AFL international expansion won’t happen soon
Roar Guru By Joe O\\\'Sullivan, 18 Mar 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
416 Have your say
Some Aussie Rules fans seem to want their cake and eat it. Let me explain. AFL is the most popular football code in the country. There can be no argument about that. AFL has zero international participation. About that view there is argument – at least from some AFL fans.
On more than one occasion over the years while discussing this issue with aussie rules fans I was told that one of the virtues of their game was its uniquely Aust origin and culture and that they were untroubled by its strictly domestic following. I had no reason to doubt the sincerity of their beliefs. However a more cynical person than I might suggest that they had no choice but to make such a statement.
According to the AFL website, aussie rules is played in over 20 countries. Yet the only national representation Australian footballers can aspire to is the on again off again International Rules series against Irish Gaelic footballers. I am still waiting to be advised the name and place of a single domestic international rules league or indeed one of its constituent clubs. International Rules was the brainchild of one Harry Beitzel who was desperate for (then) VFL footballers to have overseas competition. And this I think is the mainly unspoken and silent pain carried in the souls of large numbers of AFL fans.
We can watch our cricketers, socceroos, wallabies, basketballers, netballers, hockey and lawn bowls teams – even kangaroos – but not a national representative Australian rules team. Publicly AFL supporters do not seem particularly concerned by this matter – privately, for some at least I’m not so sure.
SWOT analysis might suggest that the complete absence of credible overseas competition is a weakness, possibly a threat and barely an opportunity. Lately we have seen AFL games played in Sth Africa and the UAE. There has been much written on this site by aussie rules aficionados about the seemingly unending internationalization of their game. ‘Watch this space’, we were recently urged, as if a dramatic football revolution was about to unfold.
I don’t think anything is about to unfold – or ever will. I fear that my AFL loving fellow Australians are experiencing a false dawn. Because after 150 years (or so we’re told) aussie rules football has failed to conquer NSW and Qld let alone planet Earth.
The efforts of expats to take their piece of Australiana with them is nothing if not admirable. But willing amateurs do not equate to a meaningful & significant presence.
The relevant and respective indigenous football codes/winter sports will not even notice. During the 2003 Rugby World Cup the SMH’s chief AFL correspondent (Vic born & bred) Richard Hinds wrote questioning rugby’s and the cup’s credentials to global sport status. Fair enough. However I wonder what Richard’s assessment would be if he was to cast his critical eye over AFL’s international stable. The AFL sojourn to foreign lands reminds me of the American flags planted on the moon. Nice for the family photo album but of absolutely no substance.
AFL fans should celebrate a uniquely Australian game providing healthy choices for our youth & its pre-eminent position amongst the football codes of this country. But don’t demean yourselves by indulging in the delusion of a nonexistent impending international Australian rules epiphany. Its fiction.
As my father used to tell me – you can’t have your cake & eat it.
Recommend this story.
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March 18th 2008 @ 9:58pm
Redb said | March 18th 2008 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
Wasn;t aimed at you.
cheers
Redb
March 18th 2008 @ 10:19pm
sheek said | March 18th 2008 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
Redb,
Yeah, I’m aware there are a couple of Gaelic footballers among the AFL clubs, including Tagh at the Swans. Actually, i like AFL. In fact, although rugby union is my first footy code, I follow all the footy codes in Australia.
I don’t support anyone in particular, just whoever is playing a style that appeals to me. I thought the Cats were overdue, & coach ‘Bomber’ Thompson deserved a premiership.
The amusing thing about 50 clubs playing AFL in the US, is the same as the IRB saying there are over 130 countries playing rugby around the world. Unfortunately, only about 6 national countries play the game to a standard to make most of us happy!
Ditto those 50 AFL clubs in the US. If 12 of them were close to the standard of the AFL, then that would be something. But realistically, what is their standard? There may well be 50 American football clubs throughout Australia. But they’re all at the park ‘scratch game’ level.
March 18th 2008 @ 10:48pm
Redb said | March 18th 2008 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
Sheek,
The standard is very low. Theres the Orange County Bombers, Boston Demons, Chicago Swans, New York magpies, etc Some countries like Canada have junior leagues, its all a bit haphazard and only of interest to us AFL tragics.
I enjoy union and soccer as well.
cheers
Redb
March 18th 2008 @ 11:09pm
Rodney said | March 18th 2008 @ 11:09pm | Report comment
Hahahahaha RedB
I love those names for the American teams.
Where’s clarkey, this thread was made for him, I expect to come back here tomorrow and see a 10,000 worded post outlining AFL world wide and how it’s taken over and played in more countries than RL already.
March 19th 2008 @ 12:11am
Midfielder said | March 19th 2008 @ 12:11am | Report comment
Not Football bloggers a copy of a Foxsports today and it talks about I guess the committment to play for the Socceroos.
