ago ....the sport had got its act together, a new National League, teams no longer nation aligned

Yet here we are ....and the Sport is still imploding continuously ....just last year, many wanted the old sides reintroduced to the league, winding back time ....they wanted more teams added & a elevation / relegation division setup

Soccer always wants to bigger than it'll ever be .....and that's a feeder league ....the AFL will never fear a feeder competition

With access to global sport ....sports lovers demand higher calibre sport ....the best of the best
Hence why no-one goes to Sheffield Shield match's like they used to .....one-day games, games with no importance, other than as TV content fillers

No ....the AFL has to worry about itself ....self-destruction, via continually watering down its own product ....introducing more & more teams, with our population is lunacy

AFL and associated leagues are indigenous to this country. Just like NFL is indigenous to the USA.

Soccer is played throughtout the world where it is the number one football sport, there is no indigenous football sports in those countries.

That is the key reason soccer will never reach the same heights here than elsewhere.

 

[AFC979810]

I remember my late father saying this, 20 years ago ....the sport had got its act together, a new National League, teams no longer nation aligned

Yet here we are ....and the Sport is still imploding continuously ....just last year, many wanted the old sides reintroduced to the league, winding back time ....they wanted more teams added & a elevation / relegation division setup

Soccer always wants to bigger than it'll ever be .....and that's a feeder league ....the AFL will never fear a feeder competition

With access to global sport ....sports lovers demand higher calibre sport ....the best of the best
Hence why no-one goes to Sheffield Shield match's like they used to .....one-day games, games with no importance, other than as TV content fillers

No ....the AFL has to worry about itself ....self-destruction, via continually watering down its own product ....introducing more & more teams, with our population is lunacy

Your father was correct 20 years ago when the A-League was formed. It was the right decision then and history has proven it to be the right decision now.

But these things take time. The world game is inevitable and it will keep chipping away at AFL.

I think AFL has hit its peak. Where is the growth? Without a path to growth, it will be struggling to maintain and other sports will slowly start to erode its market share and revenue.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

AFL and associated leagues are indigenous to this country. Just like NFL is indigenous to the USA.

Soccer is played throughtout the world where it is the number one football sport, there is no indigenous football sports in those countries.

That is the key reason soccer will never reach the same heights here than elsewhere.

Totally agree ...... indigenous sport, or first entry sports, capture the heart & souls of people

However, it's also a fact that they can be undone by the sport itself, via poor management .....or often, the arrogance of invincibility

 

[Punchy Bassett]

AFL and associated leagues are indigenous to this country. Just like NFL is indigenous to the USA.

Soccer is played throughtout the world where it is the number one football sport, there is no indigenous football sports in those countries.

That is the key reason soccer will never reach the same heights here than elsewhere.

Funny you use the USA as an example, soccer is alive and well there, they'd slap us right now.

 

[AFC979810]

AFL and associated leagues are indigenous to this country. Just like NFL is indigenous to the USA.

Soccer is played throughtout the world where it is the number one football sport, there is no indigenous football sports in those countries.

That is the key reason soccer will never reach the same heights here than elsewhere.

AFL is indigenous to half of this country. NSW & QLD (half the countries population base) could not give two shits about it.

Soccer is coming for the US. It will take a hell of a lot longer to take over there, because the NFL/NBA have a much tighter stranglehold and are much more powerful than the AFL.

Change is coming.

 

[kirky]

Funny you use the USA as an example, soccer is alive and well there, they'd slap us right now.

Soccer may be alive and well in the USA but NFL, NBA, NHL and MBL are the dominant sports.

Soccer barely gets a look in.

Of course USA would slap us, they have 15 times the population.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Your father was correct 20 years ago when the A-League was formed. It was the right decision then and history has proven it to be the right decision now.

But these things take time. The world game is inevitable and it will keep chipping away at AFL.

I think AFL has hit its peak. Where is the growth? Without a path to growth, it will be struggling to maintain and other sports will slowly start to erode its market share and revenue.

Yes, I understand & appreciate what you're saying .....but Soccer Clubs are still broke .....young stars leave Australia at the first sign of opportunity

It's still fact ....2nd rate competitions can never compete with Indigenous National Sports ......has Soccer impacted the American NFL ?

 

[kirky]

AFL is indigenous to half of this country. NSW & QLD (half the countries population base) could not give two shits about it.

Soccer is coming for the US. It will take a hell of a lot longer to take over there, because the NFL/NBA have a much tighter stranglehold and are much more powerful than the AFL.

Change is coming.

NSW and QLD have NRL - again indigenous football to those two states.

I’ve been hearing that for 50 years, I heard it after 2006.

Soccer doesn’t rate a great deal in the USA. Go there during NFL season, NFL dominates 24/7.

Why do you think soccer moved to a summer season in Australia? It can’t compete with the two football codes.

 

[AFC979810]

Soccer may be alive and well in the USA but NFL, NBA, NHL and MBL are the dominant sports.

Soccer barely gets a look in.

Of course USA would slap us, they have 15 times the population.

The discussion isn't about where we are now. Its about where we will end up.

Gentle reminder that the US will host the World Cup in 2026.

 

[AFC979810]

Yes, I understand & appreciate what you're saying .....but Soccer Clubs are still broke .....young stars leave Australia at the first sign of opportunity

It's still fact ....2nd rate competitions can never compete with Indigenous National Sports ......has Soccer impacted the American NFL ?

