The NRL certainly haven’t afforded the AFL’s newest franchise Greater Western Sydney any special favours following the release of the 2012 season fixture list with several regional blockbusters going up against Giants home games. And, honestly, you can’t really blame them for doing so.
Indeed, it’s a clear signal of intent from the NRL that it doesn’t want the Giants to build any momentum in western Sydney. NRL fans with a passing interest in attending a Giants game, will be faced with a dilemma on most occasions.
It makes a lot of sense for the NRL to protect their product and not give the AFL an opening by placing some of its best events in western Sydney in direct competition to GWS home games.
However, NRL director of football operations Nathan McGuirk told reporters: ”We’re aware of what other codes are doing, but really, our main focus is what we’re doing. It’s hard for us not to schedule those types of matches because we have so many of them.”
Now, I’m only a casual NRL observer, but I do know Parramatta-Penrith is the biggest local rivalry in Sydney’s west. The NRL has scheduled that clash for Round Four, in direct competition to AFL’s stand-alone Round One opening derby between GWS and Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium. Coincidence? I think not. It’s part of the war between the codes in the region.
The scheduling of a stand-alone Round One fixture by the AFL is something we haven’t seen before but it’s all about building momentum for the competition’s newest franchise. It is in many ways a gamble by the AFL and the NRL are responding to it with the Parramatta-Penrith fixture. And why wouldn’t they?
The importance of momentum is evident if you look at the A-League this season which began after the other codes concluded and with blockbusters to start the term. Once something is perceived to be popular, people jump on the bandwagon. The NRL quite clearly don’t want to offer the Giants any momentum for this very reason.
It’s worth pointing out, the NRL don’t announce the exact match day and times just yet, but it’ll be interesting to see if they schedule the Parramatta-Penrith clash to go up in direct competition to GWS-Sydney on the Saturday evening.
Whatever the case, the Parramatta-Penrith derby will certainly draw plenty of media attention away from the GWS-Sydney clash in the build-up to the match in that week.
And looking at the 2012 NRL draw, what is noticeable is that there’s a lot of games in western Sydney early in the season.
Again, I’m only a casual rugby league observer, so I don’t pretend to know the normalities of a NRL fixture draw, but the intent of all four western Sydney teams only travelling outside of Sydney three times in the first five rounds seems clear. It means their fans will have the opportunity to attend most of their clubs’ NRL games and the temptation of some live sporting entertainment in the form of the Giants won’t be as strong.
Also, six GWS home games are on the same weekend as derbies between clubs from Sydney’s west. Again, I don’t blame the NRL for doing this. It makes a lot of sense.
In response, acting Giants CEO Dave Matthews said: ”I think if you asked the people of western Sydney they would say they would prefer events to be spread and not going head to head but the NRL clearly think differently and that’s up to them.”
Indeed it is, and while Matthews may try to paint the NRL in a negative way, you can’t really blame them for protecting their product. They are hardly going to gift-wrap a free kick to the AFL in its own traditional territory.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Im a little behind here, but: AFL Crowds were UP in 2011, averages were down, but not the aggregate which was a record. Oddly enough clubs which arent successful experienced a down trend in attendance - its just that this year was Brisbanes and Port Adelaides turn. Australian Football is supported at the grassroots by the AFL to some extent whether its state leagues taking massive dividends from AFL clubs (as in WA/SA), or direct AFL funding (to every other state and territory), to Auskick (entirely AFL funded), to indigenous programs, and general club and admin support (including subsidised insurance) is available through the AFL.
mds1970
Roar Guru
As an update to this - the NRL today released the dates for the first few weeks' games. Parramatta v Penrith will be played on the Friday night 23rd March. So it doesn't clash with the GWS v Swans game. Much ado about nothing.
stabpass
Guest
GWS will have around 15,000 members, and maybe more, some of those memberships (around 5,000) will be ACT people buying them for ACT games, there will be no $50 memberships next year when the club actually plays some games in the AFL, they will probably get 10,12k of people for their Canberra games, and around 15, 20k for Sydney games, with the average pushed up by 2 derbys against the Swans. MDS 1970 is a foundation member from last season, he can tell you more about their memberships, but a $50 membership wont get you far next season. More importanly IMO is the grass roots growth in Sydney and particuarly in western Sydney, that is the only way that GWS will be sustainable. And what exactly is a ticketed membership ?, and i really doubt that code warriors from all over the country bought (12,500) GWS memberships.
