Australians everywhere like to pride themselves on the idea that we are a very sporty country. This is an idea that we take and hold close to our heart. Australia, the nation that bred many a sporting champion.
I have one problem, however, with our sporting attitude.
Enough with the childish games, and insults thrown between different sports, and more embracing of each, the skills, talents and the legends of the respective games.
Now, of course, I am not saying the cross code rivalry needs to be eliminated. Most of these are actually beneficial for the sports.
They increase growth, and often create good tension on and off the field. Rugby League and AFL are both targeting large regions with new teams in order to combat the other code. This growth pattern is what is known as beneficial rivalry.
We need this, but it’s the next type that we don’t.
I must stress at this point, these views are a matter of opinion and are not a hatred attack.
I have much respect for the AFL’s organisation. However, this took a massive hit after the recent events regarding the FIFA World Cup bid for 2022.
It is a fair point that the AFL should be able to defend their rights to their competition, yet the way this was conducted just lets me down. The AFL (and in extension the VFL) have built up a strong and wonderful administration over a hundred years, and have taken the sport to huge heights.
Yet sometimes their views are completely tunnel vision.
Once again, the AFL has every right to challenge any threat to their competition. But there are limits.
This also, by extension, applies to the media who support the game. The attack on the FFA’s organisation by The Age newspaper (featuring alleged bribery claims) is a very low attack by the newspaper. This may or may not have been orchestrated by the AFL, but nevertheless, it reflects directly on the sport.
If the AFL hadn’t withdrawn Etihad Stadium’s availability there would have been no problems with the AFL’s claims that there would be no bonuses for the league after the competition. The discussions that the AFL held with the FFA should have been conducted similar to the NRL.
With some support, and even sympathy, as both codes would benefit.
The Australian Government were also willing to provide substantial compensation to the AFL to make up for lost funds due to the displacement of the league.
All these steps can provide a smoother transition of the problem from solution to benefit. When will sporting codes decide to unite?
The organisations can be a blessing if they all make amends and sort out differences. Is it too much a dream to ask for?
red bear
Guest
Aussie Rules just a Victorian Sport ? Ha, try telling that to a Tasmanian like me, or a West Australian or South Australia. That's as ignorant as us southerners thinking that Union and League are the same thing (which I did until I moved to the mainland !)
jimbo
Roar Guru
If you own, lease or whatever a stadium you can still rent it out. The Etihad management didn't tell Paul Dainty that Etihad would not be available for rock concerts in 12 years time, they didn't tell the Melbourne council that it wouldn't be available for new years eve parties in 12 years time. The point is that they categorically told the FFA to keep their hands off Etihad for ever, whether anyone is using it or not in 12 years time.
jeff
Guest
When you say football, do you mean rugby, league, aussie rules or soccer?
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
Lowy has done that before hasn't he? By that, I mean, this isn't 'new News' is it. What seems odd is that Lowy is pushing the blame before the event - but, ignoring that the FFA bungled the process, needed Kate Ellis to step in (well, who could blame them,-- "after you Kate!!"). If the MCG wasn't locked in until the very end, perhaps that was indicative of the state of 'negotiations'. The FFA made a huge range of demands. Did Frank never anticipate anything coming back the other way? (I truly think that Frank didn't - I truly believe he figured that Govt would force it if push came to shove).
Mister Football
Guest
The recriminations have already started. Lowy already pointing the finger at the AFL at the likelihood that the vote will go against Australia in 50 days. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1026691/World-Cup-bid-nearly-collapsed This should improve code relations no end!
Our Game
Guest
Why do football fans/managers expect support from other codes when they declare all other games inferior. Forgotten your own marketing/diatribes/propaganda? AFL - the Australian/Indigenous game - all other football games are imported/inferior - it's "un-Australian" not to watch it etc Soccer - the World Game - everyone in the world plays it - if you don't watch it, you're a racist/mypoic etc League - the Working Man's game - if you don't watch it, you're not a real tough battler, you've had it on easy street Union - the real/only Rugby game - the international game, played by gentlemen, not meatheads, played by superior people/rich/educated, all others are poor morons etc In the country though, it's clear the AFL, being the richest code, is all the biggest antagonist and aggresso - with Soccer/Union relying on its internation pressure for bullying and League cut down by its own mismanagement.
