Demetriou calls the kettle black
Roar Guru By Moonface, 28 Mar 2011 Moonface is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, football
473 Have your say
The tooth fairy is alive and well in Melbourne. I read with a little amusement the story in the press from AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou, that he felt no joy when Australian lost its campaign to host the 2022 Football FIFA World Cup in Australia.
He felt “incredibly disappointed for the individuals involved.”
Was that before or after the AFL commissioners cracked open their third bottle of Moet and Chandon to celebrate the FFA’s ongoing misfortunes?
Demetriou even went so far as to call the FIFA World Cup executive committee “a disgraceful rabble.”
As a “tough talking” CEO – that’s the buzz phrase of the 21st century – Demetriou made it clear to all and sundry living in Keating’s arse end of the earth that he is not happy.
He also has to make it abundantly clear that he will not tolerate that sort of treatment of Australians, especially when he runs the game that made Australia what it is today.
Demetriou chiding the FFA is a bit like a tiny ant biting a giant elephant’s foot.
If FIFA wanted to cause AFL some hurt by granting the 2022 World Cup to Australia, they would have. The fact is that FIFA considers the AFL such small fish in the world of sport that it didn’t even bother.
I would have imagined that whether the World Cup was granted to Australia or not, it wouldn’t have made that much difference to FIFA.
They had much bigger fish to fry.
FIFA would have also been well aware of the billion dollar compensation package that the tough talking CEO had negotiated for his team and the promised upgrade of AFL ovals thrown in. Except, of course, for Etihad stadium, which is totally off bounds to any FIFA event.
So if Australia were granted the FIFA World Cup hosting rights of 2022, the AFL might have even gained more from it than the FFA. FIFA are not silly enough to want help the AFL get along, are they?
The way that the AFL had positioned itself for compensation, the anti-football nationalistic sentiment that was dredged up by the AFL press and FIFA’s total indifference to the other sporting codes in Australia, meant that the Australian World Cup bid never really had a chance anyway.
And why come out with that sort of statement four months after the bid winners were announced and Australia humiliated with one vote.
If Demetriou is genuine in his concerns, wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to have made those statements back in December last year.
Demetriou doesn’t say much in public without the AFL’s Public Relations department approval, and besides, it is the opening round of the AFL season, isn’t it.
Is this just more AFL sabre rattling to get AFL fans to come to games as their season kicks off?
The great general Demetriou giving the almighty FIFA a big kick up the backside. What a boost for the AFL troops as they march into the MCG to witness the Swans battle their demons.
Maybe Demetriou is concerned about the slow start to the AFL season, with attendances for the opening round way down on the last couple of seasons.
The AFL’s Market Research department might be telling him that a lot of football fans, who also follow AFL teams, might have been put offside by the AFL’s perceived opposition to the football world cup bid.
Maybe these football fans who have some interest in AFL, might not be so keen on AFL now as they were before the World Cup bid.
Maybe Demetriou is trying to win them back. And, rest assured, he will do everything in his power to get the attendances and ratings up this year.
The AFL media department and the AFL marketing department are telling him it is a very important year for the AFL, as they argue their case to get a billion dollars out of the Australian media market.
It’s a billion dollars, quite frankly, that Australian media just don’t have to spare right now.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, football
March 28th 2011 @ 8:08am
gaz said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:08am | Report comment
So with Demetriou,and AFL’s full cooperation Australia had a serious chance of winning the WC bid?Without their meddling we would have received more than one lousy vote?I seriously doubt the ExCo even read any of the bid books anyway.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:26am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:26am | Report comment
No,
given all the obstacles, Australia had no chance of winning the bid and after the compensation demands of the AFL, the bid should have in fact been withdrawn and the FFA and Australian government saved their time and money.
Its just very funny to me how Demetriou can come out and say those things and expect sports fans to actually believe that he is genuine.
This is how the AFL PR machine works in Victoria.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:33pm
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
Do you dont live in Victoria, how would you know?
Getting a filtered view of the world Moonface.
March 28th 2011 @ 4:00pm
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
Does one have to live in Victoria? It’s obvious to the rest of Australia, that’s what matters.
March 29th 2011 @ 1:11am
Moonface said | March 29th 2011 @ 1:11am | Report comment
No I don’t live in Melbourne any more Redb and I do miss some things about it.
But I’ve moved on.
March 29th 2011 @ 1:54am
sherrin-burley-faulkner said | March 29th 2011 @ 1:54am | Report comment
I think this thread proves once and for all that you have not moved on at all, a hate thread based on a statistic from one round of matches and one comment to a question posed by a journalist proves very much that you are stuck in the past.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:10pm
amazonfan said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
Maybe he is genuine. People are so cynical these days. Just because Demetriou wouldn’t have been impressed with the idea of a competitor geting a leg-up does not mean he isn’t genuine regarding these comments.
BTW:
“Demetriou chiding the FFA is a bit like a tiny ant biting a giant elephant’s foot.
If FIFA wanted to cause AFL some hurt by granting the 2022 World Cup to Australia, they would have. The fact is that FIFA considers the AFL such small fish in the world of sport that it didn’t even bother.
I would have imagined that whether the World Cup was granted to Australia or not, it wouldn’t have made that much difference to FIFA.
They had much bigger fish to fry.”
Yes, and your point is? Demetriou is under no illusion that FIFA cares what he thinks, but guess what? He has as much right to criticise FIFA as Bahamas has to criticise the US. Just because FIFA is much larger than than the AFL does not mean the AFL doesn’t have any right to criticise them. Maybe in your world, superpowers (FIFA, the US) can only be criticised by fellow superpowers, however in reality, it doesn’t work that way, and nor should it.
