Related coverage
The AFL is the beast that never sleeps, and when it comes to controlling the news cycle, no-one does it better. They launched into free agency last week and yesterday the trades started flying through.
The two major newspapers in Melbourne, the Herald Sun and The Age, are filled with news of the latest wheelings and dealings.
The average NRL fan is used to hearing about their version of player movement 18-months in advance or in round two of the season just finished.
It’s an annoyance, slightly disrespectful to those who pay their hard earned to watch, but accepted.
The AFL has turned roughly the same thing into a month long carnival. One that will take up plenty of time on the TV news and space in the paper.
High visibility for as long as possible.
Rugby League’s offering is the international game.
Australia takes on New Zealand in Townsville this weekend in-case you hadn’t heard.
The clash has been received well by the locals, as expected, but is it struggling for relevance elsewhere?
It’s a concept that had Australian coach Tim Sheens offer up this thought when talking to reporters:
“There is a little bit of (a struggle for motivation) with nothing happening at the end of the season, and the end of a long season for them,” he said.
“They (The Kiwis) have picked a very strong squad. I think in that regard, yes, there’ll be plenty of respect but motivation-wise we need to get it done, then they can go on holidays.”
That last part says it all. Get in, get out and move on.
A post-season NRL transfer window would be better for the fans, but terrible for the players.
Salary caps get arranged too far in advance to handle late negotiations.
James Maloney’s contract with the Roosters was signed so long ago that it has dust on it.
It would completely re-jig the way clubs go about their business at the moment. Perhaps too much so.
The AFL has struck gold with the draft, trades and free agency from a media cycle perspective.
Their supporters don’t morph into cricket fans as soon as the final whistle goes in the grand final.
Instead, they wait to see if their club can jag a piece that will help with the premiership puzzle.
You can follow Luke Doherty on Twitter @Luke_Doherty and on Sky News Australia.
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- AFL, NRL, Rugby League
October 9th 2012 @ 7:53am
The Truth said | October 9th 2012 @ 7:53am | Report comment
The AFL appoints board members to the club which just won the grand final, also affording the Swans special cap room. They are becoming a media entity over a legitimate sporting body. That’s nothing to emulate, but news outlets play right into their hands.
October 9th 2012 @ 9:31pm
CallMeeAl said | October 9th 2012 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
Unlike the NRL in the very recent past which was owned by media organizations – how is it a problem that the AFL is building its own media arm? To me it’s a clear sign of a near future of codes owning their broadcast content\channels rather than using middle men.
Btw the Swans salary cap concessions are fair enough for rookies and newish players but just how the money gets distributed might be questionable. I assume the Giants too will have concessions or is Breakfast point cheaper?
The AFL has constructed the multi layered off season over a long time now and not via a single design – it’s evolved with the input of many stakeholders. Given in general the AFL and NRL have little media overlap across markets in Aust then it’s no big deal.
October 10th 2012 @ 8:38am
The Truth said | October 10th 2012 @ 8:38am | Report comment
You’re missing the point. The AFL has allowed media influence and opportunity to cross the sacred boundary which most other popular sports leagues bother to straddle successfully. Sydney’s cap concession now, Brisbane’s cap concessions last decade, GWS and GC draft boosts at the expense of real clubs like Port. Of those four clubs, three are operated by the league itself (that alone is a shameful stat) but the league giving its own franchises a huge leg up is absolutely offensive to people that respect teh integrity of competition. AFL is becoming manufactured and inorganic, and how many fans will tolerate that for long?
October 10th 2012 @ 9:05am
Redb said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:05am | Report comment
You’re not understanding the dynamics of the competition.
AFL operate 2: GC and GWS – they are start up clubs. The NRL only recently divested itself of News Ltd who have propped up the Melb Storm after 14 years and continue to do so. Most A League clubs survive on FFA assistance, some in its control. Its not unusual at all for a governing body to operate new clubs.
“The AFL has allowed media influence and opportunity to cross the sacred boundary which most other popular sports leagues bother to straddle successfully”
How so?
The NRL up until last year was run 50% run by a media organisation who owned some of the clubs at various times. One club at least rorted the salary cap under their very noses when results were not going the way News Ltd wanted.
