If I was from Wangaratta, I’d be filthy at the AFL right now. The whole saga that surrounded the cancellation of Saturday’s NAB Cup match between Essendon and St Kilda stank of half-heartedness.
The city itself was keen – more than keen, actually. The game was sold out.
11,000 people had tickets. It was years in the making. Everyone was ready to go.
The town was all set up to embrace some top-flight footy. They rolled out the welcome mats for the big wigs. Excitement was in the air. One local club spent $40,000 on catering.
But then arrogant Bombers, who wanted to fly to Wangaratta when it would have been easier to take a bus, ruined everything with their big city brashness.
Wild weather meant their two chartered planes couldn’t land. The Saints were there, but Essendon didn’t show.
The AFL cared so little that they were making it all up as they went along. They were clearly underprepared – nobody was ready for this situation. An abandoned match. What do we do now?
First, they decided the match would be declared a draw, even though everybody knows that in junior footy the team that doesn’t rock up forfeits the game.
Then a coin toss was on the cards.
Which genius thought that would actually be a good idea? Thankfully someone came to their senses and St Kilda were rightly handed the four points, even if it’s only the pre-season stuff and nobody really cares anyway.
Still, it’s the principle of it, as Dennis Denuto would say. The fact that the AFL weren’t involved in the Dons’ travel plans just does to show how devil-may-care they are about the NAB Cup.
They shouldn’t have allowed them to fly on matchday – they don’t when it comes to the season proper.
But Wangaratta cared. They cared a lot – it’s not often that regional Australia gets to host professional sport.
What’s most disappointing about all of this is that it came at a time when the other codes are strengthening their ties to country areas.
Even the A-League, which seems to be cementing its reputation as a controversy magnet, has made inroads.
The concept of a regional round has merit, even if it wasn’t managed as well as it could have been this season.
Instead of waiting for the fans to come to the A-League, football instead went to the people. They held matches in Dunedin, Campbelltown, Bathurst, the Latrobe Valley and Launceston.
While the attendance figures didn’t set the world on fire, the fact that those cities were even considered did wonders for their PR.
If the round ball code can pull 3000 in Morwell to watch the burgeoning Melbourne Heart and a bunch of Kiwis, then it’s not that much of a stretch to suggest that the AFL could draw perhaps a five-figure crowd anywhere in regional Victoria.
Imagine what it would do for a town to hold a real match in their own backyard. Even those from the city could drive and make the day of it. And yet the AFL’s relationship with country fans just took a massive hit.
Rugby league leads the way with the annual City versus Country Origin match. The fans love it.
If the AFL ever opens its eyes to the world of representative matches, wouldn’t it be great to see a metropolitan versus country showpiece? It’s already a small part of the AFL system – Victoria has two state teams at junior level, after all, split along those lines.
But no. Aussie Rules is being half-hearted in their attempts to engage with folk outside of the main population areas.
It’s a shame, because there’s plenty of love for footy out there. The success of country leagues is proof – some of the best football outside the AFL is played out in the bush, where there’s plenty of coin on offer.
The people are dying for a taste. But the league won’t even help out when it comes to staging a NAB Cup game.
Surely the best way to remedy this would be resolving to rebuild the bridges that they burned. To do that, AFL House should seriously consider taking games for real points outside of the big markets.
And next time, get the teams in a week beforehand so they can spend time getting around the community.
