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Within Australian society there is a discussion going on. This discussion is about the future of Australia’s own game, football (AFL). The 2020 Summit in Canberra discussed the future of Australia, and how it can be achieved. The Football Summit, to held later this year, will discuss the future of our great game in Australia and around the world.
There were many arguments back in the 80’s when the VFL went national, with many people saying that it was not worth it. It is a similar thing now when people are saying that international expansion is not worth it.
In Australia, football is the biggest thing going around. In the rest of the world, it is a speck of dust on the wall, noticed by all who know about it; barely noticed by anyone else. The question remains, should we grow this speck of dust in several spots and create an international game, or should we simply remain the vital part of Australian culture that we are today?
The AFL, and indeed the WAFL, have started the ‘education’ of South Africa. There are also many leagues around world, including the BARFL and ARUK in the UK, and US footy in the USA. Football in all of these areas in being developed from the ground up, and in most cases is started by expatriates of Australia. If we grow these areas, should we sacrifice the further development of traditional areas of popularity? Do we want a sport where Americans may beat us one day?
International development is not the only discussion needed for the future of football. We need to consider the states of Australia. While easily maintaining its popularity in WA, SA, VIC and TAS, the game is slowly chipping away at the stronghold heartland of the rugby codes in Australia.
With the advent of 2 new teams, many Victorians are beginning to realise that the game is national and that the long ago days of eating pies on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Arden St are long over. Should football sacrifice some its traditions to bring the game into the globalised 21st century?
Junior participation is one key area for all sports, and indeed all disciplines around the world. Auskick, a program only started in 1998, but already has a huge national outreach and is only just beginning to enter the minds of mums wanting their kids to learn sports in a safe environment. The AFL has addressed the junior participation requirement, and as long as they keep the program up to date and interesting to the kids involved then the game will continue to grow. The future of football is in the hands of the kids.
There are many other ways that football can develop going into the future. These are only a few. What should the AFL, and the various international bodies do in to the future?
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