Sydney have had 10% more in their salary cap for years, why haven’t they won every year. The AFL has been at expansion for longe than most and has learnt some valuable lessons. You dont leave expansion clubs to wither on the vine. Storm would have been gone a decade ago if it wasnt for News Ltd and their millions.
October 10th 2012 @ 9:10am
Punter said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Anyone who doesn’t think that most AFL clubs are not getting assistance from the AFL to survive are trying to fool themselves.
October 10th 2012 @ 7:30pm
CallMeeAl said | October 10th 2012 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
Because of centralized revenues all clubs get distributions from the AFL. I would’t think all clubs are getting assistance though.
On what basis do you suggest this?
October 10th 2012 @ 2:23pm
Crosscoder said | October 10th 2012 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Correction ,part owned.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:27pm
Yawn said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:27pm | Report comment
What about the soccer? It survives on media gimmicks like the old Italian bloke who is playing up in Sydney.
October 10th 2012 @ 9:22am
Kasey said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
How do you explain the years before ADP then? ADP is a one-off. the game has grown before he got here and will continue to grow once he leaves.
October 10th 2012 @ 9:35am
Punter said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
An old Italian bloke who is rated the greatest sportsman to play in a local Australian competition at that.
October 9th 2012 @ 7:58am
oikee said | October 9th 2012 @ 7:58am | Report comment
It is not the NRL that needs a end of season anything. We have world cups and test footy to worry about. This year is a quite year, maybe no more quite year’s is the go. I do know what league really needs, and i was watching the movie “blind side” about the young NFL player who got taken in by a family.
You look at the way the yanks run a football business, then you look at the NRL.
We need the under 20 Toyota cup teams to merge into the Universcity system now. asap
I mean come on, while we mess around like a busted backyard hillbilly code talking about Mad Monday’s drama, the yanks are making movies about their football stars.
Our code needs to get the juniors aligned to the uni’s as soon as possible. It will give our game a huge kick start, get all the students on board, as well as overseas students in which we have a huge industry.
Anyhow, as i said, we cant do a end of year anything, we have too much other stuff going on, what we do need is someone to know how to build this up, just talking like a mophead like Sheens, the boys are tired, not interested, want a holiday. Why is he even coach, i have seen more life on Mars.
We need a front man, and the media , we need our own media, the reporters who follow our game are only interested in the ugly stuff. We cant keep going like this, our code is going backwards because reporters dont know how to be possitive. I read the Terror graph this morning, all the stories are negative , go have a look.
One in their about a nut. This is not the way to write up a guys misfortune.
The media is not helping, the game is not helping, the coaches are not halping, even the college coaches have more passion (NFL) than our guys.
Time for a big broom and a change of how we do things and run the game. The reporters are awful, just awful, i am at the stage where i cringe even seeing some of the way they report league stories. It’s a outrage.
p.s as i said, we need a front man with some heart soem passion for our game. I provided a video of a young horse trainer the other day on a blog, he has more heart and passion than out whole code.
We are lacking a person who can speak and really has great passion for the game.
October 9th 2012 @ 8:19am
oikee said | October 9th 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
I forgot to mention the super league final. Anyone who was lucky enough to see this quality well run final would have noticed a huge difference between tradition and a perfect feel for how things should be done, with heart with passion, compared to our final.
For a start the super league final shows a compassion the NRL have no idea about. They dont play the natuional anthem because they have Aussies and Kiwis along with other nationalities in the comp. Now compare that to our thoughtless mob. Playing the Aussie anthem, even on gameday i thought this inapropiate, then again i thought we have no one who can think in our game, so carry on.
They have already thought about this, so they played Jeruselm to not make the overseas players feel uncomfitable.
That is just a small touch. They had plenty which made their grand final such a pleasure to watch. The game itself was the best i have ever witnessed. A classic, then you look at the way our game was handled. Just on that i watched the fox team do the final, it was alot better than the nine coverage.
Anyhow, these are the little things in our game, it is like nobody cares, nobody has a feel for the game or code.
We need someone who can speak from the heart, with passion, Not just open your mouth like a damm robot.
