Watching last year’s Ireland versus Australia International Rules match on the Gold Coast I, like so many others, couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the last time we would see the mutant round-ball spectacle played.
I personally enjoy the game, and have an appreciation for Gaelic football. I watch it every year for the spectacle.
But even I am over it. And I know I’m not alone.
The hybrid game’s demise has been covered ad nauseum. Reasons include its lack of relevance, the participation of under-strength Australian teams and a tendency for matches to deteriorate into brawls.
For mine, the lack of relevance is the true killer.
It’s obvious why we play Ireland every year. It’s a celebration of our respective unique indigenous sporting codes, affirming our strong relationships and cross-cultural relations nurtured through cross-code players such as Tadhg Kennelly, Marty Clarke and Dublin product Jim Stynes.
Furthermore, it’s a rare opportunity for players of both codes to represent their country at an international level.
But even these reasons are starting to wear thin. Celebrating indigenous codes is all well and good, but the resulting game doesn’t truly represent either, making the event redundant.
Besides, the cross-code travel is strictly one way. And the Gaelic Athletic Association know it.
This leaves us with our boys playing at a national level. But if that was really so important to the AFL, why not give the AIS team leave to play in the International Cup (played in Melbourne every year) and televise the final on free-to-air TV?
There, Australia would take on the world at our own game.
Sure, stars and top-flight players can’t play. But that rule would appear to be in effect in the Australia versus Ireland games anyway.
If we truly want to play a relevant hybrid code-celebrating exhibition game, we shouldn’t play it against the GAA. We should play it against the NRL.
Can you imagine the code-war fanatics in the lead up to this clash?
Can you imagine the cross-code banter? The David Gallop and Andrew Demetriou press conferences?
Imagine the posturing of code fanatics on either side in the lead-up, and the coverage. One can only imagine the TV ratings!
The game would reach right into the heart of both codes and dominate the sporting landscape. Even if the NRL and AFL split the costs and profits, the takings would be gigantic.
But how would such a game work?
A hybrid League-Aussie Rules game would be a tricky beast to create and referee, the two games being so fundamentally different.
So for now, we can take the biggest elements of each game, and see how they fit.
For league, passing backwards is all important, so that stays. Aussie Rules is far more complex, but one aspect – that is probably the most crucial and at the core of the modern game – is kicking long and marking.
Two teams, arranged in league-style lines, attempt to move the ball across a rectangle field. They can only pass backwards by hand, but can move the ball by foot forwards.
I know, I just described both codes of rugby, but the next element here is crucial.
Three players from each side are allowed to be offside at any time. These players are then able to receive the ball from a kick. Should the ball travel 10 metres untouched, a mark and resulting free kick/pass is awarded.
Scoring would work similarly to league, but with all scores being multiples of three. A try is worth six and a field goal worth three. A marked ball within the try scoring area, though, is worth nine.
This would be akin to the AFL mark inside 50, minus the necessary resulting goal.
Imagine a game something like gridiron, with continuous play and kicking rather than passing, and you have a better picture.
It might not be pretty on paper now, but this game – in the modern Australian sporting landscape – would have far more relevance to the average punter than the international game, which Australia dominates.
This is true of both codes, with the NRL (and I include the Kiwis under this banner) dominating international competitions.
Imagine names like Thaiday, Smith and Cronk charging through the AFL lines, using superior power to punch vast holes in the line.
Imagine Franklin, Riewoldt and Brown streaming ahead offside to take overhead running marks within the scoring zone, unmatched in speed and overhead aerial ability.
And imagine code-converts Folau and Hunt, lining up for the AFL. It would truly be a most mouth-watering piece of entertainment.
Yes, this game might purely be a fantasy. But what a fantasy it is…
chis
Guest
Can we revive this thread again.
