By Ian McCullough
November 10th 2009 @ 2:10am
Related coverage
Osborne laughs off AFL threat in the west
Parramatta Eels chief executive Paul Osborne has laughed off suggestions the new Greater Western Sydney (GWS) AFL franchise will have any affect on NRL clubs in the region.
The GWS, which will enter the AFL in 2012, unveiled four-time premiership-winning mentor Kevin Sheedy as their inaugural head coach on Monday, but Osborne said he’s unconcerned by the appointment.
“I am not particularly worried by it,” Osborne told the Ten Network.
“It’s a pretty ordinary game and we’ve got a much better product.”
And the former Canberra prop is also unfazed by the prospect of losing young talent to the rival code.
“I am not too concerned as I am sure they will come back when they see how boring it is. They are quite intelligent in Western Sydney.”
However, Osborne did admit he had held discussions with local rivals the Bulldogs and Penrith about the new AFL club and said the three clubs all share the same opinion about the new team.
“We’ve had a couple of chats with the Panthers and the Bulldogs and we all believe we have the much better product and that our heartland is very much here,” he said.
However, North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr cautioned against dismissing the professional manner in which the AFL go about their business.
Parr said rugby league already had programs in place to protect the game in Sydney’s west and on the Gold Coast where a new AFL team will enter the league in 2011, and as long as it didn’t drop the ball, it should meet the latest challenge.
“They have shown a lot of initiative and once the AFL decide something, hats off to them, they pursue it at 100 miles an hour,” he said.
“They’re targeting two very tough areas to crack because of what Searley (Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle) has done it will be particularly difficult on the Gold Coast and they’ll find it just as hard in West Sydney.
“I don’t think we’ve got anything to be fearful of as long as we’re doing all the right things.”
NRL chief executive David Gallop refused to comment on the appointment of Sheedy or the threat of the new AFL club when contacted.
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Kurt said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:14am | Report comment
Ah this is going to be good – Oikee, over to you.
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:43am | Report comment
Sounds a bit arrogant to me.
Freud of Football said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:53am | Report comment
Redb, I suggest you, myself and every other AFL fan just leave this one be. Wait for the League trolls to get over here, they’ll have a field day with this.
Ironic because most AFL fans don’t care a great deal either way about the NRL which many League fans don’t seem to understand, Melbourne Storm don’t attract a great deal of hostility even though they entered AFL heartland and are doing ok but they don’t like the “Australian game invading” Sydney.
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:02am | Report comment
Freud,
This is just more attention seeking from the NRL fraternity. They have to make everything about them – anyone spot this?
It’s pretty clever on one hand, but time will show that AFL WS is not directly targetting the NRL or its diehard fans. On the other hand the more the NRL clubs, media talk it up, it does give exposure to the new Western Sydney club.
In 10 years the war will be forgotten but the coverage will have helped along the way.
Redb
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
I spotted that the AFL fans were the first to swoop on this topic. AFL is never involved in attention seeking, is it, Redb? Karmichael Hunt was a 100% football decision.
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
it is actually a comment on AFL expansion. I wouldnt call it a league only thread.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
But it’s certainly not deserving of “League trolls” comments (I know that was Freud, not you). Just seemed to me the AFL crew were a bit quick on the trigger with comments like that and “attention seeking”. As I said to Freud, a bit rich.
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Both GC and WS will be filling their playing list with AFL draft picks and out of contract existing AFL players, by directly I mean the main focus is not NRL players, in fact they would be in the minority in terms of targets.
Same with fans, diehard NRL fans will remain that. Plenty of other fish in the WS sea.
Redb
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:05am | Report comment
League trolls on a League thread. That’s rich, Freud.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:48am | Report comment
I am off to Brisvagus today, i will comment when i get back, but before i go, and seeing a few comments already ,,, i will say one thing about what ozzie has said. Its about bloody time.
As i mentioned once before, everyone north of Melbourne knows that these people down there are the most arrogant people ever to walk the planet, . They have no respect for other codes and they dont even realise they are arrogant?
Thats how arrogant they are, Ozzie has finally thrown down the challange and being the monster he is, i would love to see any AFL ignorarmass take him head on, i have been waiting for this day to arrive. And this guy dont mince words like some of us on this blog. If he calls you a twit, your a twit. Like i said, rugby league is going to eat the afl alive. I have seen this coming.
girlfreind 
Well??? he called the AFL a inferior product?? what are you going to do about it Demetriou.
Kurt said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:29am | Report comment
That’s my boy!
Dave1 said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Didnt Clive palmer bag AFL? Hows that all turning out for him?
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
I I have little interest in where the AFL decides to establish teams. But I acknowledge the AFL has enough faith in its game to push its boundaries. Whether they are successful or not, their expansion decisions are being driven by people who believe in the future of their game. This is where rugby league is at a huge disadvantage. Since the superleague war its destiny has not been in its own hands. There are encouraging signs that those with the interests of our great game at heart are winning the fight to regain control of the game. Rugby league is a breathtaking spectacle with all the on-field ingredients needed to guarantee its future as one of our nation’s favourite sports. Unfortunately, while this is a necessary condition for league to reach its potential, it is not a sufficient condition. It must be matched with a controlling body that is free of conflicts of interest, with a keen understanding of the relationships between culture, traditions and commercialism and, above all, with an evangelistic faith in the innate qualities of this enigmatic game. Dare I say it, everything that the AFL administration has been putting into practice for decades on behalf if its own code.
A footnote on Paul Osborne. AFL cheerleaders should be careful not to judge his abilities on his colourful quotes. He is a man of substance with a shrewd mind. He is part of a new band of rugby league administrators such as Michael Searle who, hopefully, will come to control the destiny of our game. If this comes to pass, rugby league will be in good hands.
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Good comments Mick from G.
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
and NRL cheerleaders need to recognise immaturity when they see it.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:57am | Report comment
Hopefully Paul Osborne’s comments can get wide circulation in the Southern Capitals – it’s only fair that such pearls of wisdom be widely distributed.
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:03am | Report comment
I hope so too. It’s about time strong voices for rugby league are heard around the country. You’d better get used to it.
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment
The irony with most of these stories so far about AFL and GWS18…is, that in Sydney papers, it keeps getting reported in the NRL pages (at least ‘online’ it does).
and it really makes you (well, me anyway) wonder.
If that’s what media people think is needed to stir up a story…….then, the NSW media is giving AFL free publicity to an NRL audience.
But, then on the flip side, are leveraging off an AFL story to put NRL ‘personalities’ back in the lime-light.
Perhaps it’s a NewsLtd conspiracy to use an unholy alliance of AFL-NRL to smother soccer and the HAL!!!! Wait for it – — there’ll be an email or a letter or a text that someone’s mate assures that his neighbours cousin saw at work.
Dave1 said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
I dont think they will get much circulation in the Southern Capitals.
Crosscoder said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:22am | Report comment
All Ozzie is saying and he was asked by a Tv interview (particularly the 10 network that gushes over the AFL),not going out and shooting his mouth off,was exactly the same comments that appeared when the Storm took root in Melbourne.Comments like who cares,thugby league , and they will be lucky to get 3,000 to a game.initially there was hostility in Melbourne,to suggest otherwise is nonsense.
He(Osborne) is the CEO and as stated one of the new breed,who is defending his game in an area that will be targetted.Hardly a shock to the system.
it is quite Ok for one code to bag another,but not vice versa,it appears.
The fact that the first comments on this thread were AFLers,speaks volumes.
The game(AFL) is not directly targettng the fans of the NRL LOL.When Sheedy talks about options for players and offering fans an additional choice.The fact also they are targetting all young athletes,they are indirectly targetting ther parents of players who may be soccer or NRL supporters.Any code worth its salt targets the widest number of people possible,otherwise they are not doing their job.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:33am | Report comment
I just noticed another quote from Osborne in the SMH, I hadn’t seen this one before: “AFL is a low game – almost as bad as rugby.”
Kurt said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Yeah, that was a good one. I don’t know much about this Osborne guy but a fair bit of this sounds tongue in cheek to me. All good stuff for the headline writers.
AndyRoo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Despite being an ex politician he is a lariken…. I could imagine he could rock up to the MCG and have a beer with anyone their just fine
LK said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
He did introduce laws in the ACT to limit pub opening hours….
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:40am | Report comment
Apart from being a player with the Raiders (helped them win the 1994 grand final when he came in as a late replacement), he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Canberra for two terms (I think).
He’s a strict Catholic, has a huge family, and is staunchly opposed to abortion and euthenasia.
In some respects, he would get on fine with Sheeds, who has always been staunchly opposed to playing games on Good Friday.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Mate, he is just being honest, its what all rugby league supporters already knew, but we were just trying to be nice people. But now you have made the hulksters angry.