This is what out code needs, and fast. We are losing substance, our very sole, we are letting the media run our game into the ground.
October 9th 2012 @ 8:56am
Millz said | October 9th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Oikee, without trying to sound patronizing, how many of the current NRL players could get enrolled into uni? I know a few like Ben Creagh, but he’d be the exception rather than the rule. Part of the American college criteria, is that the athletes enroll in s degree and achieve a minimum level of academic results.
October 9th 2012 @ 10:21am
oikee said | October 9th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Dont know what you are saying, it cant be done, our players are stupid. Look, if it can happen in America, it can happen hear.
I just finished watching the movie “the Blind Side” and it seems to me they allow a lot of lenacy towards good players.
The NRL are already leaning towards no study or work, no play for under 20′s.
It can be done, of course it can be done, should be done. We needs someone with some real passion as i have said, to run our code.
So this process has already been started , now we need to push ahead.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:03am
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Miltz
As 68 NRL players(15%) are enrolled or have completed a uni Degree and a further 109 Toyota Cup players (23%) are enrolled in uni Degrees,I suggest perhaps you are a little patronising.
Apart from the 264 NRL players enrolled in or completeted Vocational Education Training(Cert 11 to diploma) plus other educational studies.
It is a requirement of the NRL that u20 players do studies outside playing the game.
The code is hardly sitting on its proverbial backside, doing nothing on the matter.
http://www.nrl.com/2012-academic-team-of-the-year/tabid/10874/newsid/69146/default.aspx
October 9th 2012 @ 12:01pm
Boris said | October 9th 2012 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
CC it might be a bit patronising but it’s a fair point. That is how the American system works.
It’s good if the NRL are requiring the young blokes to get qualifications while they play.
Oikee you’re a legend. Always entertaining.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:12pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Well Boris it is how the NRL system works,and they should be applauded for it,not patronised to give a false impression.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:24pm
B.A Sports said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
CrossCoder; those numbers are encouraging. I wonder how many are actually finishing their uni degrees because just about anyone can enroll. The lack of original thought or ability to construct sentences and opinions makes me think only a few.
It is one of the benefits of the US system that many athletes get that education and it shows in the way many (not all) present to the media. Having said that, the recent ESPN doco “Broke” – tracing a selection of US athletes once multi-millionaire’s who are now broke – shows every system is flawed.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:41pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
BA perhaps similar percentages to those who attend 1st year uni,and ditch it .I would have no idea as to the numbers.At least the system is in situ.
Yes there are no doubt some who have difficulty expressing themselves in fornt of a camera,indeed some shy P.I players .
Let me just say this I have given speeches at weddings,and yakked on at sales meetings and handled it OK.
Yet I have had an off the cuff mike thrust in front of me ,unannounced and got caught out.
The US sysytem is miles ahead,simplybeacsue the overwhelming NFL players come through the college system,
I remember a former PM of this country,an Oxford MA who used to um in every sentence.Even Tony Abbott starts his sentence with look and uses the um word.You can be the brightest git on this land and be an ordinary orator.
Would i like every NRL player to be media savvy,speak with authority and cohesion,of course I would.
Jack Gibson famously commented, sometimes it takes a person an age to say something that could be summarised in a few words.
October 9th 2012 @ 3:17pm
Jimbo said | October 9th 2012 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
A lot of the degrees gained by American college athletes aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Several NFL players have scored under 10/50 in the Wonderlic test at the drafting combine; a score of 10 indicates literacy. I fail to see how someone who is illiterate could have gained a legitimate college degree.
October 9th 2012 @ 8:44am
Cameron said | October 9th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
I’m so boared with cross-code comparisons and slanging matches.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:35pm
The High Shot said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
Yes, it makes pigs of us all.
October 9th 2012 @ 8:52am
Mals said | October 9th 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
One great thing about Foxtel is the ability to hit the pause button & leave the room while AFL stories are on Fox Sports News. Come back, sit down on the lounge & fast forward until news that interests me comes on
October 9th 2012 @ 8:55am
Milz said | October 9th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Oikee, without trying to sound patronizing, how many of the current NRL players could get enrolled into uni? I know a few like Ben Creagh, but he’d be the exception rather than the rule. Part of the American college criteria, is that the athletes enroll in s degree and achieve a minimum level of academic results.
