As the last rites were being performed over North Queensland Fury last week and angry football supporters raged over the state of the A-League and Football Federation Australia’s role in it, one comment stood out for not being mere diatribe.
“Where is the glorious post-Crawford Report future we all hoped for? How can there be so much mismanagement, misjudgment and so many mistakes?”
Good questions.
Where are football’s dividends from implementing Crawford’s recommendations?
After all, wasn’t David Crawford famous for designing mechanisms that eliminated conflicts of interest and kept governors accountable to stakeholders so an organisation could achieve its full potential?
Indeed, isn’t Crawford the same bloke who designed the AFL Commission, the corporate governance miracle that transformed an all-but-insolvent Victorian Football League into the all-conquering AFL?
All these years later, corners of the football community are still waiting for their post-Crawford diviidends, unaware there won’t be any. An opportunistic deal sealed some six years ago between Lowy’s regime and what Lowy himself would call “old soccer” saw to that.
David Crawford looks to have seen it coming back in 2002.
As Crawford’s report says in its first breath, “In making our recommendations, the Committee acknowledges that some may find the recommendations confronting. Effecting change will require the resolve of all, including federal, state and territory governments.”
Unfortunately, there has been no resolve from governments or the football community. Despite what Frank Lowy, FFA, state federations, the federal government and a colour-by-numbers media keep telling us, Crawford’s key recommendations were not and never will be implemented.
On the face of it, it makes no sense for the AFL to live in a mansion while we sleep in a hole in the ground.
Are footy people smarter than us? Is footy a better game than ours? Australians obviously aren’t anti-football—supposedly we’ve got more players than the other codes. Governments, millionaire owners, supporters and hundreds of thousands of junior players paying huge club fees collectively pump nearly as much money into football as footy, perhaps even more.
Delve deeper though, beyond the myths about Lowy’s reign and the Crawford report’s role in it, and it’s all quite logical.
Many AFL supporters recall the 1989 VFL grand final as the best in living memory.
Few recall that it was nearly the last grand final.
The VFL and most of its clubs were in such dire financial straits at the time they were looking at either insolvency or taking up soccer. If a few of the stronger clubs survived, but who would they play anyway? If the VFL went under, there could be no coming back from that — it surely would have been beginning of the end for Australian rules football.
Enter David Crawford.
Looking after one’s club and looking after a sport are different things, and often diametrically opposite things.
That’s not an exclusive David Crawford observation — it’s an argument that’s raged for a hundred years around sports whose governors are drawn from delegates who are ultimately accountable to clubs, which includes most team sports.
Many sports would like to be run by an independent commission but few will ever get the opportunity. The incumbent club-accountable powerbrokers’ attitude is invariably yes, an independent commission is good idea — “sometime in the future”.
That is, the power will only be reclaimed from their dead hands. The blazer brigade always looks after itself first. Their filing cabinets are stuffed with shelved reports, David Crawford’s among them.
Twenty years later after his footy intervention, Crawford has presided over several inquiries into Australian sport, football included, and the main thing to know about those is that Crawford’s recommendations frighten the life out of reigning powerbrokers.
Crawford often identifies them and their lack of accountability to the rank-and-file as part of the problem – at which point they turn on him and question his knowledge of their particular sport. It’s an old song.
Imminent extinction must focus the mind though because the VFL not only sought Crawford’s advice, it actually followed it. Their backs firmly against the wall, the gnarly VFL club powerbrokers reluctantly handed their sport’s steering wheel over to the Commissioners, none of whom had played 300 games.
Crikey, there were even women among them! The footy clubs’ powerbrokers said it would be a disaster.
It wasn’t: the big men kept flying, higher and further than ever.
Fast forward to 2003 and Frank Lowy, backed by the Howard government’s sports minister, Rod Kemp, and armed with football’s very own Crawford report, overthrows Soccer Australia and takes control.
Lowy’s mission was simple – invade, form an interim government to implement Crawford’s reforms to the letter and get out again. Frank promised he would; said he was going to build football a mansion just like the AFL’s.
Crawford’s blueprint for football had a stairwell that ran from the ground floor to the penthouse.
Players, coaches and referees voted for the state representatives who would ultimately form FFA. It was a fundamentally different dynamic to one driven by club agendas.
