An interesting article appeared in the Sunday SMH from Craig Foster: Tim’s army is winning code war.
The title drew me in immediately, but I was soon left a bit disappointed to find Fos descending into the wide eyed speculation and wishful thinking we sometimes see of our younger bloggers.
I have a great deal of respect for Fos, in particular, the analysis and understanding he brings to unraveling the tactics managers use in games at the elite level, but on this occasion, I can’t help thinking he has missed the mark by a wide margin.
Early on Fos mentions attending a charity luncheon in Melbourne, which he describes as venturing into the “heart of a rival code”.
This immediately struck me as odd. Melbourne, the home of the biggest and most successful football club in the land, reduced to being viewed as the home of a rival code instead?
Much of the article then goes through various “smell the fear” cliches that we’ve heard without cessation since the establishment of the FFA some 5 years ago.
Towards the end of the article, Fos draws on a quote from an AFL rep, that “everyone can coexist”. Fos took this as a sign of weakness from the AFL, foreshadowing a times-are-a-changin’ scenario of biblical proportions “as the strong become weak and the weak ever stronger”.
Now I understand how segments of his readership would lap up that sort of wishful thinking, but people should be aware that all indicators presently available to us show that what Fos is saying isn’t based on anything too solid.
But never mind what the financial figures and metrics show, let me all give you an insider’s view of how the AFL hierarchy contemplates such matters.
It was some 10 years ago that I attended a presentation made by the then AFL CEO, Wayne Jackson, at the National Press Club.
He responded to a question very similar to the kind Fos heard at the luncheon, and his response was along similar lines: “All the codes can coexist”.
Let me tell you, the AFL has been trotting that line out since the national comp was first formed in 1990 (when the VFL officially became the AFL).
Sitting in Sydney, seemingly oblivious to all relevant metrics and indicators, Fos probably can’t see it, but I see it as clear as day.
When an AFL CEO says “we can all get along just fine”, I promise you this: he doesn’t say it from a position of weakness!
nomis
Guest
I feel lost here!
Stabone
Guest
I am a forty year old "footy" fan. I can sit and watch a whole game of Rugby league, Union, Ausssie rules or soccer and enjoy it. I have a favorite team in all four codes and have attended all four codes. The game I enjoy most is AFL and after reading these posts I asked myself why? I do live in Melbourne so am I brainwashed? I don't think so. What I like is it is the only one of these four codes where you don't have to wait for your team to take possession. In regards to Foz, I think he is an unrealistic thinker. He doesn't seem to get it with the average aussie punter. We may love watching a game of soccer but the average aussie doesn't hold the game close to their heart because we don't view it as our own creation. Aussie rules and league (probably mostly AFL) are games that have been moulded by our values and expectancies. As people we are a little bit different to Europeans, Asians and south Americans and it shows in our sport.
Axelv
Guest
Current 11/12 A-League season average: 15,970 , POW!
william 11
Guest
Come pippen the a football league was formed at Jackson and youngs two year prior to the formation of the VFL. The gentlemen controlling the game cricket started Oz Footie, the rich and powerful aN THEY controlleD of the media. Oz Football came about cuase they needed a way to keep their players fit (for cricket) so they Oz footie players had instant access to the media. This led to the media writting about the game inavertably giving the oz rule millions of Dollars of free advertisng ( sublimial Brainwashing) The global code (200 pluss nations) got little or no exspure , The post war arrivals again set to drive the c code , but regratable to many memories from the bitter conflicts overflowed at times on the local pitches , this gave the media (controlled by third and fourth generation Oz folk brainwashed into Oz Footbal) a oppertunity to take stick it up us. The first National league was set up by Footbal (the NSL) Again AFL follewed and so did the Rugby code. Now we Represent our Nation Australia with Some 5 National teams our GIRLS (The matildas) are Asian Champions , our men the Socceroos runner up Asian Champions , EVery month one of our teams play overseas or has a team play here. The futher is FOOTBAL as it is all over the globe. The true internation football.....(ps played mixed Korfball as a youngster)
brad
Guest
Wel that was emotional, and I have to say. The AFL supporters came across as a little paranoid. You guys need to get out more and explore the rest of Oz and the games we play. Get out of that sporting monoculture and interact with the world.
Graham Smith
Guest
"When an AFL CEO says “we can all get along just fine”, I promise you this: he doesn’t say it from a position of weakness!" I'm not sure what you are getting at but if you mean that the AFL CEO is some sort of supreme being who is destined to only make correct decisions then I'm sorry to have to inform you that you are wrong. The AFL will *not* co-exist with the rugby codes in Sydney's outer west. Ten years maximum. The exact length of time will be determined by how long the AFL stubbornly pursues pouring money into a black hole. The AFL commission chose Sydney's outer west during a game of "Pin the tail on the donkey" over a few beers at AFL House. They know *nothing* about the prospect of growing the game there.