Crosscoder said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:41am | Report comment
Osborne apart from being a might fine humanitarian(viz a viz Ruanda),is just taking the p… out of the ch10 journos.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
All codes target grassy roots, but if the NFL walked into Australia and said, we are taking all the AFL very best players, what would the public do. Now put this senario into the Position of what AFL are doing, they have not even got the team up and running, but they are running their mouth off already, we are going to buy leagues best players. Never happened with the Storm, they did not walk into Melbourne and say, we are going to Buy Carey, and Albleit.
Look, aussie is great, he is a voice that rugby league needs, if reporters try to mince words with him, i am sure their will be some black eyes. No fisacal stuff, just headbutting.
Just remember who started this war, like union has been doing to league for the last 100 years, now AFL with the backing of the unionites, are trying to do the same to league. Like i said, bring it on baby. I have been waiting for 30 years for a good blue. The gloves are now off. The oikmeister is about to finally dust off the gloves, step aside folks, this anit going to be pretty.
Thats the beverley hillbilly coming out in me. 
Anyhow off to Vagas, brisvagas that is, texas tears, movie stars.
King of the Gorganites said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
union has been doing to league? what u mean? it was league who stole union players. however, the tide as now turned my friend, largely to our international game. the kangaroos get to play infront og 6K in paris. how appealing. at least when the afl goes overseas (ireland) they get full stadiums.
BN said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Didn’t Hitler used to fill out stadiums. And I bet they thought he was a “good sport” at the the time too.
Simmo said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
You cited Hitler, therefore you fail at the internet.
Dave1 said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
The ARU can’t afford to steal players anymore. If the next TV contract is fair the NRL will once again be able to take players from Union. The problem is there are no union players good enough in Australia to play league. However there maybe some in New Zealand and some of those South African backs are very athletic and may be able to make it in League.
aubgraham said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
aubgraham said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
oikee said
All codes target grassy roots, but if the NFL walked into Australia and said, we are taking all the AFL very best players, what would the public do.
Cheer and shout that their sons were being paid millions of dollars….
Paul J said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
In regards to the AFL expansion plans – some league fans seem to see the AFL as arrogant and some AFL fans seem to get defensive if it is suggested that the AFL are aggressive and cut throat.
Why?
The AFL are very aggressive in their expansion plans and that’s exactly how their leadership are supposed to be. League fans will hope for more of the same when they get their own independent commission.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:54am | Report comment
And this Indigernous code crap, poppycock, rugby league is as indigernous as AFL, if not more,. Thats another point i will make, you dont own the Indigernous people, league is full of indigernous players. Its on baby, you brought the fight to us, now your going to hear the truth. Marn grooky mearse.
You boys down their had better be ready for a fight, us leaguies have been in battle against codes for over 100 years, and we are still here baby. Bring it right on. Yeah oiksters, the giant has woken.
Mr cheese said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Oikee,
you know very well that Rugby League comes from Huddersfield, where Nathan Brown is currently weaving his spell.
It is one of the oddities of sport that the big sport of Brisbane and Sydney ( as well as Papua New Guinea….) was invented by the northern Brahmins of Lancashire and Yorkshire when they told the wealthy Rugger people that things had to change.
Dave1 said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Where have all the great Indigenous players from NSW gone (other than Inglis)?
Preston is a great player but he’s getting old now
Are the recruiters not doing their jobs properly?
stillmissit said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Guys – I am a RU fan and have no axe to grind either way. We lost the West donkeys years ago.
If you think like Osbourn that AFL is boring and the game not being RL, will stop youngsters from joining them think again. My take on young guys in the West is that they don’t care what we think. If it is promoted enough and attracts the $$$’s then it will get them. Sure there will be the die hard family ties but if the CEO of Parramatta doesn’t think this is a big threat then more fool him.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
Ok, i ask you this, stillmissit, if the AFL is so good at attracting islanders, why has there been bugger all islanders and kiwis who live down Melbourne, into the game.??? Go on, just answer that, no they are all waiting for Rugby League and Rugby Union to hit melbourne, and i mean hit it, for six. The Storm has been warming the benches now for 10 years, union will just walk in and take whatever is left, good on them.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Hey Paul, rugby league was very happy to be a small sport in 2 states and nth England, but these other codes have given us a challenge, and they dont like what they see, we are just building a arsenal to take this lot on, we have the backing of the NFL in America to do so, they are right behind us and are going to be part of the new Commission and help build rugby league into a world force.
Hollywood is backing this move, rusty has been door knocking the hobknobs and they love rugby league, they love what they see on Spiky, and they also, dont mince words, bring it on. This is going to be good,.
Their is more happening in America behind the scenes than any person can realise. They have taken the book on rugby leagues injustises over the last century, and want to put it right. After all, NFL and rugby league are brothers my son, as the hulkster would say.
King of the Gorganites said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
your dreamining. rugby in the states is bigger then you can ever imagine league will be. league is non-existant. rugby in the US is played in colleges and high schools at an increasing rate. when did u last see the US play a league international. i mean actually see it?
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
I will see it in about 2 weeks, Jamaica are taking on the Tomahawks in their 1st ever international game, golly , league is growing over their, right under your nose.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Look, I honestly think Osborne’s having a bit of fun with the media. He’s been around the block a few times (footballer, policeman, politician, now administrator) and know how the game works. In eighteen months time, this is fish-and-chip wrapping.
Funny that the headline of this article focuses on one negative comment. Apart from Peter Parr’s conciliatory tone, there have been comments from Todd Greenberg of the Bulldogs:
“Kevin Sheedy is the Wayne Bennett of AFL. It is a big play. This again highlights the AFL’s intention to break into western Sydney. We will have to fight hard for our patch of turf. We would be silly not to think of them as a threat. But I’m confident we will continue to retain western Sydney if we work hard and don’t rest on our laurels.” Hardly dismissive of the game.
And Michael Leary from Penrith:
“We have to take the view that AFL is here for the long haul and that they won’t go away. We have to continue what we are doing and do it bigger and better. Look, to be honest, we have to be very cautious and wary. We cannot afford to sit back and not promote our game. Money isn’t a problem for them. We have to implement strategies to combat, not so much their invasion, but their presence. We cannot put our heads in the sand.”
Peter Doust from the Dragons is a bit more narky:
“The AFL’s drive into western Sydney, you might say, has been built on public relations and a lot of grandstanding. You could argue it has been all smoke and mirrors. The real battle though will be on the ground and that is our strength. But you cannot discount they want to deliver on a lot of their strategies and they have the financial reserves to do it. We have to take them seriously.”
But which comments get highlighted? The most negative ones. This sells papers and excites internet bloggers. In the end, it only feeds a future AFL narrative of “They said you’d never make it…”. The AFL marketing department has already pencilled it in for the 25-year anniversary celebrations. Paul Osborne might be on the GWS board by then if the Eels don’t win a premiership soon.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Paul Osbourne is a master at this game, he has united rugby league fans in one small interveiw, weather it is just a funny quote or underlined warning. He has done more in one interveiw than Fitzgerald could do in 25 years at the club. Ozzie Rocks, in both worlds, ours and black sabbeths.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Leave me out of your war games, oikee. I’m a lover, not a fighter.
(there, raised your smiley)
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:05pm | Report comment
I thought by the look of you Gen-x-er you might have been a Black Sabbeth fan.
The man said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Wise words from Doust – the signing of a washed up Sheeds smacks of the Hunt publicity stunt in the continuing AFL desparate battle to get column inches in the Sydney press.
May work in a slow off-season (timed to no doubt avoid clashing with the Tiger show later in the week) but it will be interesting to see how much coverage the westies get mid season up against Origin…..
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Ahem…..
“Desperate battle to get column inches in the Sydney press”
I have a copy of the Daily Tele in front of me:
Back page (60) – “Now its War”
Page 59 – column from Sheedy.
Page 54 – entire page devoted to Sheedy appointment (3 articles).
Editorial – “fight for the code” – just loving it the Daily Terror, stoke the fire, break out the popcorn….
yeah really struggling
Redb
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
I love your response Redb, AFL is not targeting rugby league, EG;- we are going to steal your players, we are going to take over rugby league heartland, we are going to eat your babies, yeah right, not targeting rugby league. As i mentioned folks, they started the war, not rugby league. Its on, the WAR has started.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:23am | Report comment
The war started back in 1858 when a New South Welshman, schooled at Rugby, declared that we would have a game of our own (to paraphrase).
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Indeed – the time has now come to honour the true origins of the game and call it “NSW Football” or maybe “Premier State Football”?
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Or even more accurately…”The Southern Game” or “Melbourne Football”?