Impacted yet, no. The AFL will fall to soccer long before the NFL.

That being said - if you think the NFL isn't concerned about the future you would be just as daft as thinking the AFL isn't shitting themselves now. Why do you think the NFL is investing so heavily in Europe?

These leagues need to grow. The NFL has a much stronger and secure foundation than the AFL and at least has a focus and investment plan to grow the game in Europe.

What does the AFL have? Where is the expansion? The way I see it our expansion ideas have been as follows:

A failed hybrid series against a tiny country in Ireland
Adding a few list spots for teams to have international rookies
A once off game with a financial basket case of a club playing in China
Expansion plans to bring a team to an island that has 550,000 people where AFL is the #1 sport.

 

[kirky]

The discussion isn't about where we are now. Its about where we will end up.

Gentle reminder that the US will host the World Cup in 2026.

You do know the USA held the FIFA World Cup in 1994, don’t you?

I was in the USA just before it commenced.

And yes, I’ve been hearing the same thing for years.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Yes, I understand & appreciate what you're saying .....but Soccer Clubs are still broke .....young stars leave Australia at the first sign of opportunity

It's still fact ....2nd rate competitions can never compete with Indigenous National Sports ......has Soccer impacted the American NFL ?

Nope but it's growing massively in America cause NFL fans aren't closed minded dickheads and see it as more sport to jump onto.

Go and check out the USA squad for the World Cup, multiple players based in the big 5 European leagues.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

You do know the USA held the FIFA World Cup in 1994, don’t you?

I was in the USA just before it commenced.

And yes, I’ve been hearing the same thing for years.

No shit Sherlock

 

[kirky]

Nope but it's growing massively in America cause NFL fans aren't closed minded dickheads and see it as more sport to jump onto.

Go and check out the USA squad for the World Cup, multiple players based in the big 5 European leagues.

Multiple players - wow just wow!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Go and check out the USA squad for the World Cup, multiple players based in the big 5 European leagues.

But how can a Sport grow in a market like America, or Australia ....if all the best talent is based overseas ?

 

[Punchy Bassett]

You do know the USA held the FIFA World Cup in 1994, don’t you?

I was in the USA just before it commenced.

And yes, I’ve been hearing the same thing for years.

Actually it's ironic you mention the 94 world cup you do realise part of FIFA's conditions for the USA hosting that was the formation of a proper professional league right?

 

[kirky]

Actually it's ironic you mention the 94 world cup you do realise part of FIFA's conditions for the USA hosting that was the formation of a proper professional league right?

Of course they have a professional league and they also have a professional lacrosse league. What is your point?

 

[AFC979810]

NSW and QLD have NRL - again indigenous football to those two states.

I’ve been hearing that for 50 years, I heard it after 2006.

Soccer doesn’t rate a great deal in the USA. Go there during NFL season, NFL dominates 24/7.

Why do you think soccer moved to a summer season in Australia? It can’t compete with the two football codes.

No offense. But this 50 year thing has been brought up twice now - once by you and once by old 1970 crow.

Why do you think you keep hearing it?

It's because it is inevitable. It's the long game. Sure it has its peaks (2005/2006, Now) but its growing and has only one direction to go. The moves over the past 20 years have been brilliant and have gained significant market share and have built solid foundations for the future.

And to the US - although they have the population base to support many different leagues. Look at the codes:

NFL - The clear #1 expanding rapidly into Europe

The next 3 in order:

NBA - expanding rapidly into China
MLB - expanding into South America
NHL - trying to maintain.

Once again - and nobody has answered this. How does the AFL grow? Its life and its sports - if you aren't growing - you are dying.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Of course they have a professional league and they also have a professional lacrosse league. What is your point?

I'm assuming you've watched games in that league with sold out crowds?

 

[Punchy Bassett]

No need to resort to abuse.

Be the better man.

If you can't understand the significance of the USA having multiple players in Europe now when they didn't even have a professional league 30 years ago I can't help you.

 

[AFC979810]

You do know the USA held the FIFA World Cup in 1994, don’t you?

I was in the USA just before it commenced.

And yes, I’ve been hearing the same thing for years.

And once again - you fail to see the long game.

For the US - 1988-1994 was almost identical to our 2002-2006 period. It was the beginning of a strong national league combined with better national team performance on the world stage.

The MLS has grown massively. With an average attendance of over 20,000 per game, MLS has the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S. after the (NFL) and (MLB) and is the seventh highest attended professional soccer league worldwide.

The conversion to soccer will take time. It isn't like going from Test Cricket to 1 dayers to 20/20.

And once more - and its something I am desperately waiting on a response from you and old mate 1970, where is the growth for AFL that will keep Soccer at bay.

USA fans make 2022 the most-watched USMNT group stage EVER

The USA love affair with the world game has continued with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar now the most-watched USMNT group stage ever.

www.dailymail.co.uk

This is 4 years out from the USA hosting the World Cup. The build up will be insane.

 

[CrowsB4hoes]

MLS games have a higher average attendance that NBA and NHL games, and is one of the top 10 soccer leagues in the world, but keep telling yourself soccer isn’t taking off in America.

And that’s the men. On the womens side, the us team is the most successful team in the world and the most popular women’s national team in America.