AFL? Struggling? Yep, the AFL is currently struggling too keep fans interested week in, week out.
I’ll couch this first by stating that I understand the AFL is unable to do anything about the outcome of games.
However, the obvious gulf in class between the top four or five teams and the bottom four or five has never been more evident.
The prime example of this was on Sunday when Sydney and West Coast, two legitimate premiership contenders, systematically annihilated their opponents Brisbane and Western Bulldogs respectively.
Sydney got going from the start, as a lacklustre Brisbane outfit that would have been more at home at a junior carnival than in top flight football.
The Eagles welcomed back Nic Natanui and Sharrod Wellingham (the latter out because of a freak trampoline accident) and celebrated by winning by 70 points.
These games only serve to damage the AFL for the future. Fans won’t bother turning up if they’re not going to be entertained, or their team has no chance of winning.
The Lions face West Coast this week, a game which they won with a minute to go last season to cause the upset. Somehow I don’t think that will happen this time.
AFL fans aren’t fickle. For the most part they will stick by their team. But the new fans are part of a generation which thrive on success and will not be so faithful when it doesn’t come.
The new teams of Gold Coast and GWS still struggle to fill stadiums, despite having the novelty of being the ‘new boys’ when playing at home. Fans don’t enjoy watching their team get roughed up week in week out.
It becomes less about giving them a chance and more about seeing some progress in their play and results. Patience is not a virtue that young AFL fans possess.
Brisbane’s crowds have been dwindling since their fluke 2010 season. The Dogs missed a premiership window around the same time and struggle to draw in the numbers.
GWS attracted just under 7000 to their game against the Gold Coast on ANZAC weekend in Canberra. Gold Coast struggle to fill the upgraded Carrara, and Melbourne haven’t seen a full house of Dees fans in a long time.
Kids aren’t pressuring their parents to go see these teams, and they’ll soon stop asking to watch the games on TV.
The AFL needs GWS, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Dogs to grow up quickly and become more competitive, or face losing a generation of fans that they will sorely miss.
mahonjt
Guest
Did you eatch the FA Cup final on Saturday night?
mahonjt
Guest
I disagree this site is anyting like News Limied (for too many resons to list here), but if it were somehow anti AFL - i could only be so becasue that is the voice of the fans?
mahonjt
Guest
Maybe in the next NAB Cup thingy where they change the rules, the AFL could get rid of two posts, get a cross bar, a net and stick a big player in front to stop the ball going in. Reduce the 6 pointer to a 1 pointer, and the interchange bench to 3 changes and then see what happens to the closeness of the games and the atmosphere at grounds. #justsayin
Chairman Kaga
Guest
This website seems to be an anti AFL platform kind of like News Ltd newspapers are hell bent on selecting the next Australian government for us. Thing is, there is no alternative to AFL football. Maybe if the NRL uses Aussie rules laws and forms it's own rival competition would I ever become interested in that. Even then, it would still be phoney because the rucks would be decided before the ball up and you would only be allowed six kicks on end before the opposition had their go.
Avon River
Guest
So long as pro AFL teams aren't being held scoreless. Aust footy is a high risk and reward game with generally more positively geared rules/scoring etc. NRL should worry more about their 40-0 scorelines. Last night the dggies got done by 54 in a last qrtr blowout. Mid way thru the third they were in front. The capacity to play out a full game can be the difference b/w a win, narrow loss or a blow out. Fans hope for the best but ride the ups and downs of their developing lists. Unlike WSW you don't buy ready made players from OS. The Giants and Suns are providing a list development education to the uninitiated.
TW
Guest
How is the NRL doing. Is it any better - Someone said the other day the top teams were the same as last year. What about the Storms domination???? Are they that good. Where is all the talent in the other NRL clubs to knock them off. The point is we as AFL fans know the talent is a bit stretched and some clubs do not appear to rise up the ladder mainly due to football dept spending etc. Why should GWS attract thousands of fans they are a very new club operating in a other code dominated area or doesnt the author know that.
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
Unfortunately, someone's gotta be bad, and I can't remember the last time the worst teams in the comp regularly had a chance of knocking off one of the better ones. I'd love a league where that was the case, but it's generally not the occasion in any sporting league :/
Jimbo
Guest
Long weekend in Canberra, the place is deserted, eveyone heads to the coast, that helps explain just 7,000 fans as well as the fact that GC does not have a fan base anywhere else than the GC, it was not a game that would have attracted nuetral punters. The Giants game before that attracted a good crowd ( from memory) There has been a 10% increase in junior AF teams in the ACT this year, as well as a junior team increase in WS, that can be put down to GWS itself IMO. But i agree with your article in parts, there is a huge crowd disparity between the new teams and the established, but competetive (dont need to win a flag) teams will overcome much of that. Someone always has to come last, but people like to see a competetive last.
Daryl Adair
Guest
What was Brisbane's 2010 "fluke" season? Finished 13th. You probably mean 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Lions. In any case, your wider points in the article are very valid. Generally, the AFL uses a combination of equalisation strategies to try to promote competitive balance - salary caps and a draft system. The latter has been compromised in recent years because of the need to provide players to the Gold Coast Suns and the Greater Western Sydney. If the talent there had gone to Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs etc. the prospects for more competitive matches between the bottom 6 sides and the rest would (I think) be better. So it is going to take quite some time for a semblance of competitive balance to return. In the meantime, as you say, there is nowhere to hide for the weaker teams. And this is despite promising signs by Brisbane, which won the NAB Cup. The big improver this season is Port Adelaide - a change of coach and a new fitness regime rather than change of personnel. While AFL crowds overall are still very strong, the variability between them is high.