March 29th 2011 @ 1:07am
Moonface said | March 29th 2011 @ 1:07am | Report comment
OK I’ll try and believe you.
But then why did he wait 4 months to say it and is it just a coincidence that it is the start of the AFL season and the poor attendances and ratings are worrying him?
March 29th 2011 @ 2:42am
amazonfan said | March 29th 2011 @ 2:42am | Report comment
I believe he was asked a question. I don’t imagine he would just say it out of the blue. Especially since we’ve had just one round and the AFL are hardly worried about so-called poor attendances and ratings.
March 29th 2011 @ 8:43am
The_Wookie said | March 29th 2011 @ 8:43am | Report comment
It was the first radio interview of a new season with the AFL CEO since it happened, it was the only question on the topic and the rest of the interview was about the AFL and the weekend. Thats why we AFL people really cant believe the song and dance thats been made here.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:32am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:32am | Report comment
The fact remains that the FFA needed the AFL’s imprimatur to bid.
And yes, FIFA is a disgraceful rabble.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:58am
Kasey said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:58am | Report comment
fact is MLF, the AFL’s imprimatur is needed to get anything done in the southern states, which is a sad reflection on our society and should not be a cause for celebration amongst ARF fans. When so called sports journalists(particularly in Melbourne ‘papers) find it impossible to report on other sports(like football, RL or RU) without somehow referencing AFL, it reflects more upon the insular nature of states where AFL is king (both the journos and the readership) and frankly is just sad. And we laugh at Americans for their insular & over developed sense of self regarding their place in the sporting world(hubristic nature – especially regarding sports), I don’t think we’re much better tbh.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:38am
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:38am | Report comment
“AFL’s imprimatur” yes Kasey that is the sad truth of it, that the Aussie Rules folk think they are the law of he land—not the Australian Government both sides of the house who were in bipartisan agreement in that the WC Bid was worth $5b to the Australian economy, who were desperate to secure it. So we failed because we had not had the unconditional “AFL’s imprimatur”, and so the world saw Australia’s WC bid as fractured because of it—and we lost out for that reason, so sad..
March 28th 2011 @ 9:48am
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:48am | Report comment
as was said a thousand times during the whole affair, its not the AFLs responsibility to give people anything other than AFL. Its not the AFLs responsibility to help get the world cup, its not the AFls responsibility to help out other codes. And if the lack of ONE stadium – under legally binding contracts – was responsibile for the loss of the cup or the appearance of a fracture, then it says more about the strength of soccer in this country than it does about the AFL.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:51am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Well put Wookie, which means what Demetriou (little big man) says is pure dribble.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:55am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Wookie is right.
The AFL can do no more than provide half the stadiums.
If soccer wants to host a world cup, it has to earn the right.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:01am
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Wookie without going into too much detail—Punter has expressed AD comments as being hypocritical.. So I think we can all agree on that..
March 28th 2011 @ 10:17am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Yes, you’re right, AFL doesn’t need to look out for anyone except for itself. And during the bid process, it managed to look after itself very well.
I mean, imagine a disruption to a single run-of-the-mill season for the sake of the world’s biggest sporting event, which at best would come once our lifetime. Unthinkable. Utterly unthinkable.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:58am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:58am | Report comment
March 28th 2011 @ 11:21am
Ben Carter said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Well put, sarcastic intention or otherwise, Roger
March 28th 2011 @ 11:28am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Lol,
March 28th 2011 @ 1:01pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
The AFL has every right to look after itself.
The fact remains, even accouting for that, the AFL contributed half the stadiums to the bid, and the FFA contributed bugger all.
Soccer fans should be questioning the FFA as to how they intend to rectify that in the future, rather than expecting the AFL to come to their rescue again.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:11pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Yes, of course you’re right MLF. I guess I was hoping that AFL wouldn’t be so insecure and selfish about it. My bad.
FFA rectify what? AFL? If only.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:35pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
How to rectify it?
By growing the game, building your own stadiums, and not expecting others to do the heavy lifting for you.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:44pm
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Hmm lets see during the bid process, the AFL made itself clear that it would allow the use of the MCG – something it did not legally have to do given the present contract runs out in 2037. This is not only the greatest generator of gate takings the AFL has, but the home ground of 4 AFL sides.
The AFL would have had to give up its rights to stadiums in NSW, QLD, SA and WA that it was helping fund to the tune of millions of dollars.
During the bid process the AFL flatly said Etihad would not be available, Etihad said it would not be available – the stadium being under primary contract to the AFL. The AFL had agreed to relinquish its rights to 5 stadiums – more than any other sport in the country, and had to draw the line somewhere.
If the World Cup hinged on the use of a single stadium, then Id suggest there are far greater problems for the bid that we couldnt see. FIFA’s “exclusive access” rubbish cost you Etihad, not the AFL.
March 28th 2011 @ 6:51pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
I don’t know about this 1 stadium tripe you keep going on about. The issue with the bid was the AFL made it as difficult as they could for FFA – proving beyond any doubt that Australia was a nation divided in it’s WC bid. And that did more damage than any stadia availability ever could.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:35pm
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
and how – besides the Etihad issue – was anything the AFL did, different to anything the NRL also asked for by way of compensation?
March 29th 2011 @ 6:48am
Roger said | March 29th 2011 @ 6:48am | Report comment
Really? You have no idea what he did? Ok, do a “demetriou world cup bid” google news search for 2009 and 2010. Plenty of articles to read.
Now, tell me whether or not he looks cooperative overall to the bid process.
