This week’s grand final has put a compression bandage over the AFL’s wounds of 2016.
The bandage has not stopped the bleeding, just managed the cut until they get themselves off to hospital in the upcoming weeks.
The AFL could not have hoped for a better decoy or result really, unless it was GWS versus the Bulldogs, bringing a slight redemption to their failed expansion scheme of five years ago.
I say failed, because the financial and membership support of GWS and the Suns, compared to the figures of the worst established club of the league, five years on that road, leaves a lot to be desired.
With limited seats last weekend, the Bulldogs still had more support at Spotless!
Bums on seats create football clubs, not just when you are winning, but when you are losing.
That is why the Bulldogs deserve the win this week, their loyal and faithful supporters, have continued to show up and support through 55 years of no return.
The euphoria of our two largest cities’ western suburbs teams battling it out for premiership honours would have made for a greater story, considering the residing demographic of our games supporters come from the working masses of these two cities.
The AFL will still be pleased as it serves up dinner for two, with one third of the audience using cutlery and then the remaining two thirds, the sentimentalists, eating straight off the plate with their hands.
The upper house versus the lower house, the Swan versus the Dog. The Swans have been showered in success after moving to the Harbour City, a move forced by the VFL’s need for expansion in the 1980s toward a national competition. It still took over 20 years of doubt, failures and controversy of that relocation to finally see silverware in the cabinet.
The other team, the scrappers of the competition, were the victim of their own publicity and nearly fell under the bus they so proudly ride.
If Oakley and the committee of the day had got it right, then we would be looking at a different scenario this Saturday – with the Swans versus the Western Roos, or the Western Lions.
In truth, that fight forced the AFL to look interstate for its expansion opportunities, forced them down the hard road of starting new franchises, and not remain on the path they were on, of relocating current franchises.
The expansion game is played with less risk, if the team already has a dedicated supporter base in Melbourne. Although they are still trying to incentivise the move of a current franchise to Tasmania or Canberra.
I once had the opportunity to read a 15-year plan developed secretly by a high profile figure in the game’s administration of that time, outlining his vision for a truly national/international competition.
The focus brief was simple, we want as many cities/regions as possible supporting an AFL team!
It was thought that Victoria would house six clubs, NSW would have two, Queensland would have three – with two in the south east and one being in North Queensland.
The Northern Territory would have one, South Australia would have three, Western Australia would have three, ACT one, Tasmania one and New Zealand one.
This would be a total of 22 teams, who play each other once in a regular season, with each team having 11 home games.
The plan outlined that the six Victorian teams would be Essendon, Collingwood, Melbourne, Carlton, Geelong and Richmond, with Footscray, North Melbourne, Hawthorn, Fitzroy, St Kilda the teams to be relocated and amalgamated to new states.
The failures of the VFL/AFL to sell the game to the north eastern states is not their fault, it is just misguided arrogance to think that the entire state of NSW/ Queensland will swap their rugby boots for Aussie Rules boots. It will never happen no matter the money they throw at it.
The general consensus of true blood Queenslanders and New South Welshmen is that AFL football has no rules, has no structure or system, is impossible to understand, because the rules change each week.
Somehow the powers that be have created a game unrecognisable to the same game of 15 years ago.
The simple folk of NSW and Queensland don’t warm to the game, because they don’t understand it, to them it is aerial ping pong, and the only game in the world where you get a point for missing?
The AFL have to stop creating a game of politics and create a game of incentive. Stop hiding behind the focus groups and get out into the suburbs and see what is going on. The direction of our game is up to the people to decide, stop ignoring the people and making it all about money.
Once upon a time our administration worked for the love of it, I am not suggesting that be the case, just drop a zero or two.
This weeks grand final brings the sentiment back into the game. The traditionalists will feel like it is the first game of footy they have seen or more importantly felt for ten years.
The AFL could make some inroads on their reputation this week and shorten the bridge between the bureaucracy of the game and the people who pay to enjoy it.
Good luck Footscray, my heart says you deserve it, my head says you will be beaten by a better team.
