So what’s an AFL fan living in Queensland meant to do on a night that is dominated by State of Origin? Investigate what is wrong with the game in Queensland, of course.
With the Gold Coast Suns still finding their feet and the Brisbane Lions having only appeared in one finals series since their domination in the early 2000s came to an end, the future of AFL football is not looking fantastic north of the Tweed.
Boardroom battles, financial problems, unrest among fans, an attempted re-location to Springfield, the sacking of Michael Voss with no obvious replacement mean that things have been a bit rocky in Brisbane for the Lions.
This, following on from the Brendan Fevola saga and their current on-field woes, has the Lions struggling to get back on their feet. So is this a problem with the Lions themselves or does it point to a bigger issue with the game in Queensland?
The bigger picture does not point to a change in fortunes anytime soon. The local game is poorly run, the game has a very small public profile in Brisbane and there seems to be a shortage of young talent coming through.
In 2009 there were nine Queensland-based players selected in the draft. In 2012 and 2013 only one player each year was selected. There were a total of six Queensland players (not including previously upgraded rookies or recycled players) selected in 2013 to join AFL lists, and 2012 produced a total of only four players.
This is despite significant investment in AFL academies, with Brisbane and the Gold Coast both given areas of Queensland to be able to develop players. These players are available for the clubs to select in the same fashion as the father-son selections – with just two players selected from Brisbane’s academy as rookie-listed players.
If the Lions want to capture the imagination of the Brisbane public and generate real passion (something significantly lacking from last weekend’s game against Greater Western Sydney) having home grown stars goes a long way to fostering pride and interest in the game locally.
While participation numbers continue to grow with grassroots football I am not sure how accurate these stats are. Having coached junior football in Brisbane there is a significant drop off in players once they reach later primary school years. Kids are regularly being lost to other sports or not having a clear and consistent pathway through a single club.
There are three main levels of football juniors (up to Under-12s), youths (12 to 18) and seniors. Some clubs only have teams in one level, others only in junior and youth clubs and many senior clubs have no direct affiliation to a feeder club of juniors.
The senior competitions in particular have no structure, with clubs shuffled up and down divisions and divisions regularly changing in regards to geographical coverage and number of teams involved.From an average of 30,000 fans per game in 2009 the Lions crowds have steadily decreased each season to a current average of just 20,000.
Public interest in the sport fluctuates with the on-field fortunes – something the AFL has underestimated in the northern states. Even in traditional codes such as union and NRL the crowds can be fickle, with traditional clubs like the Reds in Queensland and the Rabbitohs in NSW going through periods of poor attendances when on-field performance dipped.
The AFL seemed to think the Brisbane public was won over following the Lions three premierships and seem to have left the Lions to their own devices ever since. Now they are in trouble and need some support.
The Lions are in danger of becoming irrelevant in the current sporting landscape in Brisbane and need change to reverse this trend. Although a lot of debate centres around cost of living allowances and the benefit Sydney get from this, strong and stable off-field appointments can help turn things around.
Paul Roos and Ken Hinkley have received a lot of praise for turning around two clubs considered to be basket cases, but a closer look at the bigger picture of their turn around shows there were strong decisions made in other areas which have been just as crucial.
David Koch coming on board as Port Adelaide president, promoting the club and giving it a profile helped, and the influence of Darren Burgess as the high performance coach is also an important cog.
Similarly, at Melbourne the appointment of Peter Jackson last year to review the club was a major step in turning their fortunes around.
This is where the money, support and resources need to be spent to help the Lions. The AFL should have a vested interest in ensuring stability within the football department and helping fund the appointment of some high quality football department staff would be money well spent.
Imagine if they could lure Brian Cook or Stephen Wells up north?
The other area that needs a total revamp is in the local leagues, especially at the higher levels. The NEAFL needs to develop an Under-18 competition similar to the TAC Cup, where each NEAFL side has an affiliated Under-18 team and ideally Under-16 competition to help develop young talent.
The ability to have academies and priority selection to the best young players in Queensland provides the teams with an ideal opportunity to invest big money to develop home grown players with first call on drafting them.
A finals series involving the top four teams from the NEAFL Under-18s up against the TAC Cup teams that failed to make the finals could add an opportunity to promote the northern states’ youngsters during finals time, just prior to the draft.
Action is required to lift the profile of the game in Brisbane and to help improve the quality of the Lions.