Reaity
Guest
A-League 2010/2011 Average Attendance at Home matches 1 Melbourne Victory 15.243 2 Adelaide United 11.552 3 Brisbane Roar 9.279 4 Perth Glory 8.485 5 Newcastle United Jets 8.429 6 Melbourne Heart 8.315 7 Central Coast Mariners 8.071 8 Sydney FC 8.014 9 Wellington Phoenix 7.981 10 North Queensland Fury 4.246 11 Gold Coast United 3.434 Total Average per game 8459 Average attendance has dropped from a high of 14612 in 07/08 to last season's 8459.
Jaceman
Guest
The media types will make sure that is more than competing code for their TV rights $$$$. Its in their interests to have 4 codes battling for any scraps they can from 3 commercial TV networks and Pay TV (ABC and SBS dont have any money) . If there were only one code, that code would demand premium money from the media. As far as Demetrious goes he has welcomed the Rebels and a second NRL side to melbourne. Compare this to the histrionics from the NRL about GWS till they finally worked out they shoud shut up about it to draw less attention.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
simon cheers, I'll check it out!
simon
Guest
MyLeftFoot, I wrote an article about this a while back if you're interested: http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/04/29/beyond-spite-between-the-football-codes/
gg
Guest
Yeah it's that & not that some people are naturally sporty. Honestly in the history of AFL that would be barely anyone. If you're (self-professed) ignorant, stay out of the discussion.
captain nemo
Roar Guru
wrong again
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Yes, there's no reall good reason to doubt that four football codes cannot continue working in Australia as they have done for nigh on a century.
simon
Guest
Actually, all 4 football codes will continue to grow over the next few years. And there is room for all 4. Just like there is room for more than one supermarket chain. There's not room for a limitless number, but 4 still works OK in Aus.
crazy
Guest
AFL is not weak and will grow in Australia over the years. I don't think it will get much attention else-where in the world but in Australia it will continue to grow
James
Roar Rookie
The replies seem to have stopped by I'll weigh in anyway!!! I'm an ardent AFL fan but definitely see room for the 'other' codes. All of the codes need to focus on where they can improve and what is working for them. I'm definitely not going to bash another sport because they all require a different skill set. Although I do find it amusing that the Football community can question the skill of AFL players when they use a round ball and still finish a game nil all after 90 minutes. This isn't to say Football is boring and lacking skill but a reminder that all sports when misinterpreted can be maligned. How many times does a bomb in NRL go uncaught? How many times does an AFL kick from 15 infront spray out of bound on the full? There are many reasons why so called sloppy play occurs in all sports ranging from pressure, nerves and fatigue.
Dave1
Roar Rookie
from your link the game formed in 1848 was not Soccer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football) "...The Cambridge Rules, first drawn up at Cambridge University in 1848...."...."...They were not universally adopted. During the 1850s, many clubs unconnected to schools or universities were formed throughout the English-speaking world, to play various forms of football...." Soccer started in 1863 with the formation of the FA even thought the game was probably more like the older Aussie rule because it involved the following rules http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_association_football ".....IX. A player shall be entitled to run with the ball towards his adversaries' goal if he makes a fair catch, or catches the ball on the first bound; but in case of a fair catch, if he makes his mark he shall not run. X. If any player shall run with the ball towards his adversaries' goal, any player on the opposite side shall be at liberty to charge, hold, trip or hack him, or to wrest the ball from him, but no player shall be held and hacked at the same time....."
Mister Football
Guest
You are referring to the Cambridge rules (which were highly influential to both soccer and Australian Football). The first laws of Association Football were drawn up in 1863, it says so in the very article you refer to, and this is the date widely accepted by all sports historians. The first laws of Australian Football were drawn up in 1859. The original hand written document is on display in the MCG museum.
Djrobinson
Guest
ok Dave. I was amazed to read your statement that AFL was older then Football (Soccer). I did a quick search on wiki to see if you were right The first set of rules for AFL were used in Melbourne in 1858 (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Australian_rules_football) The first standardized set of rules used for Football happened in 1848 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football) but much debate continued on. Football (Soccer) as a game has been played under different rule sets for a very long time. So i'm trying to figure out where you got this idea that AFL was older.
simon
Guest
Wow! Where am I? This thread is so big!