But thank you for putting the F back into football.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Spoken by someone who doesn't know anything much about Freo.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
"I didn’t grow up with the game" You forgot to put a dash before that to show that it's one of the reasons why you have almost zero interest in AFL. In fact, you can delete all the other reasons and just replace it with that one, since those other reasons are likely to be derivative of that basic fact.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
"Fremantle was not an established football club when they entered. They are a created franchise just like west coast, adelaide, GWS and McDonalds. " While that's technically true, it's a stretch to say FFC have no links to the Bulldogs or Old Easts and that the public has been duped into "thinking they are actually a real football club rather than a franchise with no history whatsoever".It was widely appreciated that FFC was being established as a recognition/continuation of Fremantle's strong football history. Undoubtedly, there was a fair share of marketing ploy going into the linking of a new club with a long history that was not that club's own as such. But it's equally undeniable that Fremantle (as in Freo footy tradition) was always understood as _deserving_ the second WA license. If there were "no history whatsoever" behind FFC, then the AFL would have had to throw in a hell of a lot more in the way of draft perks and funding support to get the club up in the first place. To put this another way, if FFC doesn't count, in your mind, as "a real football club" because it wasn't established on the basis of a history that was its own, then no club — not even Carlton, Melbourne or Collingwood — is a real football club, since none of these had (indeed, none could have had) a club history prior to them being established as a club.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#me too If you happen to be around Melbourne in August next year - try to get to some of the 2017 International Cup. Really cool seeing real international footy. The top tier sides such as PNG, NZ, Ireland, Canada, Great Brit, USA, Nauru and fast getting there Fiji all play pretty good quality footy. Much can still depend on player availability/funding etc to get their best squads out here. Be nice for the AFL to pump some cash into it.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#rob Fremantle now DO have some history. Not great - but some. That they do is in no small part due to Peter Bell walking away from North Melbourne to return home and to Mathew Pavlich resisting the calls back home to Adelaide and becoming a 353 game all time great of the club. That has established non-transient credibility and respect. Contesting and losing a grand final may be more helpful than winning one too soon. It builds the desire/hunger. Just as the Swans in '96 losing helped build the story come 2005. In the early days of Freo it really did feel like many of their attendees were the people who had missed out on getting West Coast memberships! I suspect now that the Dockers are established in their own right - roughly a 15-20 year process. That the licence is owned by the WAFC is at least preferable than having private owners of the Palmer/Tinkler fashion. Perhaps one day the club can stand alone and acquire it's own licence.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The timing of the NTFL season is reason enough why it wouldn't work so well. However, the NT Thunder in the NEAFL seems to work okay. Perhaps were it to happen make it a North Australian, or Arafura side (FNQ, NT and PNG). Play home games across Port Moresby, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and the Alice.
Tricky
Guest
Actually I'll correct you, in favour of your argument "3 – who cares? The AFL despite not even being the number 1 sport in all areas of its own country is the 5th most attended league in the world on weekly average attendances… 4 million through the gates every year somewhere in the vicinity if half a million club members every year… as an AFL fan ive never been insecure about the fact were the only ones who play it – im actuallly pretty proud of the fact we have a game all of our own." According to AFL tables in the last 20 years the total crowds are 6 million plus every year and according to wikipedia the AFL is 4th in average attendances in 2015 and for overall attendance the AFL was 15th worldwide (yes that includes highly populated countries like the usa and uk) http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/summary.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports_attendance_figures#Top_10_leagues_in_total_attendance
Perry Bridge
Guest
#bear54 - point for missing. The irony of focussing on this is what alternate scoring system should be employed? Soccer - whereby anything going in the onion bag is a goal - irrespective of how scored, and by whom and with only not being off-side and not being off the hand as qualitative considerations. Soccer though is a binary scoring system (0-1) and requires 2 unanswered goals for a change of lead to occur. Too many drawn matches. Too many teams going scoreless, not just for a single game but sometimes for 4 or 5 consecutive matches. Rugby League/Union - where the object used to be to kick goals but that was too hard so they awarded points for achieving a 'touch down' which allowed a 'try at goal'. Got to the point where instead of being a minor score to separate tied scores that the points for the 'try' have well overtaken the 'goal' in Rugby League such that it has reverse - you get more points for the act of not even yet having a shot for goal. So - does it have to make a lot of sense? The Aust Footy system was instituted in 1897 by the break away VFL. You could argue most goals should win, and only used 'behinds/points' on count back if scores level. As it is though - given that points are achieved for a touched shot, a poster, a rushed/forced behind or an actual miss - all these single points get tallied and help towards the running aggregate of points. Rarely do teams win by virtue of less goals and many more points but it can happen. It's not an object of the game but a by-product of the rules. One could compare to the 'rouge' in Canadian Football. In reality - I pose to fans of soccer why there is not some additional element to the soccer scoring system. It is archaic and doesn't achieve what it should. Clearly it's what fans know and therefore I'd be shouted down by most who would refuse to entertain a variation. 