Steve said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
http://www.FootballNSW.com.au
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Is that a futsal site?
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
oikee -
point to where the AFL people have said any of these things.
all that talk is from NRL journos in Sydney Daily’s,
running AFL storys over and over in the NRL pages with fear mongering and sensationlist headlines.
Even yesterday – a story on the Sheedy press conference with a headline along the lines of “How AFL will win Western Sydney”……and we look into the article and there’s not one single mention of ‘winning’, or anything of that nature…….just a hollow headline totally unrelated to the article/press conference.
All this ‘winning’ talk exists in the offices of newspapers in Sydney.
but, please – if you’ve got some juice quotes from AFL folk on this – - please, provide the links.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
M.C give it up son, i went onto your footy site and all the stories are run on their, you know its war, now, put your dukes up.
Well you stated it, not me.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
They should be on their as its about a new AFL coach at GWS but the silly/war stories are written by Ritchie and co…. (league boffins)
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Well stop putting them on their , if you want to be part of the War, you had better learn the rules.
Just remember, i never mentioned the War, it was faulty, not me,
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
what footy site???
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
No.. the AFL is targeting everything league , soccer and union we are also targeting xbox, playstation and the salvation army and people at Parramatta city council will recieve paper bags full of notes to get more evil empire ovals open.
The AFL will not stop untill everyone has a sherrin in Sydney, we will not let any illegal immigrants out of detention centres untill they kick left foot bananas and 60 metre torps on the fly.
The AFL is so flush with funds they will pay Paul Osborne to come to the dark side.
This is war … i have seen the sites on the tele….. prepare to man the guns oikee.
Michael B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
The AFL are putting a team in a area that’s Rugby League and Football (Soccer) heartland. There is no demand for AFL in Western Sydney, however the they’ve gone ahead with their expansion plans regardless.
The AFL can sugarcoat it all it likes (giving kids an opportunity, creating jobs, blah, blah blah) but if people think there isn’t a battle for the hearts and minds of Western Sydney , then they’re either completely deluded or just another staunch supporter of the AFL propaganda machine.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
MB
It’s a non- issue – it’s such a boring, dull game.
Michael B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
But it doesn’t matter what the game’s like – The AFL are masters of media saturation and marketing.
Its all about getting Aus Kick into all the schools, marketing the game (League of their own, Game that made Aus), getting FTA coverage… This is where they are king
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
You forgot to mention the AFL was a evil empire flush with money to steal your kids and bed your wife.
Michael B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment
What your kidding me? We better barricade the southern borders!
sheek said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Arrogance, ignorance & complacency are three great killers of constant vigilance. And Paul Osborne has demonstrated all 3.
This kind of bravado only lasts so long. If Osborne is smart (highly debatable) he would be out there ensuring Parramatta’s junior program is watertight, & that the clubs & players are getting every wish & all concerns properly processed.
The AFL is the wealthiest sport in Australia, with a massive war chest of money. Osborne & others can choose to ignore their threat, but only at their own peril. And to their own sport.
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
“If Osborne is smart (highly debatable) he would be out there ensuring Parramatta’s junior program is watertight, & that the clubs & players are getting every wish & all concerns properly processed.”
He’s doing even better than that.
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
correct in that,
the smart people in West Sydney will (and have, like Leo Kelly and Blacktown CC) embrace the AFL and welcome them, and their investment and their vote of confidence in the community and their putting the region back on the national map for all the right reasons.
If the side effect is that the NRL is forced to fight a bit harder for what it has taken for granted…..then fine……because, the AFL has had to do likewise in Melbourne and that’s a good thing.
The Link said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
Western Sydney doesn’t need an AFL team to be on the national map.
Its decided the last 4-5 federal elections for starters
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:13pm | Report comment
what?? so West Sydney was John Howards power base…..I never realised…….
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
Is that the same Leo Kelly that was voted out of office after being the “face” of AFL in the west?
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
For those interested, here is an interesting interview with Leo Kelly from about 18 months ago about the GWS venture.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2008/07/interview-leo-k.html
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
I do believe that Leo Kelly actually retained his council ’seat’ at the next election…despite some NRL blowhards vowing a voter backlash….that didn’t eventuate…..however, he was shuffled out of the mayoral role, and replaced by another fellow who re-affirmed the councils support of the AFL.
Craig said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
the money was already committed. What else could they do? They’d look pretty silly if he announced “no, the council now doesn’t support AFL”.
Simmo said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
MC, you spin more beautfiully than Mr Demtrieou ever could. Sublime.
Robbos said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
King of the spinners!!!
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
Likewise in Melbourne? you have had 150 years of brainwashing down in Melbourne with only the 1 code played their, dont tell me soccer, you let them eat themselves. Level playing ground, the AFL wont mind when rugby league and union walk into Melbourne and unite the People, we are coming. Perth Aderlaide next, it might take 20 years to un-wash their brains, but we will succeed.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
Oikee, do you write columns for the daily telegraph ? .
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:27pm | Report comment
oikee – “…………… Melbourne and unite the People, we are coming. Perth Aderlaide next, it might take 20 years to un-wash their brains, but we will succeed ”
LOL, RL is probably 100 years behind the AFL and broke. Not to mention No one even attends NRL games in it’s home states so what makes you think anyone down here will take any notice!
Keep dreaming Oikee, meanwhile the AFL is paving the way and there’s nothing you can do but watch.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:18pm | Report comment
I am doing something,, the games one long boring marathon, and i want to stay married,., 4 hours to replay one game, give it up. Your adds are better entertainment.
Sure you are going to wake up the People of Sydney who live in the real world, they have better things to do than watch a snoozefest.
Hey, you are trying to sell the game to me, and i just told you its a snoozefest, what you going to do?, i’ll get ozzie to help you snooze. ? Hehhee, soon as i mention ozzie, not a word from AFL followers, even your boss has gone quite, real quite, normally he is out sprouting his mouth off.
Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oi Oi OI. run rabbits run rabbits run run run.
Ozzie???
The Link said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Michael C – does the phrase “Howards Battlers” ring a bell?
Craig said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
how did that all work out for Leo Kelly?
prowling panther said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
some of these comments are gold. oikee is a legend.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Oikee for PM!!
(at least then we wouldn’t have to put up with the charade of a PM enjoying aussie rules games!!)
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Is it a charade pip, i have heard that our PM was watching the lions years ago and his family were fans and had season tickets 5 to 6 years ago., actually i think it was on this site that a lions fan pointed this out … dont get me wrong i am not a big fan of Rudd.
cuzybros cuz said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
another problem for the AFL will be the bullying of AFL playing school children by non AFL kids (majority). You may laugh but this will be an issue.
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Yes, Osborne was a very’ conservative poli’ at that.
He appealed to the insular sort of voter so he knows how to incite any cringe element in a community, to be sure.
He will help in exploiting the bigotry in GWS but whether it will be to Leagues advantage long term is a moot point.
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
Cuzybros cuz
Are you an authority on bullying?
cuzybros cuz said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
being a woman, most certainly not. you are making an assumption that could get you into dangerous waters my friend. Bullying is a topical issue of the day and the AFL are targeting school age children.Republican, Are you picking on me for being a woman?????
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
The only bullies i know are AFL supporters, us league followers are a gentle bunch. We also watch womens netball,
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Oikee
‘Indigenous’ refers to origin in respect of the Aust footy code as you are aware.
The indigenous of this country do play all manner of sport and our home grown game certainly has NO monopoly in that respect.
League is a Sasaanac game and there is no changing that.
More power to you Oikee in your fervour for the foreign code over the Australian one. Variety is the spice of life and long may it flourish.
mitzter said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
I would say modern rugby league has as much to credit to aussie interpretations and rule changes as afl does. It may of originated from northern england but it is hardly foreign as it was adapted by aussies. Much like afl really
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
keep dreaming.
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
mitzter -
the RLIF may be based in Sydney – but, RL is still an ‘international’ game…..note the current 4 nations. It was founded from the Northern Union in England in 1895 and took 13 years to come to Australia (via NZ and the All-Golds).
You can’t claim that RL is as much ‘Australian’ or even as much ‘Australian flavoured’ as AFL is. Just not possible.
That RL is MORE Australain flavoured than RU and Soccer…..goes without saying.
It’s a scalar measure, and AFL is 99.9875% Australian and it’s adaptation is 99.9875% Australian. RL ain’t.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
The AFL game is not indigernous to anywhere, it is a bastadised version of Gaelic, they never had any soccer balls so they used Rugby balls. Its that simple, so they play the game on round ovals, only because they were to stupid to introduce rugby into Melbourne.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
You do realise that the first rugby balls were round.
You are Dean Richie aren’t you.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
Rugby balls round?? next you will be telling me that soccer balls are square.
