The AFL backed up its tough talk in 2009

 
Adrian Musolino Columnist

By , 7 Oct 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert

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Geelong and St Kilda players fight for the ball during the AFL 1st Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the St kilda Saints at the MCG. GSP Images

Geelong and St Kilda players fight for the ball during the AFL 1st Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the St kilda Saints at the MCG. GSP Images

‘AFL: In A League Of Its Own’ was the catch cry of the 2009 AFL season promo. It was an aggressive marketing ploy that put the other codes firmly in their place. Its underlying message was backed up with another solid season for the juggernaut code.

A peak audience of 3.62 million viewers for the Grand Final was the highest rated sporting event of the year across the five city metropolitan markets, highlighting the AFL’s appeal to the masses.

It was fitting considering the whole season had been building to the showdown between the two benchmark sides of the competition – Geelong and St Kilda.

Like few AFL seasons in recent times, 2009 had a very segregated feel to it, with Geelong and St Kilda in the lead, followed closely by the Western Bulldogs with Collingwood hanging on behind, the Adelaide Crows closing in as September approached and the rest making up the numbers and fighting amongst themselves.

At the head of the race, Geelong claimed the pre-season competition, the Brownlow for the overdue Gary Ablett and their second premiership in three seasons.

They confirmed their tag as ‘greats’ in a scrappy but thrilling Grand Final against a St Kilda side who, at one stage, threatened to go through the season undefeated.

Both on and off the field there was the usual dose of controversy and debate that seems to characterise the AFL.

Frontal pressure entered the footy vernacular as sides such as St Kilda and Geelong highlighted just how far the game has developed in its intensive pressure in contested possession and tackling, aided by increased rotations off the bench.

Bumping was the other big talking point of the season following Nick Maxwell’s jaw-breaking bump on West Coast’s Patrick McGinnity in the NAB Cup and Buddy Franklin’s suspension for his hit on Ben Cousins.

Protecting the reputation of the game, namely in the minds of parents with kids playing in the junior ranks, was a key requirement for the AFL, especially in preparation for its expansion into uncharted regions.

Tanking remained in the headlines, especially considering so many teams ruled themselves out of September contention so early, and the denials of the AFL only made the matter worse and highlighted a disappointing arrogance from its leadership.

All these controversies may have disappointed many of its core supporters – especially the footy traditionalists who bemoaned the demise of the bump and the stamping out of ‘larrikinism’ as part of a ‘softening’ of the game – but crowd figures remained strong, only dropping slightly – justifiably attributed to the gloomy economic conditions the season started under and the poor performances of clubs such as Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Fremantle and the like.

Sydney also took a hit in the crowd stakes with the ANZ Stadium “blockbuster” against Collingwood drawing 41,042, a record low for that particular fixture at that ground.

However, when that is marked as a record low, it’s clear the AFL doesn’t have the concerns of the other codes.

But this isn’t the ideal time for the Sydney Swans to stagnate with West Sydney on the horizon.

With Barry Hall banished from the club for repeated on-field indiscretions, and the retirement of Michael O’Loughlin, the club cannot afford a laborious rebuilding phase at this crucial juncture for the AFL in New South Wales.

Up north the revitalized Brisbane Lions showed genuine signs of promise with the likes of Daniel Rich quickly adapting to the AFL. Michael Voss deserves much praise for his first year of coaching, typified by the incredible fourth-quarter fight back to eliminate Carlton in the first week of the finals.

But it was the bombshell news of Karmichael Hunt’s defection from the NRL to the AFL’s newest franchise on the Gold Coast starting in 2011 that rocked Queensland and sent shockwaves across Australia.

Elsewhere the Adelaide Crows continued to defy the critics, Port Power admitted to their financial struggles, West Australian struggled on-field and Melbourne clubs were relieved to seal a better deal with the AFL and Etihad stadium that helps ease financial concerns.

The crescendo of off-field movement is building as the AFL prepares for its most aggressive expansionary phase since the birth of the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Bears.

The AFL raised the stakes in with their promotion for this season – a season that delivered on all fronts. But you sense this is the calm before the storm.

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