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October 9th 2012 @ 9:22am
View from the hill said | October 9th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Nothing like judging the media cycle from the perspective of the media to get a clouded view. None of the AFL trades is getting any interest in NSW & Queensland so it does not matter what saturation coverage the AFL is doing in Melbourne. AFL trades are just as relevant to Sydney and Brisbane public as what is happening in Uzbekistan wrestling. The Kangaroos match should be getting more publicity but maybe that’s a reflection of disinterested league media who seem to only want to write about NRL and then hit the beaches once mad monday os over.
October 9th 2012 @ 10:51am
Ads said | October 9th 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
speak for yourself. AFL trade news is being followed in Sydney by me, my mates and colleagues at work.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:06am
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Cast of thousands no doubt.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:38am
Nathan from Sydney said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
I agree, im following the AFL trades, along with friends. Its on the news radio, however i only realised there was a rugby game on because of a small snippet in the paper. I doubt any of my friends know there is a game on. and i am a Manly fan in the NRL so i do follow the game. (Also support SYDNEY SWANS)., AFL is miles in front of the NRL on nearly every issue, its just not funny any more.
love how no one complains about the cap until we want to sign a key player, Hawthorn talk about sore losers
October 9th 2012 @ 12:25pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
I think this trade period with the element of free agency has set the AFL world abuzz. Some big names moving always get attention. It was only 2-3 years ago ‘trade week’ was compressed into two hours before the deadline on Friday arvo with barely any movement.
Essendon are quite happy with Goddard thanks very much.
October 9th 2012 @ 9:34pm
CallMeeAl said | October 9th 2012 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
Good point. It’s got a rocket up it this year.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:16pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Rugby league game in fact Nathan.The AFL background shows up.Still made back page Sport in the Australian.
The game in Nth Qld is laready a sellout,so they at least know up north.
They are certainly well in front when it comes to the media.so much for the News bias.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:27pm
B.A Sports said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
Agree. My work place is the same.
Heard on the news this morning the 5 players Sydney were cutting from their squad and we are hearing plenty about Tippett etc…
October 9th 2012 @ 7:00pm
mick h said | October 9th 2012 @ 7:00pm | Report comment
us rl supporters have been worried about our testicals after the poor chap in the super league gf lost his
October 9th 2012 @ 11:35am
Kasey said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
.Rugby League’s offering is the international game.
Australia takes on New Zealand in Townsville this weekend in-case you hadn’t heard.
No actually I hadn’t heard. In SA, the last bit of League News was regarding the GF biter getting his penalty at the tribunal..Since then its been wailing and gnashing of hands as Kurt Tippett dumps the Crows and by extension a large majority of South Australia now feels slighted like a bunch of pre-pubescent girls getting dumped for the first time.
Yesterday’s Advertiser takes the cake for non-OMG Soccer Riotzz!! over-reaction of the century by printing a full back page of Tippetts head on a dartboard for ‘fans’ to cut out and have at it.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:38am
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
No wonder he gets death threats you crow-eaters are out of control. Give him credit Tippett didn’t say Adelaide was a pi$$ant town
October 9th 2012 @ 11:48am
Kasey said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:48am | Report comment
I shudder to think of how the crowd is going to react when Marco$Flore$ visits Hindmarsh in December with our most hated rivals Melbourne Blue FC?
I think it was Barcelona fans who threw a pig’s head onto the Nou Camp pitch to ‘ welcome’ home Louis Figo in a Real Madrid jersey back in 2011(?) could we see something worse? No doubt the Advertiser photographers will be poised to record any incidents:(
October 9th 2012 @ 1:21pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
That’s SA for you.The southern press love reporting rl atrocities.And likewise soccer atrocities.
In rl it’s called a brawl.in AFL a melee and basketball I notice it was called a flutter ,and of course soccer a riot.
Why doesn’t the press call it as it is :a bleeding fight.
You need a team Kasey,then the media might actually get off their bottoms and try another sport.It would be a novelty .