Under Crawford’s participant-based electoral structure, federation members would know what the majority of punters were thinking and represent them, or the punters would turf them out for someone who did. The trend would be towards better representation, greater accountability and better governance.
At first, the club troglodytes at state level were happy with Crawford’s advice, so long as it was someone else being turfed out and not them.
That tune changed when their turn came though. Now they had all sorts of problems with Crawford’s philosophies.
“Either they’ll embrace it or they’re out,” Lowy said. “It is an absolute condition of the government funding [$15 million] that we implement the Crawford Report. Because a few people don’t go along with it, what are we going to do, bankrupt the game?”
The club troglodytes’ had Lowy snookered. To get his hands on the $15 million of taxpayers’ money, Lowy and the states had to present a united front agreeing to Crawford’s reforms.
If not, Rod Kemp would hang on to the dough and football’s problems were all its own.
Lowy and the states presented a united front, said the reforms were a fait accompli and gathered up the money from Kemp’s table.
Three years later, at the end of 2006, Rod Kemp announced his retirement from politics and stepped down from the sports ministry.
A few months later, in mid-2007, Lowy’s regime wheeled out football’s shiny new democratic constitutions. Somewhat surprisingly given Crawford’s unequivocal recommendations, club appointees has somehow found themselves back in the driver’s seat.
Under Crawford’s blueprint, club representatives would have commanded three (10 per cent ) of the 30 state federation votes.
Under Lowy’s “new football” constitutions, the ones in operation now, clubs control 27 (90 per cent) of the 30 votes.
The “new football” politicians’ claim to legitimacy is their “new football” democracy.
What kind of democracy is it?
Well, Football Federation Victoria held its 2009 elections like the other state federations, post-season when its clubs were in recess.
In Victoria, 18 candidates nominated for 24 seats. Only one seat was contested. Seven vacancies remain to this day.
The election was held and the clubs voted. According to FFV insiders, a grand total of four votes were cast, a number FFV refuses to confirm or deny. The election returns have never been published, only the names of the successful candidates.
There are over 50,000 participants and nearly 700 clubs in Victoria.
Four votes.
The club powerbrokers who put the squeeze on Lowy obviously didn’t even want the vote – they just couldn’t live with the idea of “outsiders” — anyone but them — having a say in who runs “their” game. Presumably, and probably rightly, they think that given a choice, the punters would elect someone other than club powerbrokers.
Lowy is of a similar mindset. He’s brooked no interference from “outsiders”; the only opinion that’s counted is his. It’s been a condition of his tenure at FFA that he has a free reign unencumbered by elections. It’s Frank’s way or the highway.
Unsurprisingly, Lowy, like Mr Gaddafi and the Burmese army, is seen by some as a little out of touch. But if the punters can’t vote you out, what option do they have to get their message across but rebel?
To get at anyone, or just get their ear, they have to damage the game first.
Crawford’s solution was a representative, accountable democracy that would save football from the division and bloodletting that had blighted its past. Unfortunately, Lowy thought he knew better.
Lowy’s predecessors didn’t want anyone getting in their way, and they learned the hard way they were out of touch too.
No doubt many football supporters reading this are of similar mindsets—they think there are too many fools and knaves around this game to be giving them a vote. Heck, those idiots might turn it into netball! Just leave it to me …
In the meantime, the football community grizzles about the game’s leadership being unaccountable and out of touch with majority opinion, as if that were the fault of the individuals involved, as if they were stupid for not knowing what others are thinking.
How could they possibly know? To get elected they need the nod of a club powerbroker — the rank-and-file’s opinions don’t even come in to it.
But this apparently is the electoral system the football community has endorsed – one where no elected representative has any claim to legitimacy; one where given Solomon’s choice, the game’s “leadership” would opt for a dead game ahead of one that thrives under someone else’s care. Why? Because that’s their job description — they are there to look after the clubs that put them there, not the game.
The Australian Football League is a very lucky organisation.
Like they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and footy came back from its near-death experience very strong indeed.
You can’t kill Association Football though — it’s immortal, everyone knows that. Snuff it out here, it will live on elsewhere and spawn here again. So why not play fast and loose with its health? Why not just use it as a vehicle for personal aggrandisement?
With hindsight, it’s hard not to draw parallels between reports of WMDs in Iraq and Lowy’s use of Crawford report – just a concocted excuse to invade someone else’s territory.