2 - pushing and shoving can be childish - certainly. Compare it to sledging in cricket I guess. I've played for over 30 years and never cared for it in either sport. 3 - I've coached and umpired ni Vanuatu kids in Port Vila who love the game (their 2016 Grand Final is set for this coming Saturday). AFL Fiji season wrapped up last Saturday with their mens grand final. There are footy leagues across the world now and some very good leagues (such as the Ontario 'OAFL'), then there are nations with comprised local footy who have very good regional/premiers divisions like Denmark and the USA. It doesn't matter that it's not professional, that people only play and love the game for the amateur ideals that used to drive the Olympics and Rugby Union. And the passion of the non-Australian players around the world has been well illustrated over and over - especially every 3 years when the AFL international cup is on in Australia (usually Melbourne). 2017 will be the 6th installment. Many Australians (footy fans) remain ignorant however - I know quite well that the game is now played and loved in many countries and Australia/Melbourne is the 'centre' of that niche 'world'. I've met and spoken to a couple of dozen players from the mens and womens divisions and the game is loved - - this then is ALL THE MORE REASON to play the game because, it IS a great game, and we shouldn't keep it secret from the world and SHOULD be proud of it. 'seagulls fighting over a chip' - - it's called a contest. And a key and great element is that after a goal, the ball returns to the middle of the ground for a neutral 50/50 restart. Other codes tend to be an almost 'turn based' game where as Aust Footy is more 'real time' (using computer gaming concepts). To you, that may appear too much to grasp at the one time. To some fans, invasion field sport is still supposed to look more like the 1800s battlefield, the red coats at one end of the paddock and the blue coats at the other (that's where 'off the strength of your side' etc come from). There seem many people who can't recognise structures outside of that (rugby/grid iron fans). A lot of the concepts within Aust footy can be recognised as learnt from hockey, ice hockey, soccer, basketball etc. The strategy of not just ball movement, but, running patterns without the ball and player zoning/positioning with and without the ball are hugely strategic but - - alas - - the TV doesn't do it justice.
Qlder
Guest
As it is in my part of Queensland. The local club U14s just won their premiership (the club fields 8s, 10s, 12s 14s, 16s Seniors and Women's teams). Not bad for a place that when I came here 20 years ago had just a struggling senior 'GayFL' team. The sport is considered a serious part of the Queensland (and my local) sporting landscape, but will always compete with the rugbys and soccer, as well as touch, for players and support. It is becoming better established in schools (when the local development officers do their job well. We were badly let down this year, for the first time in 12 years). All of which emphasises how important the academies are to the four northern clubs in the development of young talent. The question around the establishment of teams in other environs is a moot point. The AFL is now contracted to supply a certain number of games for TV packaging, and any changes to the number of teams will be on their terms, when they are ready. It is interesting to note, however, that the Western Bulldogs (please change your name back to Footscray) wear a 'Ballarat' patch on their shorts.
duecer
Guest
Think the way to go is to follow more than one sport if you want your international fix, nothing wrong with being a fan of Aussie Rules or RL for your domestic fix and also a fan of Football, RU or Cricket or Tennis for your international needs.
me too
Guest
Each to their own. Personally, despite playing and supporting soccer all my life, and supporting both league and australian football (footy) as a teen (grew up in the NT where both have strong support), I find footy the best spectator sport in the world. Lived abroad for over five years of my life and attended big games in various sports at big venues. In the absence of local sport (no internet or cable tv back then) I grew to love union at test level, and wonder if only - if only league had never existed and we had a strong national union club comp - as big as the nrl is now. That may have become a clear number one sport. Alas, in the breakaway they bastardised the game, to the detriment of union and our countries sporting profile. And so we have an ugly, bastard child as the dominant sport in two states, and an indigenous, much more athletic and spectacular code dominating in the rest. Neither are of much concern to the rest of the world, but who cares. League for me represents a loss - a huge misstep in our sporting history - but if the less cerebral and aesthetically short sighted love it then good for them. ;)
Shane
Guest
Why play a sport no other countries play (actually they do)? Simple, it is a far better game to play than any of the sports you listed. I come from NSW and have played all of league, union and aussie rules, and it is a no brainer. Far more athletic, skillful and tactical than the other two, with the added bonus that there are roles for all body types and sizes.