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
Just for anyone confused about the difference between RENTING and LEASING, I looked it up Lease Meaning: It is a contract renting land, buildings, etc., to another; a contract or instrument conveying property to another for a specified period Rent Meaning: Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good or property owned by another person or company Lease Flexibility: Not flexible Rent Flexibility: It is flexible Lease Time: Long term Rent Time: short term Lease Agreement: Pre determined and cannot be broken without breaking the lease Rent Agreement: Pre determined and terms can be changed Lease Mode of agreement: Written Rent Mode of agreement: Oral/Written hide Lease Stability: Both landlord and tenant have stability Rent Stability: Not much stability It seems pretty clear that places like the MCG, Etihad and Subiaco have major long term leases with the AFL. The AFL is far from just being a renter. And in Adelaide, well, the SANFL owns AAMI stadium. So, I guess the question is would the AFL and MCC not be able to negotiate the lease arrangements to both parties satisfaction. I seems the MCG is on the table and will be fine. And Etihad was never on the table. Not much anyone can do about other than break the lease and one might suggest that Etihad is the one place more than anywhere else that couldn't afford to do that. That made it the AFL's key battleground. But, gee, it still seems odd that the FFA went so hard for it. It wasn't the only option. And soccer followers don't rate it anyway.
dasilva
Guest
Fair enough
DB
Guest
I would say all people who follow Australian football, do because they love the game, but are proud of it's origin
mds1970
Roar Guru
Compared to the material effect of being locked out of Docklands and being locked out of the MCG for even longer, intangible changes in perception may be the lesser of two evils. Not that there's any reason for any adverse change in perception about the AFL as a result of the FFA's World Cup bid. Within the scope of the original agreement, the FFA got every stadium they wanted for their bid. That's the bottom line - so the AFL haven't blocked anything.
beaver fever
Guest
Jimbo stats !!, he has form, very good form.
FuLLy LoAdED MaN
Guest
60:40 actually, 60 to your "mob". Looks like you won something.
beaver fever
Guest
Armageddon it to !!. sort of a Italian accent, with the hands waving around.
Mister Football
Guest
jimbo a pro-soccer writer raised the subject, and did it quite earnestly. He wishes to become a professional journalist no less. If a future employer asks him to write something to raise a bit of controversy, at least he'll know where to begin.
Mister Football
Guest
das the "know your place'" comment has to be viewed in the context of a specific question asked by Derby County, coming from an English perspective. He wondered why he hadn't seen something similar to the code wars in England. The reason is that the rugby codes know their place in England. They accept that soccer is the top of the pile, and that they will never touch it - so no one even bothers entering into such discussions. In the Australian context - many soccer fans, especially those from the Northern states, have no real appreciation of the chasm between the AFL and the FFA/A-League - so they have extremely unrealistic expectations and enter into silly debates (or make silly points like Jimbo does on a regular basis). Of course each can seek out their own growth, as I'm sure the rugby codes do in England, but there is also a little matter of appreciating the commercial reality - and many truly believe and hang on every word that Fos utters on the subject - and that can only lead to heartbreak.
Mister Football
Guest
Undoubtedly.
Mister Football
Guest
Money makes the world go round.
Mister Football
Guest
They are long term leases - it's as good as a title over property (in the case of Etihad, it will be the property of the AFL outright in 2025).
dasilva
Guest
really, Most football fans really just want to be given a fair go from the media more then anything else instead of "beating AFL" I think the most football fans would be happy if people who don't like the game and don't really know the issues with the game to not comment about it and leave the criticism to football people. 'm happy to exchange that with Craig Foster stop commenting about NRL and AFL. I think that would be fair trade don't you think?
jimbo
Roar Guru
$$$$$$$$$ - that's what matters to Demetriou.