By AAP
November 22nd 2009 @ 12:55am
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Lions and Demons to play exhibition game in China
Melbourne and Brisbane will play an AFL exhibition game in Shanghai next year, the first professional Australian Rules match to be played in China.
The Demons and Lions will meet at the Jiangwan Sports Centre in Shanghai on October 17 next year, the AFL announced on Saturday.
AFL general manager national and international development David Matthews said the match was a wonderful opportunity to showcase Australian football and follows a visit to Shanghai in June by AFL legend and recently appointed coach of Team GWS, Kevin Sheedy.
“We are extremely excited to be able to bring Australia’s indigenous game and all its unique skills to Shanghai as we continue to develop the code internationally,” he said.
The stadium at the Jiangwan Sports Centre in Yangpu District has a capacity of up to 30,000 spectators and it’s hoped two local university teams will participate in a curtain raiser to the match.
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(11)
Redb said | November 22nd 2009 @ 5:34am | Report comment
If it is not accompanied by grass roots development there is little point beyond some trade opportunities and feel good factor.
Redb
Tifosi said | November 22nd 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
I think the AFL are going about playing overseas the wrong way.
You cant just play games in one city one year then move it the next. ie Dubai then Shanghai.
The NFL realised this and are following a strategy where they play one game in London, next step will be to give them the Superbowl then eventually maybe a london based team.
The AFL should stick to one city and make it the opening game of the season maybe.
Melbourne FC appear to have some sort of relationship with shanghai so they should play every game perhaps. This way the locals can connect with a team.
Also this will be the stadium they will play at.
Yikes some narrow flanks!!
http://www.mishanghai.org/Sites/files/640*512/file_176.jpg
http://www.mishanghai.org/Sites/files/640*512/file_179.jpg
Redb said | November 22nd 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
Spot on Tifosi, the scatter gun approach is pointless, unless they are going to make this a regular fixture and build other programs around it.
bever fever said | November 22nd 2009 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
It must be about the moolah as i just can’t see the chinese interested.
I would be trying quite a few places before China, but maybe they are becoming a great nation of sports followers as the middle class evolves there, just as it appears the Indians have gone crazy for cricket as the country standard of living increases so does the money for the game.
Redb said | November 22nd 2009 @ 8:26pm | Report comment
There have been reports that cricket is looking to stage a one day cricket (might be Twenty20) in China in 12-15 years. With the similiar use of oval grounds, the AFL and cricket could work together.
Pippinu said | November 22nd 2009 @ 8:28pm | Report comment
This announcement took me completely by surprise, and I too would have wondered why – but reading the full story, there appears to be something more to it, with the leading Sport Uni producing aussie rules players, or something or another – plus – it’s not actually being pushed by the AFL, in fact, the opposite appears to be the case.
There seems to be more to this story than any of us actually know.
Redb said | November 22nd 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
true. It appears trade and TV related.
Westcoast929406 said | November 22nd 2009 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
The AFL is eying off Chinese TV deals now after this match. Yes its about money – exposure etc etc.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/china-ahoy-as-afl-tests-new-market/2009/11/21/1258220010924.html
The closest Aussie Rules grassroots development is located in the city of Suzhou which is near Shanghai. There are schools there which currently have Aussie Rules activity.
ruckrover said | November 22nd 2009 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
45,000 playing Aussie Rules in 35 countries (up from less than 10,000 in a dozen countries at turn of century) and growth looks set to accelerate as local leagues increasingly run youth and school programs and locals outnumber Aussie expats.
Just 1% of Chinese sports fans following AFL would bring huge money into the game in time. There’s already an expat league with increasing local Chinese involvement.
But – yes one off games are hopeless – the AFL should pick a few cities and go back every 2 years. Give a possible promising country to a club – plus priority international rookie draft picks to encourage the club to invest in promotion in that country. Will pay off for the club in some kind of foreign memberships (a la Man U do in Asia).
Shanghai every 2 years, also Capetown, Auckland (or Wellington with Westpac stadium configured for AFL), Toronto (with a largish established Aussie Rules league), London, Port Moresby, Tokyo (Japan AFL quite established), Denmark (given the growth of the game in Scandinavia). Maybe Los Angeles again, maybe Dubai given they got a reasonable crowd and the expat middle east league is growing strong. The AFL should focus on those cities – each every 2 years.
Redb said | November 22nd 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Good points.
a game in PNG wouldnt hurt for sure. NAB or Challenge Cup game?
Norm said | November 22nd 2009 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
rucko…it’s an end of season trip to an exotic destination…nothing more.