To put it in perspective, COAG made a unanimous agreement to support the World Cup bid. Our elected governments made a unanimous agreement. Yet, somehow, this didn’t apply to AFL.
March 29th 2011 @ 9:03am
The_Wookie said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:03am | Report comment
I did that,the articles vary from demetriou complaining about a lack of communication re: matches, the season itself, the MCG remodelling, Etihad – all things of vital interest to the AFL.
From the 9th December 2009, Buckley alludes to forcing by legislation Etihad to be part of the bid.From the Age:
“…but the likely loss of the Docklands facility means the bid’s venue plans are thrown into chaos”. ONE STADIUM.
COAG and the governments werent going to be deprived of their major stadium for half the season. A stadium which draws 3 million AFL people to it a year. Let alone Etihad which draws another 2 million.
March 29th 2011 @ 9:33am
Roger said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:33am | Report comment
What about “AFL boss only road block to world cup bid”, “Opposition continues to world cup bid continues in AFL state”, “AFL hard ball almost turned World Cup bid into a $45m non-event”, and “Blow to the World Cup Bid”. The list goes on.
March 30th 2011 @ 12:29am
The_Wookie said | March 30th 2011 @ 12:29am | Report comment
yes and they are all about the same thing. Etihad stadium. Compensation was an issue brought up by NRL clubs that the AFL gets blamed for.
March 28th 2011 @ 11:56am
JamesP said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:56am | Report comment
“When so called sports journalists(particularly in Melbourne ‘papers) find it impossible to report on other sports(like football, RL or RU) without somehow referencing AFL,”
Kasey I think you will find Phil Rothfield and Roy Masters (chief RL writers for the Tele and SMH respectively) reference the AFL much much more in their articles than vice-versa.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:21pm
ian said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
myLeft Foot,
Once again you fail to understand the legal issues surrounding the contractual arrangements in existance with the various football stadiums in Aust.
Legally there was a limited to no chance of a successful legal case for compensation by FIFA or the FFA to the AFL.
Contractual clauses were in place which would have made in almost impossible for the AFL to have any right to recover lost income if the World Cup was played here in Aust.
Once again you are wrong in your AFL biased statements.
By the way you still have not informed me of the next world cup in Australian Rules Football, ( well the first one in fact after some’ 150 years’.
March 28th 2011 @ 4:07pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
What has that got to do with the FFA needing the AFL’s imprimatur?
Are you saying the FFA didn’t need the AFL’s imprimatur?
Well, in that case…
March 28th 2011 @ 6:27pm
asanchez said | March 28th 2011 @ 6:27pm | Report comment
AFL’s imprimatur???
What a joke! The AFL was never in line for any compensation, there are always clauses in contracts. If we were close to getting the world cup, I’m sure the government would I’ve sorted that out anyway, I’m sure they wouldn’t want to be known around the world as the country that did their best not to get the World Cup! What Demetriou did do was work up the media and the general public, telling them that one whole season and even a few clubs futures could be in jeopardy! And of course, in Melbourne everyone believes every word this man says, and it definitely gave the bid a negative undertone.
He didn’t even need to comment on it, as it had nothing to do with him! He’s not the PM!
The AFL may have first say on these matters, but it doesn’t own these stadiums!
Wether we won or lost the bid, it makes no difference. Andy D should have stayed out of it, that’s what’s annoyed alot of people, he tried to make himself bigger than he actually is!
March 29th 2011 @ 9:10am
The_Wookie said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:10am | Report comment
You keep thinking in world terms, when it comes to Australia and sports stadiums that the AFL directly puts money into, and many are built or upgraded on the proviso that the AFL is played there, then the AFL is every bit a player. Soccer in this country, is not.
There are always clauses in contracts, thats true, and the AFL have at times bent over backwards to help major events, particularly the Olympics and the Commonwealth games. But when the AFl comes out and says Etihad is unavailable for the world cup, and ian Collins says Eithad wants no part of it due to existing contracts, and Buckley starts talking about compulsory acquisitions, you know that there arent ALWAYS clauses.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:38am
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:38am | Report comment
There is something seriously wrong with this man Demetriou—his personality or sanity—I’m not sure which. Those quotes expressed by him are amusing, for me at least. After doing everything humanly possible to sabotage Australia’s WC bid he comes out with gems like that.. What next—will he be extending an invitation to Lowy and co. to his home for a backyard b-b-q, to express how disappointed he truly is, about Australia’s WC bid failure?
March 28th 2011 @ 8:40am
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Probably a cup of tea at his Toorak mansion I’d imagine.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:49am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Little man syndrome, can you imagine FIFA saying, Demetriou Australian football CEO??? Let me call Frank Lowy to confirm this, we never heard of this man.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:52am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:52am | Report comment
But why would any Australian care for the opinions of the disgraceful rabble that is FIFA?
Why do you keep putting them up on a pedestal as if they are purer than the driven snow?
March 28th 2011 @ 9:03am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:03am | Report comment
I don’t Pip. They are a disgraceful rabble. We are of the same opinion
It’s the difference of opinion in the Malta prime minster Andy Demetriou that we have the different opinion. The nobody outside his own country.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:02pm
amazonfan said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:02pm | Report comment
Who cares if he is a nobody outside his own country?Are you suggesting that the only people who can dare criticise FIFA are those who are well known outside Australia? Nicole Kidman could do it. Russell Crowe could do it. Julia Gillard probably couldn’t as I’m not sure FIFA has heard of her. This whole ‘Demetriou can’t criticise FIFA because he’s a nobody/insignificant in international sport is absurd!
