Opinion Non-Crows AFL 6: This Is Getting Cruel

[rocket18]

Isn't soccer a winter sport?

Why Isn't it played in winter in Australia?

It wouldn't have to compete with the other international sports of cricket and basketball.

It would only be up against a pissant domestic sport, surely the world game wouldn't worry about that sport when its had the best junior participation for the last 30 years.

 

[AFC979810]

Isn't soccer a winter sport?

Why Isn't it played in winter in Australia?

It wouldn't have to compete with the other international sports of cricket and basketball.

It would only be up against a pissant domestic sport, surely the world game wouldn't worry about that sport when its had the best junior participation for the last 30 years.

Its not stupid. Nobody is arguing that the AFL isn't the dominant sport in Australia.

Its the sleeping giant. It doesn't need to overtake AFL in 10,20, 30, 40 years - but it eventually will. The AFL will suffer death from a thousand cuts. Success at the World Cup accelerates it, why do you think the AFL PR team have been having skid marks in their undies the past couple of weeks?

 

[Mostyn]

(though Paramount’s recent deal of half price for 12 months may get a few more subscribers).

Link?

 

[1970crow]

Its not stupid. Nobody is arguing that the AFL isn't the dominant sport in Australia.

Its the sleeping giant. It doesn't need to overtake AFL in 10,20, 30, 40 years - but it eventually will. The AFL will suffer death from a thousand cuts. Success at the World Cup accelerates it, why do you think the AFL PR team have been having skid marks in their undies the past couple of weeks?

nobody? What about this guy? He's 1/3 of your crew. And it's been the sleeping giant since tyat Best bloke played for Liverpool.

Arguable that Australian Rules has dominance over soccer as a sport here at a national level

 

[brucetiki]

Link?

It was a Black Friday deal that’s finished now

 

[brucetiki]

Soccer in Australia has been like netball in Australia.

Played in huge numbers at junior level but for whatever reason those kids don't turn into consumers of the sport later on. Just something you play when you're a kid

I wonder if netball finally becoming professional in the past 15 years will help netball become a bigger sport than it is currently.

 

[Mostyn]

You are 100% wrong on this.

The MLS is ever growing. They have smartly targeted cities that lack exposure to more than 1 team from the big 4 leagues (Portland, Salt Lake, Kansas City, Nashville, Columbus, Orlando, St Louis, San Jose).

The Timbers for example - have a 25,218 capacity stadium. Their average crowd in 2022 is 23,841.

The Trailblazers have a 20,000 seat stadium with an average crowd of 17,209 people.

Like the A-league and Socceroos, the MLS and USMNT have taken massive massive steps over the past 20-30 years. Its a very slow burn, but something all the other leagues are extremely concerned about.

Once more - the question I want answered is where is the growth for the AFL coming from? Seems to me it hit its peak in the early 2000's and the only direction its going is down.

Explain to me why you think AFL needs continual growth?

There's obvious growth in rights fees - but the growth at number one is always going to be gradual.

It always easier to point to growth from things that have historically been failures.

 

[jackster83]

Isn't soccer insanely expensive to play for kids?

Something like $3-4k a year in fees?

I've known a few parents who have had teenagers playing soccer and cost is definitely an issue.

 

[ams4crows]

They do?
Don’t think I’ve ever seen one in SA?
James NBA, absolutely.
Crows jumpers? 10 000’s in fact you’d see more crows jumpers interstate than you’d see Messi jumpers in SA.
It may be popular elsewhere but australia it’s not, soccer hasn’t just been around for a few years, it’s been around forever and it’s not taking off now or ever.

Yeah they do, go to any Junior soccer training and 50% of them have Messi shirts on.

When I went to training I also wore a Messi Barcelona shirt, I also had a Liverpool, Huddersfield town, German national team and a Fernando Torres Spain National team shirt that I wore to Training. Did I wear them out in public casually, no I didn't but I have more soccer merchandise than I have footy stuff.

