I love all sport and this is not a ridicule of other codes. I’m a member of my local NRL team, have travelled to rugby union World Cups, Ashes series, countless F1 Grands Prix, Grand Slam tennis matches, ice hockey, baseball, NFL, swimming, and Olympics.
You name it and I’ve seen it, and my wife has certainly heard about it. But I love a good argument, and this was a cracker.
On a recent visit to the UK I was enjoying a warm beer in the pub with some mates who I’d grown up with.
We’d played football together, followed our team all over England for 25 years, and seen the all the highs and lows that come with being a supporter (well mainly lows, I’m from Middlesbrough).
Suitably full of bravado, I brazenly slammed the table and declared that Australian rules football was by far the greatest sport in the world. Why would a Pommie fall so utterly and passionately in love with Australian football, a game my UK mates still refer to as ‘men playing in tight shorts’?
After the stunned silence was replaced with howls of derision, I put forward my case.
The players themselves are arguably some of the most talented all-round athletes in the world. They are the complete package. They use every skill set that players from other codes use – both hand and foot skills are constantly required to control and move the ball. In terms of endurance, AFL players possess elite running ability, with the average distance per game covered around 14 kilometres, as opposed to under 12 kilometres for football and 10 kilometres for rugby. Not only that, a significant proportion of that distance is ran at full speed.
Israel Folau, unquestionably one of this country’s most talented athletes, struggled to cope with the aerobic demands of AFL. This athletic ability is then complemented with significant upper and lower body strength, and instances of explosive muscular power are a key component of the game.
The real beauty of the game is its 360-degree periphery and the lack of spatial limitations possessed by other codes.
In other contact sports you know you’re going to be hit head on. In AFL you have no idea where that next tackle is coming from. And is there anything more breathtaking than watching a player fearlessly run backwards with the flight of the ball into a pack?
The spirit of how the game is played is another key point. My major gripe with football is the theatrics that often take place on the field, which seem to be getting lamentably worse as the World Cup reaches its climax. The accepted norm in AFL is to get up and play on. No matter how hard you’ve been hit, players on the whole don’t feign injury – indeed, many heroically play through it – and unlike football, stretchers are only used when they’re needed.
Players don’t continually plead with the umpire to have opposing players punished, and players certainly don’t abuse and manhandle officials when decisions don’t go their way.
But it’s more than that. At all levels of footy it’s about being positive, players rarely chastise other players on their team, encouragement and appreciation for every effort is constantly being offered, teammates stick up for each other on and off the field.
As for the AFL competition itself, I love the socialist philosophy that it aspires to. Notwithstanding the current and valid debates around equalisation, at the very heart of the game there is a desire and commitment to see every club with an equal chance of success. The salary cap and national draft have provided a genuine framework of equality, and as Port Adelaide have proven, a club can quickly become successful when all seems lost. There is an inherent fairness in the competition and I applaud the efforts to maintain it.
As for crowds and atmosphere, the countdown to the first bounce of an AFL grand final is one of the most spine-tingling moments in world sport. In terms of popularity, AFL punches well above its weight; in 2013 the average crowd was 32,163 as opposed to 35,903 in the English Premier League. Blockbuster games come thick and fast and 60,000-plus crowds at the MCG are common.
The game cares for, and caters to men, women, children, young, old, any colour and any nationality. The AFL is a world-class organisation from the top right down to grass roots, and is the envy of many other professional competitions around the world.
I’d contend that many other sports may claim to have some of the qualities I’ve outlined, but none have the full package that Australian football enjoys.
So get along and watch the big men continue to fly high in the greatest game in the world.
Darren Mc Master-Smith
Guest
Watched every sport over Summer but can't wait for my mighty Tigers to hit the field round one in front of a huge crowd,I'd hang myself if AFL died,the greatest sport on the planet.
Elliott
Guest
I don't think you quite understand the physical demands of AFL. It is a game where, every week, you are throwing yourself into a range of possible injuries. Even at the current number of matches players are sometimes struggling to get their body's ok for finals.
jax
Guest
Like biting another player SVB?
jax
Guest
It has nothing to do with an inferiority complex, it's just an opinion. Look up the definition of that word please SVB. How many people globally say and believe things like...I live in the best city in the world, I have the best job in the world, best family, I'm the luckiest man alive etc etc There is no point in debating this so let's agree to disagree and now it's time for you to go back to the pages you should be on if AFL is for you. Personally I rarely have ever seen the soccer or rugby tabs so not sure why you're commenting here
jax
Guest
"AFL players appear to be emotionless cold or bland everything you dont want in a sports athlete" You mean like Federer, Sampras and Ayrton Senna for example? The list of superstar athletes with these traits is far to long
mlesliec
Guest
you have so obviously never played the game, by your comments its hard to tell you have even seena game, to suggest there is no skill in playing afl is all we need to know that your comments are just ignorant rants from a opposing code supporter, your comments show your immaturity nothing about the game you know so little about
mlesliec
Guest
youve lost it mate, you are so pregidiced that when an author who you dont like comments you have to denigrate him regardless of the truth or validy in your comments, do you hate yourself so much this is the only way you can feel worhty, its common, i suggest a few therapy sessions talk about your fears
mlesliec
Guest
feignine high contact is not accdeptable and there are penalties for do=ing so, no game is immune from stagers but there comparison between soccer and afl is chalk and cheese, fake it in soccer get rewarded do it in afl get suspended so yes there is a huge difference . love your game all you like but try watching it and comparing it with reality in mind not your fanciful lies to support a game with obvious faults wherein a cheat is rewarded
mlesliec
Guest
and how does a human maintian the physical ability to do that, with finals and preseason games you just made the season 40 weeks, of all the suggestions regarding equalisation of the roster yours is by far the worst , hardest and the one option that will NEVER be considered, it is a far more likely option to go to a 17 game roster than 34 and that wont happen either because the lost revenue would be lethal .