March 29th 2011 @ 7:43am
punter said | March 29th 2011 @ 7:43am | Report comment
Amazonfan, no-one is saying he can’t criticise FIFA.
He can do what he wants, but football fans also have the right to criticise him because to us he has no credibility on this topic.
I can criticise Demetriou, but does he really care, but you then have every right to criticise me for having a go at the nobdy in the world of sport outside of Australia, like I’m a nobody to Demetriou.
March 29th 2011 @ 8:44pm
amazonfan said | March 29th 2011 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
You may be right that he has no credibility on this topic, although that is of course open to debate. However I don’t think you have the right to criticise him for voicing an opinion because he is a nobody. I would never tell you that you can’t criticise Demetriou because you’re a nobody to him. You have every right to do so. Similarly he has every right to criticise FIFA irrespective of whether they have heard of him or not.
March 29th 2011 @ 8:57pm
punter said | March 29th 2011 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
Read my post Amazonfan, I said ‘no-one is saying he can’t criticise FIFA’, ‘He can do what he wants’.
I have no issue that he did so. I criticise him because he has no credibility on the subject.
March 29th 2011 @ 9:03pm
amazonfan said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
I did read your post. If you say that he has no credibility on the matter, because he works for a rival code, that is one thing. However if you say that he is no credibility on the matter, because he is a ‘nobody’ in international sport, then I passionately and completely disagree.
Punter, my point is this; criticise Demetriou because he knows nothing about soccer/works for a rival code or whatever, but to bring up that he is a ‘nobody’ as if it has any relevance whatsoever, is absurd.
March 29th 2011 @ 9:09pm
punter said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:09pm | Report comment
No you are right I’m criticising him because he’s a douchebag in my opinion. Not because he is a nobody.
It would be like Craig Foster giving an opinion about something in AFL, the AFL cheerleaders would criticise him, only difference is Craig is a journalist & is paid for his opinion. A decent CEO would never dish another organisation in public.
March 30th 2011 @ 2:34am
amazonfan said | March 30th 2011 @ 2:34am | Report comment
Fair enough.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:24am
Mahony said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Pip – we don’t put them on a pedestal – we understand them and their style better than any member of the insular AFL cult. We just take the view that FIFA, for all its faults, has the interests of football in mind, where the AFL do not. The FFA earn millions from FIFA distributions, participation funding and various development programs, and despite the anger about the bidding process, football fans are part of a global communion. It disappoints us at times – but it is our religion none the less.
March 29th 2011 @ 12:43am
sherrin-burley-faulkner said | March 29th 2011 @ 12:43am | Report comment
It appears that the only insular cult around this thread are soccer fans, they are the only ones lashing out with baseless and ridiculous claims.
March 29th 2011 @ 12:59am
Moonface said | March 29th 2011 @ 12:59am | Report comment
What claims exactly are baseless – please elaborate to the insular cult.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:18am
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Correct Punter—-Little man syndrome (AD), yes indeed, with an inflated self serving ego as big as Colonel Gaddafi..
March 28th 2011 @ 8:39am
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Very bitter article. is it not true that the FIFA process was probably corrupt and therefore a waste of time for other bidders?
March 28th 2011 @ 11:17am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:17am | Report comment
The gist of the article is not about FIFA being corrupt, its about the ingenuine comments from Demetriou and the problems the AFL themselves face.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:35pm
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
you have provided no proof of corruption in the AFL though like FIFA. The article is without basis.
March 29th 2011 @ 10:04am
Moonface said | March 29th 2011 @ 10:04am | Report comment
I didn’t say that the AFL were corrupt.
I’m just saying nobody outside of AFL believes a word Demetriou says or trusts him.
The AFL have their problems too and things aren’t as rosy as the AFL makes out – especially when people have to start defending the drop in opening round AFL attendances.
March 28th 2011 @ 4:31pm
apaway said | March 28th 2011 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Very true, RedB, but part of the corruption lay in the lies the ExCo told to the Australian bid team in the lead-up to the decision. Believe me, the FFA were given the very strong advice that Australia stood an excellent chance of gaining the votes needed to at the very least get down to a vote between they and the USA.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:42am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Another day, more wishful thinking from soccer fans.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:28am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:28am | Report comment
You should be concerned about the falling interest in AFL.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:58am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Moonface
interestingly, I was just doing some research on internet hit rates.
This is what I found.
a-League: ranked 131,819 in the world and 5,750 in Australia
NRL: ranked 32,017 in the world and 217 in Australia
AFL: ranked 14,591 in the world and 109 in Australia
so by all accounts, the interet appears to be there
March 28th 2011 @ 10:21am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:21am | Report comment
I think moonface was talking about /falling/ interest.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Oh interest is there all right Pip, but it is falling.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am | Report comment
So why concern yourself with what AD says or doesn’t.
March 28th 2011 @ 11:00am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:00am | Report comment
We’re not allowed to comment on it? Share our opinions?
March 28th 2011 @ 1:03pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
If you wish to air your envy so publicly, by all means, comment.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:05pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Lol envy.
You seem to miss the point again and again. Here it is once more:
1) We don’t like AD
2) We think he’s being insincere
3) We have commented on 1) and 2).
Oh, and thanks for showing your colours so thoroughly this thread MLF. It just goes to show that the comments the other day were on the mark.
March 28th 2011 @ 4:51pm
Titus said | March 28th 2011 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
You do realise it’s the off season in the a league, right MLF?
Also try Google trends, you will notice the a league traffic has nearly doubled since season 1.
You will also notice strong interest from Ireland, UK, USA, Spain, Italy, Canada, India, Spain and France(thats just the top 10) and searches in 8 different languages.