The real fun begins when Lowy’s occupying force withdraws and leaves the football community to its own devices under this dysfunctional electoral system. That will be Frank Lowy’s most lasting legacy to football and it isn’t worth tuppence.
Nb … Crawford’s instructions for the national league were predicated on existing clubs. There is nothing in the Crawford report about privately owned franchises. That was all Lowy’s idea too, cutting former NSL clubs out of the action. Crawford’s main thrust was unification and greater accountability — not more division and businesses dressed up as football clubs that don’t even give their own members a vote.
ian
Guest
Myleftfoot, You are kidding yourself. Cricket Australia has received more money over the past 30 years than any other sport in this country. Yes that amount given in cash has reduced significantly over the past 10 years but this sport is way out in front as far as funding goes from Govt handouts. Just check how much money has been given to update, redesign and build the many cricket stadiums around the country. Adelaide for example got some 20 million from state and Federal grants. Get your facts straight first buddy before shooting from the hip. Did I mention the massive subsidy given by the federal govt when cigarette advertising was banned from cricket grounds some 20 years ago.
ian
Guest
OzFootballSherrin This comment is directed at you, i have never heard so much utter garbage come form somebody in my life. You need a life, go for a run or maybe a swim, just look out for sharks. My wife tells me to let idiots be so, but my head tells me you are capable of help in living outside of your little AFL world. In one of your rantings you try to compare the J-League with the A-League. Well let me give you a little geography and demographic lesson,Japan is a country of some 128,000,000 people, that is over 6 times our pop. Japan is the 2nd largest economy based on GDP ours is some 22nd or worse.Japan's GDP is some 15 fold ours. Japan has really only two large team spectator sports and only one of those is in the winter. Football here has 4 football codes , well 3 really has one is really handball. Your comparison is ridiculous . You are just wanting to be argumentative and not adding intelligence and fact to this forum. If you do not like Football ( the Global game) well stick to the AFL crap. I do not go there and stir up trouble so why do you come to the football forum? Let me guess , little man syndrome....
michael
Guest
The Crawford report wasn't designed to look at whether the NSL clubs were appropriate, clearly many with the exception of perth and adelaide appealed to a narrow section of the football community; it was designed to look at governance of the game and to make recommendations to improve it, similar to the VFL report didn’t recommend the AFL expand into other states. It's misleading to imply that the lack of mention of NSL clubs in that report is any sort of validation of their existence. The voting structure is a very key issue, it’s a pity that it’s only covered in small detail here, it really needs a whole article dedicated to it without the cliches, instead just looking at what has occurred and the implication for the sport when Lowy moves on. The other issues are the lack of independence of the a-league from the FFA. The out of touch state leagues many young men are lost from the game because they don’t identify with the state league clubs. The lack of connection to our large junior base, there’s no pathway to take our junior supporter base all the way to the top as a player or as a supporter.
Futbanous
Guest
Lets be realistic about Frank Lowy & what he has acheived in the market he has tried to acheive in. Agree with Left foot pointless trying to keep non football fans out of a discussion if you keep mentioning their sport. Lets instead compare apples with apples. Prior to Frank we had the NSL. So lets be Frank,it was never mainstream & was never going to be mainstream,therefore subject to the market forces that accompany "mainstream". Prior to Frank we were in Oceania,enter the AFC. So what Frank did by joining the AFC is raise the bar. No longer could football shelter in its "down under/Oceania" bubble it had to get out into the big bad football world & earn a crust. A-League is domestic ,but subject to the pressures of the AFC's plans for a stronger ACL. Expansion/promotion/relegation helps to get more spots. Thats just on the surface,who knows what less than suckle pressure MBH applies behind closed doors. Our competitors in Asia have no salary cap & can recruit better players. In turn they can pinch our best by offering more money .Meaning the playing standard bar has to be raised to compete. Meaning we've got to show "street smarts" on the world football market in our recruiting overseas talent. The Socceroos no longer have to play minnows ,they play teams that technically at least are superior.Not only the Socceroos but by my count 8 other National teams. On the flip side we have a fairer path to qualify for the World Cup,the one comp in Australia that attracts attention above others for football. Flip side maybe ,but it puts the spotlight on the Socceroos/football performance on the World stage against proven contenders over many previous rounds. Forget the Cricket/Rugby/Hockey WC inferior arguments, it doesnt matter. Your on stage, you have to perform,the wider(outside football) public demands it. You could argue that the 32 years in the wilderness left football underacheiving more than it realised. Easy not to improve if nobody notices you. So easy to point the finger at Frank,but I would argue he made his job a damn sight harder when he acheived the impossible getting into Asia. A rod for his own back. Could anybody else have done better in 6 years. Personally given how far the bar was raised all round for the game ,I doubt it. My main gripe with Frank Lowy is that he doesnt enter the public profile enough if there are major issues. We see Ben Buckley ,Lyall Gorman on issues like NQF,but where does Frank stand. After all their the hirelings. He pulls the strings,but what does he think?
