Australia is a nation that is often recognised and defined by its success on the sporting field.
Over the course of history sport has embedded itself into Australian culture and into every Australian.
Modern day Australia is a nation that now boasts some of the world’s best annual sporting matches and events, but which event is the greatest of them all? Which event emphasises what Australian culture is all about? Which event truly stops the nation?
Australian rules is traditionally recognised as Australia’s game. It was first invented and played in the land down under almost two centuries ago.
From humble beginnings Aussie rules has evolved into a national sport. Traditionally the sport’s biggest event, the AFL grand final is contested on the last weekend in September every year.
Yearly on these sacred Saturdays in September 100,000-plus pack into the MCG to passionately observe the two best teams from that season battle it out for the game’s top honour.
Furthermore millions of televisions around the nations are tuned into Channel Sevens coverage of the match, making this day match more than just another sporting event. The AFL grand final really has it all and it would be understandable if the day was made a national public holiday given the pre match hype and excitement.
However as globalisation tightens its grip on the modern world perhaps other more globally recognised events exceed the greatness of the AFL grand final.
Several other rival sporting events that also take place in Melbourne, the self-proclaimed sporting capital of can also lay claim to the title of being Australia’s greatest sporting event.
Firstly, the Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park is the first race of the new season every year, each year thousands of fans journey from not only across Australia but the rest of Oceania also to see the world’s best drivers light up the Albert Park track.
Furthermore the rise of Australia’s own Formula One prodigy Daniel Ricciardo has ignited excitement for the event, an event that the city is struggling to continue to host.
In the months preceding the Formula One race at Albert Park the city of Melbourne is inundated by tennis lovers. All eyes focus on Rod Laver Arena to view the world’s most gifted players take part in Asia and Oceania’s only Grand Slam tennis tournament.
Several hundred metres away from Rod Laver Arena another of Australia’s greatest sporting events can be viewed yearly on Boxing Day. The Boxing Day Test contested by Australia and the touring rival of the time and is an event not to be missed.
Despite attendances becoming a concern for the sport in recent times, there is never a lack of atmosphere or passion at this event. If baseball is America’s pastime, cricket is Australia’s.
Countless iconic moments have occurred in Boxing Day Tests over the years at Australia’s spiritual home of cricket. However if cricket just doesn’t embody greatness then how about the Melbourne Cup?
The race that stops the nation is a truly unique event. It is a curious mix of class and raw passion. Often attracting crowds in excess of 100,000 the race at Flemington cannot be avoided. For one day each year it is as though horses are the number one priority for the majority of the crowd in attendance and for those watching on at home.
However will the race that stops the nation fall out of favour with future generations due to the raising concerns of the welfare of the horses involved? Or will the Melbourne Cup always have a place in the hearts of Australians?
Another sport which unites Australians is football, albeit only on irregular occasions.
A joy like no other was felt on that November evening in 2005 when after decades of heartache the Socceroos eliminated Uruguay and advanced to the FIFA World Cup.
Football is the sport that is the most culturally accepting, and as Australia is one of the world’s most multicultural nations, that match cemented football’s place in Australia’s sporting landscape. It truly united the nation in perhaps a way that no other sport can.
How about the State of Origin, the Sydney to Hobart or the Tour Down Under?
Australia truly has a unique sporting landscape made up of a variety of sports, which on one day or another all have their special day, but which sport attracts the whole world’s attention? Which event really stops the nation?
What is Australia’s greatest sporting event?
Post hoc
Guest
Australia has made the world cup finals every world cup since 2006 (ie 3) the World Cup that you may watch are the Finals (prior to them are the qualifiers to reach the finals) these qualifiers basically take 3 years, football is that big.
Post hoc
Guest
If player participation is the measure then sorry AFL is way behind Football
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
The League guys have nastier tatts though !
Paul D
Roar Guru
Probably a bit late, and in terms of a single day event I’d have to say Melbourne Cup, but in terms of an event as a whole I’d make a case for the Ashes. Particularly when it’s out here during an Australian summer.
Tigranes
Guest
Horse racing is marketed as being blokes in sharp suits and hot chicks in dresses. Greyhound racing is blokes dressed in Lowes gear with missing teeth and on welfare benefits...
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
All what you say may be true.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
The trots are a huge industry, absolutely huge, far bigger than what many people realise.
Agent11
Guest
Horse racing has a bit more prestige than greyhounds... greyhounds has always been very working class and was an easy target for the animal welfare groups. I don't think the trotts has a lot of interest anymore and will probably just die off on its own
JohnDee
Guest
All it's going to take for jumps to get banned will be a few more horse deaths during racing. Not saying I condone this, there are serious issues with how jumps horses are trained in Australia, as a lot of horses competing in jumps racing are not trained as jumps horses. It's not uncommon for horses competing in a jumps race to not even see a jump until race day. Now that a precedent has been set, I wouldn't be surprised if jumps racing is gone, or at least faces a serious overhaul, within the next 10 years.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
I was born a while ago and there was nothing to suggest that dog racing would be banned in my lifetime, jumps racing and trotting are the next targets. They are both small fry, these animal groups put as much false numbers and info out as anyone does, they are committed warriors and will stop at nothing to achieve there desired outcome, the emotive arguments they use can be applied to any form of racing.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think you're right there joe b - hard to imagine that happening in our lifetime - very different circumstances (and too many powerful interests involved). But there is a trend towards greater animal welfare, also now backed by influential lobby groups - and while dog racing was probably low hanging fruit - it wouldn't take too many horses being put down for them to turn their gaze in that direction (if they haven't already).
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
You would need a couple of hours first to get the tin foil hat off your head which is firmly ensconced on your melon.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
@Craigo --- yer/nah, don't really care about ratings, Australian open and Melbourne would rate lower but be more national.
spruce moose
Guest
Boorowa running of the sheep.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Re NRL vs AFL ratings (Fox plus FTA) and attendances - these are the figures, as compiled by good friend to the Roar, The Wookie, as at the end of the round before last (29 June 2016): NRL: 118 games Attendance: 1,887,486 Ratings: 58,314,000 AFL: 120 games Attendendance: 3,995,889 Ratings: 56,226,000
joe b
Guest
There is nothing to suggest traditional flat ground horse racing (eg. Melbourne Cup) would be banned in our lifetime... and some time beyond. This isn't dog racing.
clipper
Guest
Yes, that was a real corker - I'm sure all those shows, after reading that post, will now be readying for a more to the afternoon to increase their ratings!
clipper
Guest
Think you're right there, has a lot more space than the FO, which won't get a roof for a few more years yet and is easy to get to and the players like it, crowds keep increasing and it's easy to get to.
clipper
Guest
As many other posters have pointed out, it's not a fair comparison - one is on at prime time, the other at 2.30 in the afternoon, so until they are both on at prime time, or both in the afternoon, that conclusion can't be reached.
JohnDee
Guest
From a national perspective, it would have to be the Melbourne Cup. I've lived in Melbourne, Sydney, and now in Canberra. In Melbourne, Origin isn't something anyone really cares about, and I could say the same about the AFL GF in Sydney and Canberra. The Melbourne Cup is huge in all the states I've been in. A lot of workplaces at least have sweeps and may listen to it on the radio, or bring a TV in for the day.