Compared to the AFL, a blip of interest outside Australia(presumably expats) and in 3 different languages.
March 28th 2011 @ 5:40pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Yes, but there’s still a yawning gulf between the two – I don’t care where the interest is coming from.
March 28th 2011 @ 7:56pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Moonface and Titus, haven’t you heard? AFL supporters enter into a debate with a football supporter on the following premises:
- AFL is better than football in every way
- AFL acted with the utmost decency during the World Cup bid, and did everything correctly, to say otherwise is absurd
- AFL does not try to keep other football codes down. How could you even claim that?
- Andrew Demetriou always makes the right decision. Always.
- There is no corruption in the AFL, and never has been.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:56pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
Are you trying to say that you would find corruption in the AFL in the manner that you find corruption in a mob like FIFA?
And yet everyone, I mean everyone, is trying to introduce governance models into their sport that is an exact replica of the AFL model.
March 29th 2011 @ 6:36am
Roger said | March 29th 2011 @ 6:36am | Report comment
Haha, awesome. Were you intentionally trying to vindicate my post above or not?
March 28th 2011 @ 8:46am
Titus said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Its all good and well, MLF, calling FIFA a discraceful rabble, but it might be more useful if you could offer some advice on how the interests of over 200 hundred football nations can be best represented.
Can we hope for a more socialist model, where the resources are shared around equally? can we stop money, power and influence deciding who gets what?
Would the totalitarian model of the AFL help to streamline football, or does this only work because the AFL is the only professional league of it’s kind on earth.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:50am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Without doubt, the game of Australian Football doesn’t have the pitfall of pandering to different peoples with different cultures, ethics and motivations for pursuing self-interest.
Nevertheless, the corporate world shows us that good governance is possible, no matter how diffuse your operations are.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:11am
AGO74 said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:11am | Report comment
I think you’ll find that the AFL are “pandering to different peoples” for their own self-interest by allowing the GC and GWS to obtain a massively unfair competitive advantage at the expense of existing clubs.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:22am
Titus said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Exactly AG074–the premise of the article is correct, the AFL is no different to FIFA. The AFL acts however it likes, it tells it’s clubs what it is doing, it doesn’t ask them. It tells them that it is throwing $200 million of their’s down a black hole in Western Sydney and is ignoring more deserving regions such as Tasmania.
FIFA is more democratic than AFL, unfortunately democracies are subject to corruption.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:31am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Exactly Titus,
the pot calling the kettle black.
Some of the behaviours of the AFL needs some investigation too I would think.
March 28th 2011 @ 6:44pm
sherrin-burley-faulkner said | March 28th 2011 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
And of course, this is so concerning to you, that as a soccer fan, you feel the need to make a thread out of it !!.
Quite laughable, the reason is as plain as the nose on your face, The AFL has far more power than your local soccer body, thats why you are full of envy, you are jealous, angry and feel powerless.
Soccer in this country is like many of it’s players, they have no cohunas, all they can do is snipe, squeel and bleat.
Its men against little boys.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:43am
Australian Football said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Excellent post Titus.. the AFL is corrupt and a rabble when it comes to Tasmania’s interests.. I feel for them.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:27pm
gawa said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:27pm | Report comment
What about their onfield corruption, you know when they force teams to have salary cap and draft picks that give an unfair advantage over their supposed equal competitors.
I’d be asking for my money back if any team I followed had to start a game with even the slightest disadvantage. Never mind ones that were sanctioned from the head office, yet he threw sticks in our direction.
Haha, the irony.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Spot on Titus.
The only reason why AFL ‘seems’ more cohesive is because they at least have a common interest – promoting Aussie Rules here in Australia. You of course get your petty fiefdoms etc, but the fact remains that it can focus solely on Australia.
Imagine 200 AFL’s throughout the world. I bet the shenanigans would increase 200 fold.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:58pm
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
actually the clubs voted and approved this. The AFL cant approve major changes to the league without club approval. This includes major stadium expenditure, any new clubs being introduced.
March 28th 2011 @ 6:48pm
sherrin-burley-faulkner said | March 28th 2011 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
Ridiculous post Wookie, these soccer fans won’t accept any reasonable reply !.
March 28th 2011 @ 7:04pm
Titus said | March 28th 2011 @ 7:04pm | Report comment
Well the regionally elected FIFA representatives voted on the World Cup bid aswell, Australia lost.
Tasmania’s claim to an AFL club is far, far greater than Western Sydney, but the AFL said to the clubs, we will get more TV money and give you some of it, goodbye Tassie.
Money talks in the AFL world and in the Football world.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am | Report comment
What you are referring to is a business model for expanding the league – how can that be compared to the corrupt actions of members of the FIFA exec intent on lining their own pockets?
It’s a silly comparison.
March 28th 2011 @ 12:55pm
Danny_Mac said | March 28th 2011 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
What and expanding the “brand” into Russia and Qatar isn’t the same thing? The difference is/was that the AFL didn’t have a very public facade of a “bidding process” to mask the fact that they had already decided where they were taking the code.
Russia and Qatar are oil rich nations who can bring big bucks to FIFA, access to products made by the sponsor’s competitors will be limited. All in all a cash cow for FIFA. GC and GWS are the same for the AFL, there is enough pie in these regions to (hopefully) not eat into the gains made by the Lions and the Swans but still grow the brand. The AFL didn’t have a drawn out bid process where centres such as Tas, Adelaide and perhaps regional Vic could have bid against GC and GWS. Ironically the NRL are looking to do exactly that for their expansion. Despite EOIs from all over the country (and even PNG and NZ), the odds are that the NRL will go to the Central Coast and 2nd team in Brisbane… which way is right? and is either matter better than letting democracy take over? if you did, you’d still have the VFL and NSWRL as Melbourne and Sydney only begrudgingly accept the out-of-town teams…
March 28th 2011 @ 1:05pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Danny Mac
The key difference is that the FIFA reps are lining their own pockets in the process, and there is doubt as to whether they are doing it for the sport or for themselves.