If the AFL are serious about developing a truly national competition and want to capitalise on interest generated by the Suns’ rise up the ladder, money in development and quality football people running the Lions is needed fast
William ( Billy ) Lahn
Guest
I really think the Australia Rules Football Community should stop listening to AFL, and stand back and look at Australian Rules from the Country League Seconds teams point of view, e.g what would you be thinking ? coming out of Auss Kick into the real world. The rules change and suddenly sixteen Junior teams. have to fit into Three Clubs. Example Echuca has truck loads of Auss kick teams but only the few best players will be able to get a game in the three senior Clubs Then ! By the end of the Senior Clubs Home and Away season, some of the big three teams struggle to fill the Seniors and Second grade teams .... Q. What happens to all those potential Footballers from Auss Kick ?.... And the big question is why ?...... Start Looking outside the AFL square. It is not sustainable. Mergers and patch up leagues are a loss loss to game overall "Look at the rules they are anti social" and not attractive to all shapes and sizes. And I give up. Cheers Billy Lahn Echuca
Michael
Guest
Totally agree with this comment. The AFL and Channel 7 do nothing for the game in QLD insofar as Footy Panel shows are concerned. Apart from the AFL footy show on Sunday morning on 73 and the Marngrook Footy show on whatever channel that is on there is nothing else on at a decent time. Channel 9 at one stage ran the AFL Footy Show on Thursday nights on the subsiduary Channel 90 or 99 for a year a couple of years ago, however took it off. Most of the time there is rubbish on these channels on Thursday nights, so I cannot see why in this day and age with Digital TV and numerous spare channels it cannot be put on simultaneously to give viewers an option. The AFL is very backward in promoting the game in south east QLD. League is not as powerful as they make it out to be in South East QLD. The majority of league supporters in the South East of the State DO NOT support the Broncos or the Titans. The Broncos crowds drop off dramatically when they are not doing well. The classic example of that is when the Lions peaked between 1999 and 2005. The Lions' crowds for about 5 years in a row outstripped the Broncos. Crowds in South East QLD are fickle and will remain that way. What also doesn't help the Lions at present is that the game is virtually on live against the gate. However having said that they were live against the gate when they were pulling good crowds. It is all down to team success on the field. There is no point in the AFL bring GWS games to the Gabba. These games should be played at the Giants stadium. The Lions won't play them twice in a season and the AFL will make sure of that. Another great way to promote the game in the South East would be to all the Lions and Suns supporters reciprocal rights to the Q-Clash games incorporated into the seasons tickets. If a Lions member to all 11 home games, it gives you reduced or free access to the game against the Suns at Metricon and vice versa. Don't why they havent thought of this yet.
Michael
Guest
Paul D - what you say is spot on. That is why the AFL needs to invest heavily in Footy Academies in the South East of QLD. They let slip a perfect oppportunity from 2001 onwards to grow the game even more up in QLD. The AFL does not do enough to try to get a bigger leg in the door at the private schools in the South East corner where Union still rules the roost. Alot of these schools are stringent about not letting young boys have the opportunity to play anythng other than Union. The AFL needs to work harder and spend more money getting boys from the age of 12 and above to play Aussie Rules. At school I found the boys from Union handled a football far better than League boys and some of the boys I played with at school came across and played at Mt Gravatt. They were great and adapted extremely well, whereas the boys from league could barely kick a ball. The AFL have taken their eye off the ball, so to speak, and need to do more.
Michael
Guest
That's because the Courier Mail is completely bias. They refuse to give AFL a leg up and always have. There is quite often more AFL news in the Gold Coast Bulletin that Leaguq. If there was anbother newspaper in Brisbane other than the Courier-Mail, I know a hell of a lot of people that would switch papers. Enough said. The Courier-Mail is so bias it does not print the AFL crowd figures in the Monday Courier-Mail. They show the League crowd figures, embarrassing as some of them are. Why would the Courier-Mail do this? They simply don't want people to see thefigures from around the country as to how many actually attend AFL matches.
Michael
Guest
You just said no-one give a 'fat rats clacker' about AFL where you live in QLD, then indicated that there were 4-5 teams in the place that you live. Add on the families of the players of each team, plus the administrators, officials, and every other person associated with each of those 4-5 teams - then that must add up to zero. Interesting comment.