It's fun to collect shirts of people you admire.

 

[ams4crows]

Isn't soccer insanely expensive to play for kids?

Something like $3-4k a year in fees?

I've known a few parents who have had teenagers playing soccer and cost is definitely an issue.

Yes and it's the reason we haven't found any gems recently because you have to be rich to get your kid in a junior national team. There aren't enough scholarships that promote raw talent it's all about nepotism at the junior level to get to elite pathways.

There's already a scheme in the UAE who are asking for young Aussies to go play there for free in their third division, but if you want to make in Europe you're better off going there as there's scouts there than wait around trying to get an A-League contract.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Its not stupid. Nobody is arguing that the AFL isn't the dominant sport in Australia.

Its the sleeping giant. It doesn't need to overtake AFL in 10,20, 30, 40 years - but it eventually will. The AFL will suffer death from a thousand cuts. Success at the World Cup accelerates it, why do you think the AFL PR team have been having skid marks in their undies the past couple of weeks?

I hear what you are saying and frankly the AFL is its own worst enemy. To satisfy the internal egos of AFL house they happily band together to alienate fans and players by consistently changing rules of the game in a parade of internal backslapping at their own brilliance.

Soccer wont win out unfortunately. I thought after the golden generation and the success of the A-League we would see not only an influx of supporters but players as well. But we just don't. The influx of refugees and immigrants from African, Asian and Middle Eastern nations while playing soccer, aren't increasing the numbers. A lot are starting to chase AFL as well. The socceroos will get better though and I was surprised to the way the A-League stood up, especially against the stars of Europe. I suspect we are going to get raided which is good.

 

[ams4crows]

I hear what you are saying and frankly the AFL is its own worst enemy. To satisfy the internal egos of AFL house they happily band together to alienate fans and players by consistently changing rules of the game in a parade of internal backslapping at their own brilliance.

Soccer wont win out unfortunately. I thought after the golden generation and the success of the A-League we would see not only an influx of supporters but players as well. But we just don't. The influx of refugees and immigrants from African, Asian and Middle Eastern nations while playing soccer, aren't increasing the numbers. A lot are starting to chase AFL as well. The socceroos will get better though and I was surprised to the way the A-League stood up, especially against the stars of Europe. I suspect we are going to get raided which is good.

If Europe see The A-leat as a genuine talent developer that will be the biggest win of all, if we can get a regular pipeline of young Aussies playing in the A league and then actually moving to Europe and making it over there it'll do wonders

Look at McGree and Goodwin both tried their hand over there couldn't get game time, so came back. Lucky for McGree he was young enough that he could give Europe a 2nd try.

Some young Aussies players prefer to play in Australia as half our national team is picked from there, the lifestyle is good and they can be close to family.

We need more Christan Volapto's yes he didn't pick us but he got off his ass and got to Europe early and worked hard to make it.

 

[George Kramer]

Isn't soccer insanely expensive to play for kids?

Something like $3-4k a year in fees?

I've known a few parents who have had teenagers playing soccer and cost is definitely an issue.

Depends where they play, my son played at a club and it was $1k, previously played at an afl club and it was like $200.

Soccer clubs use the juniors fees to buy senior team players, mostly dads still coach

 

[FR0GGY]

Yeah they do, go to any Junior soccer training and 50% of them have Messi shirts on.

When I went to training I also wore a Messi Barcelona shirt, I also had a Liverpool, Huddersfield town, German national team and a Fernando Torres Spain National team shirt that I wore to Training. Did I wear them out in public casually, no I didn't but I have more soccer merchandise than I have footy stuff.

It's fun to collect shirts of people you admire.

The test is people wearing them outside the sport. It’s just not seen here in SA and I’d suggest Aus

 

[cleanhands]

It was a Black Friday deal that’s finished now

 

[AFC979810]

Explain to me why you think AFL needs continual growth?