That’s the key difference.
As Demetrious says: a disgraceful rabble.
Few Australians would disagree.
March 28th 2011 @ 1:17pm
Danny_Mac said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I think you’re being extremely naive MLF!
How much does AD get paid?
How much of a bonus does he get for achieving KPIs?
And more importantly, what kind of perks does he get for his position? He has never once, ever, used his influence to get something he wants?
The difference of course is that FIFA simply has more money to go around, and as it is a global entity, you simply have to deal with “varying degrees of business morality”.
While I’m not trying play down the corruption, the simple matter is that the larger the scale, and the more money involved the shadier the deals become.
I’m not sure how much football as an industry is worth annually, globally. But I would make it far to say that it would be anywhere between 25-50 times bigger (in total, not just TV), if the afl was worth that kind of money, who knows what kind of palm greasing would go on to make sure you got the next franchise avaliable… And do we know that this didn’t happen with GWS and GC? Just saying, playing devils advocate…
March 28th 2011 @ 2:05pm
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Danny Mac the 25 times bigger would be 1 country alone, England.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:06pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Danny Mac
AD’s salary is on the public record!
It’s completley different to the covert bribes that all the FIFA reps receive.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:18pm
Danny_Mac said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Punter I was trying to be hyper conservative…
MLF I know you’re goading me, but bloody hell mate. Youre reading my words but you’re not listening to them… AD has his pockets handsomely lined the the ongoing success of the code, and wouldn’t get paid the same sums to work as CEO of an equivalent size company. Its just the way it is, all sports are like that…
It isn’t completely different, it’s lobbying. It’s the cost of doing business, whatever Qatar spent on lobbying will be worth it in August 2022…
And finally you mean to tell me that AD, or Ben Buckley, or David Gallop, or John O’Neil have never exploited business contacts for personal gain? Using my x25 factor, none of them have done anything x25 less corrupt than anything that has happened in FIFA?
March 28th 2011 @ 9:49pm
gawa said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:49pm | Report comment
There is not a football fan around that will put up much of an argument against certain FIFA policies, at least not one I have ever met.
But would any AFL fans agree that forcing teams to have an unethical on field advantage by means of unfair salary cap and draft picks is a far greater act of corruption than anythng FIFA have ever overseen.
The onfield action in any sport is untouchable and must never ever be seen to be tainted or influenced by anyone except for those competing.
So when Demtriou talks of a rabble he should be looking in the mirror as the man that overseas an external influence to the onfield activities in the league he controls.
As the title of this article states, this is the ultimate KETTLE. Is salary cap and draft advantages much different to match fixing, don’t even open the ‘tanking’ subject.
March 29th 2011 @ 9:12am
The_Wookie said | March 29th 2011 @ 9:12am | Report comment
would be if the cap and draft didnt apply to every club, caps are applied in every major sport in this country, and several overseas asw ell, which is where we got it from.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:28am
Mahony said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:28am | Report comment
LOL!
March 28th 2011 @ 8:46am
mds1970 said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:46am | Report comment
When I read this article, the Features menu to the right that gives random links to previous articles had a link to Adrian Musolino’s article “FIFA disgraces game with farcical decision on Qatar.”
Demetriou’s comments were actually very similar to those of soccer people. Oh, the irony.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:54am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
mds, no-one is doubting Demetriou’s comments, it’s reason for the comment, it’s not required from a tiny sport’s CEO on world term.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:01am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:01am | Report comment
He was asked the question, and he answered.
Why would any Australian expect the most powerful man in Australian sport to show reverence to a disgraceful rablle like FIFA?
Why are som Australians continuing to put the corrupt FIFA on a pedestal?
March 28th 2011 @ 3:39pm
Fez's are cool said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
I didn’t know senator conroy was talking about FIFA.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am | Report comment
I think the point is about the insincerity of the comments – not the truth of them.
March 28th 2011 @ 1:06pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
BB and AD were best men at each other’s wedding – so if AD expresses grief for what BB had to endure, you rest assured that it is heart felt.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:13pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Given his track record, forgive me for not resting assured on anything AD says.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:52am
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Note to Roar Editors: this is now the 3rd article that is just an excuse to bash the AFL.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am
Brendan said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Poor redb = internet is upsetting…
You could always log off?
March 28th 2011 @ 10:37am
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Its Ok Brendan not you mate.
March 28th 2011 @ 11:02am
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Again, we’re not allowed to share our opinions? I thought that was the point of the Roar.
March 28th 2011 @ 1:09pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
As long as the Roar is even handed in allowing everyone to share the hate – I’m fine with it.
If the roar editors allows us to go to town – we are very capable of doing it.
We are adept at running straight at the ball, don’t worry about that.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:14pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Ummm, isn’t it? I mean, it seems every second football thread is riddled with AFL fans hating on the sport.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:16pm
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Come to think of it Roger, I think you are right.
March 28th 2011 @ 2:40pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Roger
you would be lucky to find 6 AFL fans on the Roar.
Do not confuse discussing verifiable facts and figures with putting up hate posts, as as been happening on a few “AFL” threads the past week (AFL threads started by soccer fans).
March 28th 2011 @ 3:07pm
Roger said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
I don’t, trust me. Do you?