Republican
Guest
This thread was all about the AFL being 'out of touch with regional Australia' Wookie. i have simply expounded on this opinion - and in context. You are free to disagree however your little dummy spit accusing me of anti Kiwi sentiment is quite out of context and very subjective - I mean, if thats the case then you are uncritically pro Kiwi and anti Canberra - perhaps? The Dogs did very well indeed out of Canberra, only to be held to ransom with the AFL's blessing. That's called avarice Wookie. Wellington are using this as a potential lure of Melbourne tourists to their fine city and thats the strength of it. This has no more credibility than a globe trotter tour since NZ has no loyal supporters to our code br ex pat Aussies, has shown only contempt for the code and it's country of heritage, offers diddly grass roots potential even compared with the likes of PNG and Saffa yet - only NZ will reap any reward if the code is to go off shore. Whatever the novelty value and subsequent gate for this Dogies home game, it seems that those of your persuasion will be only too willing to hail this as an inprecented success, insisting NZ be afforded the next AFL licece. The shear hypocrisy of this attitude defies belief, because while you are all too ready to blame Canberra for a Doggies perceived financial loss, in the very same breath you suggest NZ be afforded a commercial opportunity in this respect. NZ is akin to Pluto in respect of our game Wookie, you have proved NOTHING more than being lost in space.
John Seabrook
Guest
Whoaahh!! Talk about a storm in a tea cup! Reminds me of the time back in '82 when the Millwall bus broke down and they weren't able to play Grimsby Town in the much anticipated practice match. A tragedy that took some folks hours, or even days to recover from. What doesn't destroy us, just makes us stronger The real season begins soon, but as a Richmond supporter, I'm happy to wait a little longer.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
IF they can get 11,000 people to a presason game up there - which is more than the dogs, dees and tigers get in Darwin, Canberra and Cairs, then maybe the Saints should look at playing a proper season match there once a year.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Rubbish. Its nothing more than the Dogs trying to replace the lost income from the Canberra game. No different to any number of clubs before them - North, Tigers and the Hawks being shining examples. And Your belief doesnt make the established facts in my previous comment wrong either. You're an established anti-NZ troll - as if this thread had ANYTHING to do with NZ at all - not even remotely. Also havemt seem anywhere that the Dogs intend to quit their Darwin match at this time - although I wouldnt be surprised if that happens if the NZ venture was successful. At this time they are talking ONE match only from next year. You may also note that the AFL is the WORLD governing body for the sport, not just regional or domestic. And NZ had NOTHING to do with this thread that I proved wrong in the first 3 posts.
Republican
Guest
Wookie Wrong. It's the AFL, mark my words. They put the hard word on the Doggies to forgo their obligations to the NT and the ACT to instead take their home games not only to a market of philistines in respect of our code but a foreign one to boot. The one or two games you refer to for Canberra, a demographic that has been traditionally loyal to the indigenous code as well as making a significant contribution to the AFL, have only come due to the GWS brand requiring a leg up in respect of membership and nursery. They will drop us like a hot spud when the time comes and this is an AFL initiative. NZ, a foreign market of contempt, have been earmarked for two Foot es cray home games who are far better credentialed performers than the fledgling GWS and this despite having no footy affinity, pedigree, culture, grassroots (and the list goes on), whatsoever. I believe this is more than relevant to the thread as far as AFL losing sight of it's regional loyalties and responsibilities of governance as NZ is NOT regional, nor is it domestic.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Cancellation of the Wangaratta cup shows how out of touch horse racing is with regional Australia.
Xman
Guest
Here here! A once in 50 year weather event was the problem, and even then they followed the advice of the pilots. Essendon have promised to make it up to the people of Wangaratta. Essendon were accused of wasting money by flying but they have revealed that it was cheaper for them to fly up and back on the same day than bus up and stay over night.
Jaceman
Guest
The Swans played the Lions in a Wagga practice game at 42 degress celsius in the shade 10 years ago but with zero shade for players or spectators (it felt like 50 and I wasnt playing)- the game went ahead but shouldnt have - who would we blame for that...Isnt Wang old Kangaroos zone..
Nathan of Perth
Guest
The F-word? What, "Finals"? Bit early for that, isn't it?
brendan
Guest
While watching the Geelong v Gold Coast game i thought the crowd was a bit sparse apparently just over 5,300 people bothered too turn up so if Wang had a sold out crowd of 11,000 this is a pr disaster for the Afl.Northern Victoria and the abutting regions in New South Wales have huge Afl followings which could translate into bums on seats at the Giants games.If you live in that region it is as practical too drive to Sydney for games as it is in Melbourne particularly nowthere is agame every week in the harbour city.Every post has too be a winner with the Afl as the expansion sides have noloyal following to fall back on.incidents such as games being cancelled because a team chose to fly (when the weather had been wet all week) in rather than bus it or train it are not good .