Avon River
Guest
My bias is to support the authors position. However I well understand that the appeal is not universal either to play or watch (tv) or spectate. Even at Auskick we can identify the kids who need a more structured - almost turn based - game. Less contest. Even those kids who struggle to master a single skill let alone the full set required. There is also an element of 'Jack of all; Master of none' re thd skills but I'd certainly argue the game has the broadest base of requisite skills - which can be good and bad. The good is that just about any athlete can have a go and bring a couple of valuable attributes to the table. I could craft a side from basketballers, soccer, rugby (either), volleyball etc and using their skills wisely manage to maximise their strengths and try to minimise their weaknesses. Generally with defined roles which is how most code convert project players are brought through the system. The bad is that without specialists such as penalty/conversion kickers ; it means that anyone might find themselves having to take a shot at goal and from a greater array of angles and distances. Irrespective of kicking strength, left or right foot best req'd, form/confidence. Around the world there are now many 1,000s and 10,000s of non-expat players in international leagues.All amatuers and very often they express why to them the game is the greatest and we owe it to spread the game. Granted the next bloke on the street will see it as chaotic but for many there are not the familiar structures of off-side or stop-start action. personally I love the array of skilks and the 50/50 contests and restarts. I love it's libitarianism and egalitarianism both of rules and culture. It ain't perfect and will nevef compete with FIFA but who cares.
bryan
Guest
Well if you are in the AFL at 16.5 years old,you are all ready a professional player. :) I guess you really meant "Australian Football" or "Aussie Rules",as the AFL is a League,just like the "A" League.or the NRL. The "International Rules" were changed as the original ones were considered to .be too advantageous to the Australians.
kick to kick
Guest
I agree with Mick. I came to the game late from following other football codes - played rugby, watched a lot of league, lived in the UK and followed football and in North America where I had a taste for grid-iron. Some-one smart once told me that no game is inherently more or less absurd than any other. So you pick your sport with all its limitations and strengths and grow to love its idiosyncracies. For me I love what Mick does - a total agme - hands, feet, running jumping, catching, kicking, 360 degrees - no offside, tough but not vicious. My only regret is that the small market means you don't get the game played to its full potential. There football, the world game, is King. It's just played so amazingly well. But for me football is like international cuisine - well prepared, palatble around the world - often done with fabulous technical skill, but in the end a bit too universal, brilliant but sometimes soulless. For me Aussie rules is a fabulous , little known and spicy regional cuisine, maybe all the better for being unique and only done really well in one country.
c
Guest
"I love all sport and this is not a ridicule of other codes. I’m a member of my local NRL team, have travelled to rugby union World Cups, Ashes series, countless F1 Grands Prix, Grand Slam tennis matches, ice hockey, baseball, NFL, swimming, and Olympics." well obviously you don't love the greatest game in the world !
Cat
Roar Guru
don't need any more than 2 kids to kick a soccer ball around either, and kids in some of the poorest parts of the world play with balled up rags or anything they can fashion into something resembling a ball, a goal need not be more than scratches in the ground. Kinda hard to play basketball without a proper ball though, dribbling is a challenge ;)
bryan
Guest
All things considered,Basketball is probably the cheapest for City kids---------all you need is a ball,something to act as a hoop,two players to play "one on one",& you're away. You can play it in a driveway. Any kind of "footy" needs a few more blokes,& a paddock,so is more suitable to rural areas. Just be careful not to scare the Goats! :)
margar
Guest
So agree with Aish. I grew up supporting soccer and basketball and arriving in Australia there was not much activity in these sports. I learned and started to support cricket but about 15 years ago discovered AFL and have been a passionate supporter and club member. I too, think it is the best sport in the world regardless of numbers, world profile etc. I try and watch soccer and basketball games and the excitement meter is between 30-45% but goes up significantly with AFL. People out there, you have to remember this is not a contest of what is the best sport it is an opinion piece so take it for what it is, support your preferred sport and don't take it out on those that are passionate for their sport...whether AFL, Rugby, NRL,, etc...
Storm Boy
Guest
I thought cricket was played on an oval? Like THE OVAL in England.
AR
Guest
After Mick pens an article called "Australia football: The greatest game in the world", Paul concludes: "Mick Ash admit it you are a aussie rules tragic full stop". Great work detective...you got him!
Mick Ash
Roar Rookie
Absolutely - and proud of it :) But - I repeat - my life is generally consumed by every kind of sport. For 35 years my passion was soccer - both watching and playing and I still love the game to death. I support my local NRL team, really enjoy top class Union and am currently suffering from more sleep deprivation thanks to the Tour. Maybe the title of my article should have been 'the greatest game according to Mick' but it wouldn't have the same ring to it...but my sentiments are genuine, AFL is a wonderful sport.
AR
Guest
Just on the Birchgrove Oval uproar, the funniest thing about was: 1) it was the local council, not the AFL, who suggested local games of Aussie Rules could be played there; and 2) despite being hailed as the "birthplace of Australian rugby league" (rusty plaque and all), Australian Footy was actually played there in 1903, well before rugby league...hence "Oval".