Jaceman
Guest
The soccer World cup is the big one allright but unfortunately Australia are unlikely to win the soccer world cup any time soon
ManInBlack
Guest
"i have got no doubt nrl could field 24 players made up of backs and halves with afl level fitness" You really think?? Even were the fitness demands within the game of NRL equitable to an AFL game (which I don't believe them to be), then, the mere fact that an AFL game runs over 120 mins of elapsed time vs the 80 mins in NRL suggests that it'd be like a 100m track athlete trying to run the 1500. note - re the fitness demands, the thing that'd blow the NRL guys out of the water is the 'unrewarded running'. In Aust Footy, you often have to run flat out 50-80metres just to be in position to receive the ball, or just to lay a shepherd for a team mate. That just doesn't happen in RL (in nearly the same way or with nearly the same regularity).
ManInBlack
Guest
What? so, like if Ford and Holden merged then they'd squash Toyota?
ManInBlack
Guest
the 'fantasy' element of this article is all nice and all that, but, the non-fantasy component breaks down when the author states "the AIS team leave to play in the International Cup (played in Melbourne every year) " The International Cup is every 3 years. Note too - at junior level, the AIS Academy U17s have recently taken on and defeated the NZ 'senior' team. And also at junior level the National U16 Champs includes both a 'World 18' and a South Pacific squad. The 'international' element is where it belongs at this stage. However, if the indigenous '10%' is matched (as suggested during the week) by an 'international' (multi-cultural) 10% - - then, pre season perhaps we need an Indigenous All Stars vs the World match up??
chris
Guest
Well if League and Union merged it might squash AFL.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Yewonk at the end of the day, it's all academic isn't it? unless you have a contest where both parties are going at it 100% because it's meaningful to them, it's all hot air
yewonk
Guest
cat your posts on this article aren't your usual balanced logical reasoning im used to reading. i refer to my earlier post, it could be worth a one off game.
Emric
Guest
and still no body cares about them
Westie
Guest
Why should AFL merge with NRL? AFL is WINNING the war! I don't even know why NRL thinks it is in some sort of war, AFL sees no resistance from where I stand. Is the Storm the resistance? It is not on tv in Victoria, do not know anyone who attends or cares about them. Then you have the 4 AFL teams in NSW and QLD, all on free to air tv and LIVE.
Emric
Guest
Winning the Soccer world cup - I know but hey its the world game and how can you compete with that?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
There is just the one prize, the one and only - the holy grail of Australian sport.
Emric
Guest
Cat The arguments always create the perfect circle - point A leads to B leads to C which returns to A. There is a element of courage in all sports i guess jumping for a high ball mark in AFL Union or League could be as courageous as a flying header in Soccer. Its all subjective I don't know about acts of courage in AFL but there have been well documented games of rugby where players have played on with some terrible injuries a recent example being Richie playing the world cup with a broken foot. I'm sure there are courageous players in AFL as well
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Is there an argument about which sport has the tougher players? In Australian Football the one attribute we value above all others is that of courage, the game demands courageous acts, one of the key stats kept by the coaching staff is that of "sacrificial acts". You can have your toughness, we'll keep the courage, thanks very much.
Emric
Guest
Are you sure about that? The AFL has only its "flag" competition where Union and League have tiers above the club competition
Emric
Guest
I suspect that the NRL boys would spend less time trying to play the game and more time trying to take the opposition out the game would turn into something closer to a match at the local mixed martial arts arena rather then a spectacle of football and the best part is no matter how many bones are broken the umpires are unable to send anyone off and since its a one off game there would be almost no punishment handed out to the offending parties. Mind you it would finally settle the argument about which sport has the tougher players.
Titus
Guest
Perth and Melbourne will never(in our lifetimes) have "massive" Rugby League rivalries. Just as AFL will never have "massive" rivalries in Sydney and Brisbane. The only massive inter-city club rivalries will be Rugby League in the Eastern states, AFL in the Southern states and Football in most of Australia/NZ
Maximus
Guest
Commo You are right - the limited kicking is provided by Ex AFL players...
Maximus
Guest
Last night Storm flog Titans and Cowboys flog Eels but not many turned up (it was however raining) but the Titans fans were barracking for the Storm because they get free tickets to the next game??
Maximus
Guest
Of course take out SOO and its all equal. I'm not sure how long Fox will subsidise the under 20 comp on Pay because it hardly draws subscribers...It will drop it when the contract ends.or they will take less money at the rights table...