AFL’s lack of international competition hurting the game
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By jono52795, 20 Nov 2009 jono52795 is a Roar Rookie
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- AFL, football, Papua New Guinea
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The months of October and November are a sobering reminder to the AFL just how much they trail in global stature to sports like rugby union, league and football.
The question has no easy answer, and without a genuine International professional level for our elite level players, perhaps now is the time to get serious on the representative front.
Australia’s four major sports are well supported by fans. Yet one of the four finds themselves with nothing to do from October onwards.
Amazingly, with such free time on their hands, the AFL have not even come close to organising exhibition games in genuine markets such as PNG, New Zealand, South Africa.
This lack of an International cohesion is worrying.
The AFL have introduced new initiatives that help the recruitment of International players, but have so far resisted the urge to give our elite players something to represent.
The success of the Rugby League Four Nations this year will interest a few at AFL HQ, and if similar cracking contests can be played out in Australia and New Zealand in 2010, then footy fans might begin to realise we are missing out on something.
The closest thing the AFL has to elite level International representation is the International Rules Series against Ireland.
Perhaps the worst thing to come from that series is that each and every year we have a series, the rules are tweaked and changed; so much so that it is now just Gaelic football with the addition of mild tackling rules.
Fairer rules that represent Gaelic and Australian football could be found, but the idea that International Rules is the primary opportunity for international footy is just absurd.
Steps need to be taken to introduce the game into countries of HUGE potential (Papua New Guinea, Pacific, perhaps New Zealand) and it is then and only then that an All Australian team might have a contest against another group of Australian footballers.
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keeper11 said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
“Why have other countries taint it?!?!? ”
AFL’s myopic view of the rest of the outside world huh..
Mmmmm… wouldn’t want those ..umm foreigners ..they’re all so ‘un -australian’ you see..
getting their grubby hands on our superior pure, true blue, good as gol’ game..
Anthony said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Most of us are proud that Australia has its own code of football that is as popular as any other in the world. Not all Aussies have to grow up here or have played it as a kid to appreciate it. I would be interested to hear from soccer supporters as to why they want to denigrate it.
jim_bar said | November 20th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Anthony you mention “Australia has its own code of football that is as popular as any other in the world” do you have any facts to back this statement up?
Freud of Football said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Oh but of course, AFL is the sport of biggots, of racist Southerner’s because Sydney and everything to the north of it are so diverse and forward thinking what with their Kings Cross and Gold Coasts? What a blatantly inflammatory comment.
As far as I know, Melbourne has the second largest population of Greeks outside of Greece. SA was the only state not settled as a colony of the English and was predominantly made up of Germans and there are a lot of Italians in both SA and Vic in particular, I’ve been told this is because they prefer the climate which is similar to the Mediterranean.
I think there have been Greek, Italian and German “Team of the Century”‘s named as well haven’t there? I’m sure RedB will be able to help out here.
Many of the greats of the game eg. Barassi, Silvagni etc. have come from these “immigrant” based teams so I would hardly say that AFL has a problem accepting “un-australian” people, if anything they have embraced them.
Indeed, I believe the worst riots in Australia’s recent history which were racially motivated were held in Cronulla, Sydney – Rugby League heartland – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots
Redb said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Not getting into the Sydney v Melbourne thing you’ve started – other than Sydney sucks
But yes there have been heaps of migrant influences on AFL, big part of the past and the future.
Redb
True Tah said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Freud of Football, if anything, the Cronulla area is futbol heartland.
Chris said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
South Australia – proof Tasmanians can swim.
sheek said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Exactly!
Besides, it’s just my viewpoint, & my first team sport is rugby union.
Michael C said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
I would think Sheek is speaking more from the perspective of the style of game and it’s structures/cultures etc. It is the most uniquely Australian game BECAUSE it doesn’t have to pay heed to international bodies (other than WADA!!!), or seek approval or bow to the demands of international bodies.
If the game suddenly took of in, hypothetically speaking – in the US, and suddenly 500,000 Americans are playing it and suddenly the US pro league is trying to dictate to Australia and the game is ‘tainted’.
It’s the ‘be careful what you wish for’ line that has been stated a few times around Aust Footy going international.
Midfielder said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Jono52795
If the AFL are in trouble … then I want some of that trouble…
Cricket has found or is finding that two many matches and the national thing becomes to much…
A solid fan base … arguably the best crowds in the world… massive media deal … heaps of influence at government & business levels…
Not to sure what your sport is but it has not hurt the AFL to date and I can’t see it doing any harm in the future.
jono52795 said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
look, I understand the opposition to my article. I’m not interested in AFL being an international game; but there simply has to be at least one form of representation for our players (be that State of Origin, International Rules, or something different). The fact that RL has been willing to give the international game a go, signifies the switch in thinking for most sports on an international level.
