It’s a good thing the football competition is in a state of wild unpredictability, because lately there haven’t been too many headline-grabbing controversies.
Last week, the jumper-punch was about as big as it got. The only other contender for the week’s desperate headline award was State of Origin.
You know things are quiet when that old chestnut bobs up. Commenting as one occasionally accused of a misty-eyed longing for aspects of a bygone game, I see no future for regular contests between the states.
The fact is, interstate football has never been particularly popular in Victoria, clearly the most populous of the AFL heartland states. That’s a bad start.
Back when I was a kid, the football states came together every four years for what was known as a carnival. That name is a bit misleading as it suggests something less than serious competition, and the carnivals were serious. But Victoria virtually always won, and won pretty easily.
Not only did the Vics win, they won with what were usually below full-strength teams. The reason for this was the reluctance of the VFL to excessively compromise its club competition, which usually continued for the fortnight of the carnival.
The Victorian team was thus chosen according to a quota system: no club being forced to give up so many players as to be severely weakened.
If further evidence is required of Victoria’s historic indifference to battles between the states, consider the Centenary Carnival in 1958.
That was the year the Australian game turned 100. A carnival was played as a celebration: in Melbourne, of course, because that was where it had all begun. The Victorian Football League actually took a two-week hiatus in deference.
What a great idea! Why, there were even night games at the old Lakeside Oval in South Melbourne, although the big matches were staged on the MCG.
And guess what? The people in football’s heartland state stayed away in droves. The two showpiece matches were the VFL’s games against South Australia and Western Australia on the MCG, played on the two Saturday afternoons of the Carnival.
The former fixture drew 33,063 and the latter 23,238. Those games apart, the largest crowd of the fortnight was 7,200 for the clash of traditional rivals, the VFL and VFA.
Yes, there has been an occasional upsurge of interest in the State of Origin concept, such as in 1989 when 92,000 attended a match between Victoria and South Australia at the MCG. But, generally, interest has been greater when the matches have been played outside Victoria. Apart from anything else, it gives the smaller states a better chance of winning.
So, there’s nothing to be too misty-eyed about at the loss of state-versus-state football. The reality is that interstate bragging rights are now determined by outcomes in the AFL. South Australia is currently flying, while WA is wobbly. Nowadays, the erstwhile second division states also have a stake.
The banana benders haven’t been faring well lately, but bobbed up with a couple of wins last week. NSW, meanwhile, now provides two highly competitive teams.
(AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)
Then there’s Tassie. And yes, without apology, I do become misty-eyed at the state of the game in my own state of origin. Back in 1958, Tasmania beat both WA and SA over a three-day period.
One hundred years into the code’s history, it ranked a solid equal-second in the nation with those two. And look at it now.
Yet, despite the fact that its local competitions have been rendered almost totally irrelevant by the AFL’s popularity, the state has continued to produce elite-level contributors.
Currently, on my quick count, it has 29 on AFL lists. It can also lay claim to three of the competition’s 18 coaches. Last weekend, the island state flew under the radar as usual but its stars soared high.
Highest of all went Jeremy Howe, with his incredible leap and mark on the Queen’s Birthday.
The ‘speccy’, the ‘hanger’, the ‘hover’… call it what you will, is the game’s ultimate crowd-pleasing skill. Howe is arguably the most prolific exponent since John Coleman in the 1950s. His name can now be mentioned among those few special players for whom it’s worth paying the admission.
Also, last weekend, the teams coached by Brendon Bolton, Rodney Eade, and Chris Fagan all won. First time it’s happened.
Each man is striving to turn the fortunes of clubs which have lately struggled. Then there was Liam Jones; a player who seemed destined for the scrap-heap but who starred against GWS and suddenly appears to have found new life.
This week it might be Jack Riewoldt or Ben Brown. Throw in Toby Nankervis, Tom Bellchambers, Grant Birchall, the Kolodjashnij twins, Aaron Hall, Mitch Robinson, Jimmy Webster, Mav Weller and so on, and Tasmania’s contribution lives on.
And its reward? Well, its taxpayers are forced to pay millions of dollars each year just to have a handful of games played on its grounds.
Meanwhile, the AFL continues to have no intention of granting the state its own team. Forget state of origin, Tasmania is football’s state of oblivion.
Kyle
Guest
Pal South Australia has won twice at the MCG since 1925, and lost 3 out of the last 4 in Melbourne. And the great state of Western Australia won their first ever game in Melbourne, this year, in the state league, representative match ... Never has Western Australia won at the MCG. By the way I think the mighty Vics won the most State of Origin games. Sorry to burst your bubble ;)
Kyle
Guest
I think you view is part perspective, which was certainly the case in Victoria. Yes for the majority of Interstate competition in Victoria, it wasn't very popular. But the same was the case in Rugby league, having the same situation, with QLD having foreign players playing for NSW, and interest in that state was largely apathetic, same as in Victoria. But there were several high periods, where the interests was high and very high. In the first half of the 1980's State of Origin was very popular, all over AFL states. And in the early 1960's and 1990's, interstate football was popular in a more modest state, in Victoria. Victorian players throughout history loved playing state football .. And aside from the 1980's, the was divide in Victoria where some people weren't interested, and some people were really passionate, which Ted Whitten played a part in. Not true.