Michael
Guest
What does it matter what State you are actually from. Why should it matter if some kids were born in Victoria and came up to Queensland as youngsters. Does it make them less of a QLD'er than actually being born in QLD. I was born in Melbourne and came up to QLD when I was 8. I have lived here for 43 years and regard myself as a QLD'er and pretty much always have. At school I played, Aussie Rules, Soccer, League and Union. I was always selected as full-back for League and Union at school as I was the best mick and mark in the team. That was a sign of respect. My parents got me into Aussie Rules when I was young, however I enjoyed all 4 codes of football. I follow and support the Lions. I barrack for Australia in Union no matter who they play and I watch the State of Origin. I really don't follow the weekly NRL games however am I missing the point with this where are you from stuff. Is Simon Black more a QLD'er than Michael Voss because Blacky was born in Mt. Isa and moved to WA when he was little, as opposed to Vossy who was born in Melbourne and moved to QLD when he was about 10 or so. Being from QLD is a non-issue. I would love to have Lance Franklin in my team. He is from WA. The great Lions side of 2001-2004 had players from every State in Australia, Tasmania and Northertn Territory included. I didn't see too many QLD'ers whinge about Glenn Lazarus playing for the Broncos in their winning years. He wasn't the only NSW player in the Broncos. What is great is that we see AFL players from every State and Territory unlike Leage and Union where primarily every single player is from NSW and QLD. The AFL has enabled the development of players from all over the country whereas I don't know of too many players outside of NSW and QLD that have taken up League or Union. I don't care what State the players come from or where they are born. Personally the more young players I see that were born in Sudan, Asia, India, Sri Lanka I would only be too wrapped to see them running around in AFL jumpers.
alitis48
Guest
Interesting , but in South Sydney where the Swans are even when they are winning no one seems talked about them. All conversation in the pubs seems to be on Rugby League and Cricket. Yet the Swan get bigger attendances than the local Souths or Easts. My theory is that AFL is more a boutique sport in NSW and QLd. It doesn't really attract the traditional fan. Up here its more for expats, interstate fans and trendies
Gecko
Guest
I would have thought 'variation in body type' would give footy the edge over RL. If you're growing up in NSW or Queensland and you haven't got a thick neck, you probably won't get far in RL But a lot of different body types, from Shane Mumford to Lewis Jetta and Andrew Gaff can succeed in footy. If lightly built kids are choosing RL ahead of footy in NSW or Qld, there must be something wrong with the marketing.
Eee
Guest
Sorry Lazza, but that's just not true. There are countless examples of European football team's attendances plummeting along with relegation or a lack of success. It's a nice thought and it supports your argument, but unfortunately it has little basis in fact.
Damo
Guest
Ok to set the scene I'm a Leaguie through and through (Not fickle). I'm also a marketer by profession. My opinion on this is that AFL in QLD whilst losing steam in Brisbane and above has reached a solid point in its growth and can sustain that until more wins come and the swing fans come back. I always applaud Demetriou for his vision to grow and support the northern states and I just wish League hadn't taken so many backwards steps that it could have had a stable footing in WA and SA by now. The AFL is at least 15yrs advanced on League now. Though League does saturate 2 of the top 3 populated states and has a game made for TV where AFL is better to watch live. Though a second team NRL team in Brisbane in the near future would be another hurdle for AFL in Brisbane to overcome.
Jim Jones
Guest
+ 1 love IT too, its GREAT!
Tad
Roar Rookie
I reckon you'd know a silly comment when you see one, you no doubt have plenty of experience constructing them.
Judy Atu
Guest
Sorry Boypage I might be dumb but I really don't understand what your point is. As for it only being Victorians "taking the game with them" Sorry but you are definately wrong there I personally know plenty of Queenslanders that have dropped off the NRL and love the AFL.
alicesprings
Guest
The Lions will be fine in the long term..sometimes you have to go backwards before you can go forward. The concern for the AFL will be that Brisbane is starting to remind me of teams like richmond and Melbourne which seem incapable of playing finals football. AFL in Qld is significantly better off for having two teams..the trouble will come when both are in Brisbanes position at the same time!
Judy Atu
Guest
Gold Coast QFL Academy is already developing the late school age kids, and have plenty coming along and others can't wait to join them when old enough. They have the facilities of the Suns to use and Top coaching it's a win win situation. I have full confidence that the Suns will retain the members and continue to build. I have been a Member of a Melbourne Club (Richmond) for many years and you can't tell me we have had a lot to cheer about but still can command a top, passionate crowd. Since moving here I joined the Suns and I can tell you that is the friendliest Club Staff and players who can't do enough for the fans
Axle an the guru
Guest
Your in the minority when it comes to Queenslanders on the AFL GoodGame.
GoodGame
Guest
They do, but its second fiddle to NEAFL
GoodGame
Guest
You don't think the AFL should have come up here in the first place? Not too sure about that...I actually quite enjoy it, being a Queenslander and its quite popular in the Far north (aka cairns/cape)...strong local comp too!
Cat
Roar Guru
It will all depend how long that bottoming out takes, Brisbane has been in decline for a decade now, that a long time. Teams can survive a few lean years if it looks like they are on the right track to get back to the top but when a team keeps going backwards its much harder to keep people coming.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sorry Judy, but I remember being at the Gabba in the glory days of 2001-2003, and surrounded by 35-40K fans, all roaring in delight. That place was an absolute colosseum, a cacophony of noise. So forgive for me being a little sceptical of the Suns membership numbers holding firm if they have a prolonged stint at the bottom of the ladder again in years to come.