I dont at all beleive the AFL is in trouble, in fact it is probably the most likley of the Australian codes to prosper in future years. But we are entering the 21st centry, and the AFL’s version of representation is embarrasing, the game should not be dominated by clubs and clubs only… not any more!
Gweeds said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:50am | Report comment
I really can’t fathom why the AFL want to be international in any way. Association football is my no.1 sport so I am primarily a soccer person (and keen follower of the A-League) but I can say that just because a sport is international doesn’t make it necessarily better. Look at McDonalds. That food franchise is everywhere in the world, but does that make the product better than the local hamburger joint down the street?
I think the AFL should concentrate its off season efforts in places where Australian Football is the main code but have no AFL representation such as Northern Territory (which I think they already do to some extent) and Tasmania.
Redb said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
The international aspect for me is more about widening the recruitment pool – which all codes need to do. As rugby and soccer build profiles in AFL dominated states it’s inevitable that talent will be split where once it was retained. That is why GC and WS are important as well.
I dont think any AFL fan is obsessed with the idea that we must play international tests. However, I really like the concept of the International Cup where other countries with local amatuer AFL comps send their countryman to play our game and we host the tournament.
As far as Sheek’s final comment I must disagree, I think Africans are naturals at our game much like our indigengous people in Australia.
Redb
Freud of Football said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Why go international RedB? We have a HUGE country, sparsely populated and a negative birth rate.
If Aus would just improve it’s immigration then everyone would benefit – including sports – but with a population of 21.4 Mill and the growth states being Rugby orientated then in the long run, the AFL does need to come up with something.
I just don’t think SAF or PNG or NZ is the right something.
Redb said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
newsflash Freud, Australia’s immigration is booming and our birth rate is in the positive. Not sure of exact numbers but migration this year is over 250K, normally ave about 110-120k.
Our environment is in serious trouble with water dam levels and the agricultural food bowl under serious threat. I dont know if its that rosy.
captain nemo said | November 20th 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
not to mention red, a public infrastucture appropriate for a population of about 17 million, welfare benefits alone are up $450 on this time last year. Australia is not a bottomless pit of money as some people may think it is. back to sport.
Michael C said | November 20th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
and the best people can think of is to host a sporting tournament so as to divert public funds into more and more sporting infrastructure development whilst continuing to under fund public transport, hospitals, police etc etc.
…..how many new trains with decent air conditioning could Melbourne have got instead of a $300 million dollar ROOF (with a soccer pitch UNDER it)………gawd it irks me that the State Govt build that and it can’t be considered for the FIFA WC…….gawd what a ruddy waste!!!
Freud of Football said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
The AFL might want to go international, the fans don’t but the AFL just does what it wants. Most people aren’t happy with the rule changes over the last few years, when one looks at how different the rules are now compared with 15 years ago pretty much no-one is happy except the AFL as they feel they have an “improved product”.
Michael C said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Gweeds & FofF:
just remember – the AFL has never seriously tried to go international.
Even now – with the little South AFrica ‘experiment’, the total annual funding is only around $400,000. Chicken feed. Especially in comparison to the financial commitment to GWS18 and GC17 and supporting/growing the grass roots in QLD and NSW.
The international element – has not been AFL initiated. This has caught the AFL on the hop. ‘World domination’ has not been on the radar (for a long time if ever).
btw – 15 years ago Steve Silvagni blighted the game by holding and wrestling forwards and he got rewarded as full back of the century……that was BAD…the AFL has been cleaning this aspect up and true body contest skills are returning…..that’s GOOD.
keeper11 said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
true..the AFL comp is immensley succesful comp… .if not quite truly national..
but despite the stench of provincialism that still pervades here…australia is not the US..
they’re a superpower of 300mill…they beleive they’re the best anyway so don’t need or follow national teams to prove anything..
austrlia however is an isolated middle size country of 20mill…our national teams DO matter to Australians…
but what is stopping yr average open-minded AFL supporter also cheering on the Wallabies or socceroos on the international stage ?
Does that make them a football or rugby supporter …prob not?
does that mean they may even abandon ‘footy’ and switch codes?…don’t think so..
Freud of Football said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Your “average AFL supporter” probably follows cricket, the Aussie cricket team is still Australia’s pride and joy in international sport.