Roger Ramjet
Guest
Unless a team relocates to Tasmania they will never have AFL side one would say - Only teams playing a game ot two each year there.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
More chance of a team in Canberra than Tasmania or NT I suggest
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
How would a state of Origin concept work in the AFL though - what would be the criteria in determining which state a player is eligible to play for - Rookie Players are drafted from different states to play for teams in other states for an example who then go onto to play AFL for those teams - so will it make them eligible for that state or the state they were original from or born in?? - How many states would be involved - VIC/WA/SA/QLD/NSW or will it be a combined state format - Say WA/SA vs VIC/NSW/QLD?? As above I cannot see the AFL having State of Origin ever again - AFL cannot have a SOO concept as the NRL do between QLD and NSW as a result. In regards to Tasmania having a team in the AFL - the only way I could see this happening is if a Current Vic team (Melbourne team) relocates as one would have thought they would have had a team already - people say the population isn't big enough(580k overall and 226k or so In Hobart and 90k or so In Launceston) /facilities are not up to AFL standard and or the issue of where they will play - issue whether they would be Hobart or Launceston based and be supported by Tasmanians if they chose one or the other as their base/Finances and access to Finances for a team.
Build population
Guest
Tasmania just needs to build up a city to 500,000 people, then they will have a team in the big time. Currently Tassie wants a team, but does not want to pay for it. And yes, West Sydney and Gold Coast get teams for them. That's another discussion.
Col in paradise
Guest
ACT government I think funds it attracts coverage n crowds to Canberra - How much is tassie paying the hawks sponsorship - that would help fund it - and yes two towns sharing it would work n encourage whole of tassie support - problem is the two best names clash with Melbourne clubs - Devils n Tigers !!! Don't think lobsters, salmon, Abelone or cheese would work as a team nickname although cheese works for the Green Bay Packers !!!
Slane
Guest
'How popular was Western Bulldogs Memorabilia before last season?' More popular than the North Melbourne stuff despite North playing finals and Bulldogs holding up the ladder. How many times have you actually been to Melbourne TWAS?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Too right people care about the Fuchsias old boy. People with very deep pockets too, another difference from the vagrants and abattoir workers who cheer for the shinboners. North Melbourne are very much like the Dallas Brooks Centre, despite having some merit and history, ultimately not enough people will care about them when the wrecking ball comes swinging.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But making up the numbers means they supposedly haven't. Which is false.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So they care. They just don't go watch them or buy memberships? Hence why North never sits considerably down in these metrics in comparison. How popular was Western Bulldogs Memorabilia before last season?
Slane
Guest
You are conflating crowd figures and popularity. Nobody cares abouth Norf. But people care about the Bulldogs. People also care about the Saints and the Demons too before you use those guys in your next comment. North Melbourne are a 'nothing' team. Very few fans, no star players and no identity of their own. They get my respect for their anti-gambling and pro-refugee stance but they are such an unpopular team that their message never makes it to anybody. I make sporting memorabilia for a living. New expansion teams aside, North Melbourne are the least popular AFL team by a fair margin.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'd be surprised if there are any relocations at all. The AFL is in such a strong position that they can afford to support teams through low points, and Melbourne is only going to grow further which can improve the commercial viability of the clubs there. If a Melbourne based club has survived through the 90s and 00s they probably won't go anywhere. AFL now owning Etihad will only help the weaker clubs also.
Mickyo
Guest
North have a very big supporter base in Perth, based around the era of the Krakours, Glenndinning, Cable etc
Mickyo
Guest
St Kilda ATM is still seeking a NZ connection, it has 4 Kiwis on the rookie list and is looking at Auckland and a place called Western Springs. Pretty sure then Saints have berm looking ar 3 games there, that leaves one less club to move to Tassie, WB are looking at playing games at Ballarat and a new stadium there, that takes them out of the equation. North are the only realistic chance ATM of relocating to Tassie.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. You just have an axe to grind with them. Probably still over the 96 GF.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
When was their last prolonged stint at the bottom?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
When was the last time either of these clubs received any additional funding from the AFL? You are talking about matters from the last decade. Since then these clubs have gotten themselves into much stronger financial positions, which will only be improved with better stadium deals at Etihad. The whole point of governing body support is to provide temporary relief to help teams because self-sustaining again. Appears to have worked in both cases. People in Tasmania still watch football because they grow up having an AFL team. Fans from existing clubs will just stop supporting the game if their club goes.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't think so. What will they move on to instead of AFL? Rugby Union? Unlikely. Rugby League? Even more unlikely. The fact is that Tasmanians have been growing up following AFL for decades and the only thing that will change that is young fans growing up following something else - which is unlikely with no real winter competition.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Until last season their crowds have been on-par with teams like the Bulldogs - who rose last season only because of an exceptional season.