Second tier Grand Final crowds impressive

The Friday evening replays on Fox are highlights from a game on the previous weekend.

Partially related, but I once noticed in Sydney that on main event on Fox you can see a game from the Sydney comp, seemed to be on on a Friday arvo? It surprised me - anyone know that that's all about?

I hope that the league is well organised. Looking at lessons from the Bears and Swans and even power, creating a new setup needs a lot of grass roots before hand. Having all the local papers on board, as well as suitable media arrangements take time. It will be very interesting to see the marketing strategies of the teams from each region.

AndyRoo, I definitely remember the 1987 SANFL GF being shown live on telly here in Sydney. I remember because it was the last time I saw an old mate before he went back to England and my team lost to North Adelaide (after beating North in 1985 and 1986). I also recall living in Adelaide prior to 1985 and seeing Randwick win a Union GF on the ABC. I've been hoping to see the SANFL GF on ABC here for the last 20 years but without any joy.

This article dated Oct 3 discusses the new AFL comp in QLD and NSW. The NT AFL guy says the comp is going ahead in 2011. Link-- http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/10/03/183801_ntsport.html

The TSL officially had around 6000, but in reality from what I've heard it would have struggled to reach 4000. A far cry from the 10000+ of 15-20 years ago for state league mark 1.

Lets not over over exaggerate the state football leagues, they are the breeding ground for AFL footballers and their importance will remain the same as it has been for the last 20 years. The quantity of new players required, spread over all the existing 2nd tier teams will not make as big an impact as is suggested. Taking the WAFL as an example, their grand final figures are what you would expect considering that for the last few years they've averaged over 20,000 for premiership decider. The average league season attendances are rather more somber with an average just over 2,000. It was also a regular occurence to see experienced players like Podsiadly and Barlow recruited by AFL teams in the past. This has only become a rarity in an era of fast paced football that requires the recruitment of young and fast players for clubs to stay on top. The suggestion that the AFL should promote the state leagues would be a backwards step, they would be diluting a product they've built up over 20 years that earns them enough money to comfortably pay for the grass roots. It is the Grass roots after all that provide the AFL with fans and players at the end of the day, so I don't think they would consider it a burden.

I did hear that interview with the Subi mayor, and IMO football has given far more to Subi, than the other way around, car parking, local pubs, eateries etc make a killing out of the footy, what will he say when football moves to a new stadium away from Subi,......... whinge some more !!.

If the money is directed ,as they say, back into grass roots football i am all for it, if it is not, then i am not, having said that, i coach juniors in the West Perth district and WPFC cannnot be faulted with their committment to junior/grass roots footy, within their district. But i must admit, i am sceptical that the WAFC will put all this money back into community football.

Some bits and pieces about the topic above --- The Paterson deal for Subi Oval is not guaranteed - The Subiaco Mayor was on Perth Radio this morning - The Subi Council will strongly oppose the deal on heritage grounds. The WAFC lease the ground from the Council but do not pay any rent. About 5 years ago Crazy Johns wanted the same deal but was overuled. However the Paterson funds are needed for grassroots footy development. Have to wait and see. Since 2005 the WAFL have increased playing numbers from 85,000 to 125000 which is a great effort with strong competition from Soccer Football in the juniors. The new comp in Eastern Australia will be titled - The North East Australian Football League and is likelly to commence in 2012. The AFL is considering a list of applicant treams. Nothing definite yet who will participate. The Sydney AFL Premier Grade will go to 11 teams in 2011 up from 10 - But will drop back to the prefered 8 in 2012 to allow 3 Syd teams into the new comp it is mooted. The ACT may provide 2 teams at least. The GWS campaign in Canberra which needed 5000 to sign up has reached 4390 as od today with 6 days to go. They may not make it unless the total required is altered.

I call myself, a footy fan and have basically been to all West Perth's home games this year, and 1 AFL game, but i am involved with juniors, but i actually forgot the WAFL GF was on, and only was reminded by having 6PR radio on when i got in the car, when i got home i turned the TV on and witnessed one of the best games of football i have seen all year, AFL/WAFL/juniors, etc etc. Claremont have a very small support base, so the GF crowd this year of 25k was very good, a West Perth V East Perth GF will draw around 40k as will a Sth Freo V East Freo GF, or a combination of. There used to be a time when people connected with all of the clubs or just football in general would turn up to a GF regardless of whether their club is playing or not, just to have a squiz,a beer and a chat, those days in the city are long gone, but perhaps still happen in the country. The WAFL is a very good comp, i suppose it's a bit like top notch Gaelic football where the players train as professionals, but are basically paid as amatuers, there is only good money for a handfull of players, much more money is available in the bush.

It is truely bizare that it isn't broadcast on something like ABC2 or one of the other digital channels (like SevenMate or one of the 3 duplicate channel 10/One channels) considering it is played in a fully compliant stadium and the game is almost always a cracker. It is pretty disapointing that the rest of Australia couldn't tune in to watch the only true current sporting dynasty in Dentral Districts romp in to their 10th title in 11 years - and I am not even a fan of them, bloody South Adelaide are just bloody useless - thats what you get for being called the Panthers I guess.

What happened to clubs like Dandenong and Prahran was a disgrace.

Very true - as a kid I can recall that the VFA grand finals were always quite popular to watch on TV (admittedly, for the fights and free for alls). But it has to be recalled - the VFA was on TV live each Sunday (home and away and all the finals) - and that was before the VFL ever telecast its first grand final (which happened in 1977 - notice the timing), and once the VFL was allowed to host Sunday games, thta was the end of the VFA. It's not pleasant what happened to the VFA, but perhaps it was inevitable. Mind you, it took the VFL 90 years to bury the VFA (the competition from whence it originally came), but at the same time, the VFA had the active support of the Victorian Government, i.e. the VFL was not allowed to play on Sundays - which is quite remarkable when you think about it!! The VFL/AFL is very patient and methodical - never underestimate its capacity to achieve whatever it sets out to achieve.

... and I was at the 1976 SANFL final to see Sturt knock off Port in front of 67,000 at AAMI Stadium (then just plain Football Park), which remains a record for that ground and for football in SA.

The VFL was once the VFA- a vibrant second-tier comp with a tradition all of its own. The memorable 1976 Grand Final drew 32,000 people.

I am sure I remember Port (before they were in the AFL) winning a grand final and that was on NSW TV!