There's obvious growth in rights fees - but the growth at number one is always going to be gradual.

It always easier to point to growth from things that have historically been failures.

Because you grow or you die.

The AFL knows this. Why do you think they continually pump money into GWS and Gold Coast whilst talking of adding a Tassie team. Why did the AFL try and introduce a hybrid game between Australia and Ireland?

I mean the Gold Coast Suns average attendance in 2022 was lower than any other season between 2011 and 2019.

They are desperately trying to grow the game

 

[AFC979810]

I wonder if netball finally becoming professional in the past 15 years will help netball become a bigger sport than it is currently.

I think any argument that has women sport compared to mens sport is a losing argument from the beginning.

 

[adelaidecrows]

If Europe see The A-leat as a genuine talent developer that will be the biggest win of all, if we can get a regular pipeline of young Aussies playing in the A league and then actually moving to Europe and making it over there it'll do wonders

Look at McGree and Goodwin both tried their hand over there couldn't get game time, so came back. Lucky for McGree he was young enough that he could give Europe a 2nd try.

Some young Aussies players prefer to play in Australia as half our national team is picked from there, the lifestyle is good and they can be close to family.

We need more Christan Volapto's yes he didn't pick us but he got off his ass and got to Europe early and worked hard to make it.

The biggest hurdle for Aussies is the stigma and id bet Australian players are automatically treated as depth players no matter how good of a game they play. This would be why they so quickly return to Australia. Get game time. The issue though is we do lack class. We have currently a team of soldiers with Mooy the closest thing to class. Hopefully over the next decade this can change and we can take the game through the next level.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Because you grow or you die.

The AFL knows this. Why do you think they continually pump money into GWS and Gold Coast whilst talking of adding a Tassie team. Why did the AFL try and introduce a hybrid game between Australia and Ireland?

I mean the Gold Coast Suns average attendance in 2022 was lower than any other season between 2011 and 2019.

They are desperately trying to grow the game

AFL's best opportunity for growth is from growing the Women's league... & Tasmania.

 

[AFC979810]

AFL's best opportunity for growth is from growing the Women's league... & Tasmania.

And thats a very very sad future.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

And thats a very very sad future.

Replacing Gil to dill should help too if they appoint someone who actually cares about the game & supporters, rather than just the corporates.

 

[GROTTO]

AFL's best opportunity for growth is from growing the Women's league... & Tasmania.

I thought the AFL's best opportunity for growth is in the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney region with the population projections in 30 years time.

It was one of the driving reasons for having these teams in the first place.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Because you grow or you die.

I think it's ....innovate or die

Cricket has grown, yet it's still dying .....a long, slow death ....kill off Test Cricket as the primary game, and the death will simply be speeded up

 

[rocket18]

I think any argument that has women sport compared to mens sport is a losing argument from the beginning.

AFLW has more interest/coverage than A-League.

Those of us old enough have been hearing about how soccer will overtake footy here for decades.

I was hearing it in the 80's how it was just a matter of time "look how many juniors are playing, it's captured the hearts and minds of the next generation"

Well that generation are now middle aged and they still don't give two shits about our national soccer league.

The only question is will peoples interest/engagement in watching overseas soccer leagues/champion players stop them watching/attending AFL?

That seems to be the premise of the soccer guys on here. Or do they really believe the A-League will surpass the AFL?

 

[Scorpus]

AFLW has more interest/coverage than A-League.

Those of us old enough have been hearing about how soccer will overtake footy here for decades.

I was hearing it in the 80's how it was just a matter of time "look how many juniors are playing, it's captured the hearts and minds of the next generation"

Well that generation are now middle aged and they still don't give two shits about our national soccer league.

The only question is will peoples interest/engagement in watching overseas soccer leagues/champion players stop them watching/attending AFL?

That seems to be the premise of the soccer guys on here. Or do they really believe the A-League will surpass the AFL?

I find it hard to believe any overseas league will become dominant due to the timezone differences