Koops
Roar Rookie
Moonface said The AFL is by far the biggest beneficiary of all government money for developing AFL grounds and facilities for the EXCLUSIVE use of AFL. Do you re-read what you write at all ?, of course if government money is spent on AFL grounds, then it stands to reason that the biggest benificiary will be the AFL, if the government spends money on soccer grounds then soccer will be the biggest benificiary !!. Blacktown stadium is 6 months of the year for cricket, it is not just for the Sydney AFL exclusively, i dont hear you bleating about cricket getting a stadium !!, just as i dont hear your moaning about the showgrounds getting upgraded for the RAS.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Twatter 1. This is a sports blogging site - so you'll find a lot of general sporting fans on here commenting about sport generally. A lot of soccer fans come on here with the sole purpose of promoting soccer. In fact, before the recent implosion of the A-League, for a few years we'd get one soccer article after another predicting that the A-League was on the verge of crushing all other domestic football comps. No thread on the Roar should exist for the sole purpose of promotion. All threads should exist for the purpose of discussion, with a wide range of veiws encouraged. 2. This thread that we are on has a soccer article that mentions the AFL at least half a dozen times, so it seems a totally unrealistic expectation on your part that no AFL fan would venture on here to offer an opinion. In fact, I'm puzzled as to why you would even hold that view that an AFL fan should not respond. 3. There is also the small issue of football fans coming on this sports site, having a look at the football tab, only do discover that it's more about soccer than football!!
Dugald Massey
Roar Guru
Points taken AT, and thanks for making them. Sounds like things are more advanced than I thought on the database front, which is good news as it's been holding the game back in all sorts of ways, not just in terms of building an electoral roll. You got time? Years back a parent who'd been around the game a lot longer than me was shaking his head at the woeful performances of one of state junior teams and carrying on about it being "The Presidents XI", which made no sense to me at the time so I laughed and nodded in recognition like you do so they don't think your dumb. Sometime later I'm jogging around Albert Park Lake one winter's night trying to arrest middle-age bumdrop and I see all these kids on one of the football pitches. Didn't think twice about it until I saw our club's president standing on the sidelines. "What's going on?" He says it's the state tryouts. "How many kids from our club are out there?" Only one, he says - his. He reckons none of the other kids at the club would be interested, and they wouldn't be good enough anyway, and while his kid wasn't as good as our best players, his kid had no expectations and just saw it as bit of a time-waster etc etc. That is, he got FFV's notification of state tryouts because he's the club pres, and he sat on it. Same story with election material - our "club's" nomination was said pres. It all happened in the off-season -- he didn't want to trouble anyone. And his kid made the team! The other presidents' boys obviously weren't much chop either. I think a lot of what we do around football lacks legitimacy in the eyes of other football people, who perhaps rightly see all these silly little communication glitches and oversights as evidence of a closed shop. I do think some people around the game too often get away with "oops, I'm not very good with communications technology" as an excuse for exclusivity - less cases of Ludditism than opportunism, if you like. Hopefully the federations' getting their acts together on the databases will open the door down the track for some real representative democracy. Please stay involved in the discussion, AT, your info is invaluable.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
My issues with soccer arent with the game, they are with the way the game is run in Australia. I dont care where its played and by how many. I dont think its going to die even in Australia any time soon. My issues remain with the way the game is supported and administered in this country, and unfortunately for soccer the only comparisons available are NRL and the AFL. Rohan Connolly is however right, even if he forgets that during the offseason theres bugger all gamewise to talk about until the footy season starts, given no one really cares about anything NAB Cup. And yes thats because we have no international or representative programme.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
