Globalisation, it has often been stated, will negatively affect national and lower businesses and sports such as football, and more specifically the AFL. It has been said that national businesses such as the AFL will lose support because there are more choices for entertainment for people to choose from.
It has also been thought that because Australia has a small population, that it will eventually get caught up in the travelling of people between countries and that its culture, being insignificant, will be absorbed into the masses, never to be differentiated again.
The Australian government’s strong reaction to the racist White Australia Policy, the multiculturalism policy, has sped up the process of absorbing the Australian culture into the masses. But does Australia’s own very unique version of football have to go with it?
Globalisation is not automatically required to have a negative effect on AFL.
It is a tool for leverage, and if the AFL, and football, in general can use this leverage to their advantage, globalization may just turn out to be the one ingredient needed for the sport to go truly international.
There are many positives to gained for AFL from globalisation.
Experts are predicting that with high speed internet being rolled out over the world, television signals transmitted across the atmosphere air may be a thing of the past, and instead televisions will be hooked up to the internet.
These experts say that this will most likely mean that television networks such as BBC, CNN, and CBS will go global (this is already happening in some form on pay-tv).
This means that the AFL would have access to every internet television in the world, rather than every television with signal from a station showing the AFL. While they would probably be on a CNN-8 channel and be in direct competition with other television shows, it would provide exposure for the game unprecedented with today’s world.
Globalisation also sees increased travel between different countries. And when people visit countries, they usually wish to seek out attractions and cultural aspects unique to that country, or different from their own.
We have already seen in the last few years several people who have travelled to Australia, start-up their own football clubs on arrival back in their homelands.
As the world links up everything seems smaller. Companies are looking further ashore to lower their costs (ie Telephone marketers from India). Synthetic footballs are already made in India. The cost of gear for AFL is one of the current inhibitors for international growth.
With more competition for labour, the costs of goal posts (or ship masts) will be lowered, as will the production of footy boots, footballs and jumpers. While the costs of the game may decrease, an increasingly international sport would require more administration and hence increase costs. But not to worry, more participants means more money coming into the sport.
A globalised world would enhance the sport itself as well. The main attraction of soccer is the many countries playing the sport.
If this were a part of AFL, the game would most likely be better off. While there are some people who feel the game should remain uniquely Australian, this writer feels the need to share our great game with the rest of the world and add some more colour to world’s greatest game.
I hope I’m not seen as un-Australian for saying this, but I hope that one day Australia will be beaten in a game of professional representative AFL.
Overall it is still difficult to tell whether globalization will assist AFL more than negatively affect it.
In the end time will tell.
Hopefully, as is shown time and time again, football will evolve with globalisation and be better off for it.
Forgetmenot
Guest
Well Australia does like to look past the negative things in life (or simply laugh them off). Sport is a central part of Australian life. It is built into our psyche. People may not like that fact, but put it pure and simple, it would not be Australian culture without sport. Millster there are other parts to Australian culture, but sport is the main one. Yes alot of the other parts are undervalued and should be recognised more. The Telstra ad sums it up nicely. "Australia day is a day when everyone gets a day off to watch the cricket .......you should have added the tennis as well son". People compare aspects of life to sport.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Millster as I have said on other forums: bugger Adelaide
dasilva
Roar Guru
I can remember the laughter trying to explain that one of the national hero is a horse. Then again I'm quite sure us Australian enjoy the absurdity t pot and there's a certain charm to it as well. There was a story of a migrant arriving here here escaping the devastation by war due to the battles of ism and ologies. When he came here he saw a nation mourning over a dead horse. He said "son we come to the right place."
dasilva
Roar Guru
Millster we have a thriving scientific community - invented the cervical cancer vaccines, discover the true cause of stomach ulcers (helico-bacter pyloris bacteria). Have some nobel prize winners. Adelaide produce a Howard Florey who first put penicillin into practical use revolutionising medical science. we produce some famous authors and musicians. However most don't get recognise. I once was asked by international student friend wondering who's australia's natioanl hero. He was expecting either a famous politician or a famous scientist like Howard Florey. I embarrassingly said Sir Don Bradman and Phar Lap.
Millster
Guest
Forgetmenot - what a unidimensional view of Australian culture. I can't do anything but put my response bluntly - which is that while I love sports (hence my participation on this site) I hope to god that we have far, far more cultural depth than that as a nation and as a people. Even the greatest of sports is in the absolute weeds in relation to major human endeavours, achievements or cultural contributions. RedB - the quotes you pull from me are not inconsistent. Yes any sporting rivalry is hyped to death these days. And sure enough any rivalry between a major Sydney and a major Melbourne team will have all that inter-city spin put on it. All I'm saying is the best vehicle for that spin and that rivalry to develop between Sydney and Melbourne is through the HAL derby (and yes, be clear I am equally cynical about the way HAL will exploit this, though at least HAL clubs are a 'bit more' representative of a whole city area rather than just a suburb). Pip - I cannot but disagree with you on Adelaide. In the 4th year of HAL an Australian club made it to the final of a continental "champion of champions" tournament, against a range of far stronger opponents on paper. I thoroughly applaud them as a club for their achievement, and I thoroughly applaud the code for having that unmatched structure within which that occurrence could happen. All things considered I am deeply proud of both. Finally to all, have a good weekend and if you're in Sydney try not to swelter too much - I think its going to be a hot one!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
sorry, the batteries on my keyboard ran out: (cont) ...you cheating mongrel bastard!"