March 28th 2011 @ 11:04am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:04am | Report comment
And countless articles and posts bagging soccer and the A-League.
Since when do AFL fans deserve immunity?
March 28th 2011 @ 1:11pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
You have to learn the difference between bagging, and reporting verifiable facts and figures.
March 30th 2011 @ 4:28pm
roarlover34 said | March 30th 2011 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
I think maybe 20 articles ‘against’ the AFL would suffice after that pathetic piece of work by The Sun-Herald. “Soccer Fans the Worst”.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:53am
Magpie Flag said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:53am | Report comment
“If FIFA wanted to cause AFL some hurt by granting the 2022 World Cup to Australia, they would have. The fact is that FIFA considers the AFL such small fish in the world of sport that it didn’t even bother.
I would have imagined that whether the World Cup was granted to Australia or not, it wouldn’t have made that much difference to FIFA.
They had much bigger fish to fry.”
This is just brain fevered ramblings. Australia got one vote from the FIFA exec because it is corrupt. All your ranting which amounts to “AFL is insignificant compared to FIFA”just reveals the source of your own angst which is soccer’s relative insignificance locally.
“Maybe Demetriou is concerned about the slow start to the AFL season, with attendances for the opening round way down on the last couple of seasons.
The AFL’s Market Research department might be telling him that a lot of football fans, who also follow AFL teams, might have been put offside by the AFL’s perceived opposition to the football world cup bid.
Maybe these football fans who have some interest in AFL, might not be so keen on AFL now as they were before the World Cup bid..”
Surely the hordes of “soccer fans boycotting the AFL” effect would have been more pronounced last year when teh AFL break its attendance record?
Average crowds for round 1 have “slumped”from low 4,000s in the last two years to a tick under 39,700
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/crowds/summary.html
Perhaps best to wait a little before a trend is confirmed!
March 28th 2011 @ 9:19am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Average AFL attendances Round 1 2007 – 46568
Round 1 2008 – 42968
Round 1 2009 – 44787
Round 1 2010 – 43391
Round 1 2011 – 38604
The first round of the 2011 AFL season is a 21% fall from 2007, 12%drop from 2008, 17% lower than 2009 and 13% lower than last season.
March 28th 2011 @ 9:50am
Magpie Flag said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Your averages are incorrect. They also mean nothing of course as it is influeneced by who is playing who, the weather etc
Lets perhaps wait until
1. more than one round has been played
2. the per game average falls below the a-leagues per round average
before we get excited!
Here are the actually yearly averages for people looking for trends
2010 average overall – 36907
2009 – 36195
2008 – 36996
2007 – 36793
2006 – 35250
2005 – 35703
2004 – 33579
March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Yes, will be an interesting year for AFL attendances and TV ratings with that media deal hanging over their heads.
The first round attendnaces are always higher than the rest of the year and that is a better indicator of the interest in the season ahead.
Compare apples with apples.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:06am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
You make the bold claim – but your numbers are wrong – but you still persist with the bold claim on zero evidence.
A first round avearge of 39,700 is fine.
To put that into some sort of perspective, that’s a good round for five A-League fixtures in total.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:14am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:14am | Report comment
What bold claim – it’s true Pip,
If my figures are wrong then why can’t any of you provide figures that show interest in AFL is increasing this season.
AFL attendances and ratings for the opening round of the season are the worst in years – fact.
Stop trying to dress it up as anything else.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:28am
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:28am | Report comment
. . . and this is even though the AFL have dropped “membership” prices to as low as $7 for a 3 game “membership” – attendances are still falling.
March 28th 2011 @ 4:07pm
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
its round 1 and you want to show increasing interest this season? theres not a statistician in the world who would buy a one round sample.
Average crowd for round 1 is ahead of the crowd averages for last season. And Round 1 is not always the highest drawing round of the season.
2010 – Round 6 (347k) – Round 1 (337k)
2009 – Round 17 (361k) – Round 1 (349k)
2008 – Round 3 (350k) – Round 1 (335k)
THATS apples with apples.
March 28th 2011 @ 11:41am
RedOrDead said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:41am | Report comment
First Round figures for the A-League went like this:
2007/08 – 14,554
2008/09 – 13,319
2009/10 – 13,637
2010/11 – 10,810 – and that’s with Gold Coast getting dismal crowds, NQF on the brink and Victory did no have a home game in the first round…but for a 6 year-old league, I’d say the figures above are not bad.
I don’t understand why you ARF fans are so scared of the A-League. Everything mentioned becomes a crowd-war between the two football codes. You know what you sound like? The older late-teens brother who fears his younger brother is catching up to him in size and speed and fears that one day his younger brother may be bigger and stronger! Just get over it guys…ARF and Football can live in harmony in this country, you just have to be a little more open-minded
NOTE::
1. If yearly averages fall below the first round crowd figure, imagine how dismal the crowds may be this year considering the AFL’s round 1 attendances were at 38,604!
AFL’s Yearly Average percentage compared to Round 1
2007: 79% (36793 Vs 46568)
2008: 86% (36996 Vs 42968)
2009: 81% (36195 Vs 44787)
2010: 85% (36907 Vs 43391)
That percentage over those four years averages out to 82.75. Imagine the 2011 yearly average then:
2011: 82.75% (31945 Vs 38604) – WOW, less than 32k!! Now, considering that Gold Coast Stadium can only fit 25,000, imagine how low that yearly average can go!!! Next Year with GWS Giants, the AFL would be struggling to get over 30k average by the looks of it!
March 28th 2011 @ 1:15pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
The average will drop this year, and the next, we expect that, and we’re comfortable with that.