October 9th 2012 @ 7:02pm
mick h said | October 9th 2012 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
just came back from adelaide won’t be going back
October 10th 2012 @ 9:21am
Kasey said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
I would encourage the NRL to try their hand at placing a team in ADL. I think a lot of damage was done by the SL war killing the Rams and doubt the local media would support them in the way they do the reds and 36ers (for example), but I could be wrong.. An Adelaide NRL team I imagine would get similar coverage to the baseball team.
October 10th 2012 @ 9:44am
Punter said | October 10th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Kasey, I’m like you, as I used to support the local football competition (but in my case it was Rugby League), however while I still follow my team, I find myself with less time to follow the NRL as football (soccer) continues to grow in this country.
I think it’s a good a idea to have a wide variety of sports in your city, looking at Sydney we have 4 football codes & while NRL does dominate, there is still alot of room for football, AFL & Rugby.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:56am
Phelpsy said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Not true, plenty in the paper here on the gold coast and also about hinkley going to port ?? So not sure what you’re on about there.
October 9th 2012 @ 10:14am
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
AFL Club trades are generating the news and AFL club fans are those that are interested – the media feed the fans hunger for news of their club trades. I’m sure the AFL Media unit is active however this is very much an organic thing within club land.
I’m not sure there is any connection between what the AFL does and any RL matches, although I do sense some paranoia from RL types that the AFL do this deliberately to somehow deprive RL of publicity. Which is kind of funny and tragic at the same time.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:10am
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:10am | Report comment
No,one suggests all paranoia, is confined to observation of News Ltd writings and those of the perpetual whipping boy, Roy Masters.And we sure as hell know from whence this emanates.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:42am
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:42am | Report comment
And yet there is an article on the Roar about it.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:23pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
And you were one of the first to notice.
Darn surveillance cameras.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:48pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
clock watching the timing of posts – geez get a life.
October 9th 2012 @ 2:26pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
The posts are there for all to see regularly .in a rtl thread or as one commented, bees too honey.SAnd you question who has a life?LOL.
October 9th 2012 @ 3:24pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
Pot, kettle, black CC.
RL journo bemoans how the AFL yet again beats the NRL.
It’s a feel good story for you
October 9th 2012 @ 4:30pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
Really. Red B.The only people interested in trades are those interested in the AFL..I can go to the
Sky News sport website and see rl stories,the very station Luke reports.
Although it appears with the cheer squad i can regularly go to rl threads and see plenty of AFL promotion.Funny that.Paranoia !!!
Think TV reports
SOO 3 _4.023m match viewers
Soo 1 3,942m match viewers
NRL G/F 3,856m match viewers
SOO 2 3.853m match viewers
AFL G/F 3,829m match viewers
But but but the presentations,the hours etc.
A full house in Townsville for the test and no doubt another decent TV viewing audience.Of course AFL internationals are finished by now are they not ? …oh wait.
Yet again beats the NRL hmmm,yep it is indeed a feel good story.As the saying goes a warm and fuzzy feeling has me in its grip.
Two sides to every story.
October 10th 2012 @ 8:13am
Redb said | October 10th 2012 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Really CC,
AFL >> NRL
Higher crowds
Higher membership.
Higher TV ratings
Higher revenue.
Better admin.
Better stadiums
Better new media position
Better footprint.
October 10th 2012 @ 12:44pm
Crosscoder said | October 10th 2012 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Tv ratings top 4 suggest otherwise.International exposure by playing other countries.A Tv deal that will end up matching or going so darn close to the AFL deal.Dominatiing Pay Tv games .
Record merchandise and 2nd highest aggregate crowds,record Tv ratings.7 areas wanting to be included in expansion. a tremendouds viewing audience for the G/F in Melbourne.All this with teams in only 3 cap cities.
Yeah the NRL is trembling with fear and trepidation RedB.
October 11th 2012 @ 3:04pm
Redb said | October 11th 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
CC,
The NRL with 55% of the population in it’s ‘heartland” is still chasing the AFL. Count all the metros you like the actual population is the relevant stat.
October 12th 2012 @ 8:35am
Crosscoder said | October 12th 2012 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Chasing LOL.4 SOO are chasing whom ,little difference in G/F ratings, FTA availability for the Storm in Melbourne minimal,no teams in Perth and Adelaide meaning coverage in the remaining 45% of teh country is SFA at times.