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Cuzybros cuz
Was I picking on you?
I thought I was asking you to expound on your inside knowledge of the bullying culture in GWS.
Your’s could be construed as a threat also. The ‘dangerous waters’ require some clarification as well.
I seem to recall Cuzybros getting on the impulsive front foot over a simple observation I made with regard the Haka not that long ago as well. This sort of ‘Once were Warriors’ syndrome must run in the family.
Have a good day
cuzybros cuz said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
republican, you can call me Tina, however I am a fan of cuzybros rants however I am no relation.
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Mitzter
That’s some embellishment on your part mate, but lets not go down that path of deconstructing the origins of our indigenous game, since you and I both know that to try and steal our cultural thunder is a futile exercise, that only exposes the inferiority of noxious codes to self deprecating proprtion.
I reckon many a ‘northerner’ (Albion) would not take kindly to your advances of misappropriation to their code either.
mitzter said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
yes i should be smarter, it is the game ‘that made Australia’ after all.
Even though it’s not really a part of the culture of NSW and Queensland.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Although notable early figures in the game actually came from NSW. Tom Wills was born in Gundagai and HCA Harrison was born near Picton.
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
and Jock McHale born in Botany Bay….in the town I presume…..not literally in the waters of the bay…….
….could’ve been on a boat at the time…….well, his mother that is,…….
….????
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Of course, and to his great misfortune, Wills left NSW at the age of five.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
But he is forever remembered as that bloke from NSW who helped create the great Australian game.
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Next time you’re at Westfield Penriff, ask a few of the locals how they remember him.
Robbos said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Here we go again, great Australian game!!!! Yawn….
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Mick
I would sit them all down, and they’d listen and hang on my every word as I took them on a great voyage of self-discovery, revelations of our history and a reconnecting with our national identity.
I would let them all know that NSW is at the heart of the game that made a nation, that they are every bit a part of it, as much, nay, even moreso than I am.
They would sit there, open eyed, incredulous that they had been led to believe otherwise all their lives – they would hoist me on their shoulders – the people’s champion!!
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
Nice one Pip, and you will still be sitting their made of stone in 200 years time and we still wont except Melbourne football as our own, quite simply because its not, nobody has a clue what Sheedy has acheived, and nobody really cares enough to find out, yes the Esserdonites will polish his boots, but who is esserdon, look i cant even spell the silly name.
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Mitzer
In fact it is a big part of those states culture. States are demarcated by lines drawn in the sand mate and dont truely define the area they supposedly represent. NSW and Qld are complex and diverse states with histories that attest to this.
Aust footy was extremely wide spread throughout NSW and Sothern Qld up until the early 1900’s. It has remained so in Southern NSW and Qld respectively although not as strong as the big four, I recall watching Qld and NSW compete extremely competitively v the ACT, NT and in latter years Tassie in Div two nationally. This was back in the late fifty’s sixties through seventies.
Nth Qld is probably the only true League centric demographic in the country oh, and GWS of course but that could all be about to change. My regular visits to NQ over the past twenty years has seen a growing interest there as well, especially amongst the indig kids in soccer and Aust Footy.
Cheers
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
re North QLD…..there’s a factor involved related to military migration.
With much of Australia’s military based in the northern parts of the country, there’s been a ‘military migration’ of AFL state expats to more easily support and sustain Aust Footy leagues/clubs in these regions.
Thus, there are solid little competitions such as AFL-Capricornia up around Rocky that has produced about 3 AFL listed players now, and the Cairns comp.
Townsville however is still coming along slowly, only a 4 senior team ‘league’.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
M.C rugby league was banned in the armed forces for nearly 100 years, but we still grew the game around NTh england and 2 states in OZ,
Republican said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Mick
‘Giralang’ is yet another historical heartland of Australian Footy. How do you ever cope out there mate!
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
If I’m not mistaken, I think the East Canberra Jets used to use Giralang as their training base (or watering hole), one of the two.
Mick from Giralang said | November 10th 2009 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
Oh the horror, the horror…I’m in the heart of darkness.
Jay said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Why are people arguing about the origins of RL and AFL – they are both bastardised versions of Rugby!
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Jay
Rugby was a big influence on Australian Football. This excerpt from Wikipedia summarises it nicely:
“The influence of British public school and university football codes, while undetermined, was clearly substantial. Wills had been educated at Rugby School in England (where Rugby football had been codified since 1845). Wills had also, like W. J. Hammersley and J. B. Thompson, been to the University of Cambridge. The Cambridge Rules, drawn up in 1848, included some elements which are important in Australian football, such as the mark. Thomas Smith had Irish ancestry and had attended Trinity College, Dublin, where an early version of the Rugby School rules were popular. These men would have been familiar with other public school and university games. They may also have been inspired by surviving forms of Medieval football and other traditional sports, played among the thousands of immigrants who poured into Victoria from the UK, Ireland and many other countries during the gold rushes of the 1850s.
There is circumstantial evidence that Sheffield Rules also had an influence. The two codes shared the unique feature of lacking the offside rule. The also similarities in the laws for kicking off, kick outs, throw-ins and the fair catch. Henry Creswick (possibly a relative of Nathaniel Creswick) was born in Sheffield but emigrated to Australia with his brother in 1840 (the town of Creswick is named after them). He moved to Melbourne in 1854 and became involved in the local cricket scene. He played first class cricket for Victoria during the 57/58 season alongside 3 of the founders of Melbourne Football Club including Tom Wills. “
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
It was the rah rahs who somehow punted the AFL off the major grounds in Sydney back in the early 1900’s i believe, in hindsight this then lead to the rise of league in that state.
I believe it was the old boys network and English private school teachers were behind it, they did not like the Australian game as plenty of rugby people were changing games and they had to stop it somehow.
AFLNSW back then was called the NSW football association.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
League did not rise out of a dispute between AFL and Rugby, but out of a split within Rugby ranks. It’s possible, however, that if the Leaguies hadn’t made the split with Union, AFL would have benefited immensely. as it would have provided the only outlet for professional football. The old boys network and English private school teachers did not like professionalism (or professionalism they couldn’t control), but this is brings up a good question. What were the old boys network etc. doing down in Melbourne? Turning the old blind eye, what? Or they were just in on it from the start, so they didn’t raise the same barriers?
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
I am aware of that point (league rising after splitting with rugby).
Thats a good question regarding the old boys network in Melbourne, maybe it was not as powerful as Sydneys, maybe over some generations quite a few of them decided that Australian football was ok as they still had power due to their control over the MCC.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:34pm | Report comment
MyGen
You don’t get more old boys than the MCC – and they are the ones who pretty much invented aussie rules!!
This professionalism vs amateurism was an issue in the game for about 100 years.
Right up to the time of Barass defecting to Carlton in 1965, I think the Melbourne Footy Club was almost 100% amateur.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
Hehe, rugby union even got rid of AFL, now thats gold.
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
It my seem completely inconcievable when viewed from mexico, but the people of western sydney are not the slightest bit interested in AFL. I know you guys love the pants off the game, thats great, but its not part of our culture. We dont understand it, were just not interested.
To make things worse the whole thing seems a liitle too much like a kind of colonisation to the locals. When you turn your back on real fans in Tas etc just because your hungry for our cash here in Syd, even though we couldnt give a shit about the game…then it starts to smell rotten. Sending your crazy missionary Sheedy is a big mistake, people remember what he said about football.
If they can get a presence out west, excite a few young tackers, then maybe in a generation’s time then things will be different. Trust me it will take that long…..although I actually overheard a guy in the pub say “no son of mine is playing AFL”..so maybe it might take a little longer
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
This osbourne bloke sounds intelligent. He was so convincing that AFL sucks and no one likes it!
Pity it’s the #1 code in the land huh………………….
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Deja, its the number 1 code in Melbourne, nowhere else, oh and those other 2 cities somewhere down their . It will never be the Number 1 code in the 2 main states. Lets just tidy that up for you. Before you get to excited.
Hansie said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
Western Sydney is absolute rugby league heartland. When the Swans play at Homebush, after the match all the fans get on the trains going east and nobody goes west. The demographic divide is sharper than even a rugby international. The GWS concept is a pipe dream that will swallow money and can never be successful.
tifosi said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Pip,
If only those pesky southerners got the memo that the sheffield rules were being passed over for the association and rugby rules we wouldnt be having these code war discussions. Or at least we wouldnt be including the AFL in them!!!
And If I recall correctly Giralang has an AFL oval and about 5 soccer ones but no rugby league is played on them.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
tifosi
You are right – it’s just a quirk of history and timing – the Melbourne Rules were penned in 1859, and those of Association Football in 1863 (but they were to take another decade or so to be bedded down).
