The A-League giant has awoken

Kaks - as Agent11 correctly states, there is plenty of animosity between Rugby and league. I think the NRL will eventually wake up when they realise that Football is taking market share from them, not AFL.

Let me be very, very clear. Many critiques of Australian football fans are valid, however that they seek the validation of other codes fans is not a valid criticism. The exact opposite is true. It is fair to say that the majority of Australian football fans could not give a flying fig what the fans of other codes think (which causes its own issues). We do however, ask politely, that they take their xenophobia and sokkah bashing back to their respective rocks. It's not too much to ask.

Building nicely, year on year. But I do agree that this year there seemed, in my social media circles anyway, much less criticism of the league structure. Could Australian football fans be beginning to understand that while our game has many challenges, that it also has many strengths? Maybe, just maybe a few people will relax, kick back and just love the league they have.

I can see your point, Punter, but do you really think the AFL has more to fear from the NRL than the A League? For a start, the A League is truly national, the NRL is reluctant to expand - the venture into Melbourne hasn't exactly set the city on light, whereas the AFL expansion has seen 4 teams in areas foreign, with the Swans passing 50k members. I also think that WSW somewhat dented the AFL's plans with GWS, much more so than any NRL sides out there.

Harry - the rise of Football in Sydney over the last few years has been remarkable - so things do change. This used to be a real RL town, but you will see evidence of the huge rise in WSW whenever you head out west. All they need is a decent TV deal and Juniors to keep watching the sport and Football could very well be the top draw in the town. I really think this Tom character is not doing any favours to other Football fans on this board with his continued 'fairies, the gays, hot pantz' rants, it's really not a good look. There are other ways to express your views without having to stoop to this level.

Your opinion is not mine, loved playing, refereeing, coaching and love watching football at home and abroad. There is kick off somewhere in the World right now and with the modern media , it is like heaven. I love football and like the rugby codes and cricket but am indifferent about AFL.

I couldn't care less about how the A-League stacks up against other codes or Europe. All I care is that we've just witnessed some real epics during this finals series (even if my beloved Victory were on the wrong end of the ledger) and I just hope the Grand Final matches that. Anyone who wants to heap derision on the HAL, be they an eggballer or a Eurosnob, deserves pity. They're missing out, they really are.

Daniel I follow Rugby a little and have a reasonably good understanding of many of their issues. Many many moons ago I was offered a place in the reserve side at Eastwood but choose to play league for the Guildford Owls. In many ways they highlight what not to do. There rating last year died in the last quarter of their season. I think the rating ratings in the end were not that different to the A-League a little higher for Australian based Super matches and lower for national teams. Your point is correct if anything Rugby has shown you cannot grow a competition on pay TV.

you mean like a national media and political agenda to push AFL over every other code, which means frequent fluff articles about how AFL is so multicultural and female friendly compared to other codes. How AFL players are such amazing athletes they could compete in the Olympics, how AFL represents everything that is indigenous and true to Australia and all the other cringe worthy rot that comes out of AFL house?

Most of the world disagrees with you concerned supporter

Very good point

PS I did not mean to make Adelaide handicapped in having a holding right in bidding the Grand Finale because of such an AFL egg shaped stadium. If really, FFA is to open tender (or bid) for the Grand Finale right, Adelaide government may invest to build a new square stadium. History tells that Victoria Government took the F1 holding right by building a new circuit in Albert Park. BTW, ANZ stadium is to be a biggest square stadium in the southern hemisphere in 2022. This promotes both economy and soccer.

Post hoc, In my original writing, I have already suggested that the other final matches have the home advantage remains. Just the Grand Finale is different. That is to say, the match between rank 4 and 5 is to be held in the home of the rank 4's city; match between rank 3 and 6 to be held in rank 3's home city. The same applies to the match between the rank 1 with the winner of the play off matches (or semi final). Also, the same applies to the rank 2 with the winner of the other play off matches (or semi final).

Lionheart, Thank for the reply. Yes, apparently the downside is the loss of a home match. However, at the start of the league, no one knows who are the last 2 to be in the grand finale. Using the UEFA Champ League for example, Milan is host the 2016 Grand Finale. If the Milan clubs or other Italian Clubs can get to the finale, the Italy club has the home advantage. So, it is not necessarily that such an arrangement means neutral away match. Secondly, even if in 2016 the set venue is in Brisbane's Suncorp, it does not mean necessarily that the Roar can be in the Grand Finale. If really, Brisbane Roar (as the 3rd place finisher in the league) is in the Grand Finale, then credit is going to the Queensland Government for making the advantage. At least, there is such prefixed arrangement in Rugby League. Yes there is a small downside. However, it is better than booking 4 stadiums. Also, you mentioned about the Adelaide Oval. And it is that egg shape stadium make me think of having a holding the Grand Finale in another stadium. This thinking came this morning. I thought why not having the 2016 Grand Finale holding in Brisbane or NSW (or even Perth)? Thank

Well said svb.

"I think the difference is that certain AFL followers have an ideological view about what their sport is and represents. To them it is like it is more than just a sport. Like it is some sort of Australian way of life or something. Therefore someone not following the mantra gets to them. Rugby / league supporters just generally like the physicality in their sport. Therefore they are not prone to the lunacy and zealotry that you see coming out of a certain poster on this thread." and "With some in AFL circles it goes beyond the love of the sport. It’s like it should be our national identity. I am not going to explain what types of things that leads to politically, because I could get into trouble here. But I am not a fan of that form of ideology." SVB, you've nailed it. Agree 100%.

Fair point, but even if your core demographic are mass users being exclusively on Fox is a problem from a growth standpoint, something the ARU have rather painfully discovered over the past decade. In an ideal world the A-League need to get 2 prime time games picked up on a major network as part of its growth strategy, even if this means accepting less money. The ARU made a very poor decision when they balked at taking more to FTA when they were riding high in the early 00s, and instead opted for the fast Fox cash, but it has come back to bite them a bit. That said, Super Rugby has a unique set of problems in that at best it can offer 3 days a week of prime time content, and generally only has two, with the rest of the games being played overnight our time in South Africa and now Argentina. Luckily for them this time zone brings them into line with Europe and the big broadcasters there are now willing to dish out a bit for it, but in Australia no broadcaster seems willing to have it on their network for much.

Hey Australian Rules, AR or whatever else you choose to call yourself for 100 different aliases. Some s0kka h00ligan attacked a linsman in a s0kka game over the weekend somewhere in the w0rld. Do your job man. Go earn your Melb0urne Ru1es funny m0ney h0ney.

Indigenous? Then why do you boo one of your greatest indigenous players for celebrating his heritage? Plus, three of the four founders of AFL weren't Australian at all. Only Tom Wills was born here. William Hammersley was born in England, JB Thompson was born in England, and Thomas H Smith born in Ireland!

Foxtel viewing needs to be analysed differently because it involves significant discretionary expenditure. Foxtel is available to less than 30% of households in Australia and, anecdotal evidence suggests Foxtel subscriptions within the Aleague community is much much lower than this.