"We're lovers, not fighters" - McLachlan says AFL aren't in competition with football

More importantly for your Soccer migrant friends, did they enjoy the beer & meat pie too?

Trouble there are not enough of people like you who care about the A League Soccer migrant friends of mine from fanatical soccer countries only went to a couple of games and reckon the standard is shit and have not been back but they love the AFL games.

And it wasnt the 3rd rate ALeague!Soccer is a very poor relation to AFL in Melbourne asnd if they want to use the two majoer stadiums that have basically been built with Australian Football fans money over a lonf period of time esp the MCG they should be a little bit humble in asking to use these grounds esp in the AFL season!

Leonardo - the participation rates is based on Govt statistical definitions - that's were a minimum 6 week engagement is required. That applies for all codes - which is were the Under 10s via introductory programs such as Milo Cricket, Auskick etc will count. Also where any off-season touch competition would be geared to run over 6 weeks minimum. That's just the way it is.

You should come to Western Sydney then.

#Fiver - Certainly the whole embarkation on paying overs for guys like Hunt and Folau was an interesting strategy. A bit of a double edged sword even if it is proven to have - on balance - worked. That's why - at the time - I was more interested in the story of Rugby Union convert Mike Pyke who came over, hard a crack, earned his chance, kept having a crack, and earned his keep.

Once the Giants start winning, the AFL , led by Eddie you know who, will start screaming and crying like Oscar Pistorious, and claim it's not fair and have the rules changed to suit their/his needs. Sydney's market may be big but it is volatile and fickle at times.

Gill McLaughin' says it in the article above "we have the best game in the world". Guess which football code was the first in Australia to play a truly Australia-wide professional football competition?

duecer, its true. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-truth-about-cats-and-dogs-20100514-v4od.html

I have always thought of Soccer and Rugby League as being "taxi drivers". Always second cabs off the rank

If Melbourne Victory or City make the Grand Final then the FFA can move the game to the home ground of the opposition. It would be a pity for Victoria as the revenues associated with the event and the visitors would go elsewhere. It's only tricky if the final is between City & Victory, that could get interesting however a solution would be found. West Coast had to play a home final at the MCG several years ago due to a deal done by the AFL who didn't believe that there would ever be a scenario where all the top sides would be non-Victorian. It happened, West Coast flew to the MCG and lost and the world moved on. Mountain, meet mole-hill.

Craigo - if by saying AFL can't get to the 'real' people in Sydney, you mean the battlers and working class out West, then you do have a point, but that seems a bit non inclusive to only class them as 'real' people.

Leonardo - is that a 'fact' that pets are members or is it something that people who like to dismiss AFL's membership base like to use. I'm not sure, but I think it would be quite easy to find out one way or the other

Well said Wokeye! Hey mate - can you tell me a story about AFL Albania - the games flying over there - no expats involved either - some bloke saw it on you tube and wham! There all hooked lol

I thought GWS got out of Blacktown because they couldn't get full access to the ground out there - now they can't get full access at Homebush. Maybe they should co-tennant with the Swans and move to the SCG. Thay way the Kiddies could live in Bondi and not that western Sydney slum at Breaky Point - they could head out to Blacky and Mount Druitt on their annual holidays and fly the flag - in day time hours of course - nasty place for kids.

I can't see the day when GWS is bigger than WSW, especially with the impetus they have had recently. However, I can see the day when they are bigger than Penrith - with WSW on one flank and GWS snapping at the heels on another, albeit, far smaller flank, it may, as Rick comments, wear them down.

Bruce - two amusing things in your post - Tasmania would be bemused being called a desert state and I doubt one kid today would have any idea who Marty Feldman was!

"I don't think you understand how big the AFL is". That's the most hilarious thing I've heard since I read the last article by The Wokeye. You Melbourne folk really do suffer from the Stockholm syndrome - you poor devils are just AFL captives unable to look outside the bubble. Reality check: The AFL is 'big" in Melbourne and the desert states and no where else in the known world. Poor old Gilligan got laughed out of Auburn by primary school kids who thought he was Marty Feldmans son - hilarious stuff!!

"In 150 years, the ‘best game in the world’ can barely make it out of Melbourne." Leonardo, I dunno about the ‘best game in the world’ statement (that's what rugby league claims), but there is one sport, and one sport only, that plays professional matches in every state and territory in Australia, every year. Guess which one..?

The bottom line is that professional sport is a business and businesses compete with their rivals for market share. So all four football codes are in competition with each other for the advertising dollar, sponsorship and TV ratings.