If both Association Football and Rugby had already existed in a formal sense in 1859 – it would have been simply a matter of picking one or the other.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
If only someone in London was willing to take advice from the colonies on matters sporting……
(given the 1863 rules were a cop out from a series of meetings aimed at creating a single set of rules (like the single set of Hockey or Cricket rules) for ALL to play by…….patenly these failed and the legacy today is soccer and rugby stand as monuments to a failure to compromise, and Australian Football stands as a monument to be able to compromise……..or,….not enough people of like mind on either side to successfully splinter so it was either join in or miss out entirely.)
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
I really cant wait for the AFL to start sending all there expats into Blacktown, you reckon the areas tough now, wait until you get landed with these 2 headed monsters from down south.
I was talking to a guy from Melbourne today, about rugby league, his 1st head never heard a thing, and his other head was spitting at me.
Noooo dont let these aliens infaltrate our states,. And they are time wasters, they talk around the water fountain for at least 7 hours out of the day, about ableits shorts. Noooooo,
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
Why do these RL fans say that GWS AFL is a pipe dream and then come out and say NRL will have teams in SA, WA and a 2nd Melbourne team soon enough?
The AFL is a National comp with a team in Sydney and QLD already. AFL has been here done that, NRL hasn’t in SA and WA. AFL has a presence in NSW and QLD where RL has just one team south of the NSW border. AFL will have 4 teams in NRL turf compared to the NRL’s 1 is a massive advantage heading into the future. Demetriou won’t make the same mistakes the AFL made with the Swans and Bears decades ago plus the AFL has plenty of money in the coffers to see it out even if it takes 25 years of building. It will happen so brace yourself.
Demetriou is a smart man he won’t let this fail, West Sydney and the Gold Coast will be his legacies……………..
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
Mate, 25 years? rugby league will be played in every state and even outta PNG and new mexico, Wait on, its already played down in New Mexico, but all these other places in 25 years. Man, your a real pipe dreamer, surf much dude. ?
The Link said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
RL has already had teams in WA and SA. It would be re-expansion.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
AFL had teams on the Gold coast, so this is another go. ? Only now does the game have old retired has-beens from melbourne living on the coast, watch the crowd, it will be wheeled out in wheelchairs.
With their knitting needles and a good book to read during the 4 hours of boredom. 
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
It would not suprise me that GWS by the time it starts has a bigger membership list than any NRL team in Sydney.
I have said this before but i would not be surprised if the the GWS team is more successful than the GC17 from a financial and membership point of view.
I get the feeling their is a fairly big silent minority in GWS who will support this club.
Only time will tell.
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:17pm | Report comment
You guys just dont get it do you.
Even if hell freezes over and GWS is a success…they still wouldnt have any members because thats not the way folks go about supporting a team here in Sydney. Why is it so difficult to understand that there is a world outside of Melbourne?
Maybe I shouldnt be too surprised..considering you guys think Collins St looks like Paris!
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
I am not from Melbourne but from Perth which has IMO possibly more things in common with Sydney than Melbourne but we have a membership culture for our footy and you may well be suprised.
As i said time will tell.
I have no proof but i reckon that there is a quite a silent minority who will follow this team, all we are hearing ATM is league fans going off their nanas.
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:54pm | Report comment
Fair enough Bever..my assumption.my mistake.
Unless they can sell that as part of the deal it wont take on naturally here. membership is mostly only taken up by the folks who actually live in the original suburbs. Balmain, Manly , Bondi etc…and like Grooky its something that you learn from your Dad.
So tell me more about the “fairly big minority”..I take it thats still a little shy of a ’small majority”
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:46pm | Report comment
Well for one i take it as a given that RL will remain the main game in WS, no disputing that.
Their are some footy (AFL) people out there in WS and their are some people who will give the new code in town a go, ( some will stick, some not) junior numbers will i reckon have a huge hike although off a low base.
New sponsors will be found, perhaps a club will be built that may provide some income, the promotions and marketing positions around the club will be filled by people who no doubt because they are new will be positive and work hard.
At the end of the day not one fan from rugby league will have to change codes for this team to work.
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
Juniors are definitely where the key is. People will go to a sport just for the spectacle to some degree but then the novelty passes and they head off to the next circus.
Not until youve played a game, understand its nuances does a real supporter and game culture start. Apart from expats no one here gets AFL on that level. Maybe in time the kids will.
John Ryan said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:42pm | Report comment
Perth has always looked to Melbourne,Christ even the ABC sports new is from Melbourne,I rang the ABC to find out why the NRL results where no given on ABC Perth.
Also the boss of East Perth AFC succeeded in getting all other codes banned from being played in Schools in Perth for 10 yrs,so with that kind of head start and mollycoddling and sheltered workshop run by The West and 7 in sports cover never showing anything on the NEWs but AFL and if showing one of the Rugby Codes make sure it was a fight then have the news reader I think it was Waltham shake his head and make disparaging remarks while ignoring the mayhem in the local WAFL.
Yes AFL has had a hard time of it in Perth
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
Not ALL of Collins St,
just the Paris end.
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Tell me Why do the Sydney Swans get bigger crowds then any other NSW NRL club and Melbourne Storm get spanked in comparison to AFLMelbourne teams?
Swans have more members as well. And the AFL will take alot of confidence that when Sydney Swans where playing finals for those few years recently they were getting crowds of 60,000 at ANZ in the West compared to the 30,000 at SCG. It is a pain in the neck for many Swans and AFL fans to get to the SCG from the outer Western Suburbs. Having a 2nd Sydney team offers Fans a more local Team. Swans have done a great job in NSW but they need a rival. Enter GWS
Craig said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
i guees the fact there are 9 teams based in the greater Sydney area wouldn’t have anything to do with it?
How do Swannies tv ratings go? How about their last finals appearance, that was a big crowd?
Those Swans membership numbers, how are they tracking? Up? Down? In-between?
Sydney people love getting preached to about Sydney by people not from Sydney.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
Mate, melbournites have never stepped foot outta melbounre, only to move into areas to prop up AFL clubs in Brisbane and Sydney, believe me, i worked with a AFL guy, (giraffe), and he was a member of the Lions, as are all members of the lions, ex-pats, this is how they make the game look good, those G crowds are the same crowd, but AFL pays them to turn up at the G for every game. .
Thats gold. Plus the Cricket mob turn up because the AFL pays them also to turn up.
All they are trying to do is soften the blow in West Sydney, the oikster has already condemmed them to failure in west sydney. So it is written, so it shall be done. Team oikster, and the 10 commandments, you must not follow AFL you must not take the name AFL, you must not be happy, AFL, you must be a brainwashed clone, AFL, you must do penance in other countries to spread the game, AFL. You must ware AFL cloths in public, AFL, babies also to ware these tight shorts, AFL, you must look arragant to other humans, AFL, and finally, you must be able to submit to 4 hours of Boredom. AFL. Etc, Etc, Etc,
Anyhow, the oikster has spoken, let it be written, let it be done.
Has anyone ever asked the Question about the 2 loaves of bread and some fish that Jesus turned into hundreds for the masses. Was the fish cooked. ?
Michael C said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
gawd Oikee….
I’ve had the realisation today that you and Dean Ritchie are one and the same person.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
no way
I used to think Oikee was Tommy Raudonikis but now that he is off hunting crocs he could be Paul Hogan. They are both pretty funny and Oikee came out with a pearler this morning
i am off crocadile hunting in 2 months. You can come along if you want.
If rugby league had any fear, and its only obvious we dont, because we are still here, annoying the shitter outta union, then we would not be here.
Like your comment, i never mention fear, its a word that does not interest me.
prowling panther said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
Observation 1: the new titans jersey is a shocker
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
Says the chocolate soldier.
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
Oikee NRL is well and truly fenced in to NSW and QLD with no money, no visions, no nothing. The NRL are just gonna rock back on the ropes and swing like hell fighting for it’s life as the AFL march ahead. You think every Sydney sider has the same bogan mindset as you when it comes to the AFL moving in. I watched the news tonight and there were dads and mums and kids all excited and looking forward to an AFL club in their community. They are the people who don’t listen to nuff nuffs like you. These people and their kids kids will haunt you in your dreams for the rest of your life. It’s a steady race and I have all my money on the AFL. GC17 already has 40,000 plus pledged supporters who have signed on the website. All you need is close to half of those supporters to become members and your already bigger then most the NRL clubs. Most NRL clubs have about 5,000 members each. I would’nt be surprised if GWS eclipses most of those clubs figures for members in its first few seasons. Some might be expats like up on the GC sure but thats what makes our game so successful because we are all pulling in the same direction for the love of the game. Something RL fails at with flying colours.
