So what if AFL is not an international sport

Let's face it -AFL only came about to give those lads that couldn't play football a chance to get some exercise rather than sit on the side lines

"The FFA is very professional and is backed by one of Australias richest men." Wasnt the NSL backed by the same bloke?

I hope that AFL stays local, I want to see Rugby League become global because it has the facilities to (rectangular stadiums are world wide, 2- and now 3- professional leagues world wide, Rugby Union also helps place a foot hold into places that have never experienced a game like that) and its interesting to see England and New Zealand vs us. But AFL is Aussie Rules, not World Rules- its an aussie game developed for Aussies, leave it that way. Australians love their sport, and I don't think money is always the biggest thing- look at Netball, the players earn nothing near that of the footy codes yet they have the largest player base of any sport in Australia. I would love to see Aussies turn up to sport more though as this would make it a greater spectacle as Michael C says.

Migration to Australia has been happening for at least 200 years. It is not new. AFL has survived migration and will continue too. Migrants, unlike in the past, are not automatically coming from soccer countries. Soccer can not rely on continual migration for its future, like it has in the past.

payment structure for draftees in 2007/2008 http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/Collective%20Bargaining%20Agreement%20-%20Website%20Summary_040507.pdf ".........In Seasons 2007 and 2008: First Round National Draft Selection: $50,200 (inclusive of superannuation, medical/health insurance) and $2,400 per senior game in 2007 increasing to $53,700 and $2,600 in 2008. Second Round National Draft Selection: $45,500 (inclusive of superannuation, medical/health insurance) and $2,400 per senior game in 2007 and $48,700 and $2.600 in 2008. Third and subsequent Rounds National Draft Selection: $43,200 (inclusive of superannuation, medical/health insurance) and $2,400 per senior game in 2007 and $46,300 and $2,600 in 2008. The CBA ensures that all Players drafted for the first time must be contracted by that AFL Club for a minimum period of two (2) years ............"

John Grisham wrote a novel about Gridiorn in Italy "Playing for Pizza" http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Pizza-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0385525001 "Playing for Pizza: A Q&A with John Grisham Q: American football in Italy seems like an unlikely subject for a John Grisham novel. What was the inspiration for Playing for Pizza? A: Three years ago when I was in Bologna researching "The Broker", I discovered American football. One of my guides in the area played football for the Bologna Warriors for 10 years. I couldn't believe that American football actually existed there, but the more I heard about it the more intrigued I became. Q: There is some great football writing in this novel. What kind of research was involved in capturing how this American institution is played in small town Italy? A: The only way to research the book was to go to Parma and watch a game. The coach is an American who played at Illinois State, and he proved to be extremely valuable. I met many of the Italian players and the story simply unfolded….” “Third-string Cleveland Browns quarterback Rick Dockery becomes the greatest goat ever by throwing three interceptions in the closing minutes of the AFC championship game. Fleeing vengeful fans, he finds refuge in the grungiest corner of professional football, the Italian National Football League as quarterback of the inept but full-of-heart Parma Panthers……”

Dave, Good find and good question but the former point is correct. AFLG and the American Football Association in Germany are cooperating together on a number of different ideas. Interestingly, American Football started many years before on the exact same field in Frankfurt where Aussie Rules in Germany got underway - it seems they have a few things in common. -- SSB

The fact that a lot of the people making sponsorship decisions aren’t willing to invest because over the last 30 years they have seen people continually lose millions of dollars after millions of dollars investing in soccer

I firmly believe the AFL is a sport first

are you sure they arent talking about Arena football http://www.afleurope.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=2# "....AFL & Germany's 2Plus marketing group enter into exclusive agreement Friday, 25 July 2008 NEW ORLEANS – The Arena Football League and 2PLUS, a German-based event and marketing agency located in Dusseldorf have entered into an exclusive agreement to explore ways to grow the sport of Arena Football in Germany, the AFL and 2PLUS mutually announced today....."

The game is a lot older than Ronald Barassi

the USA hasn’t suffered at all. The problem with the MBL is its only got teams form two countries? Plenty of comps only have teams from one country, people come from all over the world to play in the MBL. There’s probably more Australians in the MBL than in the EPL.

What you need to be an NRL player http://www.smh.com.au/news/eels/so-you-want-to-look-like-jarryd-hayne/2009/09/05/1252001286575.html "So you want to look like Jarryd Hayne? September 6, 2009 FORMER Wallabies coach John Connolly describes Jarryd Hayne as being "struck by God". His strength and conditioning coach Hayden Knowles is serious in saying there's a touch of Usain Bolt about his backside, while world champion boxing trainer Angelo Hyder said only the "Almighty Himself" could provide a human with the rare combination of muscle fibre, agility and power that has catapulted the Eels back to top form........."

Ive heard of Jarryd Hayne

Teh SANFL's first season was in 1877

NRL grand finals have only been played in sydney. Why would you move the AFL grand final to a smaller stadium?

I live in Sydney and I know plenty of AFL supporters Where I work people follow league and AFL and the kiwis and Irish follow rugby. Your personal experiance dont go to show that there is little interest in the game up here. If you go around saying you don’t like AFL. Why would people bother talking about it to you. You will find you will not come across many AFL supporters at all. Youll be happy and theyll be happy as well.

Mitchell Johnson is 1.89 meteres tall Peter Siddle is 1.87 metres tall Brett Lee is 1.87 m Doug Bollinger is1.92 m Nathan Bracken is 1.95 m Ben Hilfenhaus is 1.86 m Stuart Clark is 1.97 m Shaun Tait is 1.93 m

This is the latest http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=34768# "LEBANON SET TO DO IT TOUGH Saturday 10 Oct 2009 21:50 by Phil Caplan If Lebanon coach John Elias is to achieve his avowed aim of winning the European Cup, he will have to do it without his two stellar names, after the Cedars announced their 20-man squad for the competition...."