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
well that was entirely predictable. i just figured he'd had some sort of fit when he heard the news. Get with the prgoram republican. This isnt an AFL initiative, its the Bulldogs - the same Bulldogs who have had a contracted game in Canberra for the last few years until now. Footy wasteland you may think it is, but the Dogs board dont seem to think so, and the AFl has yet to sign off on the idea in any case. AFL expedience? Its also one or two games a year more than Canberra have currently been getting. Progress is progress. Stop whining.
Republican
Guest
No worries Cat although this is absolutely relevant to the thread, so in that respect zero creativity was required beyond some straight forward rationale on my part. Good to know you werw able to pick up on this as well.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Republican full marks for creativity - connecting Wang being under water with NZ!!
Republican
Guest
And another thing - They care more about 'the off shore regions' i.e. they seem more focused on developing NZ at the expense of loyal domestic regions like the ACT, Tassie and NT. The Doggies are set to play two home games per season in this footy wasteland. while we in the nations capital had to beg for any such recognition despite our pedigree. Only now have we managed to get GWS to commit to three games per year and this arrangement smacks of AFL expedience - yet again.
Australian Rules
Guest
But Vince, this isn't about the virtues of a Country rep side, it's about your contention that the AFL is "out of touch" with regional Australia. You use the Country v City game as the sole reason that NRL is leading the way...and then suggest the AFL should copy the idea. A one-off game is great but it isn't proof of committment to the bush. I read that there are about 1400 Auskick programs in regional areas. Clubs are constantly going to remote Aboriginal communities to promote the game. The attitude to regional and rural areas by the AFL has been overwhelmingly a cohesive effort. It a major area of advantage that the AFL had over NRL pre-ARLC. Your argument seems to be that the AFL is "out of touch" with regional Australia because Essendon couldn't land their plane during a once in a century torrential downpour.
Jaceman
Guest
Not the AFL's fault maybe Essendons but as was said the match unlikely to go ahead - it was teeming. You get people who criticise those in charge just for the sake of it who dont consider the alternatives if they were in positions of authority (there will be record rainfall recorded in these regions for this month) - and tragically these forums give them more credence than their posts deserve - remember the charming lad "Its called Football".
Redb
Roar Guru
It's a one off, not an excuse to go off half cocked with an article suggesting the AFL has no care factor for regional areas. All evidence to the contrary. Laughable suggestion the A League is doing a better job, given the FFA's lack of stewardship over GCU and community links.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
I strongly agree with this article, well read. I personally thought the AFL were very soft with playing regional games. out of 18 9 were regional.
Vince Rugari
Expert
Its relevance is certainly waning, but I really love the concept of it. A country team is great. I know a lot of lads from the country who are proud of where they come from. In a world where all professional sport is concentrated in the big cities, you have to move if you want to make it into the big time... the idea that you can get back to your roots but representing Country Origin - and then play that match anywhere from Albury to Port Mac... The concept itself is leading, though perhaps it's not longer what it was.
Without wanting to be pedantic Vince, you admitted that you "haven’t gotten my points across as well as I could", which to me suggests that you didn't do your due diligence and review your piece properly before you submitted it. The combination of that, the fact that "it's soccer season and there's a bit going on", plus your twitter feed are clear signs that your mind is elswhere. Don't get me wrong, that's fine, you have your priorities, but I find that this has been reflected in your article. Yes, mistakes were made, and I'm not suggesting the AFL are completely blameless, but to me, without wanting to denigrate the community of Wangaratta, the issue is ultimately a trivial one, so we don't need to hang, draw and quarter everyone involved.