It’s a shame for those devoted RL fans who follow a code that has no plans for the future. Not pro-active, no ambition. I’ve met plenty of disenchanted League folk who have just about had enough of it trust me.
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Yeah, 60,000 fans turn up to watch Sydney v West Coast at ANZ and you believe their all Melburnians. Nice theory……….
Imagine the Sydney Derby at ANZ, Swans v GWS………………….If the Swans can draw 60,000 against a WA team I can’t wait for the Sydney Derby.
It happened pal and it’s going to happen, face it.
Dogs Of War said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
How do you explain the TV ratings in Sydney? You know those figures that help the code get more money? 60K at the ground is nice, but if only 100K are watching on TV, then the product is failing.
I can’t see how the AFL can position itself, as contact wise it is between Soccer and League/Union.
You must be from Melbourne to think it’s going to be that easy. I don’t understand how you AFL supporters can be so brainwashed.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
DofW -
contact wise, skills wise, playing experience wise….the AFL is far more defined in that position b/w Soccer and Rugby U/L than is Rugby U vs Rugby L.
It positions itself thus,
and kids who are good at it or enjoy it have the option……..no worries then.
Some kids prefer to get 30 kicks and 5 tackles a game rather than having 3 kicks and laying 30 tackles a game…….we ain’t all built the same. (no matter the geography – in Australia that is!!!).
John Ryan said | November 10th 2009 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
I think the crowds have gone down at ANZ,and the Swans have given up a game thereso why have they done that they started with a bang then went down from there.
I wont dignify the rest of the rubbish with a comment,other than to say you talking out of where you sit,we have had experence with AFL cheer squads on TV how can one forget 60 mins with all those no AFL supporters saying how wonderfull it was,turned out the interview was a set up.
I also saw Stk where there reporter went out and interviewed people people and they all said when asked about Sheedy who is he.
oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
No plans for the future, your kidding me right, the game has just reinvented itself, we have kicked the butt outta afl ratings and about to imback on the biggest expansion plans in the game so far. And not by borrowing expats like the coast has, and a couple of reject AFL supporters that were on the news.
Look, read this and think closely about what i am telling you, when Perth and Aderlaide get a team, and more juniors come through the NRL in melbourne, we will absolutely kill your tele audience, not just beat it, kill it. We have not even scrapped the surface for expansion, your game has been up in our states for 25 years, and its like selling ice to eskimoes, as a matter of fact, take the expats away, you dont even have afl in our states.
We are movers shakers up here, we like our games short and sweet, not a bloody 4 hour marathon. Your game is only suviving by selling adds. Beleive me, i watched 2 games of rugby league, flick back to get the lions score .? They are still going at 11.30 at nite, guess what, most of us are asleep, we have called it a nite. Tell your boss, its boring us, cut out 2 halves, your putting us to sleep.
B.C. said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
Oikee, on a scale of 1 – 10, 1 being not very and 10 being very; how severely brain damaged are you?
P.S. My apologies if you can’t count to 10.
Brett McKay said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
seriously guys, this has to be getting monotonous by now….
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Monotonous, ? Hey brett, i am trying to find out why there have been no islanders play their Stupid game down in Melbourne, i cant even get a answer for that question. , And i have a whole heap more questions and answers to give, i have not even started on this mob yet.
Look, if you just go away they think they have won, and the brain=dead take that as gospel, its in their little shorts they wear, squeezing the life out of any common sense. No its not getting Monotonous, i can add plenty to these subjects. I now have ozzie in my corner to help out. ? Ozzie??? any comments, ? No, thought not. 
Brett McKay said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Oikee, by all means ask your questions, but must everything descend into school yard name-calling and pettiness?? There’s no need for comments like “their Stupid game down in Melbourne”, or “its in their little shorts they wear” or even referring to AFL fans as “this mob”. It’s not needed, and it’s just boring.
And Paul Osbourne made some comments for some headlines, and it’s good to see some kind of comment from NRL circles, but even he kept it civil and light-hearted.
I know you’re not on your own here in this dept, but you can start the return to some sanity and decent, rational discussion and debate. Once upon a time The Roar was the spot for proper discussion of issues affecting our favourite sports, but in the last few months, threads descending like this make it just like any other web forum.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Just got back to your post Brett, yes fair enough, i will retire the oikster, after all, i was just having a little bit of fun, nobody really takes me that serious. Just dont mention the war.
Look, to be honest, that shorts and the mob down their, thats all old school, we have moved on, but i like to niggle a little bit, i only give as good as some stuff that is thrown, maybe M.C is not deserving, his comments are crisp and clean. Yes i will retire, from any nasty stuff, from now on. Sorry.
Zac Zavos said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Thanks for your note Brett.
I again remind all that The Roar is about informed and respectful sports debate. Please report anything inappropriate and let’s keep the quality that the site is known for alive.
Brett McKay said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
thanks Zac, and thanks Oikee too. I’ve got no issue with a little bit of poking fun here and there, but this thread went way beyond that. No need to apologise to me, but I’m glad you’ve seen the light.
And so if I can reform Oikee, then who’s next?!?
OldManEmu said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Hermin/hemjay – work you magic fingers Brett, I know you can do it.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
If you could get MC and Pip to get on board our 2018 World Cup bid and they dedicated their considerable nous to reasons we should have the world cup and how it could happen it would be much appreciated.
I will start saving for my tickets now, thanks Brett
Mick from Giralang said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
I have made an urgent, formal referral to the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Steering Committeee to have Oikee put on the Endangered List.
Bugger the koala, we must save Oikee!
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
speaking on my own behalf – I’m not a miracle worker!!
8 potential host cities and 12 decent stadiums would help!!
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
oikee-
serious note -
Aust Footy probably should have had a PNG or Nauru kid play by now,
but, – - – given NRL or RU or soccer World Cup eligibility criteria then we can happily count anyone born in said ‘Islander” countries or of that parentage :
thus we have :
Mal Michael (PNG) (Coll, Bris, Ess)
James Gwilt (PNG) (StKil)
David Rodan (Fiji) (Rich, Port)
Nick Naitanui (Fiji) (WCE)
Alipate Carlisle (Fiji) (Port)
Aaron Edwards (Samoa) (WCE, North)
Fatui Ataata (Tonga) (Coll)
Setanta O’hAilpin (Fiji) (Carl)
Wayne Schwass (Maori) (North, Syd)
Scott Harding (Tuvalu) (Bris)
current international rookie listed
Inoke Ratu (Fiji), Solomoni Loki (Fiji) (WBG)
Peter Labi (PNG) (Carl)
David Meli (PNG) (Ess)
international scholarships GC17
Stanis Susuve (PNG), Amua Parika (PNG)
Now – - given it’s only from next year on that a half decent pathway opens up for aspiring talent (the U16 World 18) – - – we might expect the list to increase a tad.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment
oikee???
I provided your answer…(see above)…the least you could do is acknowledge it.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Thanks M.C, yes very good, good to see so many island lads playing the game, Cheers.
I expected you to show me really, you normally do. Thanks for taking the time.
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:44pm | Report comment
Your kidding yourself Oikee. If you think Sydney are struggling in the toughest market in Australia pulling the biggest crowds compared to storm who win title after title and still get there handy 9,000 fans to games. Melbourne Victory has even surpassed them in only a few years in existence. It’s a well known fact that Union is more popular down here then RL.
Rave about your ratings all you like the AFL swamps RL in TV revenue and will continue to with more teams spread across Australia and a product that Networks Executives see to be more superior, the AFL will push for $1 billion as the networks bid and the NRL gets the leftovers thats just the way it works.
The AFL is played in big stadiums with big crowds, the NRL is played in Suburban parks while fans sit and watch from the grass hills with empty stands in foreground………..I know where I want my money! AFL is big time entertainment baby, NRL isn’t that’s just the way it is.. The last expansion plans for RL i heard were West Brisbane, Central Coast and Surfers Paradise, so bold. Didn’t you hear Gallop earlier this year say WA and SA was a Pipe dream. And the NRL has no money in it’s coffers, or what little it has must be used to prop up most Sydney Clubs and the Storm. I remember watching the NRL footy show this year when they held a ‘game in crisis’ segment that went for half the show. Andrew Voss quizzed him on how much money the NRL had in the bank and he basically said “not much”. The AFL is spending $200m in Western Sydney alone.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
Deja Roo
The NRL had a pretty strong year this last season gone – with pretty much all indicators up across the board.
You should not underestimate the degree of support for the game in the two Northern states.
Don’t believe this garbage about a game in crisis – it’s not the least bit true.
Ratings are high across the board, and SOO and grand final ratings are exceptionally high.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Good, spend 200 million in west Sydney, and lose 200 million, while we get a extra 200 million for our t/v deals, (which we will), means we have 200 million extra to spend, and perth and aderlaide, who need a team if they want to increase tourism and want to be seen around the world with the new t/v rugby league deals already being done. As for your crowds, mate, yours are at capacity.Ours have plenty of growth petential.