OFS I highly value & regard your insights on ARF - since you have a deep knowledge of ARF culture & history. But, what a shame that most ARF conversation nowadays is centred around the "ARF industry" - crowds, TV rights, player (mis)behaviour - rather than the 4 quarters of game time. In fact, in today's Melbourne Age, Rohan Connnolly wrote a very insightful article in which he laments that people seem to have forgotten how to discuss the actual game of ARF. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/lost-in-the-wash-36-players-two-sets-of-goalposts-and-a-game-20110305-1biwz.html Connolly observes that, whilst media coverage of ARF is at an all time high, "the amount of attention heaped on the nuts and bolts of the game is probably no greater, and arguably even less" and "...There's not as much time or space for reflection on the great histories, cultures or traditions." Perhaps, I go on too much about the importance of the technical & tactical aspects of the Beautiful Game; and the importance of learning and respecting the Game's history and diverse cultures - but, for me, that's the only thing that matters. I'm as happy having a kick in the park with my mates, as I am watching MVFC win a Championship, which is why I pay scant attention to non-football matters, like crowd numbers. I'm glad to have read Connolly's article because I'm sure there are many other ARF fans, who also place a high value on the Game of ARF .... and have little interest in "the industry". Anyway ... I'm going to grab 60 minutes sleep before one of the biggest football matches of the year - Liverpool v Man United from Anfield. A "home and away clash" that will probably be watched by a billion people LIVE on TV & internet in 208 nations around the world.
Moonface
Roar Guru
You might be getting sick of it, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. Cricket is played outside the AFL season - if there is a clash then the AFL win over the other sports - read the contracts. The AFL is by far the biggest beneficiary of all government money for developing AFL grounds and facilities for the EXCLUSIVE use of AFL.
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
Moonface - why oh why do you go on and on choosing to ignore such things as, that Blacktown is a shared facility between AFL NSW and Cricket NSW and has already hosted top grade cricket matches and 2nd tier tournaments, and is a facility into which both the AFL and Cricket NSW invested about $2.5 million EACH. That exactly fits your criteria - a multi function shared facility. In a precinct that includes a soccer goalkeepers training centre and a baseball training centre.......I wonder how much Govt money went into those. btw - there's a major difference between operational expenditure being subsidised (as with the FFA) compared to getting funding to assist with infrastructure projects (which all sports/codes recieve). What IS obvious is the AFL invests far more into these shared projects than any other sporting body in the country - and, precious few see the asset anywhere other than in public hands (local councils in the main). re multi function - I don't recall many NRL/FFA/ARU investments in major multi function rectangular venues able to be configured for AFL. The AFL on the otherhand invested (even if not massively) in Homebush stadium, and invested heavily into Docklands stadium. How much did the NRL put into Robina stadium? or the SFS?......and they ain't much good for cricket.
Anne Tenna
Guest
Well not quite so Dugald Yes FFA did inherit a mess in terms of registration databases. One that inherently takes a while to fix up (along with many other messes they inherited). And getting it all online across the country is now an overnight task. And it may have been convenient for some several years ago that there really was nothing approaching a player database/electoral roll that could be used for direct elections. But the whole way of doing registrations has changed. The associations/member federations don't enter data on the players (yes it would be way too much work). The clubs have to enter the data or people can now self-register (which in fact is the big push - there is a even a rebate to clubs for people who self register.) I think the idea is that people will keep their own info up to date reasonably well as they re-register each year As I said FFV sends this household stuff - but our kids haven't been sent anything direct - which is completely appropriate. Last year we received two different surveys asking about our interest in a new competition for women and about small sided football. I think that's a great way of keeping in touch with the grassroots.
OzFootballSherrin
Roar Pro
FIUL - considering how many ignorant comments you've made on the AFL tab, you should be the last person pushing someone for a 'qualification' to have or voice an opinion. I'm not sure why you've gone the man rather than addressed any of the actual guts of my comments. btw - the HAL and FFA has been an interesting sporting experiment to follow - and, to this point in time, most my early days predictions have come true.......not based on in depth knowledge of the game of soccer, and that's your problem here - - this is not about the technical aspects of a game of soccer - it's broader, it's about the lay of the land of the Australian sporting landscape - and on that front, I've got sufficient basis to form an opinion. So do you. We aren't always right, and hopefully are ready to submit to someone armed with facts (although, even facts can be based upon perspective and recollection!).