rob
Guest
Ok ill bite... 1 - yup ok you got me on that point (no pun intended) im guessing it was introduced to get results rather than constant draws like in soccer 2 - it never happens in league or union? Ive seen plenty its just that in those codes the ball is always a lot closer to whats happening due to the dimentions of the field. 3 - who cares? The AFL despite not even being the number 1 sport in all areas of its own country is the 5th most attended league in the world on weekly average attendances... 4 million through the gates every year somewhere in the vicinity if half a million club members every year... as an AFL fan ive never been insecure about the fact were the only ones who play it - im actuallly pretty proud of the fact we have a game all of our own. Now some points about league and why it offers little intrest to me 1 - you throw the ball backwards to get it forwards. ????? AND still call it football. 2 - dancing girls in 2016? REALLY?????? 3 - At least in the AFL the same teams winning the flag over the last 10 years have been traditional clubs... the only franchise to win the last 20 years are Adelaide twice and West Coast once. Every other team has been around since the dawn of time (which is a good 50 years earlier than Leagues dawn of time i might add)... even Sydney and Brisbane are either relocations or clubs formed from tradional clubs. The NRL cant seem to reign in Melbourne and Brisbane, and last year another franchise denyed long suffering supporters a premiership in the cowboys. But then its what you grew up with... i just think its awesome that a country as small as australia can have 2 completly diffrent codes in such a healthy state - three if you count the A league
rob
Guest
Fremantle was not an established football club when they entered. They are a created franchise just like west coast, adelaide, GWS and McDonalds. The West Aussie Footy Commision was granted a second licence and they created the Fremantle Football Club. They have no links and never will to either South or East Fremantle. When the Fremantle Football Club was created it was the first team in more than 100 years to carry the stand alone name Fremantle. Its an absolute credit to the Fremantle Football Club that they have been able to jupe the public into thinking they are actually a real football club rather than a franchise with no history whatsoever.
rob
Guest
They should have got the gig over both gold coast and gws... darwin will have a population of more than 300,000 in the next 20 years...
Swanny
Guest
The support of afl is growing rapidly in New South Wales . Not everyone lives in Sydney nor can get to Giants or swans games. But the afl is stronger then ever in this state .,
BigAl
Guest
You go on about "The USA" and "..not selling a foreign code...", yet you make no mention of the NHL which in case you don't know is Ice Hockey and has been sold as a "foreign code" into such regions as Arizona, Southern California, Texas, Florida... You might want to read up before continuing your line...
bear54
As a New South Welshman with almost zero interest in AFL I'll offer a few reasons why: - Getting a point for missing or running it through your own goal is bizarre. - Pushing and shoving off the ball like school boys in a canteen line is just childish. - Why play a sport that no one else plays? Watching Australia play Ashes against England, union tests against the All Blacks, England, France or the Springboks, league tests against the Kiwi's or Lions and the Olympics against everyone is the pinnacle in my book. AFL is an insular religion to many and good luck to them but I don't get it. I didn't grow up with the game and don't begrudge others enjoying whatever past time they like but to me the game of AFL will always be the human version of seagulls fighting over a chip.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The neat notion of only 6 AFL teams out of Melbourne in perhaps a 12-14 team national competition might have packaged things nicely however - there was never going to be a perfect transition from VFL to AFL. However - 5 years in is TOO soon to judge GWS and Gold Coast. There looks a lot to gain from 2 sides minimum per mainland state - the 50 year forecast looks pretty promising. Would it have been better for Hawthorn-Melbourne merger to go through?? Or, Hawthorn with another big cluster of premierships and 75,000 members probably show the benefit that not all the Oakley-Jackson era think tank economic rationalist pre decent broadcast rights ideas came to fruition. The AFL is stronger because of the heritage of clubs such as Melbourne that date back to 1858 and the original rules in 1859. You can't afford to lose such things - that there was the chance this might happen at the time shows just how poor the situation was (somewhere). #Onside - there's a vital generational change happening - North of the Murrumbidgee. Aust Footy is getting into schools where it hadn't been since 1885. Kids are opting to play the game - the partial victory of Jack family but one high profile example. It's cool. Womens footy in Queensland has been a huge growth area for the best part of the last decade. Queensland has very important structural elements - the Cairns region, the Gold Coast region - both very strong. However - that AFL players have been recruited from the improving AFL Darling Downs comp, or from Townsville etc. Queensland overtook Tasmania in participation some time ago - so, at present there are short term issues with the Lions and Suns however, the AFL has moved into position on the Lions to 'assist'. The Suns - well, see how they go injuries wise next year. Losing Prestia and O'Meara won't help and they do have a challenge to catch up with this years rapid progress from the Giants.
dave
Guest
The same way a small suburban club in victoria survives and then wins a premiership. AFL funding.