Sorry to report but if 45% of the country gets SFA access,your points are enduringly paper thin.Ask sponsors where the opportunitiies lie.Without decent numbers in Adelaide and Perth where there is no NRL team,your figures would be well down the plughole.
You are one of the first to hype national coverage of your code,yet the NRL secures a deal that will match the AFL financially.
The population of the rl states may well be 55% ,but the Tv coverage is not 100% as is the AFL on a regular basis.
I wont yet mention regionals to throw you off guard.
October 9th 2012 @ 2:39pm
Sledgeandhammer said | October 9th 2012 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Can someone explain what an AFL ‘trade’ is? Not related to apprenticeships or prostitution is it?
October 9th 2012 @ 3:31pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Some might consider it prostitution by the club with it’s players.
‘AFL trade’ is one club trading a player for either another player or a draft pick. A limited form of free agency has been introduced this year allowing a player after 8 years service at a club to pick another club.
The trade window use to be a fairly tame affair with most players wanting to stick with their club but for those who did want to move, the club would often demand high compensation of another club and the deal wouldnt get done, free agency has loosed that up a lot.
This all stilll has to be done within the confines of the salary cap.
October 9th 2012 @ 10:25am
tonysalerno said | October 9th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Rugby league had a transfer deadline but that fell through; different beasts.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:06am
Farmer said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Frankly the effort of the NRL leaves a lot to be desired.
The Grand Final was a case in point. The awkward presentation ceremony, distinctly down on emotion, a very flat affair. Where was the excitement. Compare that to the same ceremony the previous day for the AFL.
The whole exercise on the Sunday was very flat – from the on-field after match interviews to the lap of honour to an empty stadium.
Since the Grand Final there has been zero discussion in the media about the actual game. It has come and gone in a blink.
All the NRL media coverage has been on some guy biting another guys ear, idiots getting involved in Mad Monday incidents, sponsers defending the bad behaviour, etc etc.
NRL seems to only focus on the the side show, the drama, the judiciary hearing, the misbehaviour. Never the actual game.
I suspect this is either what the punters want or there is not much to talk about the actual game . By this I mean it is a simple game, take it up 4 times, kick on the 5th, no contest for the ball in scrums / tackles and hope for a dropped ball or an error. That about sums it up.
Whatever the reason is, I thought the handling of the Grand Final was very flat.
Compare it to the AFL Grand FInal. No comparison.
All of the above is just an obseration. PS I am not an AFL fan.
October 9th 2012 @ 11:34am
Brewski said | October 9th 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
You have only just observed all this recently !!, the AFL (VFL) has always been a fair way ahead of the NRL (NSWRL), people north of the Murrambidgee have just not been exposed to it.
The NRL might not be amatuer hour, but it sure looks it, when you compare it to the AFL.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:44pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
The NR Lis made up of the NSWRL and QRL and the CRL
Video refs now being thought of and the 3 strikes drug policy.Amateur hour or doing a bit of wool pulling.
October 9th 2012 @ 12:07pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
The presentaion ceremony was down on emotion!.What do you expect the players to do,burst into tears on accepting their awards.
The captains’ comments were appropriate,reasoned.
The media is concentrating on the sideshow,how the hell you can blame the NRL, for what is written in the media is beyond me.
Suggesting all the media coverage is pure rubbish.
One sponsor commented,not sponsors plural.And as for your etc etc,good for effect,but no substance.
There is not much talk about the actual game,really must mix in different circles to me,must read and listen to different print and electronic media to me.
No your not an AFL fan(hmm) and obviously not a rugby league fan,so we can narrow down the field to perhaps another code of similar style.
It appears you have not been paying attention in class,the kick is usually on the 6th tackle,
after the 5th tackle signal is given.In fact there are more than a few occasions where the ball is run on the 6th tackle or even kicked earlier.
No contest for the ball LOL ,every tackle in fact the bulk of tackles are intended to ensure the attacker does not gain ground and in fact loses ground at times,the defender tries to dislodge the ball from the attacker by the force of the tackle,or in fact at times attempts a one on one steal,or the defender tries to force the attacker over the sideline to get the ball back in a scrum or to tackle the player in his own in goal. There are 40/20 kicks and bombs which are indeed competitions for the ball.Grubber kicks,banana kicks also to try to get another 6 tackles.Keep it up Farmer,laugh a minute.