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
i said i love stats. doesnt make me a guru, and as you discovered, its easy to make a mistake on a spreadsheet. Several clubs may have been near liquidated but none were. one was merged before it could though, and 3 were bailed out by the league, two were taken over in expanion areas. no club has been placed in adminstration or taken over by the AFL aside from sydney and brisbane, after their backers pulled out. fitzroy aside, no team has come close to being closed down, as all clubs enjoy the backing and support of the Afl, their members, their crowds, media and tv deals. in fact, most AFL clubs have been in some financial trouble at some point, with the exception of Adelaide and fremantle. yes, even west coast had issues. you left out collingwood being practically broke not too long ago, but being in the AFl turned it into a 75 million a year revenue earner not ten years later. note: this post in a football thread in response to a comment made by fuss.
Koops
Roar Rookie
I guess you would have a point, if the TV ratings were woeful, club memberships down, The AFL did not have a great TV deal, clubs were actually wound up/cut, and crowds were 45% down. There is no comparison in any way shape or form.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Koops, if we were to assess individual AFL clubs in the manner you wish to assess HAL clubs we find ... The following existing AFL clubs have experienced severe financial issues during the 80s, 90s and/or current and several came close to actually being liquidated: * Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, Carlton, Footscray, St Kilda, South Melbourne/Sydney, Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn (have since recovered fully, but the administrators wouldn't have allowed the club to continue) So, the AFL would now be 7-team competition (8 this season with the Gold Coast): * WCE, Fremantle, Adelaide, Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon, Brisbane (look like they are heading for trouble with their brand, on-field performance and finances taking a belting)
Koops
Roar Rookie
Well said Wookie, i normally respond when i have read something regarding Australian football that is just not true, in this instance a soccer fan stated ................ Moonface said | Those ASC figures are misleading as they do not include government money to develop AFL facilitiies and ovals for AFL, like Blacktown and the Sydney Showground which will be used EXCLUSIVLY by AFL. This comment is just plainly not true !!
Koops
Roar Rookie
If the A-league was a share, using any stat that you like, they would be dumped, and the current board would go with it. Cold hard facts often hurt, one club dumped, amother on the way, clubs bleeding money, WC extreme botch up, tv ratings are woeful and crowds 45% down, ............... is this Lowy's legacy.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
We dont come straight here, if its on the current overview page Ill read and respond as needed. If people keep responding and it comes up in recent comments Ill respond if needed. However we generally dont go hunting artciles down on the Football tab. we'll stop coming here when articles stop mentioning the AFL, people stop referring to the AFL in replies, or indeed any other issue that affects the AFL or general sport in Australia. In this case the author clearly mentions the Crawford Report and the AFLs implementation of it. In fact if you read carefully, discussions on tv viewing, ratings and crowds that involve the AFL are usually in response to some comment made after a similar comment made on topic about the FFA. Most AFL discussion in the "your say" department, not directly related to the article will originate with "football" people on the defensive. Take your previous comment re the AFL being secretive, low Essendon crowds etc etc. Finally, most of us support or are interested in more than one code. Just not as slavishly as others. Most of us just love sport. Constructive and insightful criticisms arent necessarily ones you agree with either. Further as long as you refer to Australian Football, we supporters of the Australian Football League will be somewhat curious as to what you are up to.
Twatter
Guest
As im typing this im watching the aussie rules girl on 41 minutes. What's compelled me to write tonight is why do aussie rules people come straight onto this website to the Football tab /thread ( it's in balck and white Football ) and clatter on about aussie rules. I follow A League football and Global Football i never feel compelled to go the A.F.L. tab even when this website covered the Nixon bloke. If a sport doesn't interest you or you cant give constructive or insightful feedback I. E. (food for thought) why do you come here, do you people actually read aussie rules stories on this website. I dont understand, this article is about the legacy or non legacy of Frank Lowy in relation to Australian Football , though im recieving emails of how aussie rules is not being shown in adelaide at a compliant time frame for T.V. Weird but im sure they will persist. N.R.L or Rugby people don't seem to come here with so much frequency.