Redb said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:02am | Report comment
“but what is stopping yr average open-minded AFL supporter also cheering on the Wallabies or socceroos on the international stage ?”
Nothing, many of us do just that.
Redb
Andrew Sutherland said | November 20th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
The positive thing about AFL is there is just the one competition. The premiership is the focus for clubs, players and supporters and it’s all that matters. The competition isn’t distracted and compromised by representative discussion, injuries and burnout. Soccer, in particular, just has too much going on. Along with the premiership there are assorted cups, trophies, qualifiers and friendlies. Too many for any one of them to have real significance.
AndyRoo said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
I don’t understand why the AFL “needs” international competition.
It seems to be doing quite fine without it.
Paul J said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
I’m sure AFL fans would love to see an Australian team in green and gold take on a few nations in serious internationals but this will never happen.
The AFL does not need to be an international sport. It’s already the biggest code in Australia.
Surely it can not have everything?
keeper11 said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
The positive thing about AFL is there is just the one competition. The premiership is the focus for clubs, players and supporters and it’s all that matters. The competition isn’t distracted and compromised by representative discussion, injuries and burnout. Soccer, in particular, just has too much going on. Along with the premiership there are assorted cups, trophies, qualifiers and friendlies. Too many for any one of them to have real significance.
‘ One-dimensional ‘…
yeh..thats the word i was looking for…
Andrew Sutherland said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Being overplayed doesn’t make something multidimensional.
Ziggy the God said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
This is the Elephant in the room that the AFL does not want anyone to see.
As the World becomes more and more Globalised, why would a talented kid in the future restrict themselves to playing a small provincial game where 99.7% of the World will never see his skills?
If the Kid is content with overseas trips to Geelong and Adelaide, good luck to them.
True Tah said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Ziggy
the fact is said kid may enjoy playing said “small provincial game” with his mates. It offers him a valid career option within this country.
And globalisation goes both ways, who is to say that kids in other countries may want to give this game a go?
Michael C said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Ziggy -
globalisation works on many levels.
The globalisation of information has assisted locals across the world to establish and sustain their own AUst Footy clubs like never before.
Not everyone opts for the sport they play just because of the potential to make multi millions if they happen to be in the top 0.0001 percentile of all players globally.
There are a multitude of concerns and inspiration.
Thankfully. Otherwise the only sport in the world might be soccer or basketball.
btw – for every globalisation ‘action’, there tends to be a roughly opposite (and sometimes equal) ‘localisation reaction’.
sheek said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Ziggy,
There’s no elephant in the room – Globalisation is way, way, way, way over-rated.
You can always go overseas for a holiday. You don’t need to play sport to go overseas.
I enjoy immensely watching American football (NFL) but that’s as far as my interest goes. Australia needs another footy code (NFL) like a hole in the head!
Local market is king!
Generally speaking, the footy codes in Australia are inverse in popularity to the rest of the world. So obviously, most Aussies don’t give a damn what the rest of the world considers relevant. And especially, neither do the Yanks!
AndyRoo said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
One game is on FTA 4 times a week and has average crowds of 40k and you don’t have to go overseas to earn a decent crust the other has the potential for multi millions if you’re better than 320m other players but you have to go overseas to earn it. Different kids will choose different options.
I also seriously doubt kids pull out their calculater when choosing what sport they play…. I never did.
Why doesn’t everyone just play Golf (shudders) then?
Plenty of kids chose Rugby when that game paid you ZERO!
Redb said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
All of these replies are spot on. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Roman said | January 19th 2010 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
Thats your favorit line stop clouding the issue speak for yourself!
Anthony said | November 20th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Baseball & basketball have been attracting Aussie youth to the US for years. Some have been successful & put Aussies in the news. However both sports still struggle here & attendances are v small. The USA is much more attractive to our youth than the UK, Turkey or China. Soccer/League players go there because that’s the game they play.
Roman said | January 19th 2010 @ 8:14pm | Report comment
Excuse me Australian girls football players and boys are getting college/uni scholarhips in the USA, football is getting more and more popular there – Aussie Rules is dominated in Victorian News papers and TV News and such success and any success in football is kept quiet. There are many Australians playing football all over the world and getting paid.
Even our local ABC radio Albury/Wodonga have a winter sports program with Joesph Thomsen and a sports hillbully from Broken Hill ABC radio that only give us AFL and they call it the Sport report!
Norm said | November 20th 2009 @ 9:26am | Report comment
“Elephant in the room”….oh please!
Norm said | November 20th 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
umm…I didn’t say that!