So your war chest is gone to GC and WS, ours is 200 million, and we will be sinking that into Perth, where we know their is real growth.
Deja Roo said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:16pm | Report comment
If the CEO of my football club in AFL came out with these comments I would be very embarassed. “AFL is Boring”, “Our product is better”. He sounds like a 10 year old kid who has cracked the sads at school!
Some professionalsm wouldn’t hurt buddy. He should be getting an e-mail from the NRL pretty soon to shut his mouth. If these are the sort of people that are trying to combat the AFL then I’m even more confident then before.
And to all you RL muppets that come on and preach him like he is Jesus Christ for insulting the AFL, take a long hard look in the mirror. The AFL can’t wipe the grin off their faces. Thanks Mr Osbourne………….
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:21pm | Report comment
These sorts of comments are primarily for a Sydney audience – they only really start to look a bit silly if you they are being made at the same time that you are trying to grow the Storm’s presence – then yes – they are not the least bit helpful.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
I seem to recall losing twice to the Storm in semi finals over the years
He is the Parramatta CEO, if it hurts Storms growth he is doing a good job!
Also I thought the line “nearly as low as rugby” was close too quote of the year.
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:36pm | Report comment
So Sheedy telling Victory supporters to get a life was just postmodern wordplay was it?
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:00am | Report comment
God boy, i see you have shown your respect already, yes thats right, MR ozzie Osbourne to you,.
Kurt said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:09am | Report comment
Well I think we can safely say this thread has lived up to expectations. Just think, another 3 years of this as the new Western Sydney soccer and football teams enter their respective competitions, GCFC gets started, GC United goes belly up, league (re)expands into Perth & Adelaide…
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:02am | Report comment
Kurt, one day soccer and rugby league will be sharing grounds and crowds. Its common sense, and we both dont like the other 2 codes. They are nasty, and until they show some manners, things wont change.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Oikee
as the A-League moves to an 8 month plus season, there will be demands for less ground sharing with League (because of the damage to the surface).
Adelaide is one of the very few grounds in the comp where League games are not cutting up the surface – and it shows in the quality of the playing surface.
I agree that the economics of ground sharing make it more viable for the modern stadium.
But mark my words – when Lowy talks of a legacy from the World Cup – he’s not thinking about the rugby codes.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
I think the start of this season showed the HAL doesn’t want to go up against rugby league. Even in Melbourne that first game against Mariners the pitch was a cow paddock.
I don’t mind watching the ACL during the winter on a wednesday night and wouldn’t mind some sort of cup or other competition going on to keep the players in condition but 8 months of HAL seems too long for me.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
AndyRoo
The point remains – if Lowy had a magic wand, he’d want football only stadiums becuase there is a greater premium put on the quality of the surface.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Hey Pip, 8 months of a-league? you are kidding me, look i wont be nasty, but gee whiz, we have every football comp from around the world and you want more? I find it hard to watch 26 rounds of rugby league, then the internationals,. Its a bloody long season. Maybe your conditioned to a year of football, but hell, i do have a life you know, holidaying is my main priority, not sport. And i love rugby league, but if it gets me to the point where i forgot how to live, get me a shotgun. I told my mrs, if i ever start to watch golf, just shoot me.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I don’t think he would be that arrogant but then again they are talking of bidding for an ACL final that will likely be between two non Australian teams….. and they thought they could milk the public for top dollar to see Oman (Oman actually played quite well but this is Asian Cup qualifying).
There is a reason the HAL plays in summer that fact a lone shows the pecking order of the codes. For all the pessimism that abounds in Australian Rugby they do take the NRL and AFL head on and so their figures deserve more respect.
I love the A league to bits but there is such a loooooong way to go before a 43k football only stadium wouldn’t be a huge white elephant. On all the non oval ones they will be playing Rugby League for sure.
Although to be fair they are building Swan Street as big as they are because of MV…. who would have dreamt of that 5 years ago?
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
AndyRoo
It’s true – the Storm was happy with 20,000, the Victory wanted 40,000!!
With a new S15 franchise coming in – I think they have picked the right size – although it’s incredible that there is zero scope to go to 43,000 – afterall, you spend $330 mill and you can’t use if for the WC??!!
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Hey Pipster, nobody thought in Melbourne that the other 3 codes would swamp the landscape as fast as they have done. Take Perth, 15-18 thousand for league games played over their, its a city wanting rugby league, but the government is to stupid to build a world class stadium for 3 retangle codes. Rugby league and Soccer, dare i say Union, would be lobbying for a proper ground, like you say, if we get the world cup, maybe they get a goodun. cheers.
Rugby kleague is ready to move to Perth, but we wont until they get a decend ground with corp support.
PNG will probably beat them to the punch. Build it, they will come. AFL has got that city hood-winked, we need to change their Veiws.
Bill said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
I believe the GWS AFL team will get reasonable crowds to games but will struggle with TV ratings. In my opinion AFL is a much better game to watch live, especially for those viewers not born & raised on the game. I have watched a few Swans games live and really enjoyed it. The only AFL game I have sat through in it’s entirety was the 2005 GF.
The Link said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
The best move Sheeds could make is to get himself an NRL team to support. He’s already spoke pretty glowingly about the Eels’ run in the Finals this year.
Obviously this term Greater Western Sydney was cooked up by some focus session obsessed marketing consultant, its not a phrase that i’ve ever heard before to describe Western Sydney. The aspirationals are clearly the target demographic, but they are a fickle bunch, not the ideal foundation for a football club, good luck to the AFL if they can make a go of it, the Western Sydney brand has not worked in sport before (Razorbacks, Rams etc….).
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Link
two good points.
Some of us have already mentioned that more than likely the Sydney Rovers franchise for the A-League shunned the term “West Sydney” because it got a negative vibe in their market research.
The AFL will probably find the same thing in its own market research and follow suit – but I’m sure it doesn’t want two teams called Sydney (it seems to matter less in Soccer) – so it becomes an intriguing question for them.
But they better put some brains on the case – most of them will know bugger all about the area – they really need some help on this one.
The Link said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Hopefully they get the simple stuff right like realising Howards battlers have the power in the area delivered him 4 elections.
Intereting history to sport there, with large football participation and League teams coming in relatively late in the piece in the NSWRL (Cant 30’s, Parra 40’s, Penrith 80’s)
There’s also the story of Kerry Packer not wanted to merge RL with RU so as not to alienate the Western Sydney base
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Link
Where do all of Howard’s aspirationals live? Around the Hills districts?
The Link said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Pretty much. Also they want to see themselves as more part of Sydney than Western Sydney. The Swans have done well with this crowd. I can’t see them changing alleigences at this stage, but who knows?!!
Simmo said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:05pm | Report comment
They also won around Penrith (Lindsay,IIRC) and Campbelltown (Macarthur).
It’s the broad ring of lower middle class/CUB anglo districts that swung for Howard and then for Rudd.
Republican said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
It would seem that ‘nasty Union’ is sharing stadia with affable League in Melbourne!
Your full of it Oikee, fear that is.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Sharing the ground, mate who would i go to see, now let me think, 3 of the best athletes to ever play the sport, (Slater, Smith, Inglis), or a honky tonk union team with no names and no history in Melbourne, yeah, its hard, as granny said, that billy Slater is the best athlete i have ever seen, love ya billy.
You will probably buy SBW, and he is ex-leaguie, retired now, he playes union.
Republican said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Pippinu
As you already are aware, I do not totally accept the Union links to our game. They have for too long been grossly overstated, especially in respect of Wills attending ‘Rugby’ considering his very young age.
The Gaelic influence, although less formal had a far greater influnece in the evolution our game than we give credit and one should remember that Wills decided very early on that Union was not a game suited to the harder grounds of Australia.
Despite your populist ref to Sheffield Rules, it has been widley written that those early contests were strongly patronised by Irish who stubbornly refused to tow the line in adhering to any rigid Union structure, with many contests rapidly regressing some would say, into something resembling the ‘Gaelic Games’ including of course what is now known as Gaelic Football.
The ‘Gaelic Games’ had been taking place all over Australia long before the advent of Australian Footy although no particular aspect of this had been codified apparently.
More power to you Pippinu.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
it comes down to semantics a bit,
Sean Fagan for example speaks of ‘Rugby’ type games……as all encompassing of ‘handling type games’, and I’m pretty sure that if ye olde Romans were playing a ‘handling type’ (football!!!) game – - that they weren’t thinking of a village in England.
Rugby is but one of the ‘handling’ games, not the other way around.