Kasey
Guest
If these are ticketed memberships, that will be the interesting number for me, not the x thousand they got for the one time only introductory price of $50 which annecdotally were bought by code warriors all over the cuontry and in canberra to 'support the GWS marketing push.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
GWS officially kick off their membership drive tomorrow.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
The AFL has recently finalised its radio broadcast rights for 2012 and the ABC has agreed to broad cast every GWS game live across NSW, which is a great result for all Giants fans and NSW footy fans.
db swannie
Guest
No expats...suuuuure... Here is a quote from someone who was ther. Russian team was full of Aussies!!! You will need to get more local involved in next year's tournament.... The whole point is any mention of AFL OS & the cheersquad cant wait to post it to show how great it is going ... Reality shows a very different story.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
db Fair suck of the saucepan, Australian Football is very, very new to Russia. The first club was only established in May 2011, and a second soon after. Yes, both clubs were established by ex-pats, but they both have a good contingent of local players. Russia recently competed in the AFL9s Euro Cup this year, held in Belfast, and came 10th of 18 countries. That team would have included no ex-pats, so they have definitely made some progress this year. But relax - we all understand it's amateur hour - no biggie.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I think Hawthorn fans would be upset, more at the fact that they've lost one of their favourite sons. Neutral AFL fans would view it in a curious light, certainly not as a threat.
db swannie
Guest
NRL fans would cringe if the NRL decided to plonk an unwanted ,unasked 2nd team in MELB,especially if they come out with the same drivel that AFL house uses,.we are giving kids an alternative,there are millions in Melb without a NRL team to support etc etc...
db swannie
Guest
Amazing isnt it?..The cheersquad cant wait to get on here & quote sites like WFN & tell everyone how great AFL is going internationally ,yet when shown up to be just about the complete opposite ,suddenly you dont know anything about it... A puff piece by the ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-05/russians-take-to-aussie-rules/2871676 Yet when they actually played it was an all AUSSIE expat team...
Kasey
Guest
RossEye you goose, please tell me where it says that only one sport can be named Football or which person in a position of authority at FFA has said all other sports must cease and desist calling themselves football? I suspect you are just not partial to the game and are scratching around for reasons to justify your stance. Here’s a tip…if you don’t like Association Football then fine, I’m pretty sure we’ll manage just fine without your close-minded thinking. As for your knowledge of football..it is obviously lacking. I’m pretty sure we know what the F in AFL stands for, the question is: do you know what the 2nd F in FIFA stands for? As for renaming from SocAus to FFA. That was an obvious(and thus far successful) attempt to distance the new administration from the previous toxic administration and negative branding of the sport caused by systematic and chronic mismanagement. Seems like a sensible business move to me. Do you really think the FFA chose FFA not AFA because of the term Australian Football? Have you heard of a country called Argentina? They are kind of a big deal in world football, having won a world cup or two in a sport played by more than a handful of countries. Without being there, I would suggest that all the acronyms were looked at and FFA rightly thought, when FIFA writes AFA, they’re going to be talking about Argentina not us. If you really want to wail at an acronym, you might question why the AFL has ceased to brand itself with Australian Football and is now pushing ' AFL' as the name of the sportrather than the top tier league in the Northern states? AFL-Q, AFL-NSW? WTF? The national football team is called the Socceroos because it’s a nickname, a nickname with brand identity. When you say Socceroos, almost every Australian would know who you were talking about. Contrast to other sports where there are parts of Australia that have no idea that Union and League are different sports despite sharing half a name(Rugby) Speaking of…Why are the National Rugby team called the Wallabies? Or the National League team the Kangaroos. If your arguments are a measure of the other supporters in your area..its no wonder the One time the VFL put together a national team, they were called the Galahs. The stadium where the 2010 Football World Cup(oh there I go again using the sports correct title…haterz gonna hate) is known in Jo’burg as FNB Stadium, but of course during a global event FIFA wants sponsorship free stadia. So the name Soccer City was chosen What of it? Soccer is a nickname of football. It’s a natural progression from adolescence to adulthood that one would ask their acquaintances to begin referring to them by their true name rather than a nickname; after all, nobody ever rose to be senior partner in a law firm going by the professional handle of Booger or Stevo. Football in this country is growing up and so asks to be called by its adult name. You sound like he kind of friend football can do without. You only liked it when it was playing a subservient role and kowtowing to you and the sport you hold closetst to your heart. That was never likely to energize support amongst the true believers in this country, those that wanted the game to throw off its malaise and grow the hell up. The FFA have made some mistakes but on the whole the game has come a hell of a long way in 10 years…I suggest you try to modernise your thinking by the same degree, lest you get left behind.