Aggregate attendances will rise this year, and next year as well, we expect that, and we’re comfortable with that.
Memberhsips are already set to rise to 650,000 this season from an all time high of 614,000 last year.
Things are going very, very well – don’t worry yourself too much about it.
By the way, your average figures for the first round are wrong.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:12pm
RedOrDead said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
“We”? “…we’re comfortable with that”? LOL
You ARF fans are so narrow minded! You realise it’s perfectly OKAY to be an A-League AND an AFL fan?
P.S. I got my figures from the two posts above. The calculations were all mine though
March 28th 2011 @ 9:27am
Mahony said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:27am | Report comment
WTF is a flag?
March 28th 2011 @ 10:03am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Mahony
Australian sports fans know and understand.
Don’t worry yourself too much about it.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:06am
sherrin-burley-faulkner said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Very true, does this guy actually know anything about Australian sports.
March 28th 2011 @ 12:30pm
Football United said | March 28th 2011 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
“Australian Sports fans know and understand it” Assuming that the northern states have a culture around winning flags is fairly ignorant as it is solely an AFL concept.
March 28th 2011 @ 11:46am
Jake said | March 28th 2011 @ 11:46am | Report comment
@ Mahony I’d like to know too. I’m in Newcastle so I guess I am Australian. WTF is a flag?
March 28th 2011 @ 1:01pm
Magpie Flag said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
A flag is something that sad cultural cringers don’t get because it is not part of the verbacular of some continent on the other side of the planet
March 28th 2011 @ 1:07pm
Danny_Mac said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Rather than being a twat about it…
A “Flag” is a premiership…
I’m not 100% sure where the term comes from, but I think it refers to the fact that when a team wins a premiership, the recieve a pennant style flag to be hung in the club rooms, while the trophy gets handed back (although in the AFL you get a new trophy each year).
Please correct me if this isn’t 100% accurate, but it is my understanding.
And as far as I know this is a fairly unique concept. I know that the other codes don’t use the terminology, so pipe-down AFLians! I grew up in Melbourne, but now live in Canberra and the idea of a “Flag” is quite lost on most people here, and it is a fairly liberal AFL market!
March 28th 2011 @ 1:18pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Australian sports fans, with an understanding of Australian sporting culture, will understand the concept of a flag.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:31pm
Fez's are cool said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
I have no idea what you are gibbering about. Flag? Never heard the term before in my life.
The only sports fans that go on and on about “being patriotic” (implied by your “understanding of Australian” comment) are AFL fans.
Therefore, I think it has something to do with that Victorian fumbling and bumbling code. But no idea what a “flag” is.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:35pm
Fez's are cool said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
I just went and googled it.
Turns out a “flag” is an AFL award for winning the AFL grand final, borrowed from American Baseball’s “penant” awarded for a world series win.
That is hardly “Australian”.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:37pm
Redb said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
I must say though Fez, the NRL trophy is the ugliest thing in Australian sport.
You’d never put that on display as a sign of triumph, more like stow it in the Leagues Club President’s gin cabinet.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:38pm
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Australians with a good understanding of Australian sporting culture will know what a flag means.
March 28th 2011 @ 3:53pm
The_Wookie said | March 28th 2011 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
Actually they are both taken from the Royal Navy, which flys flags and pennants to indicate the presence of royalty or commanders. Predates Baseball and Australian football by some years.
March 28th 2011 @ 8:21pm
Moonface said | March 28th 2011 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
Redb,
The golden toilet seat is not the prettiest trophy I’ve ever seen either – was that designed by Demetriou with his sense of toilet humour?
March 28th 2011 @ 1:18pm
Jake said | March 28th 2011 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!
March 28th 2011 @ 9:19am
Andrew said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Is this coming from AD because he talked up the crowds last week and the AFL truly believed that they would break their record for a weekly crowd, but fell well short, of last years round one crowd , let alone getting near the record. Maybe he is upset that on Friday night the AFL was again beaten resoundingly beaten by RL on Friday night. I think this weekend behind the Grand Prix, and NRL, the AFL has fallen to third, even with the CWC it seems like AFL is less and less irrelevant unless you are a Victorian.
Funny AD commenting on a global body, he can’t even run a competition that covers one country. How many members does the AFL have ??????
March 28th 2011 @ 9:25am
Mahony said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Spot on!
March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am
Magpie Flag said | March 28th 2011 @ 9:59am | Report comment
No, apparently Demetriou was responding to a question in a radio interview among a throng of other issues.
The Roar is the only place where this has been deemed news worthy, because of the concentration of nutters presumably
March 28th 2011 @ 10:07am
MyLeftFoot said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:07am | Report comment
it’s called envy
soccer fans appear to be expressing concern that the AFL “only” averaged 39,700 from the first round of matches.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:14am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Of course we are envious, I would love the A-League to average 39,700 from a weekend matches.
What is the AFL envious of?
It’s the off season of the A-league, what are we talking about, the socceroos match against Germany. the performances of many Aussies in the O/S leagues, what’s happening in the the EPL, La Liga, the champions league, the Euro qualifiers (Italy doing well). There is no off season for football.
In the off season of the AFL, ummmm, boring, what’s Fevola or Nixon or St Kilda players up to?
March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Love my cricket, tennis & wife says I punt too much, I also don’t mind the league, big Dragons fan, love my Wallabies as well. But football is never far away even if it is O/S
March 28th 2011 @ 5:30pm
ian said | March 28th 2011 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Magpie Flag,
You took the words right out of my mouth.
March 28th 2011 @ 10:09am
punter said | March 28th 2011 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Well said!!!!