Hall of Fame game, another example of Vic arrogance
Roar Pro
By Mark Edwards, 8 May 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
It all began with the formation of the AFL. In distinct contrast to the existing Victorian based teams, the West Coast Eagles were asked to contribute a multi-million dollar fee to join the expanded competition. The Victorian sides were struggling financially, and many believe this was the real reason behind the expansion of the competition.
For many years the Victorian based clubs had been poaching the best players from SA and WA with little or no compensation to the clubs which had nurtured their talent. The disdain for which they treated the other states football competitions boarded on intolerance. When the Fremantle Football Club entered the competition, the Victorian based AFL had learnt its lesson from the success of West Coast, and refused many of the draft concessions that West Coast had been given, virtually handing them a state side.
A number of Victorian based sides have refused to wear alternate strips, despite the leagues insistence, and the pressing need for it.
The latest example of the disdain with which the Victorian based AFL have treated the rest of Australia is in the Hall of Fame Game. While typically state of origin football has been attractive and entertaining, based as it is on state rivalries, this latest concept is manufactured and artificial.
Gary Lyon summed up the Victorian attitude well when speaking on Channel Nine’s show Footy Confidential he stated, “I don’t care about any non-Victorian side”.
While rivalry is healthy, so is respect for the achievements of football players in the whole of Australia.
The AFL have offered up this game as a tribute to years of Australian Football History. Its a pity the concept has been organised in such Victorian centred framework.
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The Wounded Tiger said | May 8th 2008 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
Mark – you’re mostly keen on teams needing to wear alternative jerseys just so that Freo don’t have to wear purple all the time.
I think that the AFL have been stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one – and while it’s an unhappy balance, they’ve hit at a balance. There’s not actually any other way to get that much talent on the field at once – there’s more footballing talent playing this game than we even got in an international rules team.
And this concept that the rest of the competition is treated with disdain is a furphy. The VFL expanded because they recognised that there was likely only room for one truly professional Aussie Rules league in the country, and they didn’t want to get left sitting around.
Manufactured or not, the AFL have found a way to get the best 50 odd players in the league out there on the same oval. Sure it’s just pure entertainment, and might not have the spite and ferocity of state of origin games from yesteryear. But it’s got to be really good fun.
Paul said | May 9th 2008 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
The history of football codes in Australia is very much based upon our colonial past and then state rivalries. It may be easier to travel interstate now, but these distances were great in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This meant that all of the football leagues regardless of code were based within one state. Victoria simply had a better competition than WA and SA purely because of population. It is unfortunate but true, there is an arrogance that goes with size.
The National Soccer League were the first national competition, they didn’t have to bring competing interests from different states together (but they had a larger problem in bringing competing ethnic differences together). The AFL began their expansion in 1982, and had three interstate teams by 1987. The ARL did not begin to expand until 1988. This is not an easy task, to bring a competition together from states with such divided interests. But realistically, the WAFL or the SANFL could never have started a national competition themselves. There still need to be a few more changes to make the competition truly national. Getting the balance right between Victorian and non-Victorian teams is still needed. Once there are more teams outside of Victoria than inside, then the competition will be truly national. By 2012 this balance will be 10 in Victoria and 8 outside (unless some Victorian clubs relocate interstate).
So I acknowledge that this process has some way to go. But the natural progression is in the right direction. As the game develops in other states, non-Victorians will become an increasing part of the administration. CEOs have already come from states other than Victoria.
But comments from Gary Lyon are very unhelpful. Shame on you Gary Lyon, as a Melbourne High Old Boy, it’s a shame you are so prejudiced.
Victorian teams not winning the premiership for 7 years in a row was a good dose of humility for us. There is still some ways to go, but give it a chance, The AFL is slowly becoming a truly national competition.
Michael C said | May 12th 2008 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Hmmm,
being a bit selective on just which issues are apparent proof of an official policy of arrogance?? Aren’t we? Perhaps? Just a little bit?
Don’t forget the draft concessions and salary cap concessions provided to Brisbane and Sydney (and, if logic allowed Sydney to have a cost of living allowance, then, the counter argument would be a cut to the Adelaide based clubs salary cap limit – but, that didn’t happen).
The reality is that the AFL represents the 16 clubs – and the self interest of the Vic based clubs has been on show – but, is being watered down over time (as only the progression of time can do).
Remember, there were 12 VFL clubs – of which 2 have ‘merged’ into the interstate ‘cartel’ that NOW numbers 6. And, given that most MOTIONS require a 75% majority, well, 6 into 16 – - ensures that the interstaters carry sufficient clout to break the Victorian clubs stranglehold.
So – pick your targets carefully – because, for every proof of supposed arrogance – - there’ll be more and more examples of the exact opposite – - one of which is the startling acquiesence of all 16 club presidents on the provisions for the 2 new INTERSTATE clubs entering the competition.
It might yet be the dawn of a ‘new age’ of the AFL – - one that is so much more a national competition MORE SO than just an expanded state league (which the NRL and AFL both have to battle with – - but, then, even look at the HAL, and 3 of 8 teams are from NSW and they still want more!!!! – - at least West Sydney, and, any NSW based soccer fan will launch into an argument for a Wollongong team, and maybe Canberra……).