No need for continuous fumbling(lack of ball control) or pedantic penalties and so called competitive but predictable scrums.
Each can have a viewpoint on a G/F being flat,especially when an out of town teams wins,but some of your other observations shows clear ignorance.Yet 800,000 Vics stayed on to watch it on TV.They apparently were made to watch the presentations.
You are right on one aspect and I quote from a letter writer in the Australian ‘
Whenever there is a drama in the AFL,all the protagonists and main players rally together for the good of the code,arguing that one isolated incident shouldnot be allowed to besmirch the great game.
While the bloodletting runs unchecked in Sydney ,in Melbourne everyone is holding hands and saying it’s time to move on,often before the fight has even started.”.
Sweep sweep ,works all the time.
October 9th 2012 @ 12:19pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Whipped yourself into quite a frenzy – maybe the comments above hitting the mark #ouch
October 9th 2012 @ 12:47pm
clipper said | October 9th 2012 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
Yes, as per usual Redb.
The big difference with the Grand Finals is that Aussie Rules fans will get into it passionately because it is the Grand Final, league fans will get into it passionately if their team is playing.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:29pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Yeah sure Clipper we sit at home and show no passion watching an NRL G/F despite our team not involved.Happens with some not with others.Some people really need to get out a bit.
Love your usual generalisations.
October 9th 2012 @ 1:52pm
Redb said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Clipper,
I like how everyone who apposes the view like Farmer cant possibly be a rugby league fan – must be a plant. Paranoia is rife.
October 9th 2012 @ 2:25pm
clipper said | October 9th 2012 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Redb – the fact of the matter is that this is the first time there has been a direct comparison – a strong Sydney team with the No. 1 attendance in league vs a Melbourne team and a strong Melbourne teams vs a Sydney team.
There were over 1,000 people on ebay trying to offload their NRL GF ticket – and over 100 people on ebay – wanting to buy the AFL GF ticket. I think that backs up my claim. No doubt if Souths were playing the Bulldogs or Parramatta that wouldn’t be the case.
Yes, there were more people watching the GF presentation in Melbourne than Sydney, because the Storm won and the Sydney people didn’t hang on for the presentation, unlike the Melbourne fans, where you didn’t see a drop off, even though Sydney won.
It’s a bit like the FA cup – the football fans will go to it because it is the FA cup (even if it has lost a bit of its lustre with the champions league)
October 9th 2012 @ 2:34pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
Yes especially when someone has little idea of the rules,discussing kicking on the 5th tackle as a regular occurence.If he is a rl fan,he is doing a bad inmpersonation of it.
Judging by the number of cheer squad comments in this thread,the paranoia decsription can be well and truly laid to rest.
October 9th 2012 @ 2:45pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
A sellout is a sellout whether it be an NRL or AFL.
Yet if 1,000 wanted to sell their ticket and only 100 wanted to buy,the sellout must have came suddenly out of the ether.
OK let’s draw comparisons.The Swans now Sydney domiciled but with a large number of fans travelling to melbourne,added to the South melbourne faithful who have a team in the G/F
The Swans of course in vogue since 82 in this fair city,so well established.
The Storm established on the whims of News Ltd 97,a salary cap rort,and with about 5,000 fans in Sydney for the G/F.
And like so many before you,the comment no one is interested in Melbourne is still ringing in my ears.
Whilst it is fair to say at the AFL G/F people might be more passionate,to suggest because the crowd didn’t hang around ,bearing in mind it was not exactly the afternoon,but approaching 8pm,means they somehow lack passion is unfair.
Gee based on that argument,the NRL shoudl have two teams in Melbourne because Melburnians are more passionate..
October 9th 2012 @ 1:26pm
Crosscoder said | October 9th 2012 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Have to get some balance,when the 8 flaggers dominate on this thread.And we know you love to dominate a rl thread
Or just maybe the poster needs to learn a little more about the game, he had a pot shot at.