These stories down the years have never been told in non football circles ………….anyway to the story and for the AFL, Union & League guys imagine your best players doing this………….not saying they would not…………but give credit were its due…………in a sport were international is bigger than clubs.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23396739-23215,00.html
McDonald suffers for World Cup dream
By Ronnie Esplin
March 18, 2008 CELTIC striker Scott McDonald revealed the logistical difficulties he will endure during his mystery journey to the Far East as he hopes to keep alive his dream of appearing for Australia in the 2010 World Cup.
McDonald will fly out of Scotland after Sunday’s Scottish Premier League clash with Gretna to join his Socceroos teammates for a group qualifier against China in Kunming.
In addition to two long flights, the 24-year-old will have to prepare for a game at altitude before he returns to play against Rangers at Ibrox in a crucial SPL game.
He said: “These are the sacrifices you have to make for your country. It’s important for me because it’s a chance to play in the World Cup. To turn my back on that would be pretty stupid.
“The gaffer has fully backed us as well. He’s been great with everyone, he always wants his players to play for their country.
“We’re playing somewhere near Tibet but I don’t know too much about where I’m going. The game’s being played above sea level to give the Chinese every chance of beating us.”
Despite the difficulties, McDonald is confident he will be in peak condition to face Rangers.
“Australia have physios and doctors in a set-up which is second to none,” he said.
“We have doctors travelling with us on planes making sure we’re sleeping at the right times, even giving us asthma pumps because we’re playing above sea level.
“I had a lung test before I went away the last time. They said for me to cope in these conditions I’d have to take one of the asthma pumps.
“They’ll be making sure we’re well looked after and we come back in good condition because the last thing they want is clubs complaining about it and not letting us go the next time.
“Last time I came back from Australia having played on the Wednesday we played Aberdeen on the Sunday and we won 5-1 and I scored a double. So it’s okay as long as you look after yourself.”
March 19th 2008 @ 8:17am
LK said | March 19th 2008 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Redb,
I have no problem with people reading about AFL o/s if it is reported as it should be. That is, a bunch of ex-pat Aussies playing for fun on weekends. Last week we had “Canada next breeding ground for AFL recruitment” on The Roar. Was that trolling? Is it only trolling when you disagree with the content?
Cheers
LK
March 19th 2008 @ 8:39am
Redb said | March 19th 2008 @ 8:39am | Report comment
LK,
Trolling is deliberately stirring the pot without any constructive intent. Take our mate Rodney above.
Where has ‘Joe O’Sullivan’ been whilst this thread has dribbled along?
Now there has been progress in North America with Australian football been played on an ever increasing basis (from a zero base). In the USA there was no organised Australian football games prior to 1996, none, not one team of expats, amateurs, park funsters, zippo. In the last ten years this has grown to over 50 teams. That is a fact. Is it newsworthy?, well that depends on your point of view. I like the story as I’ve said. Canada has junior teams, not expats and old farts, but an organised junior competition with developing pathways,etc Will it ever amount to anything in ten years, perhaps, in fact there is already a Canadian teenager playing in the QAFL.
Like I said if your not interested in Australian football being played overseas, please feel free to click away now.
cheers
Redb
March 19th 2008 @ 8:51am
Rodney said | March 19th 2008 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Well RedB, Clarkey had a thread at Big Footy where he was saying AFL is bigger than RL around the world now, then he back tracked and said it will be soon, I can’t see any problem with what I said above, I was laughing at all the Aussie names.
What’s wrong with Americans using yank or other names besides Aussie ones only?
It makes it look stupid.
Imagine Parramatta being called the Parramatta Star spangled banners or the Parra Stars n Stripes, or maybe the Parra Maple Leafs?
March 19th 2008 @ 9:40am
Joe O'Sullivan said | March 19th 2008 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Redb
As you say its a free world. AFL supporters can write about growing international aussie rules & I can advance a contrradictory view. Why the former is not troll but mine is I’m not quite sure but that is unimportant. You are entitled to your opinion as I am mine. I can choose not to read supportive AFL international posts as you can choose not to read mine. But I did & you did. Neither of us have sinned. You are an AFL tragic ( your words ) & I’m utterly uninterested in the game. Neither of us need apologise for that. I might not like what you write & you might not like what I write. These are our respective rights ( no pun intended ).
Enjoy your AFL & I will enjoy my interests.
March 19th 2008 @ 9:43am
LK said | March 19th 2008 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Redb,
It must be the 11 bottles of Coopers I had last night, but I still don’t understand your point. You say, Canadian AFL may amount to something in ten years, ie not soon. There is a junior of Canadian heritage running around in the QAFL. Both these items are newsworthy and “constructive intent” in your opinion. Joe posts that international expansion of AFL won’t happen soon and he is “trolling”?
I’m not having a go, I just want to know where your distinction is.
Cheers
LK