And to use ‘Union’,…well, reality is that the Rugby Football Union came along in England about a dozen years after the Australinas were playing a localised game of football.
That whole notion then of removing the ‘label’ Rugby from the discussion – - and to focus on ‘handling’ vs ‘dribbling’ games as perhaps the primary issue.
‘Rugby’ as a stand alone ‘brand’ is a more modern construct. Even at the time around 1858, whilst the game of football played at Rugby School had achieved a bit of fable quality due to “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” – it’s a stretch to be claiming all ‘handling’ games to be Rugby or necessarily even ‘inspired by Rugby’.
At any rate – - for a lot of these games around this time – - 70% of any set of rules (normally around 10-12) would be comparable to any other….it was in those 2 or 3 or 4 tweaked rules that the ’spirit’ of a given game seemed to lay. That, and the grey areas in between the rules that had to be worked out on the day.
In the main – when Aust Footy had chances to become more Rugby like (once Rugby/Union became more broadly established in the ‘home country’), the Australian game instead became less Rugby like…….although, Rugby has evolved to be less Rugby like too!!!!!!
Sean Fagan said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
“Sean Fagan for example speaks of ‘Rugby’ type games……as all encompassing of ‘handling type games’, and I’m pretty sure that if ye olde Romans were playing a ‘handling type’ (football!!!) game – – that they weren’t thinking of a village in England.”
Rugby School football (carrying the ball) evolved from the folk/mob football of earlier centuries, and if you follow the path back it takes you to the Romans and the game of “harpastum”. All these pre Rugby School era games allowed carrying the ball. I never said that all forms of ball-carrying football BEFORE Rugby School were “rugby football” – that would be ridiculous.
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Fear??? come on, if i was fearful i would wet meself over having the Reds in Brisbane, mate i fear no one and nothing, i am off crocadile hunting in 2 months. You can come along if you want.
As for sports, like i said, Union has been trying to kill off rugby league for 100 years, AFL has had 150 years to kill off rugby league, mate, the NRL is expanding, so its getting bigger, and you talk about fear.
If you want to know what fear really is, take this as a example, when rugby league cracks America, and it will, we will have the biggest sponsers in the world. So all your old boy network will be left floundering. You and i know that this is what keeps your game thriving.. If rugby league had any fear, and its only obvious we dont, because we are still here, annoying the shitter outta union, then we would not be here. But we are, and we are not running from international comp, we are taking it head on, with or without 80 thousand crowds, so get used to it,
I do smell fear, but the fear seems to be coming from the other way. Like your comment, i never mention fear, its a word that does not interest me.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Can you buy memberships to Swan Street like an SCG Membership?
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Good question- don’t know.
I’m sure that the FFA is toying with some form of A-League membership (similar to an AFL membership), which in the Melbourne and Sydney contexts woudl allow you to watch a game every weekend.
In fact, that’s one if the key drivers to getting 2nd teams in the respective cities.
Also bear in mind that Buckley is familiar with the concept from his AFL days – why get fans to commit to one team’s matches when you can get them to commit to double the matches for double the price?
How this will affect the Victory’s own membership remains to be seen.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Republican
No real problem with what you have said, just a few points:
1. Forms of “folk football” had been played across large parts of Europe and the British Isles for centuries prior to the 1850s, and there are definitely accounts of such games in Melbourne and other parts of Australia as far back as the 1840s. But the linkage between these games and the early forms of Australian Football are unclear at best.
2. We definitely don’t have any evidence of direct links with early Irish games – that’s not to say they don’t exist – but the evidence just isn’t there. The main players in the early history were English schooled (although one went to Dublin Uni), and they were members of the MCC, which is quite removed from the lot of the Irish immigrants of that time.
3. The rugby influence is one of a few games at that time influencing the early rules (although we have to keep in mind that rugby rules weren’t really formalised at the time either, and the game was quite different to what we know today). We have to accept that, the evidence is there. It’s true that the founders moved away from adopting rugby rules outright, but there’s little doubt that some aspects of the game crept into aussie rules, if for no other reason that the early rules were pretty scant, and players often did whatever the hell they wanted. It’s also clear that some of our terminology comes directly from rugby, even if the meaning has changed considerably over the course of 150 years.
I don’t give rugby primacy, but I accept that it’s an early influence.
My honest view is that in 1858/59, all these games resembled each other quite closely – so it’s pretty much a moot point as to which one is the most influential – all the respective games start to go in their own direction as soon as you have clubs playing against each other and there’s a need for greater consistency and for more rules to clarify ambiguities.
bever fever said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
I wonder who came up with the no-offside rule because this is the one that changes everything.
This was/is the one rule that distinguishes australian football from the other codes.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
bever
they certainly made it clear from the word go that there would be no off-side.
Interestingly, Sean Fagan argues that in many variations of rugby rules that existed at that time, many exceptions to the off-side rule could be found (even to the extent that it was virtually taken out altogether).
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Hear , i will give you history, a round ball was made, so they invented soccer,
A egg ball was made, so they invented union,
this game was a total mess, so they invented league,
The irish picked up the round ball and kicked it between the posts, so gaelic was born,
aussies picked up a egg ball and kicked it between the posts, (were not real good getting it between the posts, so invented a good enough go syndrome, so melbourne rules was invented. with 4 posts.
All the other stuff you read is mere formallity. Lets just play ball, and the best code win. What we win, ? nobody really knows, ours is the only country that fights so hard to win the public, other countries have enough peiople going around to play 10 codes.All at the top level.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
oikee -
Whilst your timeline is curious at best,
the irony of course is that the worlds most complex, competitive and convaluted ‘football’ market is in a country with only 20 odd million people spread over a vast single nation continent……..it’s a bit like how Marx and Engels envisaged communism for an industrial nation like Germany…..and instead it go applied to a vast agrarian ‘nation’ (in a loose sense) like Russia.
The world will be a better place when a couple more footy codes rise to prominance. But, does the world really, really need both of RU and RL? just like does the world really need both of American and Canadian football??
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Look, i can see what is happening, AFL and union in bed, AFL gets rid of league?(the thought) and Union again takes all leagues asserts. Mate, its been happening for 100 years, you think league is stupid? We allow for this grand slamming from the top, and we retreat and attack as we see fit. Its a battle of the century, and rugby league is not going to lose. We have taken everything that union has thrown at us, and i might add, come out the other side still intact.
We have a product to sell, we are selling it, what you 2 do are your bussiness, league is moving ahead, regardless.
You just worry about how to prop up 2 new teams, and watch out for other codes, not only league, moving into your safe states. You have left the backdoor right open in Perth. Tell your boss thanks. League will be coming soon.
And just remember this, once we take Perth, we will sell our product as being played in the 4 big states, being national is just a by -product. Something the NRL has not even bothered with. So all those posts, and all those blogs about being National, are now just Computer dust, letters floating in space.
Hope you see my veiw, its hard selling ice to eskimoes,. 
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
maaatte!!
that’s why Australian Football has to fight so hard too…..and, we don’t have the relative advantage of being part of the ‘world’ games of Rugby (U/L) combined – - which, whilst in part is a disadvantage is also, in part, an advantage.
You seem to focus on the negatives,
however, there have been advantages…….in having such a parallel game to draw upon (but that also draws upon RL).
Aust Footy is out there alone. And now world dominating Commonwealth empire on our side either, no benefit of mass migration to prop up like the Force over in Perth.
What ever the AFL has got has only come from one place……ain’t none of it flew in on a plane (other than Jimmy Stynes, and Sean Wight, and Tadgh Kennelly and…….yeah, but, that’s not the point of a figurative statement!!!!).
re. the main negative of the RL/RU divide, given that AFL states never had that, I reckon that’s what makes AFL states stronger ’strongholds’ …… so to speak,…..or, safer ’safe-seats’ or………
(I’ll shut up now!!!).
btw – which are the big 4 states??
just remember, in a 16 team league, the NRL has only 2 sides NOT in NSW and QLD (and one of those is in NZ!!!!)
whilst the AFL has 6 teams soon to be 8 through WA, SA, NSW and QLD.
You need to do a heck of a lot more than get one team into Perth playing a game a fortnight and fighting with the Force for a small band of imported Rugby fans (how are those expat Poms and Saffers in Perth with respect to RL??)
oikee said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Well the Melbourne Storm was the other big 4th state, weather you like it or not, the city gets publicity. Same applies to AFL, in our states, we cant take back what Syd Swans or Bris lions stand for, our team. Yes no worries M.C,. Look, i am not stopping any growth, and millions others would not have a clue what happens on the roar, my stirring is over. Rugby league is not that big a sport around the world, i have known that for many moons now. But like AFL, oz is our stronghold, we both need to hang onto that. cheers.