Pippinu
Roar Guru
And never, I repeat NEVER, clap for a behind!! (unless it's after the siren and gets you into a grand final) It's ok to call the ump anything you want. For some street cred try: "You white maggot" (if they happen to be wearing white) or the ol' favourite "There's two teams out there you cheating
Michael C
Guest
Midfielder - remember these names and number - 14 Bobby (the chimp) Skilton, Paul Kelly and Craig Bird. The question can always be put "How do you rate Birdy? does he deserve 14 ?? And, do you reckon the Canadian (Mike Pyke) will play a game this year? And, if struggling to clear the ball from defence - "Gee, we're missing Kennelly" and, if struggling to kick goals up forward "Bring back Luffy!!!, isn't he still playing in the local leagues somewhere in Sydney??" They'll all get you by!!! never call "Knock on" and never call "Off side ya bloody mongrel"
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Mid Humans are genetically hard wired to undertake dramatic transformations if the right incentive is placed in front of them. :) Yeah - let us know about it - with a little luck it might be one our clubs (but if it's Collingwood, well, you won't want to hear what we've got to say).
Midfielder
Guest
Redb & Pip I may need your help and assistance soon...One of my clients in this time of financial stress is un the process of developing a business relationship with a Melbourne business. To help the process he has purchased or will purchase some tickets to a Swans match I have to go as his finance guy. If my client does good then so do I gppd if you get my drify when I find out the game I will need all the history of both the Melbourne ream and the Swanoes playing them ,,, keek you advised ... you would be amazed how good I cab make out I have and interest.
Redb
Guest
Lazza, I can't speak for Adelaide but you rarely read much in the Melb press these days that could be described as soccer bashing. If anything Michael Lynch, the The Age soccer scribe, can't himself in putting down AFL. Everything is compared to AFL. Young people are not getting turning off by these people they make their own minds up and I agree they have multiple sports interest..... But I guarantee as is typically Gen Y and now Gen Z they probably wont be as rusted on as previous generations and will swing with the wind as far their support. This fickleness is more an issue for the A League as the new kid on the block. I would still content that intra city derbies will be bigger and greater traditional rivals no matter their position on the ladder than Melb v Sydney in the HAL. Which is similar to the AFL and NRL. The FFA are desperate to create the derby, as I think they know Melb V Sydney alone in the HAL will not cut the mustard. Redb
Kazama
Roar Guru
Yes it could! I would love to see Eddie try to explain that one!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Kaz I agree with your sentiments re Setanta. couldn't happen to a nicer club
Kazama
Roar Guru
Forgetmenot - RE: Setanta - Cloke biffo - Having seen the footage, it looks pretty damn inexcusable to me. I have seen handbags at training many times before, but that looked full on and the fact that he kicked him when he was on the ground suggests that it is a serious matter. Cloke's role in the dust-up will no doubt come to light soon but Setanta's reaction was disgraceful and suggests that he's a Barry Hall-esq liability if he's going to do that to a team mate. Personally, I wouldn't want someone like that at my club.
Lazza
Guest
Redb, There's a new generation of sports fans coming through. They've all been exposed to the internet and pay tv and know a lot more about sport than my generation ever will. Most of them love our local sports but also love global sports like Football as well. If anything puts them off the AFL it's those retards in the media that keep bashing Football and seriously arguing that we should just let the worlds biggest sports event pass us by every 4 years. I've lost count how many AFL journos have done that in the last few months. Adelaide's journey in the ACL seems to have upset them no end! Any journalist that uses their media position to attack other sports is both un-ethical and unprofessional. They should retire and let the next generation come through. Watch an A-League game and you'll see how young the crowd is. In another 20-30 years we may really have a truly national sporting comp and a proper Sydney v Melbourne rivalry.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Forgetmenot I'm not really judging anyone - intra-club games in the middle of summer - punch ups between team mates is nothing unusual - although this one seems to have take the cake. Millster AU didn't make me proud - they were an absolute embarassment - at least MV management to put 3 past Gamba in one game (without Carlos and Arch). They deserve to cop another 6-0 humiliation for their lame effort.
Redb
Guest
Millster, You said: "The overhyping of all sports in all codes in this country is something quite beyond the bounds of ridiculousness, and is why I am constantly cynical and raise issues regularly about manufactured tradition and suchlike." previously you said: "Melb V Syd will indeed become one of the great sporting rivalries in Australia - in the A-League. So don’t worry we’ve got that covered" yeah no hubris there, no 'overhyping' or talking up 'manufactured tradition' with teams barely 5 years old. Sorry, couldn't resist and please don't trot out the.... oh i was only joking, it was TIC, etc. :-) Redb
Forgetmenot
Guest
Australian culture is built around sport. Australia is one of the best places in the world to play sport because of its vast open spaces. Pip, The Setanta incidient is quite unfortunate, but we cannot judge him until we find the whole story. Perhaps Cloke was told to annoy him to mimic gameplay??
Millster
Guest
Lazza - I agree with the comment you make "or so you would believe". The overhyping of all sports in all codes in this country is something quite beyond the bounds of ridiculousness, and is why I am constantly cynical and raise issues regularly about manufactured tradition and suchlike. As for Adelaide I think it's their loss but I'm not going to bag you mob too much as you did the country proud in supporting United during their fantastic ACL adventure and showing that you have some love for a local side doing us all proud in the world.
Lazza
Guest
Pips, I thought Setanta was just a sports channel? Good value at $12 a month if you love your Football. Mate, you need this to happen in a proper game like in the EPL not just some mickey mouse trial game. Funniest thing you'll ever see!