shirtfront
Guest
Very true indeed fitzy. Q. If Buddy Franklin was poached by the Broncos, would that be a fascinating thing in the eyes of Melbournians, or a threat?
shirtfront
Guest
Agreed
RossEye
Guest
The "true name" of soccer is not football, it is English Association Football. The word "football" refers to any game played on foot, as opposed to on horseback. I was very supportive of soccer until the fascists took over and wanted to monopolise the word "football". (When I rule the world!!!) What do you think the F in AFL, NFL or RFU stands for? And why did the National Soccer League change its name to Football Federation Australia instead of the Australian Football Federation? Oh, that's right. Australian Football already exists!!! Why is the national soccer team called the Socceroos? Why was the final of the last Soccer World Cup played at ... (wait for it) ... Soccer City!!! Oh, that's right. They didn't want to confuse it with the other football codes. But it seems that the fascist, mono-coders will never give up.
allblackfan
Guest
I'd like to point out that RU is not afraid to use AFL skills. The All Blacks kicking coach is an ex-AFL player, Mick Byrne (ex Hawthorn, ex Melb, ex Swans). The influence he has had has been very noticeable. A few years ago, the ABs were very weak under the high ball (kicks that probably travel higher than an AFL punt which goes for distance) and the Aussies were very strong. As some of us saw in the RWC semi-final, that is no longer the case; the ABs were so utterly dominant under the ball, they were able to field all the high balls the Wallabies put up and even pinched a couple of ones they put up. NB: general rule of thumb in RU; team that puts a high ball up usually doesn't get it back).
Fitzy
Guest
I have read alot of BS about which code is better, AFL (aussie rules) NRL (rugby league) A League (football) (havent heard from union people but I assume they would be the same having known some). I have played all 4 games enjoyed all 4 and watch all 4 on TV and live. Grew up in Syd, live in Melb. Started playing following AFL when Syd Swan moved up and played RL when moved to Gippsland Vic. I can't understand all this rhetoric by everyone, my son plays afl and indoor soccer loves both. If you don't like, don't watch. If you havent played don't bag, I don't care how many watch, attend or play just as long as they all survive! As for DB, Aaron and ItsCalledFootball, play the game 1st you might like it, I'd rather be here than some country that offers just soccer, how boring. By the way I don't see Melb Vic, Melb Hart, Melb Storm, Melb Tigers or the Melb Rebs attacked so often in melb newspapers, tv, or radio. I listen to SEN in melb a 24hr radio sports channel (1116)(ipod and iphone apps avail). Always hear them encourage other sports and have membership in those clubs. I think if you actually lived here you would understand. Can't understand constant attack on Syd Swans and GWS. Can't you support and enjoy the differences?
Kasey
Guest
AR, the simple fact that you think the 97 " Iran game" was a friendly proves you know nothing about the world game. If you are a smart person I would suggest that you do what smart people do when a topic comes up that they are uneducated in. they shut their traps and listen to try to learn. Australians are very parochialand it is natural for you to want to defend your state(assuming you're from Victoria), but find the picture I posted earlier about Ian collins, former head of the AFL and current head honcho of Docklands stadium....His view on Sockah in this country is IMO more acurate of the wider view of the sport in the state of victoria, which tbh is just sad.
Kasey
Guest
Yes the AFL (and Victoria being the home of the VFL/AFL) is such a loving caring community minded organisation/place that Mr. Ian Collins, former head of the AFL was ecstatic that the Socceroos failed to qualify for the World Cup ion 2008....what a twunt. Anywhere else in the World he would have been howled down for barracking against his home country, but in Victoria he was considered a hero for such a stance. How do you guys still wonder why the Northern parts of Australia who choose to follow other sports not the AFL have a healthy dislike for your state and your sport when you treat other sports with such arrogant disdain on a regular basis? Hell you're probably so deluded as to think AD was being helpful during the bidding for the 2018/22FIFA World Cup http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii77/kaseydutchy/CollinshatesSoccer.jpg
The Cattery
Roar Guru
The AussieX program appears to only focus on Australian Football, cricket and netball. As we know, there are lots of businesses focusing on soccer programs, from holiday programs all the way to elite training, it's a very crowded market that one. And if you want to put your child through one of those private elite soccer programs - you better be ready to pay private shool fees.